Reminiscences of John Higgs (1850 - 1931), Morang
The following is an extract from a manuscript in our family’s possession, which was written by John Higgs (1850-1931), son of John Pratt Higgs (1823 - 1870) who was head teacher at “The Plenty School” (now Mernda Primary) from 1853 to 1857. In the extract, John Higgs (jnr) recalls his childhood, growing up in, what was known at the time as Morang and he describes the countryside as well as the lifestyle of people in the area at the time. Unfortunately he has not included many dates in the text, but we have established from other historical documents that he was appointed as head teacher in 1853, after migrating to Australia from Birmingham, England, in 1852 as an accountant. I’m sure the document will prove to be interesting reading to anyone, past or present, from the Plenty area.
Rosemary Rowe (nee Higgs) rojo2905@gmail.com (Great Great Grandaughter of John Pratt Higgs)
Please note that there are some typographical errors in the following document
John Higgs Jnr.
[edit] Family of 12
My father (John Pratt Higgs) was one of a family of 12, nine brothers and two sisters. His brothers were brass lock makers each one having his own small factory. My father was adopted by an uncle who had no family, so he educated my father. England being so different to Australia where 50 or 100 miles distance does not interfere with family reunions. So although my father’s parents could have been visited in less than a day’s journey. My father arrived at the age of 12 when his uncle thought it better to take him home, and become acquainted with his parents and brothers and two sisters. He intended leaving my father with them. He wished them all goodbye, and pretended to go, but he hid behind a door to see how he would get along with his family, but my father could not be consoled, so his uncle took him back again with him. He stayed with his uncle and aunt until he grew to mans estate. He was trained as an accountant.
[edit] Mother MacGregor
My mother was born in the Tower of London. Her father was Garrison Officer by name MacGregor. My mother nearly came to an untimely end. She was sent on a message, her mother watched her to the corner of the street when suddenly she saw her feet go up in the air. The mother raised an alarm and my mother was rescued from a bag into which a kidnapper had bundled her in. at that time children were taken and dead bodies exhumed for the use of Medical students in Anatomy. Another time she was nearly shot. She had found a wig of black curls, she put it on and then wrapped a white sheet around her, she then walked toward one of the sentries who challenged her. Receiving no reply he was frightened at the apparition he nearly fired before he found out how it was. Another sister was now born.
[edit] Marriage and family
My father and mother were married and resided in Wolverhampton. They had three children before I was born, two girls and one boy. The two eldest, a boy and a girl died before I was born. I was born on the 11th December 1851. I was weaned when I was about 8 months old. My parents were anxious to visit the Great Crystal Palace Exhibition, but I was a child in arms, would be a great drawback to their pleasure, my rations were cut off and during their absence of a month I was placed in the care of a ministers daughter, who reported to my parents on their return that I had been no trouble at all, in fact that I had been as good as gold, but my mother was astonished to find me less of an angle, more like a little devil, I could not be pacified. At last they found out the cause of my behaviour. The young lady to ensure that I would not disturb her rest, was in the habit of giving me a stiff Gin to imbibe last thing before retiring. Consequently I got used to doing without my nightcap, I tried my mothers patience trying to put up with me. My father had a great friend and advisor in one of the Cadbury brothers (of cocoa fame). He knew a Jewish firm who had just opened a branch establishment in Sydney, one of the sons was in charge. Through Mr Cadburys influence my father was appointed as accountant. He was to remain with them at a good salary for not less than three years, under a bond of a 100 pounds which would be forfeited if he left the firm before the expiry of the three years.
[edit] Bound for Sydney
So my father with his young family left England for Sydney in the sailing ship “Velore”. On our voyage we ran short of water and what there was left was undrinkable. So the Captain headed for Rio De Janiero. When we arrived there the passengers all landed, saw beautiful fountains spraying water, also quantities of tropical fruit. After having very bad water and very little fruit before their arrival they could not drink enough of the crystal clear water or eat enough of the fruit. The result was when they resumed their voyage the doctor had a very busy time for Dysentery was rampant. When we left England I was able to walk, but it was some time after we left before I got my sea legs. At the end of 6 months we arrived in Melbourne. The ship had barely dropped anchor before all the sailors deserted. The great Gold Fever was on! All classes and conditions of men were throwing in the work they were engaged upon. Everyone who could get away, walking, riding or driving joined in the mad rush. The ship could not proceed to Sydney as all hands had deserted. The Captain advised the Sydney passengers to remain where they were, as they all had the chance to make a quick fortune. There were two other passengers besides my father who were under bonds also to fulfil their engagements for a firm, so were compelled to proceed to Sydney. They had to get government assistance to compel the captain to forward them to Sydney.
