— PRESENTED TO —

THE BOYAL AUSTRALIAN H ISTORICAL SOCIETY

September,1947

E.T. No. 1. Commonwealth of A u s t r a lia .

. ' — —■ ' ■■■■" St | POSTMASTER-G&f EKAL' S DEPARTMENT, HEW SOUTH WALES. f TELEGRAM. n . t» This message has been received subject to the Post and Telegraph Act and Regulations. g All co.uplainU to be addressed In writing to the Deputy Postmaster-General. S Station from, No. of words, check, and time lodged. Remarks.

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This message has been received subject to the Post and Telegraph Act and Regulations. A ll coaiplainta to be addxe^ned in writing to th» Deputy Postmaster-General. \

Station from, No. of words, c h e c k , and time lodged. Remarks.

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Advertisement, Sydney feting ...... » 3 ,, “ calling for Subscriptions ... 4 Article, Blue Mountain Centenary- (ff#W.4 ... 13,16 Address to School Children,- (F.W.) ...... 18,21 Account of the Celebrations ...... 26,31 Blaxland's Route Map ...... 17 ,, , Wentworth, & Lawson, Article ... 22,26 ,, ’ s Journal, Review...... 35 Centenary Celebrations ...... 2,3,7 ,i Preparations ...... 4|35 ,, Committee Meetings ...... 5,7,8 ,, of the Western Plains ...... 38- 54 Cox, Willi am ...... 41 Evans, George William, portrait ...... 41 ,, s Diary ...... 4I*«46 ,, s Map of Route ...... 47 "Evans' Crown", Mountain near Parana ...... 39,40 First Sydney Public Meeting ...... 1,2 Government Aid sought ...... 8 Junction, Fish, and Campbell Rivers ...... 48 Lecture in Sydney, (F.Walker) ...... 4 ,, ,, Bathurst, ,, ,...... 32

Mount Biaxland located ...... 10 ,, ,, a Trip to ...... XX ,, Correspondence...... 11,12,13 Macquarie Rouse ...... 49-52 ,, Governor ...... 41 Meeting, Public, in Sydney ...... 1,2 Our Benefactors * ...... 35 08Connell Plains ...... 48

Photo. B.M.C.C«mmittee ...... 33 Post-card View, Mt Victoria ...... 34 Precedence, a question of ...... 16 "Rosenthal", Little Hartley ...... 37 Settlers, the first in the W e s t ...... 53-54

•Vestera Road, Little Hartley ...... 37 I N l C l E X 7

I_H_ D B X - P a ges .55_ t o _ 1 0 7

Address to students at Bathurst,F.Walker All Saints' Cathedral,Bathurst Birthday of the Discovery of Bathurst ...... 6 3 - 6 6 "Brucedale",old residence of Suttor Family . ... Bushy, Mrs, P o r t r a i t ...... Cassidy,Major,Reminiscences of . ... Centenary Celebrations, Bathurst, Hov. 15-22,1583 , t ,, Documents, ,, ,, Bathurst, Coaching Days, The ...... District of Bathurst,Growth of ...... Evans,G"¥.,Grandson of the explorer . . . "Evens'Crown”, Tarana ...... Evans, George William,Portrait First Settlers, The ...... ,, Church, 5he ... ,Tirnm Gold Discovery, The ...... "Hereford”, Holy Trinity Church,Kelso, History of Bathurst,Early .. . .. Lee, J o h n ...... Lee, G e o r g e ...... Macquarie House ...... Methodist Church,Bathurst Obelisk,General Stewart Old Memories,Building of the Railway Pion e e r s , Some of the old ...... Residence of the early days, a .. Rural Scene, Bathurst ...... Roman Catholic Cathedral,Bathurst R u t h e r f o r d , J a m e s , F a m i l y H o m e of ...... ,, ,, P o r t r a i t ...... Railway Building of the l i n e to Bathurst Suttor Family, old residence of ...... St Joseph'sMount, ...... Stewart,J.H. Residence of ...... ,, M a j o r General, ...... ,, J.H.,Portrait ...... Suttor Family, the ... St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Bathurst Turpin, Mrs,Daughter of G.7.Evans

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| orop^scd to celebrate next year, set ont, and ( aftor. untold hardships, achieved their goal. Z r K f His Excellency reminded his hearers that CROSSING THE MOUN- | when honoring ihc three explorers, the action I of Governor Macquarie, in immediately taking steps r.o have the road surveyed by Surveyor Evuns. should not be overlooked. . T A M S . There were certain outstanding features which marked out the achievement as worthy ; ot commemoration—firstly, because it was the CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. I first successful attempt of exploration ever | mrdt in Australia, also it was the first sup- cet'Sful crossing o f the Blue Mountains, since SPEECH BY THE GOVEBNOB. I wlita ini ether road has been followed over those mountains, except the one travelled by the explorers. There was, however, even a sti onger reason. He did not believe in com­ . The proposed celebration ol tie centenary memorating the centenary of every eveni, and ot the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blax­ before doing so, would apply the following land, Wentworth, and Lawson, was discussed at test: Was the event of such importance that, without it happening, history would have to a public meeting in the Sydney Town Hall on be written another way? .In this case no one Tuesday alternoon. could doubt but that the crossing of the Blue The Lord Mayor presided, and amongst those Mountains exercised a momentous influence on present were the Governor, Mr. Frank Walker, the very existence of the continent. He had, (president of the Celebration committee), Col­ therefore, great pleasure In seconding the reso­ onel Rupert Carrington, C.V.O., D.S.O., the lution. . ■ I ___------Rev. Archdeacon Gunther, Mr. D. R. Nall, Councillor Berghofer (Blaxland Shire), having M.L.C., Mr. J. Dooley, M.L.A., Messrs. Col­ f seconded the foregoing, Mr. Frank Walker lett (Mayor of Parramatta), J. Ryan, J. W. moved the second resolution, as follows:— Eerghofer, H. G. Reinits, J. Bloome, and Cap­ "That it bo decided to formulate some prac­ tain Lamb (the organising secretary). tical and workable schemes by which a con- The Lord. Mayor garve a brief histo*ical re­ sideraible amount of money may be raised in sume of tho colony’s history prior to the ex­ thu city, suburbs, and country towns.” pedition of the three explorers, a?d pointed Mr. J. Ryan (Lithgow) in seconding briefly out out the benefits that had resulted to New lined the proposed programme, which consisted South Wales as a result of the successful of (1) permanent improvements, (2) pavilion crossing of the hitherto impassable range. He Mount York, memorial at Mount Blaxland, hoped that a liberal response "•""''I be made (•>) decoration of ouelisK at Mount York by the towards subscribing funds ±01 tua . proposed- trustees, (4) decoratiun of the marked tree by celebration, and stated that he had received the Katoomba Municipality, (5) banquet on the a cheque for £50 from Mr. W. Dixon. day of celebration, at which two of the fore­ Lord Chelmsford moved the following reso­ most Australian orators were to make orations, lution:—That afrangements be made to cele­ (G), general celebrations in all mountain cen- brate ihe centenary of the gallant efforts of 1 tres from Penrith to Orange, (7) bonfires on Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson In crossing the principal peaks of the range. the then impenetrable and unassailable Blue Mr. Hall, Minister for Justice, in moving the Mountains 1n May, 1813, and thus assisting to third resalutlon, stated that he had been asked develop the present magniflc-nt pastoral and by the Premier to attend the meeting that af­ farming lands. ternoon, and, to express the entire sympathy of His Excellency said:—“We all travel so very tiie Government with the movement. He there­ easily nowadays that we hardly reflect on the fore had great pleasuru in moving that we es­ difficulties involved in laying down a road or tablish a permanent record for all time to railway, and moreover, are apt to forget all the those intrepid explorers, Blaxland, Wentworth, toil, Thought, knowledge, and care that have and Lawson. Mr. H. G. Remits, In seconding, to be exercised by the men who had planned , said that he as treasurer had received the sum out the particular road or railway. One hundred of £125 to date. years ago the colony of New South Wales was Mr. Dooley proposed the last resolution, cribbed, cabined, and confined by an impene­ which was seconded by the Rev. Archdeacon trable mountain range, over which many at­ Gunther, and was as follows:—"That a strong tempts had been made to traverse. All sort* metropolitan and suburban sub-committee be of legends then prevailed as to the conditions formed of influential citizens working in con­ there prevailing,' and as to those who inhabit­ junction with the present executive committee." ed the ranges. About that time the colony ex­ On the proposal of the Lord Mayor, it was perienced a drought, and Governor Macquari* decided that the Sydney committee should con­ felt that the last stage was reached In the sist of the District Commander, Colonel Wal- colony’s existence unless something was done lack, their Worships the Mayors of Mascot, In penetrating the mountains to the north and Hunters Hill, Botany, Waverley, Granville, Bal­ West. In consequence thereof the three brave main, Glebe, Willoughby, lirumiuoyuc, Reu- meu. the centenary of whose success it was fern, and Lane Cove. Messrs. C. D. ratterson.

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F. C. Govers, H. G. Braddon, C. G. Wade, No one who was acquainted with the history I H. T. M. Badgery. W. Dixcon. S. Jones, S. N. of the crossing of the Blue Mountains and the M'Lennan, R. Venning Thomas, and T. M. wonderful industrial development which had Shakespeare, together with those then pre­ followed it could doubt that the enterprise had sent, and with power to add to their num­ had an unusual influence upon the welfare of ber. the colony of New South Wales. (Applause.) It was decided to form a deputation, con­ Mr. J. W. Berghofer supported the motion, sisting of the Presidents and Mayors of the which was unanimously carried. various shires and municipalities interested, A large working committee, consisting of all as well as’ leading citizens of Sydney and the those present, besides the mayors of several suburbs and. the members of the committee, suburban and country municipalities, was formed, and a plan of campaign arranged. who should interview the Government with a view of obtaining a subsidy On the propositicm of Alderman Collett (Mayor of Parramatta), seconded by Mr. J- Bloome, it was decided to ask the Lord Mayor to accept the joint treasurership; and also, on the motion of Mr. Ryan, to ask His Excel­ lency whether he could see bis way clear to accept the positipn of chairman ot the Sydney FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1912. com mittee. The date of the next meeting was left to too president and the organising secretary to ar­ CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. range. If a programme such as that outlined at BLUE MOUNTAIN PIONEERS. Katoomba on Saturday can be carried out at Moj*nt 'York next May, the event will be unique in Australian history. The pro­ gramme is equally varied and comprehen­ MOVEMENT TO MEMORIALISE sive. It will be spectacular on a great EXPLORERS. scale, but it will also combine many items calculated to produce permanent effeet.^JL memorial pavilion occupies ja—m omiineat It was not a large gathering, but thorougs- ^SthtaTlo^ited in ly earnest one, which assembled in the Town- such a beauty spot as Mount York reserve, hall yesterday to continue a movement origi­ will be a work of permanent utility. Xor nated in the Blue Mountain townships to is Mount Blaxland to be forgotten. Some­ celebrate the centenary of the Blaxland, Went­ thing in th e w a y <^f||a(^ l(yj^^|ca^rn, sur- worth, and Lawson expedition to discover a crossing over the main range. m ou n te c f S y The Lord Mayor, who presided over the erectet^"aT"t5SSistoric spot/th e terminal gathering, proposed the desirability of mak­ point of an arauotJ8™Pngriinage. II funds ing arrangements to celebrate the gallant permit statues may be erected to the -eB - efforts of Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson In crossing the then impenetrable and unas­ ory of the three explorers on the summit sailable Blue Mountains in May, 1813 and thus of Mount York. The existing obelisk is to assisting to develop t':e present magnificent be made ready with paint and decoration pastoral and farming lands. for celebration day, while the marked tree The State Governor, Lord Chelmsford, cor­ dially supported the proposal. It was a hun­ and other places unmistakably associated 1 dred years since the colony seemed to be going with the explorers’ route will also he ap­ to be “ cribbed, cabined, and confined” by the propriately decorated. Two of Australia's mountains to the north and west. For 25 years from the beginning of the settlement attempts greatest orators, the State Attorney-Gene­ had been made to get through the6e formidable 1 ral and the leader of the Federal Oppos;- barriers. Eight unsuccessful attempts were tion, will lie invited to' translate the senti­ made. At a critical period a severe drought ment of the dayr into glowing words and occurred, and Governor Macquarie realised that sentences of classic mould; and in all this something must be done in the way of opening new grazing and agricultural land if the colony fair Commonwealth no better selection were to be rescued from its deplorable con­ could be imade. Orations' bv two such men dition. Then, as was well known, three men will be among the inextinguishable records set out on a successful attempt to open up the | of the celebration. Choirs and bands will back country, which feat it was proposed to commemorate next year. While they proposed impart the elevating and softening influ­ to commemorate that fine achievement, ho ence of music, and if possible the school thought they should not forget that Governor children from the Nepean to the M a c -m r ii Macquarie backed up their successful work.

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will be mustered to sine Australian patri­ otic songs. An effort will be made to have j every section of the Commonwealth defence CflOSSI{Jq THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. I forces adequately represented, also the Xm- I perial navy, to which, beyond all other Ce n t e n a r y celebrations . earthly power, we owe the possibility of being able to celebrate a triumph of peace­ ful colonization achieved 100 years ago. PROGRESS OF ARRANGEMENTS. Xot only throughout the day, but also at night, the celebrations will be continu­ LITHGOW, Monday.—At a largely-attended ed, and what with bonfires and general meeting of the executive of the Crossing of the illuminations the mountains will be a blaze Blue Mountains Centenary Committee, on Satur- of light from Penrith to' Orange. Altoge­ i day, Mr. Ryan reported that he had interviewed ther the scope of the programme is remark­ Col. Wallack, District Commandant, during his able, and its successful realisation will en­ recent visit to lathgow. The Commandant tail a great expenditure of effort and or- , ■was sympathetic and promised to give every 1 ganising ability. There is, however, con- | assistance towards the success of the proposed military display at Mount York. Col. Waiiack siderable enthusiasm behind the move­ had promised to visit the site next month, and ment, and it is hoped that this will tri’ p ! was disposed to sanction the attendance of the the required momentum. The crossing of Garrison Band on celebration day. the mountains in 1813 was a distinct land­ The matter of arranging for children’s choirs was left in the hands of Mr. Laws and the mark in Australian history. It was the president (Mr. Frank Walker), the president first successful attempt to penetrate the in­ of the Historical Society, and Cr. Waterhouse, terior of this State, and its results Aave a who were requested to interview the conductors tremendous stimulus to settlement and pro­ of the Sydney Liedertafel. and other musical societies. It was stated that the Minister for duction in those early days. Few Austra- • Works had approved the rendering of assist­ lian events in the first years of the nine­ ance by Mr. C. H. Caswell, C.E., in preparing teenth century are more worthy of com­ a sketch of the site at Mount York, plans for memoration than this achievement of Blax- , the necessary road, and other improvements, and locating the route taken by the explorers land, Wentworth, and Lawson, and every from Mount York to Mount Blaxland. Mr. Australian who realises its significance will Cormack promisad the support of the Tourist be disposed to assist in promoting the suc­ Bureau in securing adequate publicity for the cess of the centenary celebrations. There celebrations. Mr. Shakespeare, manager of the Country are, of course, difficulties to be overcome, Press Association, wrote that suitable articles and the first of these is financial. A large would be embodied in the literary supplement sum will be required for permanent mem- Issued by the association, and published in 60 } orials and unavoidable incidental expenses. papers. ______If citizens generally will set the example bv r-i —- voluntarily subscribing, the Government may be more willing to give a substantial grant in aid, imost, if not all, of which j would be spent in permanent improvements to a popular and beautifully situated re­ serve. The magnitude of the celebrations ______Meetings. ______must depend entirely on the extent of the BOSSING OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS CENTENARY. financial support accorded. Sympathy is O 4 PUBUC MEETING will be held in the Vestibule ot the Town-hall, OCTOBER 22, 4 p.m. naturally very gratifying, but unless it de­ BUSINESS: Forming a Sydney Committee to work in conjunction with the Mountain Committee. velops a cash expression the anxieties of Public cordially invited to attend. The Lord Mayor the committee entrusted with the prepara- I will preside. State Governor will be present. tory work will be in no degree lightened. FRAMi WALKER, President, tnH President Australian Historical Society. Captain CECIL LAMB, R.A.G.A. (ret.), ______Organising Secretary.

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/CROSSING OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS •fFrasr-cEossiiTs b l u e m o u h t a i u s , V CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS.

PREPARING FOR THE CENTENARY. It is intended to erect a Permanent Record on Mount York in commemoration of this event, and a demon­ stration on a large scale will be held in May next The project ot fittingly celebrating the firs* year to provide the funds for this purpose. A full crossing qf the Blue Mountains by Messrs* and comprehensive programme has been arranged, and Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson in May, the Government will be approached with a view to 1S1J, is being taken up with enthusiasm by leeking a £ for £ subsidy. the residents of the various towns on tba Captain Cecil Lamb, Royal Australian Garrison Ar­ tillery (retired), was unanimously elected to the posi­ mountains, as well as by a large number

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Mr. Laws’ offer to convene a meeting ot school teachers to discuss the question of CROSSING THE BLUE IHOUN- having school choirs at Mount York on ] J' TAINS. celebration day wes accepted. Mr. Laws J r ______#______will report the result of the meeting to the i committee. ! . ^ enthusiastic m e e t in g a t The executive will deal with the proposal ) that assistance be sought fro i'll all moun- ; y KATOOMBA. tain ‘owners of vehicles of every descrip- ’ tion . The proposal that night entertainments ‘ ; BIS PROGRAMME APPROVED. be held in those mountain centres which had suitable halls was referred to the ex- i ecu tive. , At a meeting of the Crossing of the Blue The various local authorities will be cojn- i Mountains Centenary Committee, held at mlunicated with regarding, the proposal that I Katoomba Town Hall on Saturday ev»n- a line of bonfires be lighted on prominent I ing, the programme suggested by the execu- peaks from Parramatta to Orange on cele­ I tive was brought forward and explained by bration night. * j Hr. j. Ryian, one of,the vice-presidents, dis­ it was resolved that application be in­ cussed, and the following agreed to:— I vited by advertisement in various papers I It was resolved that for the present the t(fT the position of organising secretary— exact date of the celebration be left open, each applicant to state his own t e r m s . i proposals for holding it on May 24 (Em­ •It was unanimously agreed that the State pire Day) and May 28 (the actual date of , Government be approached for a grant of crossing) were defeated. i £1000; the time and other details of such It was agreed that a permanent pavilion deputation to be arranged by the execu­ be erected at Mount York, if funds permit. tive. The question of erecting statues at vari­ The executive will also deal with the pro­ ous conspicuous spots at Mount York was posal that each centre be asked to organise left for futftre consideration. at least one entertainment in aid of the i, Mr. Howell undertook, on behalf of the celebrations. . ______-.JP trustees of Mount York reserve, to see that the obelisk was re-painted, the lettering re­ A register of accommodation on the' mountains will be compiled 1)v the org a n is­ constructed, and decorated on the day of ing secretary', when appointed. celebration. It was also resolved to ask The following matters were left for the the Katoomba Council to decorate the executive: Co-operation of clergymen the 1 marked tree. A motion was carried that a suitable in- preMous Sunday to be requested: co-opera- j expensive memorial be erected at Mount tion of Education Department and teach?rs to be also sought in giving lessons on Blaxland. i early exploration; flags to be asked for i The erection of a temporarv platform for decoration of Mount Victoria station and | the orators of the dav (Messrs. Holman streets, throuch which procession will pass [and De&kin were suggested) was left for the executive to deal with, as was also the also for Mt. \ork; residents generally to be provision of stands for bands and1 choirs, asked to decorate their own premises also catering accommodation, etc., for the throughout the mountains; Railway Com­ (visitors. missioners to be deputationised reVarding ! Thff proposed alteration of the roads go­ special trains and cheap rates, also re de­ ing to Mount York, the clearing away of corating engines on celebration dav. In , trees obstructing the views along the wj tI3, tl,le last named suggestion, roads, and the preparation of sufficient the Mayor of Bathurst (Aid. Rigbv) said ground at Mount York to meet all needs— *at a certain well-known gentleman talk- all these things were left in the hands of he S a PrLze' an<* » he did so the executive. ianothei y) “ lg b® induced to 8 ™ The recommendations of Mr. 0. 11. Cas­ well, C.E., for the improvement of the , J heKProP,°Lal l ha 1 a general public holi- reserve and its preparation for celebration w/e a ed ,for the ria.v of celebration day, were referred to the executive. Appli­ w as unanimously adopted. cation is to be made, by the executive, to It was also agreed that the executive the military department, for about 100 committeebe invested with plenarv power tents and a couple of marquees. and be authorised tom ake an,- addition or The executive will also make arrange­ alteration to the proerfwmme which in their ments, if possible, for a military and naval i judgment was advisable, or which financial display, and for detachments of boy scouts limitations necessitated. and senior cadets to be invited. Tn view of the larce amount of work As to the scope of the invitations, a mo­ which will fall on the Mount Victoria tion was carried that the executive take people, it was resolved that the Mount Vic­ the matter in hand and report to the com- • toria representatives be authorised to se- mittee at a later date^^_ lect six additional members on the execu­ tive. to have executive authority- in assist- IS [blank] i ins: the committee or in carrying out the j ter, it was agreed to leave it in the ’ [resolutions of the committee, but not to hands of the executive. have the right to vote at executive meet­ Another otter was to issue an historical in g s . brochure, which would cost at least ,£1000 I This dealt with the whole of the propos- would comprise 500 pages, and have 300 I als drawn up by the executive. illustrations. JLiie ollieiai patronage of tne OTHER MATTERS. committee wras asked,, also articles and At the meeting on Saturday Mr. Frank other matter that might be required Left ! Walker, president of the committee, occu­ with the executive. pied the chair, and the following represen­ Mr. Laws proposed Mr. ltedfern, of Mt. , tatives were present:—Mr. H. G. Rienits V ictoria, as the second joint non. secret- [ (treasurer of the committee), Cr. J. W. ary with Mr. Wilson. Seconded by Cr. Col­ Berghofer (vice-president), Aldermen Linde- lier, and carried. man and C. L. Dash (Katoomba Council), Mr. H. G. Rienits, treasurer, stated that Mr. Laws (Blackheath Progress Associa­ the subscriptions so far amounted to £?2. j tion), Mr. L. H. Howell (Mount York trus­ which was in the Government Savings tees), Messrs. P. Mulheran and T. H. Bur­ an(* there was also an amount oi rell (Wentworth Falls P.A.), Mr. R. B. £20 in promises. Paterson (Leura Progress Association), I The^ chairman said Mr. J oynton Smith, Mr. L. S. Bradford (Lawson Tourist As­ M.L.C., of Katoomba, was very sympa­ sociation), Mr. P. Mathews (Mt. Victoria thetic towards the movement, and would P.A.), Aid. Collier (Blue Mountains Shire j come down handsomely in the matter of a Council), Capt. Hudson (Katoomba School donation later on. He (the chair man) sug- of Arts), Aid. Rigby (Mayor of Bathurst), | gested that a circular might be issued to Mr. Job Cummens (Hartley Valley P.A.), prominent men, descendants of the explor­ Messrs. PI. O. Johnston, J. Cobby, and J. ers, and others, asking for financial as­ Cliff (Medlow Bath P.A.), Mr. W. C. Plum- sistance, and read out a draft of the pro- er (Mt. Victoria P.A.), Aid. Davies (May­ j posed, circular. 4 or of Katoomba), Mr. N. Delaney (Black­ j Mr. Ryan moved that 1000 circulars be heath P.A.), Mr. George Phillips (Black­ [approved for printing and distribution. heath P.A.), Mr. John McCall (Lithgow Seconded by Mr. Burrill and carried. P A.), Dr. Kirkland and Mr. J. Henderson It was resolved, on the .motion of Messrs. (Lithgow Caledonian Society), Mr. .Tas. Rurrill and Mathews, that copies of the Padley (Lithgow Progress Association),! son gs mentioned by Mr. McCormick be Mr. J. Ryan (vice-president), Mr. A. E. purchased. Parker (Mount Victoria P.A.), Mr. Sam. The chairman said he had delivered a Wilson (kon. secretary), Mr. John Neate lecture at Law son on the previous night to (Blackheath School of Arts). Apologies a crowded audience, and had impressed on were received from Cr. Waterhouse and the his hearers the importance of the coming Hartley representatives. celebrations. He offered to deliver ad­ The president extended a hearty welcome dresses at Lithgow and Bathurst in aid of to the delegates. Already a good deal of he fund, and said he had over 1500 enthusiasm had been imparted into the lides illustrating the lecture. movement, and everything indicated a great A letter from the Orange Council stated success for the celebration. that the delegate had reported that he Correspondence was received from various was the only delegate west of the Moun- I quarters, notifying the appointment of de­ tains present at the Mt. Victoria meet- i legates, etc. The “Daily Telegraph” Co. I ing, and for that reason the Orange Coun : wrote that they regretted they could not cil had decided to withdraw from repre- I see their way to open, a fund through the sentation. In view' of the statement in a. columns of the paper in aid of the cele­ daily paper giving an entirely different brations , but enclosed a cheque for five | reason for withdrawal, it w'as resolved , i guineas towards the object. that the chairman write privately to the ; A long letter was read from a composer. ' Mayor of Orange on the matter, and pioint ; ih Sydney, offering his services in1 con­ out the national significance of the move­ ducting a choir of school children on cele- ; m ent. bration day. The letter was received, and j At this stage the delegates adjourned for referred to the executive. tea, and resumed at 7 p.m., when, in an A letter was read from a leading pic­ address extending over half an hour, Mr. ture films company in Sydney, offering to Ryan outlined the proposals of the ex- : take a moving picture record of the pro­ ecutive for the celebration. lie estimated ceedings, etc., and desired to secure the that the cost of the celebration would be sole rights. kit the least £1500 to £1600. On the Cr. Berghofer said he had received the1 motion of Messrs. Dash and I jaw s the re­ letter, and had written in reply asking the port was received. com pan y t o maJre a delinite offer as t o f The following gentlemen were added to what they were prepared to pay for the the executive : The Undersecretary for (privilege. To that he had received no re­ 1- ducation and the Chief Inspector. The , ply. After others had discus:;od the mat- Iflori. Jovnton Stniifch and Mr. Mark Foy