[edit] Sydney Arrival
After arriving in Sydney my father took up his new duties. But barely 9 nine months after his arrival, the son who was in charge of the business raised money on the stock got all the assets available and absconded. Leaving all the employees in the lurch, my father included, he immediately set sail for Melbourne .on his arrival he found all provisions at famine prices and very hard to get any good appointment. His money was dwindling away at an alarming rate. Consulting a friend, a Mr Bonwick, about what he had better do to be able to support his young family, Mr Bonwick said why not try school teaching. My father said “what do I know about school teaching. I have never done any school teaching, only in a Sunday school”.
[edit] Teaching
However, as good teachers were scarce at that time he was determined to have a try at it, and so he started on a course of intense study, devoting the whole of the day and burned not only the midnight oil but often into the small hours of the morning when he would retire to get his needed sleep. But when sleep overpowered sometimes he went to bed with some problem unsolved. He found the answer in his sleep. My mother knew when he had achieved it for he would give a low whistle of victory. About this time the inhabitants of Melbourne had a great scare. One morning there was a furious cannonade, the people thought an enemy was bombarding the town. We lived a few miles out of town. My mother, in her alarm, fearing we would have to fly to the country until things would be quiet again, laid in a stock of bread and provisions, packed a few things that could not be done without and was ready to fly at any moment. Fortunately it was only a scare. The cause was a vessel had been in quarantine for some time and had just got discharged. The cannonade was expressing their joy at the vessels release. At last my father went to the Education Department to be examined so as to get his certificate as a teacher. The result of his examination resulted in his obtaining a First class certificate.
[edit] Appointment
The Education Department then appointed him to a school at Kyneton with between three and four hundred children. My father then asked when he was to take up his duties, they told him in a months time. So he started making arrangements for the big move up country. A week before he was expected to start at the school he called at the department for final instructions. To his surprise they said “Have you not gone yet? My father said “I have another week before taking up my duties” The officer then said “What is your name?” My father said “HIGGS”. The officer then said we have made a great mistake. We have sent a teacher of the name BIGGS there, and we have not another good school to offer you. The only one we have vacant at present is one at a place called “Morang” on the Plenty River, 18 miles from Melbourne. So my father told them that he would take it for the present until there was a vacancy in a larger school. He went there himself and saw the place before moving to it. On his return my mother thought the place was well called the Plenty River for he brought back some enormous peaches and apples, you do not see anything like them now.
[edit] Road to Morang
The road to Morang was only made for six miles out as far as Preston, the rest of the journey was only tracks, sometimes spread out for a mile where the bullock teams were continuously finding new places where they would not be bogged. If you could not get past the Rose Thistle and Shamrock Hotel (situated at Irish town – a part of Preston) during daylight you had to stay there for the night, as for the next three miles you had to pass the stony rise and the glue pot, in both places you wanted daylight to pick your way and to avoid dead bullocks who had been suffocated in the mud. The poor brutes, being weary ploughing through the mud would often lower their heads too much, so getting their nostrils constantly filled with mud, at last they would be suffocated. The teamster would then have to remove the bow from the dead beasts yoke, haul it on one side so that a spare bullock could take its place. At the time you could frequently see chain gangs at work. A cart with a pole used to carry stone in forming the road at Ruckers Hill, Northcote. Two convicts handcuffed together by their wrists with sufficient chain between them (each cuff) to enable them to use their arms freely. There would then be four others chained together in the same way as the other two. They were connected by a chain running between the lot. The cast would be loaded with the stone for the road, a warder would walk at their side and another at the back of the car, each provided with a loaded musket.
[edit] New Abode
We now made a move for our new abode. When we arrived there we found the house contained three small rooms kitchen and school room. The front part of the house was divided in two, half of it the school the other half of it a living room, two rooms joining at back and the kitchen – a lean to from the main building. There were two acres of ground with the school. The country looked well, it was an agricultural district, wherever you looked there was acre after acre under wheat or oats – everyone seemed prosperous. Other parts of the district were devoted to sheep or cattle raising.
[edit] Morang School
My father opened the school with an attendance of 40 pupils. After school hours my father and mother obtained horses and rode round the district interviewing parents. Their visits resulted in a constant influx of new scholars. In fact a great number of young men and women came for miles around on horseback. Their education had been neglected. They had been engaged assisting on farms or herding cattle or sheep. Very soon the school was too small for the pupils even the verandah was utilised, but still they had to be packed which was not good for their health. A new school had to be built. The question was how to obtain the funds to carry the plan out. As I have said the place was very prosperous, the great work of constructing the Yan Yean Reservoir was nearly completed so my father and mother rode around the district for miles in various directions getting subscriptions for the building fund for the new school. Their labours were rewarded by liberal subscriptions. At last they had raised sufficient funds towards the project that enabled my father to approach the Education Department asking them to sanction the erection of the school and granting the extra funds required to supplement the funds in hand.
[edit] Influx of pupils
The department was pleased at the sudden influx of pupils. The result was, the funds were granted and shortly the new school was opened. A soiree was given to mask the occasion, it was a great success. The money realised over expenses was spent on extra improvements. The new school having been finished allowed the old school room to be converted into a front room. There was a space between the house and the new school room, so as we were cramped for room for the family, my father built two rooms on the space, he had to do this at his own expense.