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vere adicled. to the committee. Captaiu Lamb, the organising secretarv, I Mr. Padley suggested a ride niatch for has had a, strenuous career. Soon after his ' ill places from Orange to. St. Marys. This retirement from the Royal Artillery he raised vaa left with the executive. £1300 for Lho Sydney Hospital Centenary Fund. Ho joined the service on June 21, IThe president suggested that a mom her- ■ JS90. and for fourteen years did excellent ship might be obtained as a means work. He was under fire in the Boer War. of popularising the movement and rais­ and was mentioned in all the despatches for ing money. Members thought it a good his marked administrative ability. His re­ proposal, and the chairman, Messrs. Rim- ’ tirement was due to a temporary breakdown its and I>ash were appointed a Committee : in health consequent on injuries received in to go into the matter and report to next } engagements in South Africa. He became enrolling officer of the Millions Club. meeting. i The next meeting of the executive was I The committee purposes asking the public I fixed for Lawson in a fortnight's time. I to put its hands into its pockets and sub- ' I scribe to a scheme which promises to re- j and the next meeting of the committee will j pay handsomely. The Government is to be ! be held, a month hwiee at Wentworth Falls. approached regarding a pound for pound : A hsarty vote of thanks was accorded ! subsidy, and the, miltary and naval authori- the Mavor of Katoomba for the us? of the ! ties will no doubt assist with bands and Council Chambers. Aid. Biavies responded, 1 i tents. nr»d said the Katoom ba Council would help "It will be a regular Bclhi Durbar,” said jthe movement in a^-v wav nossible. Captain Lamb this morning. “It will bo A heartv vote of thanks to the chair­ j made historical, instructional, educational, man concluded the proceedings a’-out 9.15. j attractive, and amusing. We want to per- 1 petuate the memory of those three gallant men—Lawson. Blaxland, and Wentworth. It will be a British Empire affair, and one in , AFTER A HUNDREB VtfiKS. which Blue Mountain residents will join in | with all. A thing of the sort has been j ------*•------mooted by the Blue Mountain foil; for a long time past. They are already working l CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS. j hard in the right direction.” The first public meeting will be held in i ____ the Sydney Town Hall on October 21, when the Lord Mayor is to be asked to take the CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS IN VIEW. ! chair. ! |

Early In May, next year, the Blue Moun­ tains, at a spot somewhere between Blaxland CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS. and Mount York, will undergo a remarkable j transformation, and for a whole week a vast MEETING OF CENTENABY ;l| enclosure will merge into a veritable Coney f • 12 COMMITTEE. Island, where everything will be entirely Australian. And all this is to perpetuate the 0 * 3 r ______memory of three great explirers—the three At the Invitation of the president of the Blue Australians who were first to cross the pic­ Mountain Shire ihe members of the executive turesque ranges, and incidentally the prime committee of the Crossing of the Blue Moun­ . movers in the opening up of the great coun- tains Centenary Committee, met in the Shire , try behind them, Lawson, Blaxland, and Chambers, Lawson, on Saturday night. W entworth. The president, Mr. Frank Walker, occupied r What is npw wild bush, for 168 hours will the chair, and was supported by Messrs. Ryan, j fairly hum with amusements—theatres, balls, Waterhouse, Cormack (Tourist Bureau), A. W. 1 picture-shows, buckjumping, and cattle- I Collett (Mayor of Parramatta), and others. j throwing contests, boomerang hurling com- ! The hon. secretary, Mr. A. S. Redfern, hav­ / petition, Australian native corroborees, picnic • ing read the inward correspondence, and seve­ excursions, motor trips, and a host of other i ral matters of detail having been discussed, 0 public enjoyments. the question pf approaching the Government The newly-formed. "The Crossing of the for financial assistance was dealt with. 1 Blue Mountains Celebration Committee,” of Mr. Ryan pointed out that as the estimates which Captain Cecil Walter Lamb (formerly for the coming financial year would soon be in of the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery) course of preparation, it behoved them to ap­ is organising- secretary, proposes to do all proach the Government without delay, other­ J this and more. The officials of the connnit- wise! they might be informed that as no pro­ 1 tee are all energetic people, and the pre­ vision had been made thereon, the matter sident, -Mr. Frank Walker, i3 Flso the presi­ would have to stand over to the following dent of the Australian Historical Society. vear. He. therefore, suggested the formation ] He'has had large experience in work of the of a Sydney committee, whose function would sort, and lor years has organised for various not consist in formulating the programme, but | societies.. ______U

8 23

who would co-operate with the present ex­ ecutive, both in asking the Government lor assistance, and arranging for the presence on The Crossing of the Bine Mountains. the day of celebration of representatives of the naval and military forces, the Senior Cadets, etc. MEETING OF THE BOARD OF It was therefore decided to appoint the fol­ lowing gentlemen (subject to their assent CONTROL. being obtained) members of such committee:— The Premier, the Chief Commissioner for A meeting of the Board of Control of Railways, the Under-Secretary and Chief In­ spector of the Department of Public Instruc­ the above Celebrations was held in the tion. Colonel Wallack, Admiral King-Hall, School of Arts, .Wentworth Falls, on Sat­ the Lord Mayor of Sydney, the Mayors of all urday night last. Present— Mr Frank suburban municipalities, the presidents of the Walker, in the chair, supported by Mes- , Chambers of Commerce and Manufactures, and srs S. Wilson and A. S. Redfern (Joint of the Labor Council, the Sydney daily paper hon Secs.), Reinits (hon. Treas), J. Ryan,; representatives, the Colonial Architect, the N. Bassett, T. Burrill, A. Lawes, R. Mul- j Tourist Bureau, Messrs. J. Cook, Carr, and heran, J. Plummer, J. Cliff, C. H. Linde- Cann, Ms.P., and Brinsley Hall, Miller, and Dooley, Ms.L.A., the chairman of the Stock man, J. H. Bloome, J. Sinclair, J. Paad- Exchanges, Messrs. T. Hitchman, Varley, ley, J. T. Wall, Parramatta Council, I Southwell. Colonel Lassetter, and the presi­ Cobb, P. Matthews and L. Somers Brad- j dents and cha4rmen of the Commercial Travel­ fo rd . lers’ Association, Automobile, and Pioneer The President, on rising, briefly in­ Clubs, and the Institute of Architects. troduced Captain Cecil Lamb, the pros­ The question of the appointment of an or­ ganising secretary was left in the hands of a pective Organising Secretary, and, in so small sub-committee to interview the appli­ doing, and in eulogising the gallant Cap­ cants and to report thereon. tain, ventured to express the hope that with Captain Lamb at the helm, success was assured. The minutes of the previous meeting having been dealt with, the President read a circular, which he had sent out to many of the prospective members of the Sydney Committee. To this he stat­ ed that already he had received over forty replies from gentlemen who all ex­ pressed their most cordial sympathy and assurance of hearty co-operation. BLUE MOUNTAINS CENTENARY. Inward correspondence was next dealt with, and included letters from— GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT. The Town Clerk, Katoomba, statics tha his Council intended decorating the “ Mark A meeting of the committee that is mak­ ed Tree” on the day of celebration. ing arrangements for commemorating the From Mr G. J. Waterhouse, resigning centenary of the first crossing of the Blua Mountains, which occurs next year, was heli his position as Vice President on the at the Town Hall yesterday, Mr. Frank Wal­ score of ill-health, and donating a hand­ ker presiding. some subscription. The chairman expressed gratification at ths From Mr R. B. Paterson and others, prospect of securing a grant from the Federal apologising for non-attendance. Government towards the celebrations. He Prior to the tea adjournment, Mr J. thought that they should ascertain as early Ryan read through a draft constitution as possible the extent to which the State and rules, which he proposed. In so Government was prepared to assist. doing, he thought that whilst members On the motion of Mr. F. A. Artlett (Mayor were chewing the physical cud thy might of Glebe), it was decided that a deputation at the same time chew the'cud of reflec­ iwait on the Premier, the' arrangements to be tion thereon! 'left in the hands of the president. An adjournment was then made to the Roslyn tea rooms, where a most excellent repast had been provided. The inner man having been thus stim­ ulated, business was resumed shortly af­ ter seven o’clock. The President, .after recounting the de­ liberations of thd sub-committee appoint­ ed to deal with the applications for the 2 . 4 [ b U ^ ) < J post of Organising Secretary, stated they and the hon. Treasurer. The ex­ were unanimous in their decision, and ecutive may at any time, if its recommended the appointment of Cap­ members deem it necessary, sum­ tain Cecil Lamb. mon a special meeting of the. Com­ Mr Lawes, on, behalf of his fellow-com- mittee of Control. mittee men, stated that Captain Lamb (5.) Sub-committees may be appointed was head and shoulders above the other to deal with the following mat­ applicants, and was, in his opinion, the ters: (a), finance; (b), school best man for the position. displays; (c), general displays ; Captain Lamb, at the request of the (d), works and improvements; (e), President, then read extracts from a len­ miscellaneous arrangements for Cel gthy report which he had drawn up as to ebration Day; (f), organising work how the affair should be conducted. in the metropolis; (g), publicity; On the termination of his address, sev­ (h), and any other special func­ eral questions were put to him, all of tions as may be determined by the' which were satisfactorily answered. Committee of Control. Each sub­ The President then requested him to committee shall work on the gen­ withdraw, and the matter of his appoint­ eral lines of the programme adopt­ ment was debated. ed, and will be expected to report Finally, it was moved, seconded and monthly to the Committee of Con­ carried, that the meeting approves of the trol. Members of the executive appointment of Captain Lamb as Organ­ may act ex-officio as members of ising Secretary, subject to a satisfagtory all sub-committees. agreement being drawn up and signed by (6.) All expenditure shall be sanction­ both parties, the President to sign on be­ ed, and ac-^unts passed by the half of the Committee. The scale of C om m ittee C Control, but the hon. remuneration was fixed at £3 per week, Sec. and hon. Treas. may togeth­ commission on a ten per cent basis on ail i er authorise payment of petty monies obtained by his individual efforts ) cash items or urgent accounts in­ and certain expenses. curred in carrying out the adopt­ Captain Lamb having returned thanks, ed programme. it was decided that a formal deputation (7.) Twelve members shall consist a should wait on the Government and try quorum at meetings of the Com­ to obtain a pound £pr pound subsidy, and mittee of Control. The quorum also that a meeting should shortly be at meetings of each sub-committee held in Sydney under the chairmanship shall be three. of the Lord Mayor. (8.) The detail work of the Organising The proposed Constitution and Rules Secretary shall be directed by the were then read as follows:— ex6cu tive. (1.) The object of the constitution is (9.) Additional rules and amendments to devise means for effectually cel­ of the foregoing may be adopted ebrating the centenary of the first at any meeting of the Committee crossing of the Blue Mountains by of Control without previous notice. Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson Mr Lawes, in speaking to the mtoion, in 1813. was fearful of double-banking. (2.) The whole of the arrangements to Mr Bradford thought notice of motion secure this end shall be controll­ should be given, inasmuch as a large num­ ed by the Committee of Control, ber of committeemen were absent. In composed of 3 representatives from addition, a motion rescinding the origin­ each Council, Progress Association al motion passed at Mt. Victoria, consti­ or other public or semi-public body tuting the present executive, would hive participating in the movement. But to be passed. this committee shall have power Mr Ryan agreed to this, and notice was to add to its number any person given accordingly. whose co-operation may be deem­ This concluded the business. ed of value. , (3.) The Committee of Control shall, unless otherwise determined, meet at least once in each month at such places and on such dates as may be agreed upon. (4.) An executive to deal with inter­ im or urgent business shall consist of the President, three Vice Pres­ idents, the two hon. Secretaries;

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a n h i s t o r i c s p o t . CROSSING OF MOUNTAINS CENTENARY. MOUNT BLAXLAND LOCATED. A TBIP TO MOUNT BLAXLAND.

The president, Mr. Prank Walker, accom­ The disputed point as to the exact location panied 'by Mr. J. W. Berghofer (vice-pre.si- 1 of Mount Blaxland was definitely settled on dent), and Messrs. Badley and Cresswell, from ■ Monday last, when a *arty, representing the Lithgow, and a number of local residents, paid ' Blue Mountains Centenary Celebration Com­ a special visit to Mount Blaxland on Monday ' mittee, including Mr. Frank Walker (presi­ in connection with the forthcoming cen­ tenary. dent) and Mr. J. W. Berghoter (vice-presi- This cone-shaped mountain, which is about dent), visited the locality where the moun­ 1600ft high, is distant about six miles from tain was supposed to be, and with the help Hartley. It rises, abruptly from the banks of of some valuable maps, brought by Mr. Cas­ the Oox River, and was the terminal point of well, of Lithgow, the matter was settled. Blaxland’s expedition in 1813. Its northern The mountain is that isolated peak, in the face is inaccessible to anything without wings, Irat on the southern side the ascent is more form of a sugarloaf, which towers up above gradual, becoming steeper as the summit la the Cox River, and is uistant about eight neared. Up this historic landmark the party miles in a south-westerly direction from the chambered, and at last reacted its apex, breath village of Hartley. On the opposite side of less, but triumphant. The view from this the stream are two other peaks (locally elevation is beyond description. known as "The Brothers”), which are, un­ Wherever ithe eye turned It rested on moun­ doubtedly, the two named after the other ex­ tainous country, range 'beyond range; while the plorers, Wentworth and Lawson. The party familiar peaks, such as Mount Walker, Mount climbed the almost perpendicular sides of the York, Mount Victoria, The Brothers, Mouut first-named peak, which rises to a height of Binda, etc., were easily and quickly identified. about 1800 or 2000 feet above the stream, Upon this elevated platform, Blaxland and his and having gained the summit were rewarded heroic companions took their final glance at by one of the most magnificent views it is the rolling country westward, ere retracing possible to conceive. Here, Blaxland and th'eir painful steps the way they had come. his heroic companions stood, and, taking a T o commemorate ithese pioneers, and the final farewell of the rolling country to the story of their achievement, it was decided to westward, slowly and painfully retraced their have a brass plate prepared, bearing the fol­ steps to the settlement. lowing inscription:— The p.-esident, in a short address, proposed This mountain marks the terminal point ot a toast to the memory of the gallant explor­ (Blaxland, WentwoTth, and Lawson’s expedi­ ers, which was duly honoured, and Mr. Berg- tion across the Blue Mountains, May 31, hofer also added a few remarks. It was de­ 1813, and was named Mount Blaxland by cided to prepare a brass inscription-plate, to Governor Macquarie. Ereated by the Blue be affixed to a large rock at the summit, Mountain Centenary Committee, May 31, bearing the following words:— W 3 ." “This mountain, which marks the ter­ This will be securely fastened to the rock, minal point of Blaxland, Wentworth, and and serve Jor all time to record the fact as Lawson’s expedition across vhe Blue stated aboive. Mountains, was reached on May 31, 1813, The president t!Hen addressed a few remarks and was named Mount Blaxland, in hon­ to the company, commemorative of the visit our of the explorer, by Governor Mac- to this historlo spat, and proposed a toast lo i quarie. Erected by the Blue -Jountains the memory of the explorers, which was honored j Centenary Committee, May 31, ~913.” in the usual way. Mr. Bsrghofer expressed the great pleasure It Is intended also to erect a cairn of and satisfaction he felt ait being present on stones, with a flagpole in the centre, suffi­ such a memorable occasion. ciently large, to be visible for miles around. TKe party was then photographed, and tbe The party descended the mountain, and, after descent of the mountain was accomplished in arranging for the fixing in position of another safety. platte on the stump of a tree which form­ After arranging for a suitable inscription tJ erly bore the initials of the explorers, bill be affixed to the stump of a large tree, whi :-h was unfortunately destroyed some years ago, was originally marked by Blaxland, but which the return journey was commenced, most oi had been unfortunately cut down and destroy^, which lay over the old Bathurst-road, con- the party separated, well pleased with the day's ' strutted by William Cox in 1814. outing. ____

1 1

BLUE MOUNTAINS CENTtNAKY. MOUNT BLAXLAND.

TRIP TO MOUNT BLAXLAND. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. y Sir,—There is nothing more definite than ;he date of the naming of Mount Blaxland. [t was on November 26, 1813, and my father, . The president of the Australian Historical 3. W. Evans, was the man who named it, in j Society, Mr. Frank Walker, accompanied by honour of the man who first saw it. That' Mr. J. W. Berghofer (vice-president), and was some 17 months before Governor Mac­ Messrs. Padley and Cresswell, from Lithgow, quarie saw it. and a number of local residents, paid a In his letter in your paper of the 3rd' Inst special visit to Mount Blaxland yesterday in Mr. F. Walker, the president of the Historical connection with the forthcoming centenary. Society, states in reference to Evans’ Jour­ This cone-shaped mountain, which is about nal: “His journal, which is an accurate and 1600ft. high, .is distant about six miles from faithful record of his adventures, begins from Hartley. It rises abaiptly from the banks Blaxland’s furthest point, but makes no men­ of the Cox Kilter, and^vas the terminal point tion of his (Evans’) having named the coni­ of Blaxland’s expedition in 1813. Its northern cal-shaped moun.-n after Blaxland, yet in face is inaccessible to anything without Evans’ map, which is appended to the jour­ wings, but on the southern side the ascent is nal, appears the name Mount Blaxland.” more gradual, becoming steeper as the sum­ Now, sir, this is diametrically opposed to mit is neared. Up this historic landmark the facts, for the journal states “I stopped this PWty clambered, and at last reached its apex, evening (November 26, 1813), near the toot breathless but triumphant. of a very handsome mount, which I have The >view from this elevation is beyond de­ taken the liberty to call Mount Blaxland, scription. Wherever the eye turned it rested also two peaks rather north of it, and which on mountainous country, range beyond range, the rivulet separates, Wentworth and Law- whilst the farfiiliar peaks, such as Mount son sugar loaves.” Walker, Mount York, Mount Victoria, Mount Again, at the end of Evans’ report to Binda, and The Brothers, were easily and Governor Macquarie, is the following: Extent quickly identified. Upon this elevated plat­ of survey—From Emu Island to Mount Blax­ form Blaxland and his heroic companions land, 553 miles* from Mount Blaxland to end took their final glance at the rolling country of my journey, 98& miles; total, 154J miles. westward, ere retracing their painful steps (Signed) G. W. Evans. the way they had come. My father named many mountains, rivers, To commemorate these pioneers and the and plains before and after they were seen story of their achievement, it was decided to by Governor Macquarie, and they still bear have a brass plate prepared, bearing the fol­ the names. lowing inscription: “This mountain marks I note with great satisfaction that Mr. F. the terminal point of Blaxland, Wentworth, Walker acknowledges that my father, “G. W. and Lawson’s expedition across the Blue Evans,” was the first man to accomplish the Mountains, May 31, 1813. and was named complete passage of the mountains. Mount Blaxland by Governor M a c q u a r i e . I am, etc., Erected by the Blue Mountain Centenary MARY LEMPRIERE TURPIN. Committee, May 31, 1913.” This will be se­ curely fastened to the rock, and it will serve m6tjxt blaxlajstd. for all time to record the fact as stated be­ fore. The president then addressed a few re­ TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. marks to the company, commemorative of r . < * - Sir,—Mrs. Turpin, in your issue of to-daJS the visit to the historic spot, and proposed again takes me to task in respect to th«| a toast to the memory of the explorers, which authority for the naming of Mount Blaxland* was honored in the usual way. Mr. Berg­ V "nil gives a quotation from her father’s jour^ hofer also offered some remarks, expressing nzil, under date November 26, 1813, in whictal the great pleasure and satisfaction he felt at he states: “ . . . \ have taken the liberty; being present on such a memorable occasion. to call (the mountain before mentioned) Moun* The party was then photographed, and the U’a.dand, also tvro peaks rather north of it, descent of the mountain was accomplished in ami which the rivulet separates, Wentworthi , safety. slid Lawson's sugar loaves ” This certainlj; Arrangements were also made for a suit­ seems conclusive, and as my copy of G. W< able inscription to be affixed to the stump of iCvans’s journal begins with the date Novem­ the tree which was originally marked by ber 27, 1813, there is evidently a portion Blaxland, but which some iconoclast had missing- Be this as it may, I would lij#3 t* wilfully cut down and removed. ask Mi’s. Turpin, as additional authority foe* I my statement that Macquarie bestowed tha name of Mount Blaxland, how the following! jean be explained:—In the “Sydney Gazette” oC ) December 15, 1815, an account is given nt Governor Macquarie’s first expedition to the Warrasamba River, which then goes on ~ describe Blaxland's share in this exp edition -

1 2 2 C j

'■ and how he (Blaxland) proposed to Macquarie* known to travellers as it was in the eariy a plan of crossing the mountains by follow-* days. ing the ridge between the two rivers. Thiai Mr. R. H. Cambage and I have for many plan, as it turned out, was entirely success­ years undertaken the work of going over the ful, and at the end of this account appears botanical tracks of Allan Cunningham, one of an announcement in Blaxland’s own words:} my early predecessors, and Mount Blaxland ‘Mount York is the western summit of the was visited by Cunningham in 1817, 1822, and mountains; the vale Clwyd, the first valley ati on many other occasions. We published notes their foot, from which a mountain (afterwards on Mount Blaxland in the “ Proceedings of the named Mount Blaxland by his Excellency Royal Society of New South Wales for 1909,’* Governor Macquarie) is about eight miles,- p. 123, with a locality map. On the occasion which terminated our journey.” This refer** of our trip to Mount Blaxland in 1904 we i ence, combined with the same statement int recorded in our notebooks every plant we - Macquarie’s general order, as detailed in my could find on the summit, and amongst others previous letter and Evans’s journal, seems to we found Eucalyptus pulvigera, a rare and ; point to some uncertainty as to who really; remarkable species only known from two or bestowed the name upon the mountain. Tlyp) three other localities, and a- specimen is grow­ generally accepted theory has been that Mac­ ing in the native plant border in the Botanic quarie was responsible for the name, an# Gardens, alongside Government House Grounds, ' 3 it is necessary, in view of the fixing in from seed we brought down on that occasion. position of the inscription plate on Mount Mr. Cambage and I have walked over all the i Blaxland, to ensure accuracy on the point. old Bathurst roads and their deviations from ] pcssibly this correspondence may induce Emu Plains to Bathurst, and we have marvel­ led how the old pioneers made their way. others to shed some additional light on the Some day we hope that the Tourist Bureau, or mystery, so that the matter may be settled some other organisation, will personally con­ once and for all. duct parties over at least the old road from I am. etc., PRANK WALKER, Emu Plains to Bathurst that Governor Mac­ Nov. 5. President Aust. Historical Society. quarie used, and which probably very few people in the State have ever traversed. I am, etc., J. H. MAIDEN, MOUNT BLAXLAND. Botanic Gardens, Oct. 31. Director.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Sir,—I noticed in your issue of to-day, re “An Historic Spot,’’ that the disputed point m o u n t b l a x l a n d . as to the exact position of Mount Blaxland was definitely fixed on Monday last, when a TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. party representing the Blue Mountain centen­ V.i Sir,—I was extremely interested in the ary celebration committee, including Mr. % two letters appearing in to-day's paper above Frank Walker, president, visited the locality the names of Mrs. M. L. Turpin and Mr. J. H. where the mountain was supposed to be. Now, Maiden, in connection with the above sub­ Sir, Mount Blaxland was first named by my ject. and crave the courtesy cf a portion of father, George William Evans, late Deputy your space to reply thereto. It has never Surveyor-General of this colony. It was named been my intention in any way to seek to in honour of the leader of the first explor­ belittle the exploits of our noble pioneers, of ing party, that being the farthest point whose work in the past Australia has every reached by that party; the date of such nam­ reason to feel proud. George William Evans ing was November 28. 1813. It was not named accomplished splendid work in the opening by Governor Macquarie. The Lands Depart­ up of the far westward country beyond Blax- ment in Sydney agrees with this. It is a great pity that the truth and the whole truth iand's farthest point, and in the coming cele­ should not be handed down to posterity. Blax­ brations in connection with the centenary of land, Lawson, and Wentworth did noble work the first crossing of the Mountains he will be accorded due recognition. But, placing senti­ in opening up tht; track, but they did not cross the Blue Mountains. G. W. Evans did—right ment altogether on oqe side, it is absolutely over the watershed and on as far as Bathurst. necessary that references to our past history I am, etc., should be a3 nearly accurate as circumstances Oct. 30. MARY LEMPRIERE TCRPIN. will permit, and it is with this object that I am csking your help. Now, as to the matter of the naming of Mount Blaxland. A b the TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. majority of your readers aro aware, George William Evans. Deputy Surveyor-Geueral of Sir,—In Tuesday’s paper I noticed a statj- | ment that Mount Blaxland had been redis­ the then colony, was instructed by Governor covered. There must be some misapprehension I Macquarie to carry out explorations a? iar as in the matter, as Surveyor Evans, who named possible to the westward of Blaxlands Mount Blaxland, shows the position of the terminal point, and in November, 1813, he left ■ mount on his plan, which is dated 1813, and Sydney for the purpose. His Journal, which it lias been recorded on Lands Department is an accurr.te and faithful record of his maps ever since. It is, of course, on the adventures, begins from Blaxland’s fui thest track of the old Bathurst-road, which road point, but makes no mention of his (Evans) has been frequently deviated since Governor having named the conical-shaped mountain ^iacquarie’s time, and hence it is not so well after Blaxland, yet in Evans’s map, which is appended to the- journal, appears the same.

13

iiourit Blaxland. Now, on the other hand, * Governor Macquarie’s general order, dated Sydney, June 10, 1815, which is a most im­ portant and valuable document, describes in “ THE CONQUERED HILLS.” detail the whole circumstances attending the ‘'I / . first crossing of the Mountains, although the worthy Governor, whilst making mention of BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTENARY. Bass and Caley, entirely overlooks the seve­ ral expeditions undertaken by Dawes, Baral- lier, and Hacking. The order then goes on : 7 3 . to describe the tour undertaken by Macquarie ASSAULT ON THE WESTERN RAMPARTS anil party in April, 1815, when the road, recently constructed under the supervision of William Cox, was officially opened. All tntough this document Macquarie gives minute THE MEN WHO BLAZED THE TRAIL. particulars of the various places upon which lie bestowed names, such as Spriugwood, Prince Regent’s Glen, Pitt’s Amphitheatre, (By Frank Walker, President of the Aus­ Vale of Clwyd, Mount York, Cox River, etc.. tralian Historical Society.) etc., until he comes to the neighbourhood of Blaxland’s terminal point. The exact word­ ing then is as follow s:—“ . . . In com­ memoration of their” (Blaxland, Wentworth, (Special to the Sun.”) and Lawson’s) “merits, three beautiful high 1 ______hills, joining each other at the end of their i touT at this place, have received their names in the following order, viz.:—Mount Blaxland, Behind them were the conquer'd hill*; they faced Wentworth’s Sugar Loaf, and Lawson’s Sugar The vast green West, with glad, «tr»nge Loaf. . . .” Your readers will notice, inter beauty graced; alia, that here we have the best authority for And every tone of every cave and tree the order in which the names of the three Was as a voice of splendid prophecy. . explorers should be mentioned. It seems to me tlat Governor Macquarie himself gave So sang Henry Kendall in his inspiring these celebrated hills the names they will poem, “The Blue Mountain Pioneers,” and bear for all time, as, taking the context of his general order, it is a record of nomenclature, without doubt the “voice of splendid pro­ ,as well as a faithful description of tbo coun­ phecy” was indeed heard when thfe joyful try passed over, ad Macquarie’s little failing news of Blaxland, Wentworth, and Law­ in regard to names, more particularly where son's discovery circulated throughout the his own name has been bestowed, is well infant settlement. Repsated attempts to known. It is quite probable that wheL Evans returned from his expedition and submitted scale that mountain barrier which for up­ Ills journal and map to Macquarie the former wards of 25 years resisted every assault, had almost brought about a feeling of despair may have suggested the name to the Gover­ amongst the colonists, and the most optim­ nor, as it is down as such on Evans’s map, istic of them hardly dared to think that the but there is no written recOTd of this sue - position, whilst, on the other hand, the official secret so carefully guarded for all those document is unequivocal, and cannot bo put years, would ever be wrested from those aside. It is only fair to Evans, who, in the frowning heights. But famine and starva­ shade of the limelight thrown upon L-axland, tion reared their ugly crests amongst the Wentworth, and Lawson, has not received the community, and it became absolutely neces­ recognition to which he is entitled, that a sary, if the settlement was to live, that new couple of lines should be added to the plate, territory should be won. which it is intended to affix to a rock on the And so Gregory Blaxland, who had given summit of Mount Blaxland, stating that from the subject much study; at last conceived this point George William Evans continued a plan of attack which, if feasible in opera­ exploration westward, being the first man to tion, must succeed. Associated with him sccpmplish the complete passage of the were two near neighbors and friends, Wil­ mountains. In regard to Mr. Maiden’s letter, liam Charles Wentworth—then a youth of 19 1 might say that one of the first things to but destined in later years to shine forth attract my attention on gaining the summit as a bright particular star in the firmament i f Mount Blaxland was the peculiar species of colonial politics—and Lieutenant Wiiliani of eucalyptus, of which Mr. Maiden gives the ( Lawson. May 11, 1813, was the momentous name (E. pulvigera), of w'hich the leaves j date on which the expedition set out, and no possess a remarkably pungent odour when ( doubt many a hearty prayer and wish from crushed in the hand. I am, etc., a section of the community followed !t FRANK WALKER, , that the quest would turn out a successful President Australian Historical Society. one. To the majority of the inhabitants it Nov. 1. would perhaps not appeal. The story of the attempted conquest of the mountains no doubt was well known, and the patriotic en­ deavor of Blaxland and his oompanions would be set down as only one more attempt | that was predestined to failure.______

1 4

stood. On the island was a Government stockyard, with the necessary buildings. Instead of attacking the range in a direct westerly course after crossing the stream, Blaxland and hi3 little company turned more to the south-west. This was evidently done with a purpose, as the leader of the expedi­ tion in his preliminary examination of the locality had discovered what, to him, seemed a more practicable assent of the first range, and had accordingly settled upon this as the route to be followed. The direction would take the party to where the new rail­ way deviation (which, singularly enougn. ; was used for the first time on May 11, the actual anniversary of the starting of the expedition), is made; but, of course, Blax­ land’s route' was some distance nearer the river and on a parallel course. In this connection it is interesting to not>> that a year later, when William Cox started the construction of the first road to Bathurst, he deviated entirely from Blaxland’s original track, and attacked the range in a direct westerly course from the river. The re­ mains of this old road, still in a good stats of preservation, are visible at the presenc day at about a mile and a half from the existing road. DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS. Next morning the real business of the un­ dertaking began, and the explorers’ troubles were not long in coming. Deep gullies anl gloomy recesses confronted them on every haad. .Thick brastrarood and stony ground, impeded their progress, and the awful soli­ tude of these regions depressed thejr spirits. Lurking savages dogged their footsteps night and day, and more than one encounter with venomous reptiles is recorded. Still they struggled on with splendid courage, nevfrr for a moment losing-heart, and though some­ times their daily progress was barely a coup’.e of miles, they advanced slowly, but surely, GREGORY BLAXLAND. towards their appointed goal. For 21 days the unequal contest went on, DEPARTURE OF THE EXPEDITION. { and at nightfall, when they made their camp No flourish of trumpets, no shouts and In the midst of some gloomy, forest, or on the hurrahs from any acclaiming crowd accom­ brink of some tremendous precipice whose panied the little party as they turned to the dark and dismal depths contained they knew north and began their remarkable journey. not what, they closed their eyes iiv the sleep The old maps distinctly show Blaxland’s that was so much needed, never knowing property on the banks of South Creek, con­ whether they would open them again, sisting only of a few hundred acres, but no amongst the objects that had grown so dread­ remains of the buildings that stood on the j fully familiar. What magnificent courage site are preserved to us. The route taken, | was theirs, and all with no hope of material prior to the ascent of the first range, would j gain, but with the simple desire that the be parallel to the river, and gradually clos- 1 community at large might be benefited by ing in upon it as the ford was approached. ! their exertions. The river was reached at 4 o’clock in the j On May 28, exactly seventeen days after afternoon, so the actual start would have ' their ascent of the first range, the party taken place late in the forenoon. Ejnu ! emerged upon the summit of Mount York, and Island, where the old ford existed, has now feasted their delighted eyes upon the vision disappeared, but originally it occupied that of fresh grass, and pure water, which they semi-circular bend of the river about one could distinctly see in the valley beneath' mile north of the railway bridge. A cJOse them. With tremendous difficulty the pre­ Inspection of the locality at the present? day cipice was descended, and for the first time will reveal traces of the old river course, now ; for many days both men and horses revel­ silted up, and between this and the far bank led in the good things which bountiful na­ Of the present stream, where the Emu Gravel ture provided. The mountains were again Company is procuring its road material, is climbed, and a camp formed near the western about the place where Emu Island formerly edge of the cliffs. Next day the journey

15 35

werei suffering from bodily ailments, brought on by exposure and insufficient food. Un­ der these cc-.ditions it were madness to pro­ ceed furthc -, and believing that they had accomplished what they had desired to do, the order was reluctantly given to retrace their steps. Not to Blaxland was granted the privilege of first setting foot in the Pro­ mised Land beyond the ranges. Not to him was given the honor of conquering the full extent of mountainous country; that was re­ served for his successor, George William Evans, and Blaxland could only look with longing eyes upon the great heritage that was so soon to be won. But he and his com- par»*ms had “blazed the trail.” They had made possible the work of those who after­ wards turned the discovery to practical ac­ count, and to these men the honors that fall to the pioneers belong. Another six days of hardship and danger ensued, rendered somewhat easier now by reason of the fact that a pathway had been I formed, and on the 6th June, the peaceful wa­ ters of the Nepean, winding like a silver rib­ bon through the verdant landscape, once more greeted their tired eyes. The joyful news of the safe return of the party, and of the wonderful discoveries that had been made, soon spread far and wide, and the general re­ joicings were mingled with hearty thanks­ givings, that at last the ranges had been crossed, and the dawn of a new era had been ushered in. MEN WE SHOULD DELIGHT TO HONOR. In the light of latter-day knowledge, we l-I tUTfc-NANT WILLIAM LAWSON. can accurately gauge the far-reaching ef­ fects that this memorable exploit had upon was resumed, and three days later the weary the destiny of Australia. We are indirectly explorers stood at length upon the summit reaping the advantages at the present day of that remarkable mountain, on the banks of Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson’s en­ of the Cox River, afterwards so appropriately terprise, and every acre of the limitless west, named Mount Blaxland by Surveyor George in the possession of thousands of Australia’s William Evans, two other conical peaks in sons, is a gift at the hands of these brave the vicinity being named after Blaxland's men, whom it should be our duty to honor. companions. This glorious country, with all its wealth and A NEW WORLD. possibilities, with its magnificent climate and boundless resources, was fisrt moulded for What were Blaxland's feelings as he stood our use by the sturdy and faithful pioneers upon this vantage ground and allowed his whose sterling worth and integr'ty of pur­ eyes to roam over the rolling country to pose, and whose unselfish labors in the days | the westward, which, alas! he was destined of the “long ago,” gave us the heritage that not to set foot upon. Truly, as a con­ is ours to-day. Let us see to it that we do queror he might regard himself, and the our part in commemorating the lives and thought would naturally arisen filling him works of these great men in a way that shall with a sense of awe, that he and his com- bring credit to ourselves and honor to the me­ | panions were the first white men who, since mories of those who “blazed the trail.” Sure­ the Creation, were privileged to get this ly it was of such men as Blaxland, Went­ | glimpse of a new and wonderful world. If worth, and Lawson, of George William Evans, the spirit of prophecy imbued him at this William Cox. and many others that Will time, what a glorious opportunity was his Ogilvie was thinking when he wrote:— to project his vision into the years to come and try to foretell what changes a century They arc sleeping in the graveyards, in their silent graves would behold. But history is silent on this apart, point, and Blaxland's thoughts on this mem­ With empty arms and eager, that would hold them, to orable occasion can be naught else than con­ their heart, jecture. These statesmen of the buried years, these loyal men long doad, The clothes of the three men were torn to ' Are they turning in their dreaming, to the dull tramp rags by the thorny undergrowth which they overhead? had struggled through for so many days, their \Y her they pin the stars and garters, when they write boots were almost in tatters from the rugged the titles rare, and stony path they had traversed, and all | The men who earned the honors, are the men who won’t be there. ______... J ......

16

A QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE

EXPLORERS AND THEIR STATUS.

“Who was the acknowledged leader of the Blue M ountain E xpedition o f 1813?” asks Mr. Charles Williams. Our correspondent e'jes on to say:— “One can usually tell from the order in which the names are given who the princi­ pal man is in undertakings of this kind, but the task is not so easy in the present in­ stance. We seem to hear most about Blax- land; but while in some accounts of the expedition his name is placed first, in others it is Wentworth’s name that is given first, and in others again it is Lawson’s. As a matter of fact, it is Wentworth’s name that is placed foremost in most,of the accounts I have read, not in newspaper articles, but in books, the authors of which, one would think, would be careful in a matter of that kind. Can you tell me definitely whether Wentworth was the leader of the expedition, and if he was, who came next in point of importance? It is certainly strange that there should be so much confusion over this m atter.” The matter is one about which there should really be no confusion at all, not is there any confusion in the minds of tnose familiar with the details of the expedition. The point raised by our correspondent, however, is an j interesting one. As far as the leadership of the expedition is concerned, that honor unquestionably be­ WILLIAM CHARLES WENTWORTH. longed to Blaxland. It was Blaxland, in fact, who organised the expedition, and when he invited his friends, Lawson and Wentworth, to accompany him on the jour­ ney he had already completed his plans. Like many others, Mr. Williams has noted 1 the carelessness shown by various writers with regard to the order in whicn they have named the explorers. The point may apj>ear a trifling one, but our correspondent's letter proves how misleading so small a matter may be. It is not so long ago since one of thT! descendants of Gregory Bl:ixland felt . called upon to protest publicly against the ! way in which the latter’s name ■was subordi­ nated to those of Lawson and Wentworth. Although, as already pointed out, there is no question as to who was the “acknow­ ledged leader” of the expedition, there is considerable difference of opinion as to who should rank after Blaxland. One set of authorities tells us that the names, placed in the order of their importance, are BUx- land, Lawson, and Wentworth, while another group of historical experts will insist that the names should run Blaxland, WTentworth, and Lawson. The contest for second place is, therefore, between Lawson and Went- i w orth.______■ ______

1 7

Blaxland himself, In his Journal, gives no Indication as to which of his companions he regarded as his righthand man, but of the two there must have been one upon whom he relied more than upon the other. In tiie MTSIm u m absence of any definite information on ‘he point, one can only surmise what the proba­ bilities are. The outstanding facr as far as M fT .r fc Wentworth is concerned is that he was a mere youth, a lad of 19. He was little more than a boy fresh from school, and could not have had any practical knowledge of the Tom* nJm work required of him. Lieutenant Lawson, \/S*03y[Z& mr/rs) on the other hand, was a man of 38, and had some experience of exploration. His /mMsf qualifications were such that after the ex­ \^/4*&?yf4& m iles) jQ w iian to pedition of 1S13 he received some important A y i official appointments, one ^ being that as commandant in charge of thff Bathurst dis­ trict, in succession to William Cox, the 'Orffbirtra maker of the first Western road. A m o n g the historians of Australian explora­ •DjrfsmJb) tion the only one who deals with the ques­ , Repmtsm* * tion under discussion is the Rev. Georgs • ’a) Grimm, and m ost people will be inclined to think that Mr. Grimm, in the following ex­ tract from his “Australian Explorers,” clinches the whole argument. Referring to the three members of the expedition, ho / \ ', t 6 “ D*ys(2naHe* / 4j,0*y{S/mJes) w rites:— /Jytb/Usmrri) The foremost of this memorable trio was Gregory Blaxland, a native of Kent, and born of an old English family in 1779. The /r 0aff2milrsJ fbohf Xtff, second on the expedition was William Law­ son, who was formerly lieutenant in the \ Emu ford Cfosatnj 102nd Regiment, but had latterly retired to “Veteran Hall,” his own country seat near Prospect. These two leaders, on whom the BLAXLAND’S ROUTE ACROSS THE whole responsibility devolved, were joined by a third person, then wholly unknown, MOUNTAINS. but who afterwards made for himself a name not to be forgotten in New South Wales. This was the embryo patriot and statesman, William Charles Wentworth. Blaxland was now in his 35th year, Lawson about the same age, but Wentworth was barely out of his teens, and professedly joined th <5 expedition in a freak of youth­ ful adventure.

18 4 / t J / v i t ■ 2 £ '- 'J7a3 —

Centenary of the First Grossing of the Blue Mountains rO THE SCHOOL, CHILDREN OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

for ever be confined within the limits N the 28th of the current of the County of Cumberland. month one of the most These are strange words, viewed notable centenaries con­ from our standpoint, but they were nected with the history of O believed in, and even prominent offi­ New South Wales will cials echoed the opinion that further take place at the 7 'a"r.rr!]es would be useless, and mere York. The celebrations, which will waste of time. These were the opin­ commemorate that centenary, are de­ ions held up till the close of the signed to honor the memory of three year 1812, when even such courage­ of our most worthy pioneers, viz., ous and dauntless explorers as Da wee, CJregory Blaxland, William Charles Barralier, i)a.ss, Calej, Hacking, and Wentworth, and Lieutenant William others had concentrated their whole Lawson, who a century ago solved energies into the task of forcing a the problem of what lay behind the passage over the mountains to the Great Dividing Range, and as the re­ country beyond—but all In vain. sult of their expendition threw open Then' came the climax. The great' to cultivation and settlement mil­ Macquarie ruled the destinies of the lions of acres of maguificent country young colony, and he, too, was ae which had lain fallow since the crea­ keen as his predecessors in solving tion. the problem. He undertook one or <) Those, of you who are familiar with j two excursions personally, so as to some of the phases of Australia* hii- | satisfy himself with the truth of the to r y in the year 1813 will remember ! matter, and when these endeavor* that at this period the then colony | shared the fate of all previous under- of New South Wales was embraced in i takings, he is said to have declared a mere strip of territory, 40 miles 1 hia resolution to despatch a war* wide, from east to west, and barely i ship to the northward, as a last re­ one hundred miles in extent from source, and attack the mountains north to south. For upwards of 25 from another direction. years no fewer than nine distinct at­ A prolonged drought, succeeded by tempts were made by various explor­ a destructive flood, in the early part ers to penetrate the Great Dividing of 1813, carried disaster' in their Range, to see what kind of country train. Crops were destroyed, live ■ lay beyond, but all without avail, stock swept away and drowned, and j Each expedition returned to the' *et- starvation and famine now stared tlement baffled and beaten, declaring the settlers in the face. It was im­ | that progress westwards could never perative that new country and fresh t be made, and that the colony must pasturage must be founds and where

1 9

else to look for it but beyond those slowly but pwoly towards thw — r*f*- ty a eeuyle -of roiloo they—ndfanoed tantalising height* which had so long defied the efforts of men to sur­ goal. For 21 days the un- j equal contest went on, and at night­ mount them ? It this crisis appeared the man fall, when they made their csmp in who was eventually to be regarded the midst of some gloomy forest, or as the saviour of his country—Greg­ on the brink of some tremendous.rav- ory Blaxland. He had conceived a iDo, none knew, as they closed their scheme which he was anxious to put eyes in the sleep that was so much into, practice, and that was to follow | needed, whether they would open j J the ridge, which he knew m ust ex-- \ them again amongst the objects that j I ist, keeping the eastern and western I had grown so dreadfully familiar What j 1 streams on his right and left, and I courage and heroism are here dis- ' neTer crossing them if it could be played, and all for no hope of reward I avoided. He confided his idea to | but of the simple sense of doing I I Governor Macquarie, who promised their duty to their country and | every assistance, and having enlisted bringing aid to their fellow men. the sympathy of two friends, William Surely it is our privilege to honor Charles Wentworth and Lieutenant these brave men for their endurance William Lawson, who consented to and their splendid achievements in those far-off days. accompany him, he made his prepar­ ations for departure. On the 11th On May 28th, cxactly seventeen May, 1813, the three friends, in com­ days after their ascent of the' first pany with four men servants, horses range, the party emerged upon tho and dogs, set out from Blailand’s summit of Mount York, and feasted farm at South Creek, and at 4 their delighted eyes upon the vision o ’clock of the same day crossed the of fresh grass and pure water, which Nepean at Emu Island, and by sun­ they could distinctly see in the val­ down the party made their first camp ley beneath them. With tremendous at the foot of the first range. : difficulty the precipice was descended, Next morning the real business of and for tho first time for many days the undertaking began, and their both men and horses revelled in the troubles were not long in coming. good things which bountiful nature Deep gullies and gloomy recesses con­ provided. The mountain was again fronted them on every hand. Thick climbed, and a camp formed near the brushwood and stony ground imped­ western edge of the cliffs. Next day ed their progress, and the awful sol­ the journey was resumed and three itude of these regions weighed down days later the weary explorers stood their spirits and depressed them. at length upon the summit of that Lurking savages dogged their foot­ remarkable mountain on the banks of steps night and day, and more than the Cox River, afterwards appropri­ on® encounter with venomous reptiles ately named Mount Blaxland by is recorded. : Still they struggled Surveyor George William Evans, painfully onward, never for a m om ­ whilst two other conical peaks in the ent losing heart, and though some­ | vicinity received the names of Went- times their daily progress was bare- j worth’s and Lawson s Sugarloavcs re- j spectirrly. With clothes torn to plec- ft/ /"tro of rtire& a -day art lAe. I es by the sharp rocks with boots atrertx^ e. /Ae.y ct-0rat*.t£<) 'f'7orrZy/l/i/- in tatters from the rugged and stony J ’u.reJy A»rr*r*Ci ffo rf path they had traversed, and all suffering from ailment* broaght on by

exposure and insufficient food, Blax­ centenary of the first crossing of the land realised that this must be his mountains will be celebrated at Mount farthest point. Not to him was York, this being the date, a century granted the privilege of first setting ago, when Gregory Blaxland and foot on tho rolling country to the party first set foot on this rugged westward ; tttat was reserved for his mountain, and camped somewhere successor, Evans, and he could only near where the obelisk stands to­ look with lo n g iD g eyes upon the j day. It is a grand privilege that we heritage that was so soon to be won. of the present generation are spared Reluctantly the order was given to to witness and take part In the com­ retrace their steps, and after anoth­ memoration of the greatest event in er six days of hardship, rendered Australian history. Not only can we now somewhat easier by reason of rejoice that the prolific western coun­ the fact that a “blazed track” await­ try was so opportunely added to our ed them, they once more reached the territory, with all that it stands banks of the Nepean, and the joyful for. in wealth and influence, but news of the great discovery soon, above all, we are honoring the mem­ spread far and wide.' ory of the pioneers who have helped Within a few weeks George William to make our country what it is to­ Evans, another worthy pioneer, fol- day. We review their lives and I lowed In tb6 first explorers’ foot- works, praising them for their In­ ! steps, and succeeded in penetrating domitable courage and perseverance, over 90 miles beyond Blaxland's fur­ for their sterling worth and integrity thest point. He returned, filled with and for the noble spirit that posses­ delighted praise of the beauty and sed them in their willingness to risk extent of the country, and Macquar­ their lives so that good to the'com­ ie, now that his dearest wishes were munity might result. Their example accomplished, lost no time in setting | should stir even the least of us to re­ about the construction of the great newed efforts for our beloved land, road which was to open up the rich and a loyal-hearted endeavour to country in the west, and carry upon try, like the heroes of the past, to Its surface thousands of eager colon­ leave the world “ a little better than ists anxious to acquire their share of we found it.” Surely it was of theee the new territory. William Cox was very men that Will Ogilvic, one of our the fourth actor in the drama of the most gifted poet*, was thinking when i ''Conquest of the Mountain?,” and he w rote :— ] right welt did he perform his part. "They are sleeping in the graveyards, I In the short space of six month* a in their silent graves apart. fine road, with bridges, culverts, cm- With empty arms, and eager, that j bankmentu, and all the details which would hold them to their heart, j go to make up an important under- These statesmen of the buried years, i taking of this nature, extending for these loyal men long dead, ! a distance of upwards of 100 miles, jj Are they turning in their dreaming, j was completed and ready for traffic, to the dull tramp overhead ? and on the 25th April, 1815, Govern- When they pin the stars and garters, i or Macquarie, with a distinguished when they write the titles rare, company of gentlemen, get out on his The men who earned the honors are journey over the new read, and offi- the men who won’t be there.” | daily opened for all time the great ** • * «* ♦* *• trade route to the West. Scholars ! The destinies of this On the 28th May of this year the i glorious country are in your hands.

It rests with you what the future years will bring, and you alone have II the making or the marring of them. May the lives of these heroic men. and the story of their exploits, whose noble work you will shortly join in commemorating, give you in­ spiration for the years to come, and so aid you in reaching that standard of perfection which will combine in making you good citizen* and faith­ ful and loyal subjects of his Gracious Msjesty the King. FRANK WALKER, President Australian Historical fiyuney. May 8, 1913. S ociety . II

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIONEERS

------'BY H. C. KENDALL.—

The dauntless three ! for twenty days and nights These heroes battled with the haughty heights ; For twenty spaces of the Btars and sun These Romans kept their harness buckled on ; By gaping gorges, and by cliffs austere, These fathers struggled in the great old year ; Their feet they set on strange bills scarred by fire, Their strong arms forced a path through brake and briar ; They fought with Nature till they rcached the throne Where morning glittered on the great Unknown ! There, in a time with praise and prayer supreme, Paused Blaxland, Lawson, Wentworth, in a dream ; There, where the silver arrows of the day Hmote elope and spire, they halted on their way. Behind them were the conquered hills—they faced The vast green West, with glad, strange beantv graced ; And every tone of every cav« and tree Was as a voice of splendid prophecy.

22

BLAXLAND, WENTWORTH

AND LAWSON. HE ACHIEVEMENT OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. ial, ancient Sydney stretched its1 quaint ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. and narrow streets from the sparKling waters of the harbour to the closely en­ Men of nerve and iron sinew, vironing shades of the woodlands. Here Bred of England’s blood and bone; and there the long white line of coiwict Well ye faced the desert fastness, made roads spread their slender tentacles Paths of wild unbroken stone. to the great west, leading to the home­ We, to-day, your names would honour, steads of the earlier settlers. The greg- And your noble deeds acclaim; ariousncss of man had made itself felt England’s mothers bred and bore ye amongst these pioneers and a village had For the honour of her name. sprung into oxistance, only fourteen miles inland. This was Parramatta, now the Men of nerve and iron sinew, second town in the State. Further afield Bred of England’s blood and bone; the incessant advance of the daring Anglo Ye are with us still, and living Saxon continued towards the hazy blue ol In the heart which dares alone. the hills on the western horizon and the We, a Nation’s praise would give ye flats were cleared and cultivated and in (Men of God and Nature’s grace), the meadow lands the imported cattle For the spirit of our Fathers browsed to fatness. Slowly but surely And the honour of our race. thp. blue of the hills deepened as men — Clara Webber. reclaimed the virgin wilds to the brink of the Nepean. Beyond, where the sun Old Sydney basked lazily in the sun dipped behind the rolling heights at in the early part of the year 1813. The evening, all was mystery. At long inter­ placid waters of the harbour, as great a vals, small parties of wayworn men would haven then as it is to-day, carried upon emerge from the ravines in the hill­ its broad bosom only a few small ships sides, and tell of journeys into the rocky which it rocked gently as though brood­ fastnesses where solitude and majesty sat ing in prophetic vision upon the growth hand in hanl; tell of days of awesome of the baby flotilla it nursed, into - the sojourn amidst unscaleable cliffs and im­ mighty mercantile navy of our own time. penetrable forests; tell of privation and Built upon the plan of an old world town, dangers as romantic as those encounter­ madg ruder by the lack of skilled artizans ed in the journeys of Cortez or Pizarro. and the crudeness of early Colonial mater The spirit of adventure urged men on, and every succeeding failure added zest rallier (1802) and" Cayley (1804), were to the conflict between mankind and the watched with the deepest interest. Hope Mountains. And so, for over a score of refused to die even when, one by one, years, while this unequal battle was be­ these gallant men returned to add anoth­ ing silently waged, the little strip of er failure to the list. The faint-hearted land that lay betwixt the Pacific and the pronounced the conquest of the rocky Mountain barrier was peopled, cultivated barrier as impossible. It was foolish­ and stocked and progress seemed to sleep. ness akin to madness, this striving to ureak through an obstacle erected by the Almighty to set a limit to man’s ambition. But how many things are pronounced im­ possible until they have been accom­ plished? God does not put fetters upon ambition, nor say to man, “thus far sbalt thou go, and no further.” Ambition is the Promethean fire, the Divine spark, which warms and illuminates the souls of men, and gives courage to endeavours, and strength to sacrifice, which sets the J feet of earnest men firmly on the pin­ nacles of the world, shields them in the abyss and discovers to their faithful eyes the frozen secrets of the poles. With the year 1813 came disaster to the Col­ onists. Drought in its severest form fell upon them. Stock died helpless, there1 was no outlet— no relief country. Af-' fluence turned to indigence and the work of years seemed fated to destruc­ tion. The hungry eyes of hardy men turned to the Hills. Was there no gate- 1 way? No passage to fresh fields and pastures new? A mortal need was upon them. And lo! from the midst of dire j necessity came succour, and He who first1 let in the daylight upon the darkness of j this earth elucidated the things which | were of use to humanity by the agency i of His servants. Gregory Blaxland had j a farm at South Creek, near Windsor. He was a quiet man, but under his quiet exterior there was the indomitable cour­ age and the resolute purpose of the l rue explorer. He had gained the confidence of Governor Macquarie, a man of strong­ ly enterprising nature who, in 1810, at­ tempted to penetrate the Mountain range by the Warrangamba river. This ex­ GREGORY BLAXLAND. pedition failed, as also did a second at­ tempt made by Blaxland, who, this time, ...... '■ "" 'U ib b s a a H K K n n Governor Macquarie knew that lethargy essayed to reach the highland, which ap­ of this sort was fatal. His desire was peared to run westward between the War­ to lift his Colony out of the dreamy lang­ rangamba and Grose rivers. On this uor that pervaded the Southern seas and occasion, the aboriginal servants failed found a virile offshoot of the strongest him, and he resolved not to depend on colonizing force the world has ever known the natives in his next trial. He was He knew that the building of great cities certain the undertaking could be carried was not to be hoped for in a land-locked out successfully, despite all the previous continent and that commerce limited to failures. With the consent of the Gov­ I the product of four thousand square miles ernor, who approved of his plans to j of agricultural land would never throng reach the main tableland and to keep to | the finest port in the Southern Hemis­ the south of the source of all tributary J phere with merchantmen. The doings of streams running in a northerly direction 1 Dawes (1789), Paterson (1793), Hosking to the Grose river, he again set out on j (1794), Bass (1796), Wilson (1798), Bar j Tuesday, May 11th, 1813, accompanied!