[edit] Post Office
At this time there was no Post Office only a loose bag at the Public House. The mail man, on his way to Melbourne would pick it up. A petition was sent to the Postmaster General asking that a Post Office be granted for Morang. The petition was successful. My father was appointed as Postmaster. There was no room available for the Post Office so as the verandah was a wide one my father had a sufficient area partitioned off and boarded in, thereby making a good post office. As the part of the verandah that was turned into the post office was opposite the front bedroom it was necessary to put in a fan light the length of the Post Office so as to give light to the room these alterations were done at my fathers expense.
[edit] Goats
A young fellow made a good deal of money in a novel way. He had six fine very large billy goats he had a small cart made also a harness for the goats and carted material used in the construction of the reservoir. When the work was completed my father bought one of the goats for me. He had a four wheel wagon made, the foll of a horse collar made the collar for the harness, some straps made the bridle, some twisted wire for the bit, two dog chains the traces, black band and tyres complete. He was a great worker, bought wood, water, stuff from the mill to the house. In hot weather a hood would be fixed so that my sisters could ride comfortably. But Prince would never let me ride. As soon as I took the front seat he would stop, turn his head and look at me, as soon as I jumped off he would start off again. Sometimes he would take French leave, about one and a half miles away there was a Government Reserve, usually there were nearly 200 goats there, as soon as I missed Prince, I knew where he would be. On these occasions he would go to the reserve; his first job would be to thrash the other Billies. I would take two or three of my school mates to help bring Prince home. We would take a rope to make a lasso, each one would have a switch. On arriving at the reserve we would see the Billies in a group by themselves. And Prince, like Robinson Crusoe. Lord of all he surveyed. He knew we had come to take him home. He always started first, he would come near us and would then make a charge at us. We had to very careful as he had terrible horns, so one of us had to throw the lasso over his horns then run to the nearest tree take a turn around it by degrees draw up close to the tree, we then had to use the switches and hit him till he gave a bleat all danger of him charging us was then over and he could be let homelike a lamb.
[edit] Natives
There were a few native blacks roaming the district they were great at begging for food or stray chicken and tobacco they seemed harmless ( I think for want ) of opportunity to be otherwise. The men would wonder about having no fixed camping place. If they decided to stay for a little they would with the use and aid of a Tomahawk strip sheets of bark from trees and make a Gunyah. The men when on the march carried nothing but their implements of war. The lubras, were the beasts of burden they carried Dilly Bags (of their own make) to carry the provisions they had begged for and any other loose articles. If there was a piccaninny that could not walk the mother carried it with its legs curled round her neck and gripping her matted hair with it hands. On one occasion a Lubra who was overloaded, also carrying a Piccaninny was walking too slowly to please her lord and master. He kept calling her to hurry up. She said she could not go faster with the load she was carrying. This angered him so much that he wrenched the Piccaninny off her neck. He then took it by its legs and struck its head against a tree, killing it instantly, he then through it on the ground telling her she had less to carry now so to come along faster. Another time several Blacks were marching along the bush track near the school, I with several other school mates were near them, they looked rather fierce, my mates started to run one of the Blacks threw a “Waddy” at us. I stopped turned back a little and picked up the waddy (a sort of club). They did not chase us so I was able to keep the Waddy (one of my sons now has it). It was beautifully made of hard wood. Where the hand would grip it, it had been hacked to roughen the surface so that it could not slip. From the handle parted, it gradually widened to the centre, and then began to taper again to the point. The shape of the “Waddy” was ovate on leaving the handle part. It was beautifully shaped, as smooth as though it had been spokeshaved with a polished surface. On the smooth part of the handle there were several squares carved on it and inside the squares were several strokes parallel with each other. Old hands said the strokes indicated one each as a tally of enemies killed.
[edit] Curlews
One night we heard fearful noises, like cries of distress, the noise was near the house, so we went out to see if we could render any assistance but could not find nothing. We afterwards found out it was the wail of Curlews – they are night birds. My father having been appointed Postmaster, the next he was Electoral Registrar for Births and deaths also Secretary of the Odd Fellows Lodge and Secretary to the Presbyterian Church. This in the old denominational school days. My fathers school was a national one (now state schools). The teacher received a salary. The amount of which was paid according to the number of pupils, also the parents had to pay so much a week for each unless the parents were not in a position to do so. (they then had to make application to the Education Department to be placed on the free list. After enquiries being made if their claim was accepted. The Department paid the fees to the teacher themselves – now fees are abolished ).
[edit] Well Established
By this time my father was established what with his salary and other emoluments. He was now in receipt of not less than twelve pound per week so he never applied for a removal. The different duties my father had to perform gave him no time for manual exertion. So whenever they could spare time my father used to take my mother riding on horse back which was thoroughly enjoyed.