| that at one time made further progress j doubtful.” Of this portion of the Mount- j ains, Henry Hacking (ex-quarter master j H.M.S. Sirius) had written 19 years be- j fore: “We saw but one native in this des­ olate region, and he fled af our ap- ! proach.” Governor King, commenting up I on George Caley’s expedition of .1804, which was upon the right track, but only reached as far as Linden, says: “As respects tb» extension of agriculture — that idea must be given up. The rocks are barren and forbidding, strange to men animals and birds.” There was a humor­ ist in Oaley’s party who, upon seeing two very solitary looking crow;*, said, “The poor birds have lost their way.” Blax- land’s party advanced at the rate of a mile and a half on some days. On the sev enth day out, the horses were brought al­ ong a cleared track a little over six miles, carrying an additional burden of grass for their own food. Water had to be lifted from a depth of 600 feet. On the eighth day the ridge narrowed to i WILLIAM CHARLES WENTWORTH. about 60 fee.t wide, and progress was ob- 1 structed by a perpendicular rock about 30 feet high. By removing som-3 large by Lieutenant Lawson and William Charles loose portion/?, a passage was effected. Wentworth, four servants and four pack This spot is now known as Linden. Tno horses. Emu Ford was crossed and the next day’s progress put the party to the devoted party camped in the shadow of “furthest west” point ever reached hy the earth giants, which for thousands of white man. The tenth day’s journey saw years had stood guard over a Continent the camp pitched midway betweei ila;:el- and for a quarter of a century had baffl­ brook and Lawson. Four miles was ac­ ed the attempts of brave men to wrest i complished on the following day, May their secret from them, but which now j 21st, when the expedition was on the were fated to relinquish the key of the spot now occupied by Wentworth Falis. golden west ere the. waxing and waning It was here that the party were in danger of another moon. The detailed history of an attack by the blacks. On the 2 2nd of the portenteous twenty days that of May’they covered 8% miles and ret.ch- lapsed from the striking of the camp at ed a point between Leura and Katyomba, the foot of Mountains to the moment overlooking Kanimbla Valley. An at­ when, with eyes dimmed by grateful tears tempt was made to descend, but with no the valiant trio gazed from the noble pin­ success. They now took a more north­ nacle of Mount York into the Western erly course, and it is probable that the vale is well known. The route chosen j old tree, between Katoomba and Medlow was a continuous ridge winding about Bath, was marked on the 23rd of May. in great bends, but bearing a western ten­ The site of Blackheath was passed on dency. On either hand were precipitous the 27th. Next day, as the sun was cliffs falling sheer into the valleys. The setting, the now weary and ragged baud peculiar ridge was covered with dense halted on the edge of a precipice. Be­ scrub which had to be hewn through. low them, in the slanting golden rays lay ; All attempts to evade its massed vege­ acres of well-grassed land. Not actually ! tation ended in failure, the party being the. plains of the interior, but the thresh­ brought to a halt on the brink of ver­ old of that mighty region which has tical chasms hundreds of feet deep. Horse poured its wealth along the blazed track feed got scarcer with each day’s travel. for five score years in ever increasing On the first Sunday, the party rested, streams. At that moment. New South and it was then that the marvellous sol­ Wales ceased to be a mere settlement, ft itude began to have powerful effect, blcx- became one of the. grandest States in the j land’s journal naively states: “The leis- most firmly founded Empire the world l>a ■ : ure afforded opportunity for the men 10 seen. This ffict was realized by Governor ; ruminate upon the danger to an extent I Macquarie with admirable alacrity. The

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[ not carry much, greater significance tliar | “providing pasturage to the fine: flocks i of merino sheep,” but to the men of the present day, who have the advantage of taking a retrospective view, the accom­ plishment of the crossing has a tremend­ ous purport. Surely it is pardonable for us to take pride in aucli achievements by our compatriots. Britain has reared splendid sons and none more worthy of honor than these three— BLAXLAND, WENTWORTH & LAWSON.

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS — 1813-1913.

1813. The ranges rose like ramparts in their w a y; Protecting from their ardent eyes, the WILLIAM LAWSON. sigh t Of secrets hidden in a country, grey news of the achievement no sooner reach­ With immemorial ages of the night. ed him than he set in motion all the Long, had those mountains tempted , Governmental machinery at his disposal. Fancy’s wings, Mr. George VV. Evans, one of the assist-' Yet snapped the paths of many daring . ant land surveyors, was instructed to fol- feet. i low the trail of the Pioneer party and to But when the warm blood of the British i ascertain the general properties of the sin gs j soil to the westward of the Mountains. In Venture’s passion— what withstands Attended by fire men, Evans retrod the its h ea t? Mountain pass and, after a seven weeks’ trip, returned to report a journey of 150 miles inland, in which he had found" an Ever, the few— extension of tillage and pasture land suf­ The fiery few, it is, who drive ficient for a century to come." He p’.s o Their flashing souls into the nearer reported a river which Governor Mac­ N igh t quarie, in a despatch, said, “was suppos­ And with the evil darkness strive, ed to empty itself into the ocean on the ! That round their brothers’ feet there western side of N.S. Wales at a distance may be light. of from two to three hundred miles from Ever, the few! th« termination of the town. This would mean that the western coast of i From tender English lane and lawn, Australia was supposed at that time to | From land ol tranquil breath, be a hundred miles this side of Condoblin They came to toil where chasms yawn Rut. as limited as was the estimate «f With rocky jaws of death. Macquarie, the stream of humanity set The mountain thicket’s arms were wide, towards the new lands; flocks and herds The mountain gorge was deep; were soon fattening upon the nutritious They thrust i.he thicket’s arms aside ; grasses, and year by year, through the And panted up the eteep. ! Mountain pass, the wains went forth Allured by one appeal alone— with the merchandise from other lands, Their souls’ insistent call— and returned to tile sea laden withi They wrestled with the great Unknown ' fleeces. The cramping fetters of the | An,d clutched their course through ail. Hills had been broken. From an afea of And when, at last, from York's stupend­ 4000 square miles, New South Wales had ou s rise, : spread in a n.oment to greater diir.en- The beaming meadows rolled beneath j sions than many of the European King- • their eyes. | doms. To the simple mind of Biax- How leaped their voices in the mountain | land, the achievement of crossing did a ir!

How leaped their hearts to see the I every conceivable color hung across the richness there! main thoroughfares, the Great Western For them, to-day, our reverence appears— 1 road being exceedingly lavish in its dis­ Tlig. first of all our fearless pioneers. play. From all public buildings and the For {'Wentworth’s, , Blaxland’s,' Lawson’s principal business houses hung bunting names shall sMne of all sorts; the most predominant be­ The foremost, always, of that glorious ing the Star-crossed flag of Australia, line. the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes j And their high courage and their granite of the United States. The effect was as I w ill pretty as it was vari-colored, and it is; Live in the hearts of true Austral­ certain Katoomba never looked gayer.1 ians, still! At a little before 10 a.m., a contingent of children 300 strong, from the Katoomba* 1913. Public School, marched, under the com­ A hundred years! Now, all the wonders mand of Mr. M. Dunne and his staff, to see the railway station, there to meet the Wrought by the fingers of a century. train set apart for the transport of the' The ridge which, then, the stubborn bush 1 scholars east of Mount Victoria. As b estrod e, Katoomba was one of the last levies to Has long been conquered by a cunning be taken up, there was some difficulty in road. finding room, but by a process of pack­ Where then, the cloak of desolation lay, ing, good humoredly borne by the happy The humming townships stand and thrive juveniles, the feat was accomplished and to-day. the train steamed out towards Mount While through them rush, in streams Victoria a veritable forest of miniature that never cease, flags waving from its windows and lusty The swelling stores of metal, grain and cheers rising from its tightly-wedged fleece— burden, heard until the first rock cutting As yields the glowing continental heart, was passed. By this time, hundreds of Its treasures for the roaring city mart. adults had gathered on the platform, The slender fewr, upon a narrow strand. awaiting the following trains, which came Have grown to millions in a mighty land. along with a tired and lackadaisical air Be-ringed it was, with vast and sailless which suggested a profound apathy on Seas the part of the railway department as to And now her commerce flows through when and by whom the Mountains were crowded quays. first crossed. The Hydro Majestic was a The helots held by stripes and anguish, blaze of color and made a pretty picture then, in the morning light. Along the Great Have given place to free and happy men. Western road, which is practically the * * * * old track of the pioneers, vehicles of ev­ With earnest eyes that fear or threaten ery description from a spring cart to a j none, modern motor car, made westward in 1 Australia turns to meet the rising sun! great numbers. Many pedestrians made —C.P. a pilgrimage to the Marked Tree, which had been decorated for the occasion by T H E D A Y . the Municipal Council. Blackheath was also in exceptional gala array, its Main The morning of the 28th broke beauti­ i Street being part of the original track. fully clear, but very cold. The early ■ The station houses at both Medlow Bath sun rays shot over the hills with the ' and Blackheath were artistically trimmed brightness of polished steel, and the j in greenery and bunting, showing great accompanying gentle breeze bore on its taste on the part of those who had charge wings a chillness that might have come of that work. As if to keep the travell­ direct from the Antarctic. The expect­ ing public alive to the mode .}f J ravel ant Mountaineers were alert and ready used by the explorers, three swagmen for the great festival at an early hour, ' were seen trudging along the old road 1 and the blue smoke rose perpendicularly making slowly but surely towaris the from every habitation in preparation for plains beyond. At Mount Victoria, never I the morning meal. Immediately after was seen such energetic bustle. The | breakfast the people moved forth to view ! quiet township seemed to be surprised the decorations of their several town­ from a Rip-Van-Winkle slumber into a ships. Katoomba was festooned with wide-awake hospitality. From the rail­ the colors of the Governor in broad way station to the Imperial hotel, the bands of ribbon. Japanese lanterns in visitors poured in a continuous stream [

27

on the right that of Lord Denman, 1913. A fanfare of bugles announced the ap-- proach of the Governor, and the strains of “God Save the King” floated over ilie vast throng as the Vice Regal party stepp ' ed into view. There was now a concourse ; of fully 8000 people and every point of ! vantage was taken up. The school child ren numbered 1200, drafted from Parra­ matta, Prospect, Lawson, Leura, Katoom­ ba and Blackheath on the east, and Port­ land, Wallerawang, Marrangaroo, Bowen fels, Lithgow, Oakey Park and Hartley Vale on the west. They were marshallet into place by their respective teachers and everything worked in perfect order. The reception given to the. Governor by the children was very effective, three hearty cheers and the waving of 1200 flags being a welcome that any man might be proud of. After the banquet, the escort of Lancers formed up opposite the Imperial hotel under the command ! of Captain Hudson. As soon as the Gov­ Cr. * C. BERGHOFER, ernor and his party were seated in their Father of the Celebrations. motor, the short sharp word of command under the Deautnul decorations. The' came from Captain Hudson “Attention! Imperial verandah gleamed with naval j Form— escort!” and the Lancers fell in- and military uniform and the sheen of ] kto their prescribed places and the his- silken top-hats, only brought to light on | toric procession started for the scene of State occasions. The Mountain worthies the finish of the journey of 100 years fraternized with the worthies of the a special car being engaged for the des­ City, the State, the Commonwealth and cendants of the Explorers, all of whom I the Empire. After the formalities of in­ were cheered as they motored by. Fully troduction, every man dropped into- that 5000 people went to Mount York to wit­ easy association which comes naturally ness the unveiling ceremony; probably the when men meet to do honor to the mei greatest multitude that the Mountain ory of the noble dead. The choicest bit spur will see until the year 2013. The of decoration in the whole festival was great ceremony was completed at about on that short bit of road from the Post the same hour (5.30 p.m.) in which the Office to the main gate of the park. It Explorers arrived at the spot one hun­ was bowered in ferns, and arched by two dred years ago. Below, the Hartley Val­ very graceful spans of foliage. A squad­ ley spread its peaceful fields, and the ron of N.S.W. Lancers pranced gaily along long Western roads branched through the this portion of the road at 11 o’clock to Valley to the distant hills. The sun wen take up a position as guard of honor in down behind Mount Blaxland. The day the Park and what with the gloss of the was done; a paragraph in Australian well-groomed horses, the glitter of silver history had been written and the brave accoutrements, the graceful disposition had been honored. of waving ferns, the touches of bright AT MOUNT VICTORIA. colour in the bunting, the smart escort The Vice Regal party arrived at Mount ! with slender lances at rest and pennants Victoria by special train at 11 o’clock, | waving in the crisp breeze and the well- about half-an-hour behind time. The dis­ ! dressed onlookers, the scene was a gor- tinguished visitors included His Excel­ | geous and animated one, never to be for- lency the State Governor, Sir Gerald 1 gotten in the history of Mount Victoria. Strickland, attender by Capt. Talbot, His In the park the school children were dis­ Excellency Admiral Sir George King Hall, posed in square on the rising ground im­ K.C.B. and staff, and they were welcom­ mediately facing the platform. A large ed on alighting on the platform by Mr. sheet at the rear of the dais bore the Frank Walker, President of the Austral­ names of the Explorers, over an enlarged ian Historical Society, the President of picture of King George IV and the Royal the Blue Mountain Shire, Cr. J. T. Wall, j Coat of Arms. On the left of these was j the President of the Blaxland Shire, Cr. ! the name of Governor Macquarie 1813, i.nd i.___j J- W. Berghofer, the Mayor of Katoom- j

: ba, Aid. George Davies, the Mayor of Bat their best to reflect honor on themselves, ! urst, Aid. Rigby and other members of their teachers and conductors. j the Centenary Committee. A guard of The proceedings commenced with the honor was drawn up on the platform and hymn of thanksgiving, “The Old Hun­ the Royal Artillery Band played the “Nat­ dredth,” after which Mr. Walker said they ional Anthem.” After making a brief in­ wore all delighted to have their Excellen­ spection of the guard of honor and also a cies with them, as they were assembled detachment of the Australian Lancers, un­ on what would be a memorable occasion. der Capt. E. A. K. Hudson, which form­ Their function had begun well. They ed the escort, their Excellencies and the ( had been favored with delightful weather other visitors entered motors and were and he was sure that as the day had be­ driven to the Imperial hotel, where the _ gun, so it would continue to the end. He now had much pleasure in asking His reception took place and where, subse­ Excellency the Governor to be kind en­ ough to name the park. (Cheers). His Excellency, Sir Gerald Strickland, who was received with cheers, said he had the honor, by the invitation of the I committee, to dedicate the park as “Mt. Victoria Park” in perpetual commemora­ tion of the day, and of the event of 100 years ago.

THE OBELISK AT MOUNT YORK.

quently’, a large number of the descend­ ants of the Explorers were introduced. Prominent amongst these were Mr. C. R. Blaxland and his daughter Miss Ruth Blaxland, Mr. Fred Blaxland of Coomber, Mr. Edwin Blaxland and Mrs. R. J. A. Roberts, a grand daughter. WILLIAM COX— The first road-makcr. These formalities over, a move was made for the Park, where the children were already massed, flanked by military Cheers were then given for their Ex­ and naval cadets. The Royal Artillery cellencies the Governor and the Admiral. band and the Lithgow band were in at­ tendance, and, as the distinguished vis­ The children having sung “Let the itors mounted the gaily-decorated plat­ Hills Resound,” His Excellency Sir form, played the “National Anthem.” The Gerald Strickland addressed the “boys scene from the front was an exceedingly and girls.” He said he had been hon­ impressive one as the vast assemblage ored by an invitation to address them on must have numbered between eight and the day they were celebrating. He ten thousand persons. would take the key note from the ap­ Mr. A. E. Reay, the conductor, spoke a peal made to them by Mr. Reay to do few words of encouragement to the child­ honor to themselves that day, and not ren, pointing out .to them the importance only that day but every day. The his­ of the occasion and urging them to do tory of those who had done honor to themselves, their country and the Brit- (>2{>Ulv»k3 29

ish race from which they had all sprung, should be an incentive to them to do their duty with the help and guidance of Merriment at Mediow Bath. Providence. In learning their lessons they might think it a matter of small im­ portance, whether they passed their ex­ EMPIRE DAY. aminations this year or next year. And it might be remarked that it was not a Though Friday was marked by extra il­ matter of such great importance if the luminations, Saturday was the recognis­ Mountains had been crossed at the be­ ed Empire Day. It was also the open­ ginning of this century, or ninety years ing day of the week’s festivity in com­ ago, or later. But it was, however, a memoration of the crossing. At an early matter of the greatest importance to each hour, young Mediow was astir. After of them, and to a nation and country, to being assembled and addressed on the do to-day at once— and well, whatever subject of Empire Day— its meaning and I could he done and not put it off till to­ its morals— the. children were entertain­ morrow or next year or later. (Applause). ed at “ Glenara,” each child being present­ That was the greatest feature of the ex­ ed with souvenir books. Needless to ample set by Blaxland and his colleagues add the day was happily spent by the in their strenuous determination to over­ young brigade- come every obstacle at all cost. If the In the evening, the Casino at the Hy­ boys and girls followed in the same way dro Majestic was the scene of a fine en­ | they would meet with the same success and tertainment, the following contributing to I rewards. Although the Blue Mountains the harmony— Misses MacDonald, Cliff­ j had been crossed there were still many ord, Musgrove, Messrs Neill, Moore and other things to be achieved in life for Master Loosen. themselves and their families, their About 75 tourists put in a day here over country and the British race. (Cheers). the week end, the. majority going out to Jenolan Caves. “Advance, Australia Fair” was contrib­ uted by the children and was followed by a selection by the band. CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. The residents of Mediow Bath worked hard to fittingly celebrate their part in the Centen­ ary, and the pretty little township was one ol the most picturesque on the Mountains. The owner of the Hydro Majestic, as well as visi­ tors to that far-famed resort, entered into the project of the local residents with spirit, and much of the success that attended the func­ tions at Mediow Bath was due to Mr and Mrs Mark Foy, ably assisted by Mr G. Loosen, the manager. The main ceremony of the day was the laying of the foundation stone of a memorial drinking fountain subscribed for by the people. The State Premier, Mr Jas. M c­ Gowan, performed the ceremony, and in the course of his remarks said it was a very appro priate way to honor the memory of the E x­ plorers, because it was through the want of water that they were induced to seek the road over the Mountains as an outlet for the settle ment. The extent of the people’s obligation to the enterprise and courage of the Explorers could not be over-estimated. Beneath the stone was placed an original ode by Mr G. Ryan, of Manly, and a copy of GEORGE WILLIAM EVANS, the “ Blue Mountain Echo.” The Premier's Surveyor and Discoverer of Bathurst address was a very fine one. Plains. The special prize for the decorated motor car was won by Mrs Mark Foy, with a. c a r beautifully festooned with wisteria blooms. Throughout the day, the car was quite a fea­ ture, all along the route.

In the evening a grand ball was held in the Casino, the grounds of the Hotel Majestic presented with a toy memento. A large being a blaze of glory with costly colored bonfire was lit at 6 o’clock. This was electric illuminants and fancy fireworks. prepared by Mr. Harrison and afforded At the supper, which was served in a man­ much delight to the youngsters. The fol ner in keeping with the best traditions of the lowing were the prize winners at the great house, the Premier, M . J. McGowan, r a c e s :— presided. After the loyal toast, the following Girls, 14 yearB and over: G. Moody 1, were honored.— “ The day we celebrate,” L. Adams 2. proposed by Mr D. R. Hall, Minister for Jus­ Ladies egg and spoon race: Miss Harris 1, tice,” and acknowledged by Mr E. S. Carr, L. Adams 2. M .H.R. “ The local committee,’’ ably pro­ Nail driving (First prize oak tray pre­ posed by Mr C. Carmichael, Minister for Edu­ sented by Mr. G. Garrett): Miss cation. In dealing generally with the celebra : Chapman 1, Mrs. Hundt 2. tions, the Minister paid a high compliment to Penny polishing i Miss Priestly 1, Miss the workers all along the line, and to the un­ Monaghan 2. (First prize Set of doubted enthusiasm displayed by the people. carvers presented by Lever Bros). He also voiced a deserving eulogy to Mr and | Boys, 14 years and over: — Finney 1, N. Mrs Foy on the success of M edlow’s celebra­ F o y 2. t i o n s . Hop, step and jump: N. Foy 1, L. Steph­ Messrs W. A. Tucker and Mr W Sutton re­ en s 2. sponded. The former appealed for a grant Mens sack race: M. Noonan 1, W. Collett for the local memorial, and Mr Sutton con­ 2 . cluded a happy speech by proposing the toast Kicking the football: A. Schouler 1. of the host, and hostess, Mr and Mrs Mark Foy, the bumper being acknowledged in a Veterans race: J. Schouler 1. jocular vein. Thread and Needle race: — Campbell 1, — C oh en 2. 75 yards Sprint Championship: V. Lev­ Hazelbrook Celebrations. itt 1, M. Noonan 2.

Happy Hazelbrook was not behind hand in honoring the Centenary of the Ex­ plorers’ great feat, and, despite the oppo­ sition of the elements, the display re­ flected the highest credit on the town. On Saturday, Messrs. Finney and Clarke, with assistants, decorated the station, but the downpour on Sunday destroyed the good work. On the following morning the ladies took a hand in restoring the ruin­ ed work, and by nightfall had everything looking very beautiful. The gales of Tuesday were too much for the banner er­ ected by Mrs. Turner on the Bathurst road, so it was removed and placed on the station lamp room. On Tuesday afternoon, the school children marched to Mrs. A. H. Schouler’s residence,, “ Ochil Hills,” where they were treated to re­ freshments. Gathered around the Union Jack, the flag was unfurled during the singing of “The Old Hundredth.” Races and various other sports were then car­ ried out on a good track made for the oc­ casion by Messrs Calder and Collett. An address was afterwards delivered by Mr. Schouler, and tea was served by a com­ mittee of ladies in charge of Mesdames Collett, Turner and Morrow. Mr. Lig- gins catered effectively and met with ARNOLD RIGBY, Mayor of Bathurst. much praise. At the conclusion of the sports programme, each little one was

Celebrations at Blackheath. The Chain of Bon Fires,

To fulfil her share of Mr. Padley’s Though business at the’Heath has not been scheme for a chain ef bonfires over the all that the good people would have wished Mountains and plains from Parramatta to during the past month the slump in no wav Orange, Katoomba made great preparation dampened either the spirits or the enterprise but the Maid of the .Mists threw her mantle over the hills, effectively dim­ of the townspeople in their effort to place on ming the glory of the fire king. Although record their honor for the Empire or their the day had been beautifully clear and appreciation of and gratitude to the Explorers. bright, the trains returned from Mount As allegiance to Mount Victoria was sworn, it Victoria through a slight haze which with was agreed that the local centenary celebra­ the coming of night thickened and inten­ tions be merged in with Empire Day festivi­ sified into a typical Mountain mist through which loomed, like glow worms, ties. Consequently the town was gay with with a halo, the hundreds of Chinese lan­ bunting and evergreens when Empire Day terns hung before private residences and dawned. Headed by the Blackheath brass across the main streets. At an early band, the schoolchildren, under Mr. Laws hour of the evening, Messrs. Hudson, Pan- (head-teacher), marched through the princi­ nell and Hendry saw to the ignition of the great pile of timber which was to pal streets to the public hall, where they made form our link in the great chain of blaz­ a picture that the Mountains might well be ing beacons. Fully 2000 people went in­ proud of. to the park to see the bonfire and the Mr. H. J. Collier occnpied the chair and ; fireworks, but so dense was the mist that after a short speech introduced the Rev. Mr. ! one had to go within twenty yards of the Bowers of St. Aidan's Church who addressed burning pile to be sure it was burning. the children, enforcing on them the duty of At close quarters the fire was more in loyalty to their King and country. He was evidence by its heat than by its brilliancy. followed by Mr. G. A. Cowie (Presbyterian) Great rockets were sent aloft, but apart and the Rev. J. Morrison (Baptist) who ad­ from the roar and hiss of the departing dressed the children in much the same strain pyrotechnic travellers, nothing was seen of them after they had risen twenty feet. as also did the Jhead-master, Mr. Laws. Truly they were born to “bust” unseen. Cheers were then given for the King and the E xp lorers. After an hour’s attempt to light up the inscrutable with lime light, and when An adjournment was then made to the many eyes had peered into the impending motor cars in waiting into which the children gloom in search of the lights on distant climbed and were driven to Little Blackheath hills, the project was “given best” and where the picnic and sports were held. the remains of a select lot of saltpetre A splendid programme had been arranged goods stacked away for a fine night. All for the day and the yuungsters had a rattling other Mountain towns did likewise. good time. The townspeople responded heartily. Luncheon was provided and was followed by tea at 5 o’clock, aftei which they were brought safely back to Blackheath where they were given a free entertainment in Black’s Picture Palace, the accommodation of which was taxed to the fullest extent. A pro­ gramme of pictures in keeping with the oc­ casion was exhibited, and some excellent music of an appropriate nature was supplied by the Blackheath Orchestral Society. Mr. Black and the orchestra earned the hearty thanks of all present for their work. The bon-fire and fireworks which were post- [ poned till the night of the Centenary were very successful, but the beauty from afar was spoilt by the heavy mist.