[edit] Local Industry
As I mentioned before the district was mostly under crops of wheat and oats. But smut in the wheat and rust in the oats caused the farmers to abandon the sowing of crops, and turn their attention to dairying. The people were still prosperous. Poverty was almost unknown. There were two Flour Mills one worked by steam the other one lower down the river, by water power, one was a big rich land owner who had farms to let, a public house, a General Store and a Bakery. The other miller had very little capital. The rich miller erected a very strong stone wall, about 12 feet at the base and about 4 feet at the top. Thus damming the river. He then formed a race, so that a stream of water ran to his mill by raising a flood gate. The water was diverted to his mill. By lowering, it flowed over the dam wall without being diverted. He was now in the position of having both steam and water power. The lower miller resorted to law to get an injunction, restraining the other from diverting the usual flow of the river. The case dragged on for two or three years, finally the rich man won the case, no injunction was given. The poor man was on his beam end when the case was decided. Not very long after the case was decided there was an unusual flood in the river. Great logs came swirling along in the current & some coming end on made mighty battering rams. The constant pounding against the dam wall made a big breach & then with the increased rush of water and more battering of logs the dam was abolished and the river returned to its usual course.
[edit] Horses
Sometimes we used borrowed horses for my mother to ride. Once was a nice chestnut. My mother liked it well, it was very quiet, went quickly with a very nice smooth action. So that after riding it all day my mother was not tired. It belonged to the brother in-law of the Rich miller, when the owner of the horse left the district the miller got the horse, when they were busy at the mill, they used this horse to deliver small orders. He gradually got heavier and stronger and began to take larger loads. And wonderful to relate, grew hair on his legs like a Draught horse. His hoofs grew larger and finally could take a ton anywhere. Another strange thing, from being a chestnut colour he became a dark Roan. Another horse my mother rode was an upstanding Grey. One time when we wanted it the owner had it out to grass at Hurst's Station*, on the Diamond Creek, three or four miles from our place, I had to go there to get it.
[edit] Hurst
While I was there I saw a granite monument surrounded with steps and enclosed with massive iron railings. On the monument was inscribed "ERECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM HENRY NORTHEY FACY HURST WHO WAS FATALY SHOT BY A BUSHRANGER WHILE HE WAS ARRESTING HIM". *
It was a lonely station, no neighbours within a mile or two. The men folk were out on the run only Miss Hurst and an old man, who was a rouseabout were at home. A man came riding up to the station and told Miss Hurst that his horse was knocked up and that he wanted another horse. Also being hungry he wanted something to eat. She told him to sit down while she got some food for him. While preparing the meal the man made a movement that disarranged his coat a little enabling her to see that he had revolvers in his belt. The man had no idea that she had seen the revolvers. She managed to tell the old man what she had seen and told him to go for her brother, who was working the nearest to the house. While she was waiting for her brother to come we kept the man in conversation and supplying his wants. When young Hurst arrived, he went to an opening in his bedroom. There was no window, but what was called a deadlight. A space was left in the wall the same as would be done, for an ordinary window, board would be nailed together the size of the opening. A pair of hinges would be affited to it so it would open to give light to the room and when closed have a fastening to it. Young Hurst kept his gun in his bedroom and could reach it from outside through the deadlight. Having got the door where the man was sitting he made the fatal mistake of not approaching at the ready. He began to speak holding his gun behind his back, thinking it could not be seen, but his legs could not have been close together. The man however, saw it, drew a revolver and both fired at the same time Hurst shot hitting the man in the leg crippling him, so the old man and Miss Hurst were able to bind him with ropes until the other arrived. Young Hurst was fatally shot. The police came arrested the man and charged him with Highway Robbery and murder. He was tried, convicted and hung. I'm not certain, but I think the Bushranger was "Power".
[edit] Light Horse
My father rode a fine upstanding Bay horse, it had not long been broken in. It would go all day at an easy canter. Although a good goer it was inclined to be sluggish. For relaxation, my father joined the Victoria Volunteer Light Horse and used to attend. The horse he rode (named Vesta) the sluggish one, must have war horse blood in it for it soon knew all the words of command as well as my father. Often he would release the reins so that she was not guided. She would wheel, turn, charge or do whatever evolution was requested. From the moment she had the Military accoutrements put on her and felt the sword scabbard at her side, you would not have known her for the same horse. Arched neck, champing the bit and pawing the ground. Impatient to be on the move.
I accompanied my father at two of the encampments, one at "Jacksons Creek" Sunbury. The other at "Fyans Ford" Geelong, on Corio Bay. The tide here recedes further than any place I have seen. It would come in and go out again very rapidly, I have never seen so many "Sting Rays" anywhere else, some must have weighed a hundred weight and some only a few inches long on account of the tide going out so rapidly, numbers of sting rays would be left stranded until the tide came in again.
[edit] Corio Bay
During the encampment at Corio Bay the volunteers had a great field day and amount of manoeuvres. The sun blazing hot the "Barwon River" flowed close by. All were thirsty. During a temporary halt, my father asked me to get him a drink of water. I picked up a lemonade bottle and ran to the river, filled the bottle and returned, just as my father held out his hand for the bottle, the order to charge was given. My father looked as though it was hard lines to go with out his drink. Others who thought they had been lucky in getting a drink, thought differently afterwards. For being so thirsty they had imbided freely. But the "Barwon" is brackish. The result was that those who drank could hardly keep in their saddles, on account of the nausea they experienced. My father was thankful for his previous disappointment.
They say union is strength I saw an example of this during this camp. A large body of infantry were marching. On this march they came to an obstacle a paling fence along side of a park. On watching them I expected them to halt when they came to the fence. To my surprise they seized the fence with their hands, and apparently without effort pulled the post rails and paling up, laid them down and continued their march, without any delay that would be noticed.
At these encampments all the meals are given in a huge tent. Each unit sitting together at one table. After the field day was over, all returned with black faces caused by dust settling on the perspiration, another burst of perspiration would cause rivulets, which would cause some of the black to disappear giving a striped appearance to the face. After attending to their horses the men were too weary and hungry to make any toilet, but sat down just as they were, only one had taken time to have a wash and he could not help but be noticed apparently the only man amongst a nigger troop. Melbourne visits
My father used to ride into Melbourne every Saturday. He had a large piece of oil cloth, which he used to pack his parcels in, making a long secure swag of it which he fastened across the Pummel of the saddle with straps passed through the Dees. Placed there on every saddle for that purpose, it hung down each side of the horses shoulders without moving and was no inconvenience to the rider.
Melbourne was eighteen miles from where we lived, it was mostly hill and valley all the way, very few flats. When my father was on his way back, it was after dark, there was a hill nearly two miles from home when he came to that hill we could hear the horse cantering along. We could always distinguish her hoof beats from other horses. So we could tell to a few minutes when he would arrive. One Saturday he went into Melbourne as usual and to our surprise he arrived home without "Vesta" the horse. But driving a "Phaeton" and also a new horse. Vesta had not been broken in for harness, therefore he had exchanged Vesta with the livery stable proprietor where he left his horse to be fed and groomed when in town. The "Phaeton" had an extension at the back of the body so that what was called a dickey seat would seat two, could be bolted to it, so that if not required it could be removed. Also there was a moveable seat in front of the splash board. By these arrangements two or four adults could be seated and two children on the front seat. As required I was the only boy at the time and four sisters (afterwards there were two brothers and two sisters).
[edit] Childhood activities
I used to amuse myself on Saturdays by getting some black bull dog ants in a pickle bottle and then take them to a red soldier ants nest and watch them fight, other times I would take soldier ants to the bulldog ants nest. Another time I would take my centipedes, some time after there would only be left as victors, the bulldogs and soldier ants.
One day I had something to show my father I had not seen anything like it before , I found them under a log. Brownish looking things, with claws like a crab and knotted tails which they curled over their backs. I took my handkerchief out of my jumper pocket I could not catch them as they were too quick for me, so I got two sticks spread my handkerchief on the ground and with the sticks was able to catch three or four. I rolled them up in the handkerchief and put them into my pocket. I had a big green frog in the other pocket. On getting home I took the handkerchief out of my pocket opened it out on the table and said Pa what are these. He immediately killed them all but one, which he placed under a large tumbler. I also produced the frog, which he placed under the tumbler with the other thing so we could see what would happen through the glass. Shortly after the frog died the other thing had stung him and poisoned it. My father then told me they were scorpions, the sting of which was very dangerous and that if I had caught them with my hands I would certainly have been stung with disastrous results, strange to say a day or two after a man came to the school begging he had lost an arm from a scorpion sting. I was called and shown what I had escaped.
[edit] Snake encounter
One Saturday my father and mother went to Melbourne in the Phaeton. One of my sisters and myself amused ourselves in the paddock catching large flying grasshoppers that dropped into pools of water that were all about the place. In the middle of one of them there was a large slab of wood about three feet long and two foot wide, in the centre of it there was a hole about nine inches in circumference. I jumped on it and found that it was not imbedded in the mud firmly for by moving from side to side it rocked and water would gush up through the hole after rocking it for a while. Something put its head through the hole, I had a leg each side of it, the head disappeared, but after another rocking of the log, it appeared again for a second time, after rocking again it came from under the log, it nearly came out of the pond but rested its head on the bank I promptly put my foot on its head. The thing was over three feet long, I asked my sister if she had a piece of string in her pocket, she had a piece of tape, this I tied securely round its tail and we both ran home dragging the thing on the ground as I ran. They had been washing the day before, so there was a large tub full of soapsuds. I put the thing into the tub and we watched it going round the tub at a great rate. While we were watching it, a man who had come to see my father, asked me what I had in the tub, although I had never seen one before I said a snake. He jumped over the paling fence and killed the snake at once. It turned out that it was a brown snake. The man stayed for about two hours to see if I had been bitten. He could hardly believe that I could tie it and drag it home without a bite (for Brown snakes are almost as venomous as Tiger snakes).