32

present condition the substantial na­ CROSSING OF THB MOJN- ture of the work. “ In the early thirties the condition of TAIM the old road called for some drastic at­ tention, and M ajor (afterwards Sir Tho­ DISC O V ER Y OF BATHURST mas) Mitchell was entrusted with the PLAINS. work of reforming it. He surveyed new lines, reduced the many severe grades, cutting out whole sections of Cox’s orig­ MR. WALKER’S LECTURE. inal work, and so there was gradually built up the present Western-road, Mr. Frank Walker, President of the which every year is undergoing altera­ Historical Society, was listened to in­ tions and re-gradings. Prisoners woik- tently in the Masonic Hall last night on ing in chains were employed for years the occasion of his lecture on “Thr upon Mitchell’s-road, and the m any First Crossing of the Blue Mountains.’’ i gruesome reminders of the awful ;' s v b - Mr. Walker illustrated his theme with ! tem,” in the Bhape of “ dark cells,” valuable lantern slides. convict encampments, flogging stones, Dr. T. A. Machattie presided in the and grim stone buildings of a p a s t a g e , absence of the Mayor. are still extant along the course of this After tracing the stupendous work of historic highway. Lonely graves of the Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth, Mr. unwilling laborers and their guards, Walker touched upon the subsequent are met here and there, reminiscent of discovery of the Bathurst Plains and the the times when the military were chiefly formation of a road over the mountains employed in the work of guarding the to the future Queen City of the West. prisoners at their work. Old inns, some “ Surveyor George William Evans,” of them transformed in appearance, sr.d he remarked, “ was sent out with in­ doing duty as boarding estaohshni.’.ni-s, structions to follow Blaxland’s trail to still line the road, and if stones < ould its termination on the mountain t-hat speak, what fascinating tales cr.uld he ascended, and then to continue ex­ they unfold of the coaching and l-uth- ploration westward as far as he possibly ranging days, of the motley throngs could. When Evans returned and pre­ that passed and repassed them on their sented his report no time was lost by way to the goldfield, and of the lonely Macquarie in forming his plans for the days and nights, when the principal construction of a road across the moun­ and only event was the arrival and re- tains. It was his darling scheme, and, parture of the daily coach. energetic and resourceful as he was “ The centenary celebrations u.re de­ no task was too big for him. In thf signed to honor those brave men who, ' nick of time came the magnanimous of­ a century ago, relieved their c mntry fer of William Cox, of Clarendon, a from its dire necessities, and hv their personal friend of Macquarie’s, to su­ courage and determination succeeded perintend the construction of the road in the conquest of the mountains, which The offer was accepted with alacrity, for so many years had formed an im­ and on July 18, 1814, the work was passable barrier to further prog.tss and commenced. The progress of this won­ prosperity. Their patriotism and de­ derful road from day to day may be votion to what they believed to be their traced in Cox's excellent journal, faith­ duty, not only solved a momentous fully and methodically kept from start problem in their time, but has male to finish. It records how, in the shtrt possible the m any advantages we cn j jy space of six months, a carriage-road ico at the present day. Their success Help­ miles in length, complete with bridges, ed thousands of Australia’s so as to culverts, embankments, and all the found homes and families and fortunes 1 little etceteras of such an undertaking, in the new El Dorado of the west. It ( was accomplished, without the loss of a also was instrumental in changing a ; single man, or the infliction of serious small strip of territory into the vast- ' injury upon any one of Cox’s numerous ness of a continent, and in making I working party. It was without doubt available for settlement hundreds of the greatest engineering feat, taking thousands of acres of land, where now everything into account, that has ever are thriving towns and homesteads, and been attempted in Australia, and for where sheep and cattle in their millionf upwards of 26 years it carried find abundant pasturage. It changed the volume of traffic between Australia’s destiny, and led her into r Sydney and Bathurst. Portions of the upward path of progress and pros- fc it still remain, and prove by their perity, from which she has never de- c

33 T\

— - rte d .” At the instance of Dr. Machattie an clamatory vote of thanks was carried lecturer, who briefly responded.

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GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVE MEN AT THE FIRST MEETING < F THE CENTENARY BOARD— HELI) AT MT. VICTORIA. ______,/P l^^s/-. /p/2- ______- ______

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CROSSING OF THE MOUNTAINS. CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS. ------GREGORY BLAXLAND’S JOURNAL. PREPARING FOR CELEBRATIONS It is just 100 years ago this month since Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth accom­ plished the task of scaling the Blue Moun­ GREAT CHAIN OF BONFIRES. tains, and thus opened up a way to the interior of the continent. The centenary of that great event is to be celebrated at KATOOMBA, Monday. Mount York on the 2Sth inst. G regory Blaxland was the originator and leader of A meeting of the board of control was held, the memorable expedition, and his Journal at Katoomba on Saturday, Mr. Frank Walker of the tour, which has been issued in book presiding. Progress reports were read, show­ form, comes as a very seasonable publica­ ing that matters in connection with the cele­ tion. It has been produced under the edi­ brations on the 28th inst. were in a forward torship of Mr. Frank Walker, president of state, and the meeting was advised of the the Australian Historical Society, and will various arrangements that had been made prove an instructive little volume to those for the reception and entertainment of visi­ interested in mountain exploration. A fea­ tors. Transit matters were exhaustively ture of the work that will be much appreci­ dealt with, and the executive was empowered ated is the marginal notes with which to make final arrangements with regard to numerous passages of the Journal have been motor and vehicle traffic. annotated by Mr. Walker. The book is The architect reported that the pavilion liberally supplied with illustrations, includ­ was in a forward state, and he anticipated ing portraits of Blaxland, Lawson, and that the building would be completed suf­ Wentworth, besides a number of views ficiently to admit of the ceremony of dedi­ typical of the rugged nature of the country cation and unveiling on the day oif the cele­ that had to be traversed by the explorers, brations. The organising secretary gave de­ and a plan showing the route which they tails of the programme arranged for the day’s followed. ceremonies, which were approved. Matters in connection with children's demonstration Now that the centenary of the crossing of also were dealt with. All the mountain towns will be decorates • h i j . the Mountains is close upon us, an interesting' little book, edited by Mr. Frank Walker, pre-, by day and illuminated at night on the 2Sth. It was reported that the proposed chain of sident of the Australian Historical Society, I U v r o bonfires, from Emu Plains to Bathurst, was makes an opportune appearance. This is “A well advanced in detail-, the work having / C f/ 3 . Journal of a Tour of Discovery Across the Blue been taken up in the various centres with Mountains,” by Gregory Blaxland. To the great enthusiasm. The next meeting of the uninitiated the references and directions of committee will be held at Mt. Victoria on I > Saturday, when the opportunity will be taken this journal would convey nothing, but Mr.! to inspect the various works in progress at Walker explains them, and gives an account Mt. York. cf the hardships and struggles which the ex­ plorers endured before they saw from Mount ! York the plains of Hartley spreading below OUR BENEFACTORS. them. The secret of their success was, of i course, that they kept to the high ground, and TO THE EDITOR. followed the natural line of the main ridge,; Sir,—Referring to a recently mooted proposition to erect a suitable memorial of the great services of Gover­ which still supplies the only practicable nor Macquarie to Australia, your recent article would, I route. Indeed, to this very day, as Mr. Wal­ no doubt, be welcome to many of your readers. It ker shows by a map, the great Western Road' should be welcome to every patriotic Australian. Going back to a still earlier period than that of Mac­ ^follows substantially the same track as did! quarie, there stands out the great name of Sir Joseph | the expedition, until the “Marked Tree” was| Banks, the companion of the world-famous navigator, Cook, and himself a world-famous botanist, whose ; reached. From there they continued almost private wealth enabled him to exercise his natural gene­ due west, straight to Mount York, while the rosity in furtherance of the science to which he devoted I road and railway line bends southward. Mr. a long life. He it was who first interested the people of the Mother-country in a then unknown land, i.r.d, beyond i Walker is to be congratulated on an excel­ dout*, materially hastened the coming of the first settle­ I lent -little volume, which acquires additional ment in Australia—a settlement in which he took a warm and active interest to his latest days. ■ interest since in a few days’ time—May 28, Why have we no worthy monuments to those distin­ ; to be exact—the centenary of the arrival at guished men? We have statues of Cook, of Phillip, first Mount York will be the occasion of a general Governor of New South Wales; of the “ Good Governor,” Bourke; of the admirable Dailey, and of that distin- i| celebration on the Mountains. fS. T. Leigh.)__), 7 -6 £ > I a a |<7 guished statesman, Sir John Kobertson; brat where is any statue of Wentworth, who devoted so much of a strenu­ ous life, and gained for his native land the freedom we now enjoy; and where any memorial to Sir Henrv Parkes, the greatest, perhaps, of Australian statesmen? Let us begin the good work. Let us in the first plane set up amidst suitable surroundings worthy memorials of Banks and Macquarie, and, ere long, also of those dis­ tinguished Australians who lived and labored in later years, so that generations yet unborn may see and learn. Surely of the irrmense wealth of the Mother-State, a very minute fraction might be readily devoted to such purpose.—Yours, etc., J.Y.G. October 18. (Our correspondent is evidently not aware that a move­ ment for a memorial to Sir Joseph Banks was started in Sydney some time ago.. Mr. Maiden, the secretary, in­ forms us that the sum in hand is now about £300, and that he will be glad to acknowledge any donations to increase this.—Ed. “ D.T.” ) a *7 38

THE people o] in his Diary, which the Central - n>est we publish on an­ are about to cele­ other page. In brate at Bathurst that journal he ex­ t h e hundredth presses his surprise anniversary of the The and delight as mile discovery after mile o f mag­ by George William nificent country Evans of the rich continues to unfold lands which he itself before his named the O ’Con­ eyes. H e realises nell, Macquarie, that no longer need a n d Bathurst the infant settle­ Plains. Evans, who Centenary ment fear starva­ Was Deputy Sur­ tion, and indulges veyor - General of in prophetic visions the Colony, had of what the future been instructed by has in store for the Governor M ac­ young colony as a quarie to follow up result of the con­ the discoveries of quering of t h e Blaxland's expedi­ mountains and the tion, which had of the discovery of a vast turned back on area of fertile | reaching the summit land. From a for­ of the mountain merly narrow iirip named after the of territory, | leader. Evans (who bounded on the one Was accompanied side by the waters by two free men of the Pacific, and and three prison­ on the other er5) started out Western Plains. j by a hitherto un- °n November 20, I approachable rangz 1813, and ac­ of lofty moun­ complished h i s tains, the colony t a s l( admirably. suddenly expanded Penetrating the un­ into greatness, known country to and the western o point 98 J miles 1813 = 1913. boundary w as from Mount Blax- pushed backward and. His experi- to what seemed an | ences are recounted incredible extent.

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EVANS’S CROWN, NEAR TARANA. On December 1st, 1813, Evans stood on this remarkable outcrop of rock, and got his first glimpse of the plains on the distant edge of which the City of Bathurst was eventually to stand.

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[n connection with the forthcoming celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the settlement of the Bathurst district, the Diary of George William Evans, Deputy Surveyor-General, who discovered the fertile plains in 1813, is of especial interest. The Diary is addressed to Governor Macquarie, who had directed Evans to explore the unknown country west of Mount Blaxland—the terminal point of the expedition of Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth.

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GOVERNOR MACQUARIE, WILLIAM COX, I Lnder whose instructions'Evans fol Who supervised the construction of | Wed up the discoveries of lilax- the first road over the Blue Moun­ land. tains.

George William Evans, To whom Is due the credit for the discovery of the Western Plains 100 years ago. He was the first white man to make the entire passage from east to west of the Blue Mountains.

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high mountain, but could not see any of the Centenary of the Western low country. It is now disagreeable travel­ ling. The brush is so very thick, and the surface of the ridges is covered with pieces Plains.------^ n tn s'JPcar/-. of sharp granite, intermixed with quartz. Friday, November 19, 1813. The horses seemed to step with caution. We . stopped at 1 o’clock where there was a spa­ DIRECTED the provisions and other necessaries to be cious valley, covered with grass and rushes, conveyed across the Nepean to the NE pointt of Forest a stream of water running through it. On Land, commonly called Emu Island, which was done, opening our baggage I found the bottles of [tiid by the time that everything was arranged evening ap­ medicines broken. proached. Tuesday, November 23. Saturday. November 20. ^HE night was most uncomfortable, and the morning HE night was excessively wet, and con­ being wet prevented our departing so early as I T tinues so. I was necessitated to move, lieant. Feeling anxious to proceed, I made up my mind as we could not keep in a fire or get bark lo make the best of our way to the end of the mountains, to make a hut. It rained hard most of th•» |nd on my return to measure the distance of Messrs. day. Am much afraid some of our bread will ittaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson’s Teeeut excursion, ! be spoiled. The track is still through a appeared to me that while the horses were fresh it was brush, much the same as yesterday. The va l­ plan likely to meet with your approbation, as I could leys on my right, which are numerous, lead lien refresh them on good grass, and take my time in to ravines. They are clear of trees and Ixploring to the westward, which I conceived the object covered with rushes. The holes or drains in If the greatest importance. On returning, should I not the centre are full of good water. At 3 l^ve sufficient provisions to subsist on, to complete o’clock we halted, the weather rather clear. Measuring the track of the above-named gentleman, I No sooner were we comfortable and dry than j°uld send in a man and horse to meet me with a small one of the severest storms came on I ever p p ly . On halting this day I was happy I arranged it witnessed. It put out our fire in an instant, my labour would have been lost, in consequence of and beat in our hut upon us. At 5 o’clock lames Burns having several times mistaken his former the wind became strong and cleared the ele­ Tack. I cannot make any estimate of the distance, there- ments. fre shall defer entering into particulars with respect to nature of the country, except that the two last miles, Wednesday, November 24. as near as I can form an idea, was through E all rested well, which was a preservation to us, a ridge of forest land, good grass, and found not having done so since our departure, and which some water, where I mean to remain tha weW felt the effects of, as nothing could be procured for night. All much fatigued. shelter but green boughs that were not sufficient to screen us from rain. We start quite refreshed. At 9 o’clock Sunday, November 21. came to the end of the range, from which the prospect is HE morning very much overcast, with a extensive and gives me sanguine hopes. The descent is T thick fog. However, I had the horses rugged and steep. I stowed away here a week’s provi­ loaded, and travelled on, mostly on ridges sions in some hollow cliffs in hopes of it being sufficient overrun with brush. At about 11 o’clock 1 for our use back from this place. It was 12 o’clock when passed the pile of stones alluded to by the we got into a valley of good feed, and appears a fine part former party. Soon after we were on a very of the country. I have no doubt but the points of the high hill, which was clear of mist, but to ridges or bluffs to the NW and S (the country seems to my great disappointment the country to the open in the form of this angle) are the termination of eastward being covered with vapour, I could what is called the Blue Mountains, and that we are now not be satisfied with the prospect which must over them. At 10 o’clock I stopped on the bank of a have presented .itself had the weather been riverlett,* which is a rapid stream from the north-east, clear. We made the best of our way on, and its course springing from the very high mountains. Tho two dogs went off after game without success, and came halted at 2 o’clock. to us severely cut. Monday, November 22. * Evans intended to wnte “ rivulet,” hence the name “ River Lett” has been retained to the present day. In the day’s record for Novem­ HE weather bad. Determined to proceed. ber 26 he drops into another form in describing this stream, and here calls it River Lett. T We loaded the horses, when one of them turned stubborn, having lain down and rolled Thursday, November 25. several times over his load. He at length became steady. Our track was through a HE horses appeared fatigued, therefore determined on thick brush. At 9 o’clock we were on a very T remaining this day where we are, being abundance

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I of grass for them. I went with a party to shoot and look as “ like mar­ lat the country. There are small meadows clear of trees, ble,” is quartz, an indication of the gold-bearing qualities of this part ,of the country. The “ yellow land good soil, with chains of holes of water. In wet veins” were probably mundic, a further evidence of ■weather they are connected with each other by small the presence of gold. streams, which lead to the riverlett. The forest land is t It was probably from this entry in Evans’s | much overrun with a scrub of young trees. Between it diary that the name “ River Lett” came to be given to this stream. It is really the Cox' River, which is good grass in some places, at others are thick ironbark separates these mountains, and Evans’s peculiar bushes. The soil is of a sandy nature. On our return, spelling of the word “ rivulet” leads one at first found the kangaroos the dogs must have killed yesterday, glance to think that an apparent mistake has been on which we enjoyed ourselves. We have not seen any | made in describing this stream. natives, but hear them shouting around us. Dried our bread, and find a great deal is spoiled. Saturday, November 27. REAT difficulty to reach the main ridge Friday, November 26. G of hills, and the hills being so very Y course is along the stream. The banks are sandy., steep ;tbat cattle are unable to proceed* M and appear to be overflowed at times by heaps of Although I have travelled but a short dis­ I tim ber being lodged at the foot of some of the trees. tance, we are very tired; the horses were W hen I had proceeded about two miles, the forest ground troublesome. We ascended a very high hill, rises and forms a steeper bank. In places the wrater has which appeared to lead on the main ridg^, a great fait over rocks. The numerous valleys carry off but was disappointed, and shall find it an the water in rainy seasons into the riverlett. On one arduous task to reach it. I therefore halted of the small ridges is a rock resembling white marble, in a valley of fine grass, which the highlands with yellow veins. We couldn’t break it, but from some also produce. The country continues to have of the crevices I scraped out small pieces like crystals * a good appearance. I have not seen a mimosa At four miles, the stream alters its direction to the south, this side of the mountains or on them. at which place the main run joins from the west, forming Distance travelled, 3 miles. a considerable rapid riverlett. The land here gets, better, and the country has a fine appearance. It resembles the ♦“ Clarence Hilly Range,” named by Governor hills to the eastward of the Cori Linn, at Port Dalrymple, Macquarie. and puts me in mind particularly of that part, the trees being thin and light, the flats clear of timber, a few Sunday, November 28. honeysuckles on the banks of the ridges, the lockett bird EFT the horses in the valley, and three persons went singing, and the seed of the wild burnett sticking to our L to find a good track for them in the morning. I legs. Neither of the two last are to be crossed to the north side of the rivulet. The banks are seen on the east side of the mountains. steep, but covered with grass. The country has the same The soil still continues sandy, but the aspect as far as I went, which was about three miles. I feed is good, and better than any I have returned at 1 ojclock. The party arrived soon after, hav­ seen in New South Wales. I stopped this ing found a passage that the horses could ascend. evening near the foot of a very handsome mountain, which I take the liberty of calling Monday, November 29. Mount Blaxland, also two peaks (rather STOPPED in very bad spirits, not being able to get on, north of it), and which the River Lettt I being completely entangled among the hills, and our separates, Wentworth and Lawson’s Sugar course being so little westing. Were it not for the horses, Loaves. I am at a loss to describe the the difficulty to ourselves would be nothing. They are pleasant appearance of this place; the grass sometimes difficult to manage, and soon tire among the being quite green and good makes it look high lands. When so they will not move. After travel­ a pleasing scene. This is the termination of ling 21 miles we are on a lofty hill, from whence the the excursion of the above-named gentlemen. country NW is all forest hills, as far as I could see, Be assured it was not without much labour, which I suppose was about 15 miles. Every other direc­ perseverance, and fatigue that enabled them tion was obscured by high ranges. It is impossible there to reach thus far. I am certain that it is can be a better grazing track of land with the same good at least 50 miles, and as the present track appearance, as far as I have been able to get a sight of is, no person in the colony, on the* choicest it to the westward. Distance travelled. 3^ miles. horse, could reach this and return to the Nepean in four days. You may rely on what Tuesday, November 30. I say in this respect. The mountains being HAVE at length reached the ridge I so much wished to covered with sharp granite would be danger­ 1 after walking about two miles, where I had a prospect ous to put any horses out of a walk, and to the north for a great distance. A mist arises from impossible so to do through the brushes. a part I suppose to be a river or a large lagoon about 20 Kangaroos are numerous; we caught one this miles off. The country in this direction has a fine ap­ day, although the dogs are so much hurt. pearance, the trees being thin and the hills covered with Distance measured, 7£ miles. grass. Ai quarter of a mile further along the range I q o C M a w k ] J27c*t7y 7f/77ta>tf £/&su£ °[ I ^ JL

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came to a very high mount, whence I was much pleased with the sight westward. I think I can see 40 miles which had the look of an open country. To the south o? me there are large hills, much higher than the one I am cn, with pasture to their tops. This range is rathe*’ overrun with underwood and larger timber growing thereon, but the sides are as green as possible. In descending for two miles the verdure is good; the descent then be­ comes steep for a quarter of a mile leading into a fine valley. At the end I met a large rivulet arising from the southern hills. We shot ducks, and caught several trout weighing at least 51b or 61b each. Distance travelled, 5£ miles. Wednesday, December 1. Y course is down the rivulet. It appears to lead me M north of west. On the north side of it at this place is a remarkable sugarloaf hill,* having a stone on the peak of it, which I have named after myself. I am more pleased with the country every day. It is a great extent of grazing land, without being divided by barren spaces, as on the east side of the mountains, and well watered by running streams in almost every valley. I took a walk to the top of a very high mount, where I can see at least 50 miles west, which gives me great spirits. Distance travelled, miles. * This lofty peak. 3200ft above sea-level, is now known as Evans’s ,’fio+o. ^./YaZHer. Crown, in the neighbourhood of Tarana. It is plainly visible from the railway line. From this elevation Evans obtained his first glimpse A Portion of the First Western Road beyond o j the locality where the future city of Bathurst was to stand. Mount Blaxland. Thursday, December 2. Deviations have altered the road as originally planned. EING a wet morning, it was late before I could go B forward. One of the horses having a sore back, we are few trees on them, and the grass quite green. I still were necessitated to put more weight on the others. In keep the river, and at times I walk a few miles south or consequence thereof our progress is trifling. On con­ north, as seems to me most requisite. The dogs killed a sidering the fine country we have passed through this day, Jtangaroo, and the river supplies us with an abundance of I think it equal to Van Diemen’s Land, the river winding fish.* through fine, fiats and round the points of small ridges * No distance travelled recorded this day. (Dec. 4.) that gradually descend to it, covered with the finest grass and intermixed with the white daisy, as in England. I shall not name the river until I am certain of its real Sunday, December 5. course. Distance, 4| miles. HE night was very wet. We were uncomfortable, hav­ T ing no means to shelter ourselves from it, as the Friday, December 3. trees will not bark. It has rained most of the day. About 4 p.m. a violent thunderstorm came on. since the clouds NOW find the mimosa in clusters on the banks of the seem to disperse; wind blowing fresh from the west. We I river. I am happy to think it favours me so much remained near the river, as it is Sunday. The horses are as to run the course I wish it. The country continues getting fat, but I am sorry to observe their backs are sood, particularly for grazing. Yet it has not been alto­ getting sore. The saddles should have been lined. Straw gether so pleasing to the eye as before, being in some stuffing is too hard to render it easy. We put our blan­ places overrun with a shrub among the grass, somewhat kets under them. I walked out this evening some miles. the same as on the Cowpastures, near the Stone Quarry I cannot speak too highly of the country; indeed, Tam Creek. The land is still of a light sandy nature, thinly now at a lo ss what to say, as it exceeds my expectations, wooded with small gums. We have not yet seen any and daily ^ets better. We are on an allowance of bread, natives, but can see their late tracks. Distance, 5| miles. having los so much by the bad weather on the mountains. We require little pork in these parts. A kangaroo can Saturday, December 4. be procured at any time; there are also emus. We killed some ducks this day. Y progress is through an exceeding good tract of M country. It is the handsomest I have yet seen, Monday, December 6 with gentle rising hills and dales well watered. The HEJj,night was very bad. I was greatly afraid the distant hills, which are about five miles south, appear as weather would continue so. This morning it had a grounds laid out, divided into fields by hedges. There T better appearance. The river now forms large ponds q z Q > h / ) l c ] o / ’t / e o r ' y e 7 f / 7 7 ^ n * ^3 45

C e t i f e * >/ fcj/ e/ jtt /% */*ts’

[at the space of a mile or thereabouts. I came upon a fine distance, as it did the men who swam across.* I am ■ plain of rich land, the handsomest country I ever saw— much pleased with our exertions, which took some hours, lit surpasses Port Dalrymple. This place is worth speak- and enabled us to reach the junction of the rivers by ling of as good and beautiful. The tract of clear land sunset. The country is beautiful; no mountains to be [occupies about a mile on each side of the river. I have seen. There are high hills at great distances, but can [named it after the Lieutenant-Governor “O’Connell Plains,” observe them green to their tops. I named the last run Ion which we saw a number of wild geese, but too shy of water “Campbell River.”t ■ to let us near them. The timber around is thinly scat­ * This was the first bridge built in the western district, t e r e d . I do not suppose there are more than 10 gum- t No record of distance travelled this day, beyond that under­ I trees on an acre. Their bark is amazingly thick, at least taken in following up the river to find a ford (four miles). This had 12 inches. At 3 o’clock I stopped a t the commencement to be retraced, rr, rather, two miles of it, to the camp, on the ■ of a plain, still more pleasing and very extensive. 3 previous evening. I cannot see the termination of it north of me. The soL Thursday, December 9. 1 is exceedingly rich, and produces the finest grass, inter- HAVE called the main stream “Macquarie River.” At I mixed with a variety of herbs. The hills have the look 21 miles commenced a most extensive plain. The I of a park and grounds laid out. I am at a loss for | hills around are fine indeed. It requires a clever person |language to describe the country. I named this part to describe this country properly. I never saw anything “Macquarie Plains.” * I have walked till I am quite Ito equal it. The soil is good. I think the lower parts I fatigued, being so anxious to look about me. There is of the plains are overflowed at times, but do not see marks Igarae in abundance. If we want a fish, it is caught im- to any height. The small trees on the lower banks of | m ediately—they seem to bite at any time. Had I brought tb > river stand straight, not lying down, as you see them quantity of salt we could cure some 1001b of them. I or the banks of the river and creeks at the Hawkesbury. |am quite astonished at the number the men catch every The grass here might be mowed, it is so thick and long, ■ evening. The dogs thrive on them. I shall bring one particularly on the flat lands. Distance travelled, 8J |home with me. Distance travelled, 6 miles. miles. "Lieutenant Lawson received a grant of 1000 acres at Macquarie I Plains, and shortly afterwards erected Macquarie House. «t.ill stand­ Friday, December 10. ing, and in possession of the family for 36 years. ESTERDAY’S track left me much north of west. To-day it is south of it. Tuesday, December 7. Y1The extent of the plain following the PROCEEDED over the plains, following the water, which river is 11 miles, and about two wide on I I have named “Fish River.” At about foiy miles I each side, the whole excellent good land, ■ was brought up by a stream, nearly as large, from the and the best grass I have seen in any part ■ southward. I imagine I shall be necessitated to travel of New South Wales. The hills are also |UP it some distance to find a ford. I determined upon covered with fine pasture, the trees being I so doing, and traced it about two miles, when we stopped so far apart must be an acquisition to its I to secure ourselves from an approaching thunderstorm growth. At the termination of the plain I that came on most severely, and threatens a wet night. is a very handsome mount. I named it | Distance travelled, 51 miles. i “Mount Pleasant," from the prospect It commands to the NE.* The river now winds itself round the points of forest hills, Wednesday, December 8. nearly the same as described some days since. Emus are numerous. The dogs E are in spirits from the good appearance of the will not give chase. I imagine they are W morning. We hope it will be fine, as none of us bad ones. We have not been able to get a ■ have been thoroughly dry these three days and nights, i shot at any of the geese; although plenti­ I ste no signs of a ford at present, therefore am obliged tc ful, they are so shy; but we frequently shoot [continue tracing up the stream. At two miles begins ducks. Nothing astonishes me more than the amazing large fish that are caught. One |a Plain of rich land, which I call “ Mitchell Plains.” Ob­ is now brought in that weighs at least serving from a hill that the course of the water springs 151b. They are all of the same species. I from the SE, I made up my mind to contrive a bridge to I call the plains last passed over “Bathurst I convey our luggage over. It was done in the following Plains.” Distance travelled, 7J miles. I banner:—By driving two forked logs in the mud as far in "This plain was destined in later years to form the I the water as we dare venture, and by laying a piece of site whereon the city of Bathurst was built. l wood in the forks, forming a gallows; a party swam across l and did the same on the other side. We then felled trees, Saturday, December 1 1. |as large as six of us could carry, and rolled them down HE fine pasture continues, but there is a I the bank. As soon as one end was carried into the water, T great alteration in the look of the ■ the stream sent it round, and the ropes secured round th«? country. The river leads me among hills, lend prevented it being carried too far. We lifted two the points of which end in rocky bluffs near |°f these up, which reached from one gallows to the other, the water. At about four miles I was land two from each bank to a gallows, over which we brought up by one of them, which appears ■ Passed our necessaries, and swam the horses, first eon- to be the termination of a range of high I ''eying to the other side a rope that held them, otherwise hills from the south, and is the only mass force of the water would have carried them a great of rocks I have met with since leaving the q + f H a n f c ]

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■ * Blue Mountains. I determined on halting for a few hours, that I may be enabled Wednesday, December 15. to look about me. I ascended a peak and UR road is very rugged, and the found that the river turned about NW hills increase in size, but covered with around the points of stupendous green hills O to the south and south-west. I cannot dis­ fine grass. I was upon a very high one, but cern their end. The tops of the distant could not determine their end; from the b ones sfy)w themselves for a great extent. to W they are stupendous. The only °P®P On the north side of the river is also a ridge country to be observed is from NW to E. of pasture hills that range westward, to These hills surpass any grazing tract on the the east appears the fine country I came east side of the mountain. In the valleys over. I am pleased to find the large hills the grass is long and thick, which makes it are covered with grass, nor can I discern fatiguing to pass over them. I begin to any rocky ranges with pine trees, except think of returning. The dogs not Tienig the one I am on. The pines have a very good there is no certainty of obtaining romantic appearance—so very different from skins for our feet. The stones and grass any other part. The largest of them is have cut our shoes to pieces. Distance about 4ft in circumference. I am fearful travelled, 7 miles. of bad travelling for a few miles. It is not so inconvenient to ourselves as to the Thursday, December 16. horses with their sore backs. The north MADE up my mind to return in the morn­ side looks well, but we cannot cross the ing, seeing no hope of approaching the water. I have found a pass for the horses end of the high range of hills. I would most and gone forward. It is not quite so bad willingly proceed further, but the horses' travelling as I expected. There are many Ibacks are so bad, and no idea can be formed rocks, but the pasture is good. Distance of the situation we are in with respect to travelled 6£ miles. our feet. With patching and mending we may manage to reach home. I am now 98£ Sunday, December 12. measured miles from the limitation of Mr. E stopped this day. I took a walk Blaxland’s excursion. Most part of the distance is through a finer country than I for a few iniles to the SW, and found W can describe, not being able, for want of it a fine country for pasture, being steep, language, to dwell on the subject, or explain healthy hills thickly covered with grass. its real and good appearance with pen and Water in almost every valley. ink. (These extracts take us to the end ol Monday, December 13. Evans's journey. The remainder of the diary HE hills are still steep, and not quite describes the return journey, which was T so fine as those we have passed. They completed on Saturday, January 8, 1814.) are rather rough with rocks, yet the pas­ ture is good. The gums are much larger, and intermixed with the box-tree. The soil is of a stiffer nature, having pieces of ala­ baster rock among it. The highlands in general throughout have a great deal about them. That on the surface is quite white in some places, and of a yellow cast in others. I do not know what to make of the river, its course seems so irregular. The direction to-day has been from SW to NE. The hills are so very high and close that from any one of them its run cannot be dis­ tinguished. I have hopes of coming to their end and being able to judge what part the river leads to.* *No record of distance travelled this day.