On another occasion I was exploring a cliff on the Plenty River, I had a hammer with which I tapped stones, looking for fossils. I was standing on a ledge of rock and gave part of the rock a tap it broke off and four or five little black snakes about six inches long fell from behind. I killed two or three of them with the hammer when I discovered I was standing on Black bulldogs ant nest, they began swarming out, I was more frightened of them than of the young snakes, so took a flying leap to the ground I landed on a rolling stone and sprained my ankle, it was very painful and although I had only to go about a mile and a half it took about two hours to limp home.
[edit] Fishing
On another occasion I went fishing with some boys. In throwing my line out the hook got caught in one of my fingers I couldn't get it out, so carrying the rod and line carefully, I went to the boys home. Their father couldn't extract it so he wound some of the line around his hand and by a sudden jerk, wrenched the hook free tearing the flesh away. I still have the scar. Skinning possum
Another time I was skinning a possum with the small blade of a large pocket knife. I was cutting the skin off at the neck when the blade cut through the skin before I expected it so the blade went into my arm up to the hilt then then I pulled it out no blood flowed, only internally.
[edit] Cows
We had two or three cows, one was a heifer just calved. I had great trouble trying to get her into the stock yard. She kept breaking away. We had a stack of firewood some tons of it. She was so exited that she took a flying leap right into the middle of the heap. It took me some time removing wood before I could clear a way for her to get out. She then went quietly into the stock yard but we couldn't get her into the bail. She was now pretty tired, so she let me place my stool and milk her without bail or by rope. We could always milk her anywhere after that.
Having the cows and two horses, we rented a paddock for them, part of which we fenced off to grow maize and oats for the stock. One of our hens laid in the corn field and hatched a nice brood of chickens. She raised them amongst the corn so they were perfectly wild, if you went near them they would fly into the trees like birds. They were nearly full grown before the hen could get them. They did not grow much larger than big bantams, but very plump.
[edit] Swimming
In summer time I would go with my father to Melbourne and go to the Sandridge Baths now (Port Melbourne) for a swim in the salt water. We used to dive off a spring board into about ten to twelve feet of water. On one occasion there was an unusually low tide. I was ready to go in when a stout old gentleman was beside me. He said you go in first so I dived in, I always dived with my arms extended before me, I was astonished to find that my hands struck the sand nearly turning my finger nails back. When I came up to the surface the old gentleman was in the water with his head under the water and his body bobbing about, I thought, he thinks he is still diving. I went to him and turned him over and found he was dead. It seems that when he dived he held his arms down by his side so that when he struck the sand it was his head which struck first. His neck was dislocated. He was a well to so farmer up country his wife and family were waiting outside for him they had seen the last of him in life.
In the same baths I took my younger brother with me for a dip, he could not swim so I took him on my back and swam out with him, but like Ted Sloan the jockey, he kept getting well forward, until he had forced my head under so I had a great struggle to reach the steps before my breath failed me (I then knew how Sinbad the sailor felt, when he could not shake the old man of the mountain off his shoulders). Another time having swam with my brother I left him on the steps leading into the water, I called to him to go into the cabin and get dressed or else he would catch cold. He said he could not get off the steps. When I went to him I found that an octopus had entwined its tentacles around his ankle and other tentacles clinging to the step, it took some time to release him.
[edit] Nose mishap
At our home the only water supply we had was an underground cistern for household purposes and a small dam in the paddock. One summer the dam dried up so we had to take the cows and horses for water, to a disused quarry that was never empty, I used to ride the horse and drive the cows. One afternoon I took my brother with me he could ride behind me, holding on to my waist, on our return we were coming along the drive leading to the house when a boy cracked a whip behind us, whether the whip hit the horses I do not know, but she kicked up her heels, I threw my arms behind me clasped my brother to me, we were both thrown over the horses head and as my arms were engaged holding my brother tight, I could not save myself. So landed on my nose. My nose was bleeding profusely but my brother was safe. I put the cows into the paddock also the horse, when I went into the house my mother was alarmed, I thought at so much blood about me. But she was looking at my nose, which was lying flat on my cheek. It took some hours constantly bathing with hot water, before my nose was restored to its normal position, had it not been for her constant care, my nose would have been one sided.
[edit] Acquisition
One morning my father went for a ride on horse-back as a constitutional. He met one of the parents looking very desolate. He asked him what was the matter. The man replied, I am in great trouble, he said you know I own a nice cottage and 40 acres of land he had been doing very badly lately. I have had to borrow money on the place and cannot pay principal nor interest, so the person I borrowed from is going to foreclose allowing very little more than what he owed, about half the value of the place. My father said it would be a pity to sacrifice it, so told him to try and sell it to someone else. If he could not get a purchaser my father told him he would take a price nearer the value. The man was grateful for the offer and gladly accepted it, for it would enable him and his family to emigrate to America. He only had the place for a few weeks. There were several families all related living on adjoining farms. They were very anxious to get the place for another relation so that they would all be together, so he sold it to them for very little more than he gave for it.
[edit] Mishap with a horse
A sister older than I liked riding, we used to get a horse she liked, for a few days at a time. one day I was on one horse and driving this horse to the stable yard suddenly it stopped and kicked ad the horse I was riding, it missed the horse but caught me on the shinbone. If it had been shod, I expect my leg would have been broken. But it slightly splintered my shin, it took months to heal, I still bear the mark and for a year or two later in frosty weather, I would have shooting pains.
[edit] Stock Horse
We bought a stock horse, foal at foot, saddle and bridle, at auction. It belonged to a drover, who had brought cattle from Wagga. Having delivered the cattle he was returning by train. The price was small. We got the price for the horse and had the yearling foal, saddle and bridle to boot. At two year old we had it broken on for riding, before it was thoroughly quiet. One showery day I rode it a few miles out of the common. I had an Inverness cape with me to put on when raining. I came across two drovers with a large flock of sheep, they were preparing to camp for the night, they told me they had left two sheep that were too lame to travel and that if I could get them a pound of butter I could have them. They described the gully where the sheep were,. I went to the place and found one of the sheep and placed it over the pommel of the saddle. The pony instantly bucked it off while I was attempting to mount, I got on the horse again, but before I got on I covered the sheep with the cape so the horse could not see it wriggling, I mounted safely and set off on my way about three miles. I could only let the horse walk. The rain now came on heavily by the time I got home I was wet through however, I got the sheep home safely. My parents could hardly believe that I could get the sheep for a pound of butter. Although I told them that the sheep being lame could not travel and would have been left where it was. However having changed into dry clothes and had something to eat they made me ride back to the camp about four miles off and a dark night but the rain had stopped, so I saw the men and told them I had got one of the sheep they said it was alright, a pity I had not got the other one, they thought it very strange that I came such a distance to tell them.
[edit] Chasing Curlews
Another time I was on the common riding a powerful horse a farmer and his son were with me when the farmer saw two curlews with two young ones. The young chap and myself got off our horses and gave the reins to the farmer to hold. We chased the birds for a while when the two young ones dropped apparently dead we picked them up by the legs, they seemed very limp and they swung as if they were broken. Presently we saw them open there eyes a little and flutter and suddenly went limp again. I gave the birds to the young chap to hold while I got my horse, I had only done so when they gave their mournful cry that Curlews make, this frightened the horse so it bolted and went some distance before I could stop it. When the others caught up to me I took the birds again but they immediately gave their cry again, the horse got ready for another bolt so I raised my arm above my head and dashed them to the ground. I expected that they would be killed but they got up at once and ran away.
[edit] Lost cow
We had a young cow that got out of the paddock. I searched for a day or two without finding her, it was told she had been seen at a place nearly four miles off so I went to the place and found her by herself, as soon as she saw me she started to run then leaped a log fence I turned her again, she then jumped the fence again, I galloped after her till we came to a lagoon she jumped into it and swam out on the other side. When I got to her she went into the water again she repeated the performance once more and then was so knocked up that I drove her home without any further trouble.
[edit] Plenty Road
At this time the Plenty Road was being formed and metalled. From Irish Town to Whitalsea. About eighteen mile stretch. A great many men were employed they had about a dozen large tents to live in, as very few miles was completed the camp would be moved so the men would not have too far to walk. At one of the camps not far from us all the men had moved on but left behind a large cross bull dog and mastiff (being a powerful breed of dog) tied up with a thick rope. The poor brute gnawed the rope through and escaped. He turned up at our place famished. We gave him a bone after that he would not leave us. He had a cattle dog (a female) and the mastiff would always be with her. We often tried to tie him up but could never succeed. If he could see both hands he would let you go up to pat him, but if you attempted to fasten him he would be off . He had not forgotten what he suffered before my father had to shoot him or else there would not have been a dog left as soon as they sighted one off they would go to catch it. If it was a small dog the mastiff would take it by the small of its back and if a big one the two would attack one at the throat and the other at the loin. It was only a matter of a few moments before the dog would be finished.
[edit] Sports
Sports were held at a hotel near us. There was a prize for anyone who could hit a three penny bit with a bullet when tossed up in the air. A man a noted quail shot never failed to get the prize. He would hold his gun ready to fire at once, he would wait until the coin had gone as high as it could, as it turned to come down the sun would flash on it for a second then he would fire. The bullet would hit the coin and would not be seen again. Another prize was to run a sheep down. One would be selected that could run. Two brothers caught a sheep between them. The chase lasted over two miles and could be seen all the time, for it ran in a half circle and returned near the starting point. The chase ended at a disused quarry, the brothers went in after it they caught it as it was getting out.