Tuesday, December 14. HE country is much about the same for T two miles. The hills then get steeper and not so good; indeed, it is the worst part I have been over since leaving the Blue Mountains. This place resembles the hills about Mount Hunter at the Cowpastures. I hope we shall soon be through these high lands, being bad travelling, and I am afraid we shall soon feel the need of shoes. The ( river still winds much, and forms some very curious bends. Killed a kangaroo and two

To the Bathurst Plains. « T 7 ELSO” asks what route Surveyor Evans tra- I V versed in his memorable journey to the Bathurst Plains.—He followed the tracks of Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson to their final camping place beyond the mountains, then took the Fish River as a guide, crossing it near its junction with the Campbell River. He never left the watercourse except for an occasional excursion into the bush. On the return journey a wider area was covered some distance from the stream, the out­ ward track being entirely ignored. The above sketch of the route is taken from the explorer’s diary. (The original map is now in the British Museum.) The outward journey is marked by small dashes, the homeward by longer dashes and dots. Excerpts from the diary are published in another portion of this issue.

frF,ROTTING with a free rein along the natural road, 1 smooth as a racecourse—no little treat, after three days of cautious driving—a few miles brought us to Mac­ quarie ^Plains, the seat (as the guide-books say) of ' Mr. William Lawson, where we were most kindly received and comfortably accommodated. The house looks over a wide extent of the plains. In its rear are extensive offices, farm buildings, stockyards, stables, etc., requisite for one of the largest grazing and breeding ^establishments in Aus­ tralia. i Detached, at a sliort distance, is a' garden, useful and ornamental, a mixture of the flower and kitchen gar­ A IV /L iO v/# den. full of English productions—roses, and other old floral friends!in great profusion, cherries, peaches, apples, pears, and grapes, abundance of fine vegetables, not one of which plants, ■ ornate or esculent—or, indeed, any that I know A Historic Home of—is indigenous to this originally outlandish and unpro­ ductive. country. . . . Besides Mr." Lawson’s family, in the there were several guests at Macquarie Plains, and the house was stretched, by the hospitality of its owners, large Western District. ei/ A/fat % enough to contain the whole of the Governor’s party, a spacious additional room having been, however, tempor­ / 2.. r f . t f . arily erected for purposes of refection. In this same BY FRANK WALKER room there dined, to meet his Excellency, no fewer than 35 ladies and gentlemen, whom the provincial journal described as a ‘select- party of the elite of Bathurst,’ a HE exact date of the erection of Mac­ phrase conveying the idea of an extraordinary degree of quarie House is uncertain-—probably social sifting. Yes, at this Australian country seat, 150 about 1820, as William Lawson was miles from Sydney, at which emporium European’supplies appointed Comman^jpit and Justice arrive, after four or five months’ voyage, enhanced nearly of the Peace at Bathurst towards double in price, and with the superadded risk, difficulty, the end of the previous year, and and expense consequent on a dray journey of another half­ would in all probability see to the month across almost impassable mountains, we found a well- erection of his house on the land he damasked table for thirty or forty persons, handsome china owned as soon as possible after his and plate, excellent cookery, a profusion of hock, claret, official appointment was made. In and champagne, a beautiful dessert of European fruits— in short, a really capital English dinner. . . One of the 1832 his son William acquired the delicacies at Mr. Lawson’s table on this occasion was the property, and ^resided there for upwards of twenty years. During his father’s occupation the old home freshwater cod-perch, or Grystes peelli, only found on must have had, on certain occasions, Governor Mae- this side of the mountains. One fish was more than suffi­ juarie as an inmate, and in all probability the great man cient for the whole party.” uring his visits to Bathurst was a welcome guest at the? ospitable home of his friend and brother officer. The ACQUARIE HOUSE was reached on November 14, the ost interesting account of the old residence, as it ap- M journey thither having occupied exactly five days. eared nearly 70 years ago, is to be found in Lieutenant- The party remained several days under Mr. Lawson’s hos­ olonel Mundy’s entertaining work, “ Our Antipodes.” This pitable roof, and further on in the narrative we get an­ lallant officer was A.D.C. to Governor Pitzroy, and in other glimpse of the old home. Says the Colonel:—“This | $46 accompanied him on a tour across the mountains to was a day of excessive sultriness, a day on which Diogenes athurst. The description is so entertaining, and affords would have desired Alexander to ‘stand fast’ between him uch an excellent idea of the general aspect of the dis* and the sun, instead of countermarching the king to the 'ict in those days, that it is worth reproducing. Tha rear of his tent. The plains were burnt brown and hard arty consisted of his Excellency Sir Charles and Lady as a brick; the sky, from zenith to horizon, was one itzroy, Mr. George Fitzroy (the private secretary), Mr. unveiled glare. The fervour of the atmosphere was visible !, Deas Thomson, the Colonial Secretary, and the nar- in the hollow, quivering in the misty wreaths. But the ator. They left Sydney on November 9, 1846, and were grain fields were full of quail, so with two brother-sports- ccompanied by two mounted police as escort and five men I sailed out for their destruction in what might ervants. The narrative of the journey is brim full of appropriately have been called the warm’ of the evening. nteresting anecdotes and shrewd observations on the Upwards of thirty couple were soon bagged, the son of ppearance of the country and its inhabitants, whilst it Nimrod,*'with his twenty years of Indian experience, fol­ s not wanting in humour. In due time the neighbour­ lowing up the sport with untiring vigour, while Fitzroy hood of Bathurst was reached, and now the gallant Colonel and myself, Stumbling upon a small branch of the nearly ay be allowed to speak for himself:— dry Macquarie, deposited our guns and raiment on th? bank I of a waterhole, and hastening into the 'stream remained^

* Mr. Apperley, the great sporting writer.

some time, wallowing, with our noses above the of this region being closely wrapped up in the mists of V like a couple of Mr. Gordon Cummins’s hippo- the future years. . . . If the weather was unsuitable to outdoor , neither did it better accord with a drawing-room HERE is something infinitely pathetic about this old s day by Lady Mary Fitzroy at Bathurst, nor with T homestead, now hastening on to a time when its -party of forty or fifty persons, followed by a ball walls cannot longer hold together. The crumbling plaster larie Plains. I did not attend the former of these in many places has fallen away, and the red bricks in all >ns, but rumour whispered—untruly, of course— their nakedness stand revealed to the eye. The wood­ ous discord had arisen, owing to certain fair ones, work' of the verandah is seamed and cracked, and the g, it was thought, too strongly of ‘the shop,’ hav- silent though deadly work of the white ant is apparent ^cured to mingle with the local aristocracy in offer- where cedar is not used. And what wonderful preserva­ >eir devoirs to the Governor's much-respected lady, tion this splendid timber shows, where all around is ause of this not uncommon jealousy of position in decay! The great doors, four or five inches through; the ; 'ncial and colonial circles is obvious enough—where solid and substantial casements and wainscoting; the ! iries are ill-marked, trespasses are common. Apropos sturdy balustrades encircling the old staircase—all these j is subject, at later date I had the pleasure of making f r acquaintance with a lady in a neighbouring colony seem proof against time itself, and are apparently in­ destructible. Here is a trapdoor—where does it lead to? on some question of female precedence, did undoubt- { assert that she was ‘the rankest lady present.’ As Descend the steep flight of stairs at the rear of the build­ the ball, the thermometer stood steadily at 92deg., ing, leading to regions unknown, below the floor of the le we. on the contrary, danced furiously on the brick house, and a sinister-looking apartment, measuring aboui r..of-the verandah f-rom 9 o’clock till daylight. Patent five feet square, with an arched roof, is revealed by. the her boots and white satin shoes soon became like the light of the candle. Here* in utter darkness, devoid of titudinous sea, ‘one red’ ; the air we breathed was like air or ventilation of any sort, the delinquent servant of Sydney brickfielder in hue; the music, or rather the that unfortunate class so numerous in the days the Colonel d, was excruciating—I can find no milder term for it. writes about, spent many a miserable hour ruminating imly reminded me—especially after I had retired to on his painful lot. The remains of a solid and substantial and it came o’ er my soul in dreams—of a description door, once no doubt firmly fixed into position by iron bolts ome old book where a company of musicians, playing and bars, is further evidence of the former use to which laricorns, dulcimers, and such-like instruments of tor- this grim apartment was put, and it is not without some , are described as causing ‘so delectable a noise, the feeling of relief that the old dungeon is left once more was never before heard.’ .... Everyonfc danced I to its cobwebs and dust. Macquarie House will even­ l his or her, might, from the veteran captain who tually pass away and become but a memory; but the dis­ grated fif*y years ago| and who led the dancers all trict it has seen emerge into a strong and4usty manhood it, to his well-grown and handsome granddaughters, will continue to thrive and prosper, and the story of its progress can never be dissociated from the strong human | element which in the early stages of its career helped That a delightful peep this is into the pastimes of so largely to direct its infant steps. ' the long ago! The very bricks on the verandah, r whose surface the flying feet of youth and age chased y the glowing hours, are still there, somewhat rough t uneven now; but what stories they could tell were they A s a reward for their heroic undertaking in owed with speech! The long, creeper-covered verandah discovering a route over the Blue Mountains, ■i looks out oyer the plains, and the remains of the Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth were i. English garden, so eloquently referred to by the facile of this observant soldier, may yet be traced, and each granted 1000 acres of land in the tless many of the existing sturdy plants, long ago territory discovered soon afterwards hy { ft of all semblance of blooms, are the reiics of some miliar shrub which formerly delighted English eyes. Deputy Surveyor-General Evans, and named iere are queer, crooked staircases and long low rooms in by him O ’Connell, Macquarie, and Bathurst interior of the old house, which once echoed to the Plains. Lawson chose his grant on M ac­ >yous songs and laughter of that gay company, assem­ bled there well on to seventy years ago. Flocks of quail quarie Plains (Bathurst), and erected a sub­ till haunt the quiet fields, probably the very descendants stantial residence, which he called ihose which escaped the gallant Colonel’s gun, and the Id stables on the rise yonder are exactly the same, save Macquarie, or, as it is generally >r plainly visible signs of the strain and stress of the spolfen of, Macquarie House. Massing years. Away in the distance, when the setting This old building, dating from fun lights up the windows and roofs of Bathurst, marking (he spot where a big city now covers the plains, the pro­ about 1820, is still in existence. spect from the old home in the days of Fitzroy was a far lifferent one, and the rolling plains and gently swelling lills were but sparsely populated, the ultimate destiny

53 ,0?

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The First Settlers

r r ./ 3 . in The West. New South Wales and in Western Queensland. In their This interesting sketch of the men who were identity is sunk that of James Vincent, whose only sur­ connected with the first settlement of the viving child became the wife of John Nevell, and they still hold the Vincent grant of land, the Nevell grant, on part Bathurst district a hundred years ago is from of which the Kelso railway station now stands, having been sold within the last few years. The whereabouts the pen of a descendant of one of the pio­ of the descendants of the Cheshires, Appletts, and Dargins neers. It reminds us of the difficulties that have passed from the writer's knowledge. had to be faced, and of the energy and Farming with Garden Hoes. enthusiasm with which these were overcome. OR years the pioneers’ holdings were unfenced, land- F marks at first, and later a ploughed furrow, being used to define the boundaries of each farm. The Government BY “PIONEER.’ supplied the seed wheat, which was put in by means of a garden hoe, and when the crops were harvested each HUNDRED YEARS ! How things farmer had to return to the Government as much seed have changed in that time! If those grain as he had been supplied with. This rule assured first ten pioneers who followed so a plentiful supply of seed always in the Government stores. quickly in the footsteps of Blax- A great, improvement in farming came when wooden land, Wentworth, Lawson, and ploughs were obtainable Mr. James Rankin was one of Evans over the wild Blue Moun­ the first to own one in Bathurst. He offered to giv'; tain ranges to accept the Govern­ the plough to Mr. Nevell if he would carry it home on ment’s-offer of .free grants of land his back. The distance was about a couple .of miles, and at Kelso and Bathurst could return the plough was heavy; but it was a great prize, so the to-day, what would be ttieir feel­ hardy pioneer accepted the offer and carried it home. ings? Would they recognise in'the. Hand Mills for Grinding Flour. wide, well-kept’, tree-lined streets’, with their beautiful parks and lofty buildings, and their throngs of gay human­ HE wheat was reaped by hand and bound in sheaves, ity, with all the modern conveniences of travel, the silent T then stacked, thatch for covering being made from scene, peopled only with dusky aboriginals and wild ani­ rushes from the river-banks. It was afterwards threshed mals, that, greeted them on. their arrival with camping with a flail and ground into flour with steel hand-mills. outfit to form the nucleus of this now flourishing city? In the early days the assigned servants (convicts) were each given seven quarts of wheat on Saturday, and that First Ten Settlers. afternoon they ground their weekly supply of flour from it. Tools were, of course, rare, and there is still in HE first 'ten settlers were,- I believe, Messrs. James existence a very roughly made hammer that twro of the T Vincent, John Nevell, Richard Mills, Thomas Kite, old Bathurst neighbours went into partnership to share Joseph Moulder, George Kable, William Lee, Thomas the expense of buying. Cheshire, John. Dargin, and.r Applett, and they were men Kite’s Cabbage Garden. who wrote their names indelibly on the’ pages of the early history of the colony. Some of the younger branches of HEN there was Kite’s cabbage garden. There were these old families still reside within the Bathurst dis­ T numerous inquiries about this when it became known tricts—notably the Lees, Kites, and Kables. The Moulder that Mr. Kite had announced that he would give a cabbage family is well known about Orange and Condobolin. garden to any man who was capable of minding “ his Amongst the best known of the Mills family is Dr. Arthur own business.” Each applicant for it was subjected to Mills, of Sydney, whose uncle, George Mills, was the first a rigorous cross-examination by Mr. Kite on his ability white child born in Bathurst, and to whom the Govern­ to mind ,his own business, and the conversation generally ment offered a grant of 100 acres of land. The Nevells ended by Mr. Kite saying: “Well, this cabbage garden is are now resident in the Mudgee and Rylstone districts of my business. May I ask what you have to do with It?”

5 4

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The c, tbbage garden, of course, never found another Other Early Settlers. owner, and became the joke of the district. MONGST other early settlers at Bathurst were Messrs. The First Church. A Richard Lewis, George Cox, and William Lawson HE first free settlers lived in Kelso, the penal settle­ (commandant at Bathurst, and discoverer of the Mudgee T ment being ^at Bathurst, a mile distant, the Mac­ country). These three men finally established their quarie River flowing between. The first church built homes at Mudgee in 1821. There are also included in over tfte Blue Mountains was the Church of England at the old Bathurst days the familiar names of MacPhillamy, Kelso, and the Bible used at the opening service in the Suttor, Gorman, Rotton, Charlton, Langley, Dr. Cluett, present building, which succeeded a small wooden one, is Jack Tye, and many others, who added their quota to the now in the possession of Mrs. H. W. Nevell, Chinchilla, records of the western district close on a century ago. Queensland, her father, the late Mr. W. E. Sampson, having exchanged his pocket Bible for the large church Bible with the Rev. Keane when he (Mr. Keane) was returning to England. This Bible is in an excellent state of pre­ servation, and is bound in dark red calf with gold letter- , ing. It was printed in 1772 in the old English type, making it somewhat difficult for the present-day student to read. It also contains the 14 books of the Apocrypha, which are not usually bound in the Bibles of to-day. Upon its pages are many marginal notes and marked texts of the preachers who have passed from us. I will quote a few:—22nd chapter Proverbs, 6th verse (the Bishop’s ser­ mon at Thorpe, August 9, 1816); 7th chapter Hebrews, 25th verse (Mr. Scott, November 26, 1815); 2nd chapter Old Western Road Centenary. Exodus, 8, 9, 10 verses (Mr. Jefferson’s charity sermon at Ramsay, December 1, 1816). Then there are the names of the Revs. Whinfield. Harrison, Scott (the younger)— entries that have stood the test of time for nearly a hundred years, for I fancy these were all English clergy­ Kindly Give This to Caterer. men. who used the book before it was brought to help in Divine worship in our southern clime. This Bible was also used at the opening of the first churches at Bathurst and Mudgee. An Interesting Book. OOKS were rare when Parson Keane (as he was known B by his flock) lived in Bathurst, and interest at­ taches also to a small book, “Rise and Progress of Re­ ligion in the Soul,” bearing in his handwriting the in­ scription, “ From Mr. Keane to Mr. Vincent and Mr. and Mrs. Nevell, for their joint use. May God’s blessing attend that use. Parsonage, January 1st, 1835.” Though the writing has not faded on the leaf, yellow with age, no doubt the giver, as well as the recipients, has long since joined the great majority, leaving perhaps but few such silent witnesses of his great life-work amongst the early settlers of the mother State of Australia.

Another Relic. a—I_ ------MOTHER —relic „ of______the— old______Bathurst____ Says„ smIs all a I wooden cask, seven inch^g high, four and a half

j inches in diameter (outside measurements), holding ono quart, with four iron hoops around it. that contained tin; only spirits that were used at the twenty-first birthday Party of William Lee, mentioned before as one of the first settlers. It was a present from the late Mr. John Nevell, on condition that the cask was returned to him as a memento of the occasion, and, though it bears the signs of age, it has only one broken stave, and three of the hoops are quite firm.

the first train arrive in Bathurst} ever/ IN THE THIRTIES. agricultural show, two persons placed “ 1 was born at Kelso in 1831,” said in the stocks when such a punishment Major. “ Bathurst was then :;"own MAJOR CASSIDY was in vogue, and was a member of as the. .settlement. I went to J r- the first volunteer corps formed in ney’s School it Kelso, and amongi. Bathurst. In fact, Major Cas- | my schoolmates were John Ford, M ‘- sidy has seen everything worth BATHURST’S CRAND OLD Gowen (who afterwards became a seeing in Bathurst for the past MAN. noted comic actor), John Casey, and 60 or 70 years. To-day, though Z; Thomas Sloane (father of Tom Sloane).' HIS EXPERIENCES IN years of age, he is by no means plat’ who is the only one I know of living, j ed out. Though not in the same state BATHURST. The first men of the West at that of health as of a few short years agOj { time were Old William Kite, William j

INTERESTING LIFE STORY. Read, the Pipers, Perriers (Rock For-, Perhaps there is no public man est), John De Clouett, John Dargins, S etter known thioughout the length W. Boyle, John and George I.ee, Major 1 .1 nd breadth of the Western district West, the Coxs, and General Stewart, j i lan Major Cassidy. Certainly there who lived at Hereford. In those dsvs > none more popular. “ Old M ajor,1’ t h e r e w e r e 110 s t r e e t s , n e ith e r w , ■ as he is called by those who know him there any road over the Mountains. best, is the oldes't native of ba- When I left school, I assisted my 'hurst at present living in the dis­ father with horses for some time. Then trict. And it is questionable whether I became poundkeeper at Kelso, and I here is an older native of Bathurst | held the postion for about 20 years, j living outside the district. He .vas | I then went -o Blackman’s Swamp • born at Kelso in 1831, but 18 years' (Orange), and resided there for a num­ after Surveyor Evans first saw the ber of years. I next returned to Ba- ! Plains, and 16 years after the first thurst, and became a full-fledged auc­ settlement was formed. Major’s life tioneer. I have also taken stock ?II j story would take up pages, and what over the State, and on many occasions 1 he. knows about Bathurst, both in the have brought cattle and horses over j dark and its modern days, would take the Mountains. I was married in ^a- | up even more. From childhood he , thurst by the late Dean Grant. .Vy • has led a strenuous life, and has be^n i wife has been dead many years, but 1 one of the greatest sporting men > > four out of five of my children iTt this or any other part of the world. ( still living. Even to-day he never misses a race 1 MAJOR CASSIDY. MAKING THE STREETS. meeting. During his long car.;?" I remember seeing the convicts at j Major Cassidy has been amongst "ne the Major still carries his great ng