[edit] Employment
I was a pupil teacher in the school. I went up for an examination to get a certificate to teach. I was so sure of passing but when a month passed I received notification that I had failed. When I did not present myself at the next examination one of the inspectors asked my father why I had done so. When told, he said "Had he been older we would have passed him. We thought he would be better fitted to start by waiting a bit". A few days after hearing from the department I started to Melbourne to look for employment (I was about eighteen then). One was at a printers - wages one pound a week until I could set type. Another at a timber yard and coal business same offer of one pound until I could measure up timber. The last was a bonded store. They wanted someone to write out bonded certificates. Remuneration five pound per week. I went home to report what offers I had. My mother decided that printing was a dirty job, timber and coal no better, but the bonded business owned by an honourable, They decided I had better accept. So I started, the five pound I had for pocket money, my father paying for my board and lodging.
[edit] Illhealth
I had been at the Bond nearly twelve months when my father, who was nearly six foot high and no superfluous flesh, began to get a bit stout and was not feeling too well. He attributed it to a lack of exercise, for now he seldom rode but drove. All his duties kept him inside and he did no manual labour. So he went to the lodge doctor who said he was alright, only a slight internal derangement, said to take some pills which he gave. As long as he took the pills he felt better, but if he discontinued taking them, he was not well again. So he said to my mother often a serious illness is averted by timely advice. As he was in Melbourne every Saturday he said he would consult a Collins Street Doctor. When he went to see the Doctor he was not expected from his rounds for an hour or two. As my father had so much to do and only a short time to do it in, he could not wait for the Doctor. So he crossed over the street to another medico, when he saw him he said "Doctor. I am not well, I wish you to sound me". The Doctor looked at him intently and said there is nothing wrong with you, do not be alarmed, I will give you a prescription and you will soon be as well as ever. Next Saturday my father called on the doctor again. He told the doctor he'd seen him the week before because was not feeling well, but now I am ill so please sound me. The Doctor laughed and said oh if you insist of course I will sound you but there is no need to do so. He then used his stethoscope. My father watching caught a surprised look, he then said Ah Doctor there is something wrong. The Doctor replied by your appearance I would never had thought it, why your liver is badly enlarged. My father continued to visit him, but instead of getting better I believe it was acetic acid. After a few days of this treatment (the acid was taken internally and applied externally) where it was applied caused blisters until the whole surface was a mess of sores. He had to see another Doctor at Carlton. He said that his liver was In a bad state, also Dropsy was coming. It would be necessary for my father to stay in town, so the he could see him daily, but before he could do anything for the liver he would have to cure the acid-burns, that the inside was as badly burnt as the outside. I had to leave the Bond and take charge at home. While my father stayed in Melbourne my mother had to go too as he was very weak and required constant attention.
[edit] Post Office
The mailbag had to be ready before seven in the morning, attend to the Post Office, receive the mail from Melbourne, sort it and make a mail bag for two branch afficers and look after the school. I would ride to Melbourne three nights a week after all things were attended to for the day. I would take whatever letters arrived for my father. He would read them and dictate replies. Then I would start home again, a distance on my return of thirty-six miles each trip. When I got back home it would be too late to have a sleep because of the seven am mail and the nine am school. I would have a nights sleep alternately, the other nights I would be on the road. On several occasions I must have been sleeping as I cantered along and would wake up by the horse stopping while the toll keeper came out to open the gate. This went on for a month.
[edit] Continued ill health
My fathers legs had begun to swell with the Dropsy. They had to be supported and kept in a horizontal position. The Doctor now said that the only hope was to return home. So he returned but does not seem to improve. He did not take to his bed but would lie all day in an easy chair. I made a rest to support his legs. About three weeks after coming home one Sunday the family were sitting at the table I was carving for them when my father looked round the door and said I will take your place now John. He finished the carving, helped himself and made a good meal. He got up and said "Thank god I feel better. I think I will have a pipe". He had not smoked for weeks. He filled his pipe, took a draw or two then put his pipe away saying "I am not up to it yet". He smoked light aromatic Tobacco. He never lit his pipe twice. If he was interrupted he would clean the tobacco out and next time would fill again with fresh. Also he never smoked a pipe for more than two or three weeks and would then get a new one. He did not stay in the room long. Said he felt tired, so went to his chair on the verandah again. Towards evening he called to my mother and said "Take me in, I will go to bed now". He started to undress and as he took his clothes off he said "I shall never wear them again". Before morning, he passed away quietly. He was sitting up in bed, my mother holding his hand and I was supporting his back. He made a movement to lean back, I lowered him onto his pillow. He lay still for a short time and then with a gentle sigh without any struggle he left us forever. He was buried in the "Whittlesea" cemetery *. A great number followed his remains.
The school was now closed until another teacher was appointed. The Post Office was transferred to another place, also Electoral, Births and Deaths offices, so that the new teacher had only the school to start with. We were allowed a month to make arrangements for our future residence. We were a large family, our expenses had been heavy so that we were left with only a few hundred pounds to carry on with.
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