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man a pipe to smoke. He "had lot at burnt Flat, near Mi. Tanar. At lishmen arrived by Cobb and Co.’s had it in his mouth long before a con­ • that meeting, hors os owned by John coaches, and the road from Bathurst i stable came up and snatched it, broke | Ta.it and De M esti ■?, and others took to Rydal was lined with thousands of it to pieces, and chased us away. pa»t. James Ho'./aes was the best spectators. 411 Bathurst went out to ! PUBLIC EXECUTIONS. jockey of thos° days. From there meet them. No fewer than 21 booths; Though I did not actually see them the course w s shifted to Poor Man’s were sold. The match was supposed hanged, I remember seeing a bla -k- Hollow, where the residence of Mr. to extend over two days, but was in- ; fellow and a >vhite man hanging out­ Tago Smith now stands. Two of the Jerrupted by a terrific storm. The 1 side the old gaol, which was situated best horses ever I saw were De Clouet’s Englishmen won easily. I think the I where the Court House now stands. John and Tait’s Cossack. In match was witnessed by the greatest j I also remember seeing a young fel­ fact. ’ ‘hink Cossack was the best crowd in the history of Western cricket. ' low hanged for a criminal assault on j horse I have ever seen. The pair had The only two other players that I re­ a girl. He was from Blackman’s ! ’ r?atch for ,£ico aside, the best two member played for BaJthurst were Swamp (Orange), and I knew him I out v£ three, two miles. Cossack John Dargin and Rev. Tress. The well. i won. The best jockeys of those days latter was a thorough srood bowler, EARLY RACING. were Joe Mathews (an amateur rider) and took five of the Englishm en’? wic­ The first race meeting I remember and Cutts. Hereford was the scene kets— a feat that had not been done in was held at Alloway Bank, now own- ^ of the next races, and it was here that Australia up to that time. I also t'd by Mr. S. Williams. The meeting Pasha, owned by John De Clouet, prov­ played in the first match ever played extended over three days. No charge ed himself to be the best horse of the on the Snorts Ground. was made for admission, and t'he prize- day. After that racing was conducted HIS MILITARY CAREER. money ranged from .£30 to £150. A on the old Bathurst course, where the I was a member of the first volunteer number of horses which travelled over Model Farm now stands. Then the comnanv formed in Bathurst. I was the, Mountains took part, including Bathurst Cup was worth £300 and the ninth man to give in my name. Jorrocks, Bessie Bedlam, Plover, and “he Macquarie Plate £200. The biggest The non-commissioned officers were Honiheki. These were the greatest U'Owd I have seen at a meeting in elected by a ballot of the company in ; horses of the day. There were no six Bathurst was when Sir Hercules Rob­ those days. Major Hales, the cap­ inson was in attendance. The crowd furlongs races in those, days. The tain, was the first man elected in com - ; •lumbered about 5000. principal events were over two miles, mand. That was about 60 years ago. i the best two out of three, and very EARLY CRICKET. I have been thorough the ranks from | George Bonnor was only a boy when often a horse hao to run six miles in private to Major, but have as you an afternoon to win. Jorrocks was I was at my best at cricket. We had know retired. The last time I wore ■e champion. There were several the best cricketers in New South my uniform was when Kitchener was bootus on the course, at each of which Wales around Bathurst. Charlie West here. I don’t think I •..dll ever wear it a fiddler was engaged, and a place for was a great bowler, and won many a g a i n . thncing erected. The booths were j trophies. I, myself, was considered A ONE-MATCH FOOTBALLER. ■ : ill night, and people came milesI to be one of the best batsmen in those “ I only playetf ift*m the course all night. I have seen J Carmen, who still owns - property in Sydney to play against the University, between 15 and 20 fires going. Sing­ ! Bathurst, was also good. He was I never bothered about football alV-r j - *>e of the best fields ever I saw. Char- ing was indulged in nearly all night, that,” tlhe Major added. t he price paid for the booths was ,£10. iii Naylor was a fair player, and was RAILWAY, SHOWS, AND .THER Any publican could purchase a booth, ■ ’creiary for many years of the Bath- MATTERS. and each drew lots for positions. At ui..: Club. I remember the first Eng- “I well remember the first train to the first meeting I think I am right in ' lish eleven that come, over the Moun­ arrive in Bathurst. I atso i:-inf mber saying that Tom Whibon, who kept tains. It was Stephenson’s team, the first municipal election. I tnirk a public house at Esrom, acted as j They played 2 2 of Bathurst. No, don't that Mr. R. J. Cousins was one of the steward. I don’t remember any of ; ask me who won. The match was big men than. I was also present he other officials. About 800 at­ played just over the Denison Bridge, at the first show, which was held a t; tended on each day. > in Lee’s paddock. The event caused i O ’Connell Plains. I have nev..*r seen | The next meeting, I think, was held S the greates’ excitement. The, Eng- j

so muclh, fighting-, and it was rte.e I ick-street was being formed, and ker’s just as the sun was rising, I saw for the first time stump irons there was a quantity of metal in the was told that there was a g e n t le m a n used in a row. That was a fight, middle of the road. One of the bush- having breakfast, and if I didln t m.nd and there was skin, and ihair fly ng in raragers’ horses blundered (over the I could join him. I went in, and all directions. I have been incse.it at metaj, and a young fellow wlho was there was a fine-looking man seated at every show, at Alloway Bank, Rag­ standing with me said, ‘They must be the rable. In reply to my greeting, he lan, and on the present site, and have busbies.1 The bushrangers afterwards [said, ‘Good m orning,’ and also that ho been a member of the committee since went up to De Clouet, where it was [for years afterwards, and I s u p p o s e the inception of the Association. In said they went to get his racehorse, . did not mind me breakfasting with th e e a r ly d a y s I u s e d t o j u d g e boirs-®^ Pasha. It was only a joke, however, him, as there was plenty foT t w o . In and fat cattle ait all she western shows. a® one of them told me afterwards. (j the course of conversation, I found I have often been asked to p’it up Gilbert wae at one time employed by that he knew a great deal about For­ for alderman, but never wculd do so. ! Jack De Clouet as a stable boy, amd bes, which was then called the Lach­ I was present ait the first election ' it was he who told me. When Jack De lan. After breakfast, we got our ever held in Bathurst. No, I don’t re- .Clouet heard the bushrangers were horses out and rode towards Blayney together. We hadn’t gone very far member the candidates. I was always about to taike Pasha, he said, ‘Oh, a strong Protectionist, and a great when 'I noticed that my friend had a for the Jove of God, take my money, supporter of Frank Suttor, and help­ couple of revolvers in his belt. Hul­ take my wife, take my life, but don’t ed to get him returned on many occa­ lo,’ I thought, ‘I am in very bad com­ take Pasha.’ The bushrangers caus­ sions. These politics, however, are pany.’ I said, ‘Are you going to Blay­ ed a great sensation. All the residents no good. I thought I was a level­ ney?’ He said, ‘Yes; isn’t your aame rushed out with guns, etc., but they headed fellow, and would nov make Tim Gassidy?’ I replied that it was, ook fine care not to go past the Royal enemies, but I made any quantity. No |whereupon he replied that ibis bro­ Hotel cexnar. They didn’t want to man can take part in politics m d not j meet' ^ bushrangers.' ther knew me well, and that I was a Neither did h ave,’e am enemy. enemy, It’s no good to the I! igreat quoit player. I then asked I.:m ordinary man, but I suppose it is for Iwhat his brother’s name was, and he “ On, one occasion whilst on my way the man who is elected. That's all, replied, ‘Billy Hall.’ ‘Then you are fo Tuena~tobuy horses I met two men th o u g h . Ben Hall ?’ I inquired. When he said riding. They got on either side of THE GREAT RIDE FROM BATH­ ‘Yes,” I said, ‘My God! I am going me and rode along. It struck me at URST TO SYDNEY. to leave you.’ He laughed heartily, ue time that they were bushrangers. "I well remember the tr eat ivie ;.f and said, ‘Come on.; we will go to One man asked me where I came Phil Skellicorn, from Bathurst to Russart’s and have a drink.’ I was from, and I said Bathurst. I was ri- Sydney, on horseback, for a side not having any, and turned off at me dimg a raceihorse, and the other cove, wager of .£100. He did it, but never next turn. Hall had not been out after looking ait his brand, said, ‘Is got the money. Skellicorn got off b is long then. He was afterwards riddled your name Jim Cassidy?’ I said, h o rse a t Poor M an’s Friemd, the other with bullets a few mlies from Forbes. ‘Yes.’ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘McGuiness’ side of Penrith, to have some refresh­ I have often seen the tree which he ■is expecting you..’ As I was anxious ments, and instead of getting on im ­ clung to while tihe police-were firing to get away, I said, ‘Oh, well, I had mediately, he walked a b o u t o r at him. - The bullet marks were there fcr 13 better push on.’ After I 'had gone 14 yards alongside his horse. When about 50 yards they called me, and I fthey are still. he got to Sydney he was pretty well tlhought, ‘Hare’s a go. They will take '“I saw Peisley tried and sentenced druTiik, a n d h a d to b e h e ld u p . T h e my horse.’ However, they wanted to death at the Bathurst Court House man with whom he had the wager to fcnQw .f j had seen anybody cojn_ Every person in court was trembling, took exception to him walking his • ing on the road from Bathurst, and myself included. Peisley, howe rer, horse for a few yards, and would not when I told them that three troopers never moved. He stood up and gras­ Pay. had come with me and had only left ped the rails of the dock, and never BUSHRANGING d a y s . about half a mile back, they t urne d moved a muscle. He was a ^ery de­ Yes I well remember the raid by off The meQ were Qamdine.r a n d te r m in e d mam. The last bushranger :Ben Hall’s gang of bushrangers in P e is le y . I remember, if he could be called sunh, I Bathurst. I was standing on the On anotner occasion, I had break- J " as a 111:111 who frequented the P h Du'ke’ss Corner,corner, in W llilam-street, r , ■,, t, it , , r , last with Ben Hall, at Whittaker’s, at River. I don’t remember his .ia>r.e. when they came out of Pedrotta’s P w iim tta'si- King,s pLain^-- . A r i r v i n g a t W h i t t a- He was only a horse stealer, and I shop. At that time, the road in How- really; forget what happened him. THE ro u te a n d o r d e r . Bushrangers now would have no The grand procession to-da;- prtm ifcs chance, and it is just as well that svch i to be most interesting. The' histoikal is the case, as no person; can realise and humorous tableau will be pioininent j Vbat it Was like travelling about the features. The various institutions ha.o district When they were in full force. each formed separate tableau, and keen • competition for supremacy is anticipated. I don’t Want to say any more.’* The procession will form up o>i the ta.l- way, leaving at 10.30 sharp, and will proceed up Keppel-street, to W i'liam , to Piper, to George, to Durham , to Willi in., to Howick. to George, past the Court H o u s e to William, to Chur ;’i street, end to George, thus surrouaiiig the King s P a r a d e . After the laying of the foaiv’a tion stone, competitive sections of the procession will proceed by way of George and Durham streets to the Show' Ground to be judged. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. The order of the procession is:— Mounted Police, M ilitary Band, military', cadets, Model Band, friendly societies 1 VISIT OF THE STATE COVERNOR. and trade unions, alderman and visitors, historical display, decorated motor cars, ! MEMORIES RECALLED. decorated bicycles, Bathurst City Land, ; trade displays, girls’ pony turnout (in j The Bathurst centenary celebrations saddle, boys’ pony turnout (in saddle), 1 will be officially opened in Bathurst to­ business turnouts, spectacular displays, j day. His Excellency the State Governor humorous displays, decorated sulky, one I and Lady Strickland and suite, and and two horse trolly turnouts. the Minister for Education (Mr. A. C. The car arrangements from the foun­ Carmichael) will be amongst the dis­ dation stone to the Show Ground are:— tinguished visitors. The programme for No. 1 car— Sir Francis Suttor, his Excel­ the day is as follows :— lency, and the Mayor; N o, 2 car— Capt. 10.30 a.m ., Grand Centenary Proces­ Talbot, Miss Strickland, Hon. John s io n . Meagher, and the Mayoress; No. 3 car'— 11.30 a.m., Civic Reception to his M r . A . C. Carmichael, Miss C. Strick­ Excellency the Governor and Opening of land, Mrs. Carmichael, and Miss Suttor- King’s Parade. No. 4 car— Hon. F. Jago Smith, Lieut.- Noon, Laying of the Commemoration 1 Colonel Dudley WTiite, Miss Birch Mrs Memorial Foundation Stone. Jago Smith; No. 5 car— Mr. Joan Miller, 12.30 p.m ., Children’s Lunch cn Show Mrs. E- S. Carr, Mr. E. S. Carr, ivnsa G r o u n d . Miller; No. 6 car— Officials and commit­ 1 p.m., Official Luncheon on Show tee; No. 7 car— Messrs. L. Suttoi and G r o u n d . ! Herbert C. Suttor, Mrs. N. L. Suttor : 2 p.m., Grand Spectacular Drill | and Mrs. H. C. Suttor. and Maypole Displays by School i Children on the Show Ground, to be \ followed by Sports. THE SPORTS. Those who patronise the sports meet 3-30 p.m., Vice-Regal Reception in ing on the Show Ground to-dav will have , Court-House and Garden Party in Ma- chattie Park. an opportunity of seeing oiie of f e finest spectacular drill and maypole dis­ 7 p.m .. Banquet to his Excellency the plays ever presented to the Bathurst , uh- Governor (by the citizens). lic. About 2000 school children are to 9 p . m .. Grand Centenary Costume Ball take part. Large entries have been . in the Masonic Hall. received in all the events for the chil­ Upon their arrival in Bathurst this dren’s sports. His Excellency the morning the Governor and party will Governor and suit, the M inister for Edu­ j be met at the railway station, an 1 after­ cation, and several members of failia- wards driven to “ Kilrush,'’ the rcs'ti ment will be present, and will view tne ence of Mr. John Meagher, M L.C., spectacular drill and maypole display. ; where they will be entertained at break- 1 fa s t . A feature of the afternoon’s sports will be races devoted to children under i>

years or age., m e sum ot £5 has been SURVEYOR EVANS’ ACHIEVEMENT. set apart for this purpose, and a U.rge number of toys purchased, and these MR. WALKER’S ADDRESS TO will be competed for in a series of nicts STUDENTS. for the little tots, commencing at 4 p.m. on the western end of the en.lo- “ It is an inspiring thing to see these su re . young people present to-day, and think, that in their hands lies the future of SIL v £,k XKOWr-L. ■ this great and glorious country,” was A beautiful silver trowel, to be used . Mr. F. Walker’s prefatory remark in the by and presented to Sir Gerald Strick­ School of Arts yesterday afternoon, when land in laying the foundation stone of he delivered a lecture on the historical the Evans’ Memorial to-day, was on view phase of the centenary celebrations. The at Mr. L. W inter’s establishment during | Mayor (Alderman A. Rigby) presided, the week. It bears the following in- j j and among those on the platform were scription, finely executed at Mr. Win­ Mr. Powell (Mayor of Waterloo), Major ter’s :— “ This trowel was used by iiis j Longmuir, Captain Pringle, and Messrs,' Excellency Sir Gerald Strickland, , W. S. Smith and Ferguson. The hall K.C.M.G., Governor of New South ! was well filled. Wales, to lay the foundation stone of I The lecturer urged the children to the Centenary Memorial in commemora­ emulate the example of the great men tion of the discovery of the Bathurst of the past. He appreciated the fact Plains in 1813 by Deputy-Surveyor- that Australian history now occupied a General G. M. Evans. Bathurst, Nov. prominent place in the education sylla­ 19, 1 9 1 3 .” bus of the schools. There was a great deal of interest and attraction in Aus­ GRAND CENTENARY BALL. tralian history, more so to them, as Aus­ The grand centenary ball will be held t r a lia n s . > in the M asonic Hall to-night at 9 o’clock. Mr. Walker sketched the futile efforts His Excellency the Governor and suite j of Governor Phillip to pierce the barrier will be present, and will dance in the of the unknown, and, coming tj^ "the open dance*. The ladies’ committee ; . successful " achievement o-f: Blaxland, has left no stone unturned to make Wentworth, and Lawson, emphasised the ] everything as pleasant as possible. great importance of their great and I Spectators will be well catered for. A courageous work. It was one fraught I record attendance should result. ; with great peril, and on one occasion in the silent fastnesses Qf _the Blue j THE CONTINENTAL. Mountains they were surrounded by ; The Bathurst District Band, 1 nder blacks, but fortunately for them their I the conductorship of Mr. S. Lewins, will dogs kept off an attack. In the morn­ render the following programme in ing they realised how narrow' their , Machattie Park at to-night’s continen­ escape had been. Then came the great tal:— March, “ Conqueror”; waltz, Evans, who, from the final point of Blax- “ Willowden” ; descriptive fantasia, land’s journey, saw the wide and sweep­ “Abyssinian Expedition” ; selection, ing plains of the west. Indomitable j “Souvenir de Russe” ; song, “ Maisie courage brought success to his efforts, Minnie” ; intermezzo. “ Dancing in the and his diary evidenced how impressed Moon” ; selection, “ English Songs” ; he had been with the beautiful country overture, “ Village Bride” ; march, “ Im- p e r a t o r .” he had discovered. He had named Mount Pleasant so on account of its pleasant view. He followed the course TIME-TABLE OF SPORTS. of the river as far as Evans’ Plains, 2 p.m.— Displays of drill, maypoles, but on his return journey went w'ide of kindergarten, games; 3.30— Tug-of-war. girls’ races, boys’ handicap; 4— 100 the banks. Governor Macquarie was yar^s (14-16, 16-18 years); 4.30— 100 jubilant at the achievement of Evans,: ; yards championship, sack race [12-14 and Cox, with 30 convicts, started on the construction of the western road. This years); 4.4o--relay race; 4.50— mile han­ dicap; 5.5— junior obstacle race (under feat was accomplished in six months. 15), sack race (16-18); 5.30— senior o b -i In conclusion, Mr. Walker paid a tri­ stacle race (over 15); 5.40, sack race j bute to the beauty of Bathurst, a fairer (14-16 years). town than which he had not seen. The town was first founded at Kelso, but i owing to floods it was removed across

the river, and was now the Bathurst of the present day. (Applause.) OLD MEMORIES Relics of the early days were shown, including duelling pistols, dress swords^ A PIONEER POLITICIAN. and loaded walking sticks. The latter 1 were very handy in meeting with bush- I r a n g e r s . WHO FOUGHT FOR THE WESTERN The Mayor referred to the educational RAILWAY. value of the lecture, and in asking two students to propose and second a vote Amongst the large concourse of visit- 1 ors to Bathurst for the Centenary cele- ■ of thanks to Mr. Walker, mentioned that they were two of the youngest people I brations is a lady whose presence will I rekindle the embers of memorv within who had ever been called upon to per­ form that duty. the minds of the older portion of Bath­ urst’s citizens. This is Mrs. Ellen Don­ Master Jack Williams, of the Bathurst nelly, of Milson’s Point. Mrs. Don­ High School, said they should feel thank­ ful to Mr. Walker for his able address. nelly is one of the surviving, daughters of the late Mr. William Cumrnings, one Such a subject must always be of in­ of the pioneer politicians who represent­ terest to the people of Bathurst— the ed the old East Macquarie electorate in premier city of the Plains. The sub­ Parliament, back in the days which aro ject was all the more interesting at the ; now only a memory. present time on account of the centenary celebrations. (Applause.) I Mrs. Donnelly spent many years of her life in the west, and . within the Master Edward Curran, of the Patri­ j ! vicinity of Bathurst, and she naturally cian Bros.’ School, in seconding the | cherishes a keen interest in this, the Vote of thanks, said they had all greatly 1 premier city of the western plains. benefitted by the very instructive lecture. ! Mr. Cummings was for a . period of The vote was carried by acclamation. Mr. Walker responded. 18 years one of the members for the ( Cheers were then given for the lec­ ! old East Macquarie electorate. Mr. turer, the King, and the Mayor. William Suttor was, during the greater ; portion of that time, the other member. ; Mr. Cummings was always regarded as RIFLE MEETINC. ■ the representative, not only of East Macquarie, but of the great western in­ At last, the Bathurst Cadet Challenge terior. He continuously urged upon Shield, the splendid gift of the Bath­ Parliament. the claims of this great urst people, is to be competed for once area, so rich in its potentialities. The more. The old junior cadets have pass­ making and repairing of roads, bridges, ed away, and, Phoenix-like, the present and public buildings throughout the senior cadets have taken their place. west, went on with an energy which During the period of change the magni­ derived its spring from the Parliament­ ficent shield has adorned the walls of ary efforts of Mr. Cummings. the Bathurst District School, whose Mr. Cummings’ greatest achieve- : ; representatives won it some four years ment, however, was the strenuous fight i ago. The desire of the donors was to which he put up in Parliament in encourage rifle shooting among the ris- the direction of commencing the con­ j ing generation'l— '1 hat these shield struction of the^reat western railway. matches did so in past is proved by the For upwards of Tour years, in the face i wonderfully keen contests, extending of strong opopsition, Mr. Cummings over many years,Aetween Bathurst and battled bravely for a grant of £55,000 ; Orange for the shield, which was won for the commencement of this great : outright by the ©range junior cadets in undertaking. He pointed oUt to his 1906. The interest in the new shield fellow parliamentarians that until the ' competition is bringing teams from “ Iron Horse went over the mountains, Mudgee, Lithgow, and Penrith, It is a the great western country would never ' pity our old rivals— Orange— are not re- be opened up.” At last he reached the , presented. Nevertheless the entries— 8 goal of his ambition, and the grant ■ teams for the shield and 80 for the indi­ i of £55,000 was sanctioned bv the vidual matches— constitute a record en­ House. Thus it will be seen M r.' Cum- try. The shield is on exhibition ir. Mr. f ; mings played a great part in the open­ Shulze’s window, next the Roval Hotel. ing up of our great western country. The visiting cadets are :— Windsor 35, We of the present day. who travel in a Mudgee 27, Penrith 30, and Lithgow 30. fast, well-equipped mail train, should j The two first-named companies are pay­ keep green in our memories this pio- ] ing their own expenses. ;____ ; neer politician who fought so strenu- hi ' - ~ 12-4 Q.Uk] ously m the direction of starting- our ( A s s i s i * present western railway system. Mr. Cummings, in addressing the Assembly of the days of old, had certain peculiarities of pronunciation which FIRST SETTLERS. would have subjected him to a certain amount of ridicule, but for the strong OLD NAMES RECALLED. 1 thread of commonsense and correct rea­ soning which ran through the whole of KELSO CHURCH. his speeches. But he was a past-master in the art of repartee He had the Irishman’s gift of making a ready an­ (By “ Pioneer” in the “ Sydney M ail.” ) swer, and it went hard with those w-ho i A Hundred years ! How things have essayed to criticise the sayings or do- changed in that time; If those first m gs of the member for East Macquarie. ten pioneers who followed so quickly in There was but one man in the House, the footsteps of Blaxland, Wentworth, | the smallest chance of c o m in g Lawson, and Evans over the wild Blue j off scatheless in a conflict of wit, and Mountains ranges to accept the Gov­ ; that was Mr. Dailey. Mr. Cummings’ ernment’s offer of free grants of land ( success in getting what he demanded at Kelso and Bathurst could return to­ for his constituents was due in a great day, what would be their feelings ? measure to his importunity. He plead­ Would they recognise in the wide, well- ed his claims in a loud voice, and with kept, tree-lined streets, with their beau­ an almost perpetual reiteration, until tiful parks and lofty buildings, and their they were substantially acknowledged. throngs of gay humanity, with all the Probably no man of his day did so much modern conveniences of travel, the silent m Parliament towards the building up i scene, peopled only with dusky aborigi­ of the western district, than the-late M r. i nals and wild animals, thiit greeted Cummings. As a private member of i them on their arrival with camping society, as a husband, as a father, and ! outfit to form the nucleus of this now as a friend, Mr. Cummings was truly i flourishing citv? estimable. He led a useful life and FIRST TEN SETTLERS . grew grey in the diligent discharge of The first ten settlers were, I believe, his dutie.s. Messrs. James Vincent. John Nevell, Mr. Cummings met an untimely death Richard Mills, Thomas Kite, Joseph Upwards o f 4 2 years ago. H e was Moulder. George Kable, William Lee, thrown from his buggy in the vicinity Thomas Cheshire, John Dargin. and Ar>- °f. Peel, and died as a result of the plett, and thev w'ere men who wrote their injuries which he received. -names indelibly on the pages of the Mr. Cummings, was a large hearted early History of the colony. Some of the and honest member of the Legislature younger branches of these old families and one of the most practical men who still reside within the Bathurst districts— ; ever sat within its walls. notahlv the Lees. Kites, and Kables. It is passing strange that some effort The Moulder fam i'v is well known about has not been made in this district to Orange and Condobolin. Amongst the memorialise the achievements of the best known of the Mills family is Dr. late Mr. Cummings. Surely, his stren­ Arthur Mil's, of Svdnev, whose uncle. uous fight for the good of our great George Mills, was the ftrst white child west land is worthy of some recogni- born in Bathurst, and to whom the Gov­ t i o n ...... ernment offered a grant of 100 acres of land. The Nevells are now resident in the Mudgee and Rylstone districts of New South W’ales and in Western Queensland. In their identity is sunk that of James Vincent, whose only sur­ viving child became the wife of John Nevell, and they still hold the Vincent grant of land, the Nevell grant, on part of which the Kelso railway station now stands, having been sold within the last few years. The whereabouts of the de­ scendants of the Cheshire, Appletts, and Dargins have passed from the writer’s knowledge.

her father, the late Mr. W. E. Sampson, For years the pioneers’ holdings were | having exchanged his pocket Bible for unfenced, land-marks at first, and later ) the large church Bible with the Rev. a ploughed furrow, being used to define Keane when he (Mr. Keane) wras return­ ‘he boundaries of each farm. The Gov­ ing to England. This Bible is in an ernment supplied the seed wheat, which excellent state of preservation, and is was put in by means of a garden hoe, bound in dark red calf with gold letter- and when ’he crops were harvested each It was printed in 1772 in the old farmer had to return to the Government h-nglish type, making it somewhat diffi­ as much seed grain as he had been sup­ cult for the present-day student to plied with. This rule assured a plenti­ read. It also contains the 14 books of ful supply of seed always in the Gov­ the Apocrypha, which are not usuallv ernment stores. A great improvement bound in the Bibles of to-day. Upon its m farming came when wooden ploughs , pages are many marginal notes and were obtainable. Mr. James Rankin marked texts of the preachers who have was one of the first to own one in Bath­ passed from us. I will quote a few — urst. He offered to give the plough to 22nd chapter Proverbs, 6th verse (thr Mr. Nevell if he would carry it home Bishop’s sermon at Thorpe, August q, on his back. The distance was about a 1816); 7th chapter. Hebrews, 25th verse couple of miles, and the plough was (Mr. Scott, November 26, 1815); 2nd heavy; but it was a great prize, so the ' chanter Excdus. 8. o 10 verses (Mr. hardy pioneer accepted the offer and T"ffprsor>’s charitv sermon at Ramsav carried it home. 'Vremh-'r i, 1816) T ^ n there are the The wheat was reaped by hand and " s m e s o f 'he Revs Whinfield, Harrison. bound in sheaves; then stacked, thatch cott (the vounger)— entries that have for covering being made from rushes stood the test of time for nearly a from the river-banks. It was afterwards ’’Undred evars, for I fancy these were threshed with a flail and ground into M English clergymen, who used the flour with steel hand-mills. In the early ™ °k before it was brought to help in days the assigned servants (convicts) rhyme worship in our southern clime. were each given seven quarts of wheat TSis Bible wras also used at the opening •on Saturday, and that afternoon they of the first churches at Bathurst and ground their weekly supply of flour from M u d eree. it. Tools were, of course, rare, and Books wrere rare when Parson Keane there is still in existence a very rougnlv 'as he was known bv his flock) lived ip made hammer that two of the old Ba­ Bathurst, and interest attaches also to a thurst neighbors went into partnership small book. "R i^e and Progress of Re- to share the expense of buying. licrion in the Soul.” bearing in his ha^d Then there was Kite’s cabbage garden, i writing the inscription, “ From Mr There were numerous inquiries about Kean* t0 Mr. Vincent and Mr. and Mr* this when it became known that Mr. Nevell. for the:r joint use. Mav God’s Kite had announced that he would Messing attend that use. Parsonage give a cabbage garden to any man who January 1st 1835.” Though the writintr was capable of minding “ his own busi- has not faded on the leaf, yellow with | ness.” Each applicant for it was sub- asre, no doubt the giver, as well as the | jected to a rigorous cross-examination recipients, has long- since joined the by Mr. Kite on his ability ended by ereat majority, leaving perhaps but few Mr. Kite saying: “ Well, this cabbage such silent witnesses of his great life- garden is my business. May I ask what work amongst the earlv settlers of the you have to do with it?” The cabbage mother State of Australia. j garden, of course, never found another Another relic of the old Bathurst days owner, and became the joke of the dis­ , is a small wooden cask, seven inches tr ic t. high, four and a half inches in. dia­ THE FIRST CHURCH. meter (outside measurements), holding The first free settlers lived in Kelso, 1 one quart, with four iron hoops around the penal settlement being at Bathurst, it, that contained the onlv spirits that a mile distant, tho Macquarie River were used at the twenty-first birthday flowing between. The first church built party of William Lee, mentioned before over the Blue Mountains was the as one of the first settlers. It was a Church of England at Kelso, and the presept from the late Mr. John Nevell, Bible used at the opening service in the O n condition t h a t th e cask was returned present building, which succeeded a to him as a memento of the occasion, small wooden one, is now in possession and, though it bears the signs of age, of Mrs. H. W. Nevell, Chinchilla (Q.) j it has only one broken stave, and three

of the hoops are quite nrm. Amongst other early settlers at Bath­ urst were Messrs. Richard Lewis. Gee. Cox, and William Lawson commandant j at Bathurst, and discoverer of the Mud ! gee country). These three men finall> established their homes at Mudgee in 1.821. There are also included in the old Bathurst days the familiar names of McPhillamy, Suttor. Gorman, Rotton, Charlton, Langley, Dr. Cluett, Jack Tye, 1 and many others, who added their quota j to the records of the western district 1 close on a century ago. CITY OF THE WEST.

THE BIRTHDAY OF BATHURST.

CENTENARY OF EVANS’ DISCOVERY.

PRESENT CITY OF THE PLAINS.

Tbis is the centenary of the birthday of : Bathurst. One hundred years ago Surveyor George William Evans and his party of dis­ coverers stood on Evans’ Crown, a remarkable rocky outcrop near Tarana, and looking before him caught the first glimpse of the locality where th« future city of Bathurst was to stand. Yesterday in that city the Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland, laid the foundation- Btone of a memorial to the explorer—the man who had forced an entrance through the Blue Mountains, and discovered the remarkably rich

in the area devoted to apple-growing. As a result the city is still forging ahead. The fact that the city is actually 2333 feet above the sea level makes it one of the healthiest places in which to reside. It is generally recogniscd as a sanatorium for pulmonary patients, as it possesses a fine salubrious climate. Ihe city is distant 145 miles by rail from Sydney, and yet, such is the enterprise of its people, that its public buildings and its park3 surpass those of any municipality outside of Sydney, tor aesthetic beauty and charm this city, viewed from an elevation, is superb. It is a garden city—the houses being interspersed in a field of verdure. It is perhaps the most beautiful city in the State. It has certainly the right to the title of “ The Queen City of the W est.” DISCOVERY BY EVANS. I It is strange that, although Bathurst has j erected a fine South African Soldiers’ Memorial ! and other monuments, this is the first occasion j on which it has thought of perpetuating the , j name of the explorer to whom it owes its I existence. Evans’s Crown, at Tarana, and Evans’s Lookout, near Blackheath, are named after him, but in Bathurst City there is up to the present no permanent memorial. And yet the people of Bathurst are not slow. They have anticipated even the present centenary by a fortnight. It will be remembered that a few months ago the centenary of the Cross­ SURVEYOB GEOEGE WILLIAM ing of the Blue Mountains was celebrated with due pomp and enthusiasm at Mount V ic­ EVANS. toria, when the names of Bl&xland, Lawson, ffhe Governor laid the foundation-stone of and Wentworth were honored. Their success a memorial to the explorer at Bathurst was attained in June, 1813. At the time the | , yesterday. young colony hitherto hemmed in by what j was regarded as impassable mountains, was , prospecting around for more territory—good j plains beyond. One hundred years ago the land for flocks, herds, and agriculture. Con- j place where Bathurst stands had been untrod­ sequently, when it was found that the moun­ den by the foot o[ white man—being the haunt tain barrier could be crossed Governor Mac­ of the aboriginal and of kangaroos and emus, j quarie lost no time in despatching an expedi­ Indeed, it was a magnificent hunting-ground. ! tion to spy out the land to the westward. Sur­ Now there stands on that site a prosperous veyor George William Evans was given the city—the largest inland city in New South honor of leading the party, which started on Waies—with a population of over 10,000, while November 20, 1913, from Emu Island (now the population of the district is over 25,080. known as Emu Plains), distant about 36 miles Bathurst's prosperity was in its early days from Sydney, carrying with them the Gover­ due to agriculture and pastoral resources. Then nor's instructions as follow:—“You are to In the ’ fifties it was the centre of a big gold proceed in as nearly a west direction as the rush. Later on, as the terminus of the railway, nature of the country you have to explore it flourished as the distributing centre for the will admit, and you are to continue this fine district to the southward. Now, though journey as far as your means will enable robbed of much of this incentive to growth, it you." has discovered another—fruit cultivation. In five days Evans and hi* five men, equipped Around Bathurst there sre some of the largest with horses, ammunition, and ample stores orchards to be found in New South Wales, and for a two months' trip, had crossed the Blue recent years have seen a very large increase Mountains and arrived at the commencement ,

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH AT KELSO,

Which is tlie oldest church west of the Blue Mountains. A wooden church was e reeled in 1826, and (he present buiidin- ,was substituted on the site la 18S5.

of a valley on the western side of them, hav­ caught several trout weighing at least 51b. or ing passed over several tracts of tolerably 61b. each. Distance travelled. 5% miles.” good soil, but also over much rugged and very difficult mountainous country. Pro­ FINDING THE BATHURST PLAINS. ceeding through this valley, which Evans He followed the course of the rivulet. On described as “beautiful and fertile,’* the north side of it wras a remarkable sugar- with a rapid stream running through loaf hill, having a stone on the peak of it. He it, he arrived at the termination of writes:—“ I have named this hill after myself.” the tour made by Blaxland, Wentworth, The lofty peak he speaks of is actually 3200ft. and Lawson. Continuing westward, he crossed above sea level, and is now known as Evans’s a well-grassed but rugged and broken country, Crown. It is not far from Tarana, and plainly which was subsequently called the Clarence visible from the railway line. Standing on the Hilly Ranges. top of this peak on Wednesday, December 1, ALMOST DISHEARTENED. Evans obtained his first glimpse of the Bathurst After that, Evans endured some of the anxie­ Plains, and, in the far distance, the site where ties inseparable from the work of an explorer. the future Queen City of the West wfas to stand. His diary shows that he made the following At this stage he writes in his diary:—“I am record on November 29:—“I stopped in very more pleased with the country every day. It is bad spirits, not being able to get on. We are a great extent of grazing land, without being completely entangled among the hills, and we divided by barren spaces, as on the east side are able to make very little westing in our of the mountains. It is well watered by run­ course. W ere it not for the horses, the diffi­ ning streams, in almost every valley.” Next culty to ourselves would be nothing. They are day his language was even more eulogistic. sometimes difficult to manage, and soon tire “ On considering the fine country we have passed among the highlands. When so they wrill not through this day,” he wrote, “ I think it equal move. After travelling 2% miles we are on a to Van Diemen’s Land. The river winds through lofty hill from whence the country north-west ! fine flats and round the points of small ridges is all forest hills as far as I could see, which \ that gradually descend to it, covered with the was about 15 miles. Every other direction was obscured by high ranges. It is impossible finest grass, and intermixed with the white ' there can be a better grazing track of land with daisy, as in England.” the same good appearance, as far as I have This river he named the Fish River, as it been able to get a sight of it to the westward.” supplied an abundance of fish. He followed it As indicating the slow progress ihat was until it junctioned with another stream, which made by Evans and his men it may be men­ he called Campbell River, after Mrs. Mac­ tioned that on that day they only‘travelled 3^ quarie’s maiden name. He then discovered and miles. On the following day (November 30), named the Macquarie Plains, on w’hich Lawson’s Evans was able to write in a more hopeful house was subsequently erected, Lawson having j strain. His entry in the diary w7as as follows:— received a grant of 1000 acres of land as a re­ “ I have at length reached the ridge I so much ward for his w'ork. Subsequently he came t wished to after walking about two miles, where the main river, which he promptly named Mac­ I had a prospect to the north for a great dis­ quarie River. tance. A mist arises from a part I suppose to It was on Friday, December 10, that Evans bo a river or a large lagoon about 20 miles off. reached what he described as “a very hand­ The country in this direction has a fine appear­ some mount.” To this he gave the name Mount ance, the trees being thin and the hills covered Pleasant—which it retains to this day, Mount i with grass. A quarter of a mile further along Pleasant being the home of the Stewart family, I the range I came to a very high mount, whence descendants of Major-General Stewart. From I was much pleased with the sight westward. Mount Pleasant Evans writes that he saw a I think I can see 40 miles, which had the look very fine plain. It is on that plain that the of an open country. To the south of me there are stately city of Bathurst stands to-day. large hills, much higher than the one I am on, with pasture to their tops. This range is BLACKS FLEE FROM THEM. rather overrun wTith underwood and larger tim­ Although, when settlement took place, the ber growing thereon, but the sides are as green blacks, by their thieving propensities, caused as possible. In descending for two miles the considerable annoyance, they did not attack the Tverdure is gooa; the descent then becomes steep Evans expedition. Traces of them were dis­ for a quarter of a mile leading into a fine val­ covered by Evans, but only six were observed ley. At the end I met a large rivulet arising by the party, and these were frightened by the from the southern hills. We shot ducks, and presence of the white -men, and made oft into

[the bush. | plett. Some of the descendants of these fine EVANS REWARDED. old pioneers are still to be found in the Bath­ When Evans returned to Sydney and reported urst district, though many have wandered to to the Governor his discovery of the Bathurst the most distant parts of Australia. Residents Plains—named after the Principal Secretary for in the Bathurst districts point out the younger the Colonies, Lord Bathurst—the latter imme­ branches of the Lees, the Kites, and the Kables. diately set Captain William Cox to work to Amongst tile best known of the Mills family is build a road to Bathurst. The convicts engaged Dr. Arthur Mills, of Sydney, whose uncle, Mr. on the work were urged to strenuous efforts by George Mills was the first white child born the promis of remissions of sentences and par in Bathurst, and to whom the Government dons. As a result of this “ speeding-up pro­ offered a grant of 100 acres of land. The cess, the road to Bathurst was completed in Moulder family is well known in the Orange and Condobolin districts. The Nevells have 1S13, when the Governor and Mrs. Macquarie migrated to Mudgee, and Rylstone, in Queens­ visited the Bathurst Plains. As a reward for his discovery, Evans was granted 1000 acres of land. Mr James Vincent’s only surviving child lanu in Tasmania, in addition to a small pecu­ became the wife of Mr John Nevell, and they] niary payment. Evans died in Hobart, at War­ still hold the original Vincent grant of land, \ wick Lodge, in 1852, at the age of 74 years— 011 part of which the Kelso railway station j just when the plains he had discofered were now stands, that portion having been sold a ; i in the first convulsions of the gold rush. His few years ago Among other early settlers at [ j tomb in the old neglected cemetery in Hobart Bathurst was Messrs George Cox, Richard j ; bears the inscription:—“ Here is resting the Lewis, and William Lawson These three : I remains of the father of Australian explorers.” men finally established their homes at Muagee in 1821 There are also included in those very I j early days the familiar names of MacPhillamy, Webb, Suttor, Gorman, Rotton, Charlton Lang­ LOOKING BACKWARD. ley, Jack Tye, and many others. Among the original settlers at Bathurst was Mr. George Ranken. He was the first of the SOME OF THE OLD PIOXEEES. name to come to Australia, early in last century, and both he and his wife were most enterpris­ ing people. He built the bridge that enabled > It is a peculiar fact that Bathurst, unlike the people to get their produce to market. It j most of the important towns of New South was carried away after long years by a great Wales, has never had its history properly * flood. He planted a vineyard, of which the compiled. There is no question that its his­ wfne, if it had been kept, would have been tory if properly written would make most in­ priceless now. and Mrs. Ranken was famous for teresting reading, for it would treat of the early her dairy and her cheeses. Besides, they convict settlement, then of the pastoral and brought out a number of German immigrants, agricultural industry, of the gold discoveries, who have done well in this country. Mr. George and then of the thrilling encounters with bush­ Ranken left four properties to his surviving rangers. But of the early days it is exceed­ soils, Saltram, Sheet of Bark. Killoshiels, and ingly difficult to gather authentic information. Eglington, but no Ranken owns an acre in the Traditions abound, but when carefully sifted Bathurst district now. It is remembered that they are found to be very far from actual Mr. George Ranken was one of the first of the facts. pioneers to own a plough—and a wooden one It is undisputed that Bathurst was originally at that. Previously, wheat and all other crops a convict settlement, the free settlers at Kelso, had been put in by means of a garden hoe. which is about two miles distant, being pro- THE SUTTOR FAMILY. J hibited from entering the area. It was not The best-known family in the Bathurst dis­ more than a few years however before this ban was removed and free settlers soon were trict is probably the descendants of that sturdy found scattered over the Bathurst Plains. The representative colonist, Mr. George Suttor— first ten settlers according to the descendant the grandfather of Sir Francis Suttor. President of one of the pioneers were Messrs. James Vin­ of the Legislative Council. He took an im­ cent. Thomas Kite, John Nevell, William Lee, portant part in the founding of the Bathurst Joseph Moulder, John Dargrin, George Kable, settlement, and his family has ever since been I Richard Mills, Thomas Cheshire, and T. Ap- prominent in the records of the State. Mr. George Suttor was born at Chelsea, in 1776, and •

sailed with his wife to Australia, in 1799, arri\- the straw was placed. He watched them nar­ ing in the following year. After an interesting rowly, and presently he detected one glancing career during which he held several Govern­ furtively at his hand to discover what sort of ment appointments, he obtained Governor Bris­ straw he had. “ You are the thief!” said the bane’s permission to take up land in the Bath­ , master. The man was so taken aback that he urst district. Then prosperity smiled on his there and then confessed the fact. efforts. In a few years under his son’s man­ So his life passed somewhat uneventfully until agement his sheep were numbered by thou­ the year 1830. In this year there was a very sands, and his cattle bv hundreds. serious outbreak of prisoners at Bathurst, ( t His son, Mr. William Henry Suttor, was 16 headed by one Ralph Entwistle. The tyranny years old when he went with his father to tbs and oppression of the times was the cause of Bathurst district, taking less than 400 sheep, a this. At one time as many as 80 men, all few cattle, one horse, and the promise of a armed, formed Entwistle’s gang. At length grant of land. He settled at Brucedale, on the these men deliberately and in cold blood shot . Winburndale Rivulet, about eight miles north­ an overseer of Mr. Evernden’s, the police erly from Bathurst. Here the sheep and cattle magistrate, at his farm at Bartlett’s, near increased very quickly, and large farming ope­ George's Plains. On the news of this outrage rations were carried on. Unlike many of his reaching Bathurst, Major Macpherson, the offi­ neighbors, he never had any trouble with the cer in charge of the soldiers stationed there, aborigines, who, under the leadership of their called a meeting of the inhabitants. Twelve ; chief, Windradine, or Saturday, committed rav­ volunteered to follow the gang. William Sut­ ages upon the settlers’ flocks and herds around tor was chosen leader, and his brother Charles the early settlement at Bathurst. He attri­ second in command. They started the same buted his immunity from their attacks to his evening for Charlton, Mr. ArkelVs station on treatment of them, and the kindly interest he Campbell’s River, at which place news had come took in their welfare. He had learned to that the men had lately jeen seen. The volun­ ppeak their language. His favorite black boy, teers stopped there that night. The next day, Pen-nee-grah, was his guide in many excur­ by the aid of two blacks, they succeeded iiw sions among the hills and valleys of the gener­ tracking and overtaking the gang—now reduced ally rough country over which his flocks and to about 20 men—near sundown, among the herds afterwards roamed. On one occasion Abercrombie Ranges. This place is a few milet* only did they show any hostility. His hut was from the. Trunkey goldfield. The bushranger# ; suddenly and silently surrounded by a trible of were alarmed by the noise made by the ap­ sable warriors, all prepared for war. He proaching party, and at once commenced to fire courageously, met them in the door, addressed upon them. The fire was briskly returned, and them in their own language in jovial and after some 300 rounds on both sides had been friendly terms. For a moment or two they expended, the leader of the volunteers ordered listened to him with lowering brows; then con­ a charge. The pursued were dislodged from sulted in an undertone, and suddenly left. With- their camp, but, the day being too far ad­ ing 24 hours they killed several men at Millah- vanced to follow up the advantage, the volun­ murrah and Wattle Flat. His cheerful courage teers fell back upon Mulgunnia, an out-station at that time saved his life. of Arkell’s. During the engagement the leader The only servants the settlers had in those of the convicts urged his men to make sure of days were the assigned convicts. Many of theSe Suttor, whom he mistook for the police magis­ were wonderfully devoted and faithful to the trate. One bullet did pass through Suttor’s interests of their masters when they were well hat, and many bullets struck a small tree be­ treated. As a rule, Mr. Suttor never hind which he had ensconsed himself. That had any trouble with his men. On night their horses strayed away, and the pur­ one occasion he tried the power of suit was followed up by Lieutenant Brown with superstition upon the minds of them to mounted police from Bathurst. Having de­ discover a thief. Many petty thefts had oc­ feated the police under Lieutenant Brown, who casioned a good deal of annoyance on the farm; lost two men and five horses killed, the gang so he ranged all the men up in line. “ Now,” surrendered at the Lachlan River to combined he said, “ I shall read a few verses from the forces of Lieutenant Macalister with police Bible, and give each of you a piece of straw, from Goulbum, and Captain Walpole with sol­ and the man who has the longest piece will be diers from Sydney. Macalister the day before the thief.** The verses were read, and the had been, if not defeated, at least wounded and straws distributed. The men’s backs were worsted by them. Ten of the. men were tried at ii towards him, with one hand behind, into which -JLipecial assize court held at Bathurst, and were J f'Xecuteri. On several other occasions Mr. Suttor 1 Evans viewed the plain. A monument marks distinguished himself in capturing men of this the location of the vault. His son, Mr. J. H. class—men who were robbing his own stations Stewart, has resided on the property all his —and delivering them up to justice. life, and took a great interest in farming ope­ In 1833 he married the daughter of Mr. Henry rations. The estate was worked by tenants, Francis, who, with his family, had recently ar­ no less than 28 families occupying the farms. rived in the colony. In the conduct of his Last year Mr. Stewart sold about 11,000 acres of the estate to Mr. A. C. Reed. business he was always ready to adopt new and progressive Ideas; so, in 1838, in order to ‘ provide the necessary provisions for his estab­ HACQUAKIE HOUSE. lishment, he brought over the mountains the first steam flour mill erected in the west. Be­ fore this the employees had to grind theii* own wheat with small steel mills. THE HOME OF THE LAWSONS. Mr. Suttor was a member of the first Parlia­ ment in Australia, and was prominent in the As a reward for his diligent services in find­ matter of stopping the transportation of con­ ing a passage over the Blue Mountains, the victs. For many years—until 1872, with only Government gave William Lawson a grant of short periods of intermission—he remained a 1000 acres of land. This he took up on the legislator, retiring after nearly 30 years of Macquarie Plains, and erected a substantial political work. As a squatter he was very residence, which was known as Macquarie successful, and established stations on the Mac­ House. The exact date of the erection of Mac­ quarie, the Bogan, the Lachlan, and the Dar­ quarie House is uncertain—probably about 1820, ling Rivers. His son, Sir Francis Suttor, is at as William Lawson was appointed commandant and justice of the peace at Bathurst towards present President of the Legislative Cpuncil and j the end of the previous year, and would in all of the Royal Agricultural Society, and oiie of [ probability see to the erection of his house on teh most popular and respected men through- j out the Bathurst district. the land he owned as soon as possible after his official appointment was made. In 1832 his son THE STEWART FAMILY. William acquired the property, and resided Mount Pleasant, so named by the discoverer, there for upwards of 20 years. During his Surveyor Evans, was taken up originally by father's occupation the old home must have Major-General "William Stewart, who was at had, on certain occasions, Governor Macquarie ore time in the Horse Guards. As a reward for as an inmate, and in all probability the great nls Peninsula services—he fought under Wel­ man during his visits to Bathurst was a wel- j lington right through the campaign—he w m | come guest at the hospitable home of his given permission to select. 30C0 acres in any [ friend and brother officer. The photograph 1 published in this issue shows the old building part of Australia. Ho arrived in Australia in a very fair state of repair. with his regiment in 1825. At that time Bath- ] urst was a Government settlement—chiefly sheep and cattle—conducted by convict labor, j IN THE COACHING DAYS. No one was allowed to cross the river without an order from the magistrate. Major-general COBB AND CO.’S COACHES. Stewart was. however, promised the first selec­ tion as soc n as the land was thrown open. His When tho gold fever broken out in the Bath­ son now possesses a letter from the Governor urst district there was a big demand for con­ saying tiat he would take it as a personal veyances. It was not, however, until Mr. James favor if the major-general would as speedily as j Rutherford, in 1861, introduced Cobb and Co.’b possible txtrcise his right. This he did. He j coaches that anything like regularity could be selected 3000 acres at the junction of the Mac- I depended upon. He settled at Bathurst, and as ; quarle River and the Evans Plains Creek. He a managing pairtner of the big firm estab- 1 afterwards bought the remainder of the Mount iished the coaching business on a good foot- ! Pleasant parish, making his e3iate altogether ing. Mr. E. W. Webb recalls the fact that 15,000 acres of the best land in tho district. in those days it was thought a great perform­ The Government upset price at the time that ance to journey from Bathurst to Sydney in the original grant was made was 5s per acre. 24 hours by coach. The horses were changed Major-general Stewart died at the homestead, every 12 or 15 miles. On many occasions the now a fine palatial residence, in 1SS4, and was bushrangers held the coach up and looted the buried in the vault on the hill from whic’j luggage of the passengers. Mr. Rutherford also gave a fair share of his attention to squat­ ting pursuits and mining. He spent a fortune in endeavoring to establish .the iron industry in the State but want of adequate encourage­ ment from the Government and the high cost of labor crippled his effort. His descendants are to be found in the district at the present time. THE GOLD DISCOVERY. A RED-LETTER DAY. It was not until the settlement was about 40 years old that gold was discovered in the dis­ trict. The question as to who found the gold forms an interesting subject for discussion, but HISTORICAL PROCESSION. it is generally admitted throughout the dis­ trict that although Mr. Hargraves got tho credit of the discovery It was John Lister, to­ gether with James and William Tom, who were SOME ALLEGORICAL DISPLAYS. the rightful claimants. It was in 1851 that Mr. E. H. Hargjaves, a geologist, happened to be BATHURST, Wednesday.—To-day was a red- staying at Springfield, the home of the Toms letter day in the history of Bathurst. It was family. In conversation the lads mentioned the big day of the celebrations in commemora­ that ihey had seen yellow metal, and Har­ tion of the hundredth anniversary of the dis­ graves took two of them, James and William, covery of Bathurst Plains by Surveyor-General ?nd John Lister into partnership, under a ver­ Evans, and, under weather conditions which bal agreement to divide the Government reward of £20,000 should they find payable gold. Un­ were ideal, was given over to ono long round of der Hargiaves’s directions they built a cradle festivities and epoch-making functions, in which the Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland, was for washing for gold. This identical cradle is the principal participant. His Excellency was still in the possession of William Tom, though much decayed. After several unsuccessful at­ accompanied by two of his daughters and at­ tended by Captain Talbot, A.D.C. In the party tempts Hargraves returned to Sydney, leaving the three lads to go on prospecting. They were Miss Suttor, Mr. Carmichael (the Min­ found a nice lot of gold in xfae Summer-bill ister for Education), and Lieutenant-Colonel Creek, and in accordance with their arrange­ White. They arrived in Bathurst by the mail ment sent it on to Mr. Hargraves in Sydney. train this morning. His Excellency and This gentleman took it to headquarters, and party, together with several representative with the very same gold set the country on Pathurst citizens, were the guests of Mr. John fire, and afterwards received the handsome re­ Meagher, M.L.C., at breakfast at "Kilrush.’’ ward. The Government some years later OPENING PROCEEDINGS. gave the two young Toms and John Lis­ ter a sum of about £2000 between them. Mr. The day’s proceedings opened with an his­ W. H. Webb, of Bathurst, is a nephew of the torical procession through the principal streets brothers Tom, who discovered the gold. The of the city. The line of route, which was gaily rush to the alluvial field caused Bathurst to decorated with bunting, was thronged with boom for a time. Mr. Webb recalls the fact thousands of spectators, including visitors from that the Chinese eventually were allowed a all parts of the State. The processioD, which footing, when the white man could no longer make the game profitable. The yellow men was a picturesque affair, was made up chiefly came up in long strings, and the money they of decorated vehicles and allegorical displays. Bent home to China in those days ran into big The latter Included a representation of the sums. Although the alluvial was largely worked Garden of Eden, by the Bathurst branch of the out at that time, there has ever since been Grand United Order of Free Gardeners; a re­ considerable mining In the district. On the presentation of an alluvial gold-miner; a family Upper Turon, at Palmer’s Oakey, there are of early settlers, and a tribe of blacks, by the hundreds of praspqeting holes where they students of the Bathurst Experiment Farm; and cradled in the old days. Even at the present time 300 or 400 men are engaged in alluvial a model city beautification garden plot by Mr. mining in the locality, but the sensational finds L. Giddey, of the Bathurst Technical College. of the early days are few and far between. The local militia and cadets and three local In the “ boom” days a man who did not make j bands also took part. £30 a week at Green Swamp thought he was very unlucky.

greatest contrast between the occupation of I MEMORIAL TO EVANS. these plains by the black men and the occupa­ tion of these plains by the Anglo-Saxon race. ! (Hear, hear.) Much had been done to Australia I by education, much had been done by consti­ AUSTRALIA’S DEBT TO SURVEYORS tutional government, and the understanding ot AND ENGINEERS. our liberty in the great Empire of King George V.: but when it came to the bedrock of the pri­ mary industries from which we lived, and from i which the towns had their prosperity, we must SIR GERALD STRICKLAND’S look to the work of the engineers. (Cheers.)

TRIBUTE. DESCENDANT OF PIONEERS. Sir Francis Suttor, President of the Legisla­ tive Council, and a member of one of the Bath­ After its progress through the city, the pro­ urst pioneer families, who was introduced as cession drew up in a cordon around the north- * "the originator of the centenary celebration ern end ot King’s Parade—a recently-created movement.” delivered a brief address. Whether beauty spot in the heart of the city—where, in^ or not he was the originator of the movement, the presence of an immense crowd, the Go­ he said, did not matter. He was delighted to vernor was accorded a welcome by the Mayor be there to see the success of the celebrations. ■ and citizens, and presented with an illuminated Proceeding in reminiscent vein, Sir Francis said address, after which he formally opened the that 100 years ago there were not as many people parade and laid the foundation-stone of the memorial to Surveyor-General Evans, the dis­ in the whole of the mainland of Australia as coverer of Bathurst Plains. there were in Bathurst to-day. Surveyor-Gene­ Amongst those present, besides the Mayor ral Evans, by his discovery of the Bathurst (Aid. Rigby) and aldermen of Bathurst, were: Plains, not only showed that there was a mag­ Mr. Carmichael (Minister for Education) and nificent future before the whole of Australia, Mrs. Carmichael, Mr. E. S. Carr, M.H.R., and but opened up the whole of the western country Mrs. Carr, Sir Francis Suttor (president of the easy of acceS3 after breaking over the Blue Legislative Council), Mr. John Meagher, M.L.C., Mountains. Mr. P. Jago Smith, M.L.C., Mr. John Miller, TRIBUTE TO THE EXPLORERS. 1 M.L.A., Mr. Frank Walker (president of the Historical Society of New South Wales), Mr. Referring to the achievement of Blaxland, Turpin and Mrs. Turpin (only surviving daugh­ Wentworth, and Lawson, Sir Francis said that' ter of Surveyor-General Evans), Mr. Ernest on many occasions he felt ths-.t full credit was Evans of Temora (grandson), and Miss Evans not given to the leader of that part^, who was (great-granddaughter), Mrs. Rigby (Mayoress), unquestionably Blaxland. A short time ago he and Mrs. W. H. Suttor (widow of the late W. H. , was at a demonstration when Wentworth was Suttor) and he* daughter, Mrs, UaUii;u.u.. put before Blaxland by an eminent statesman. His Excellency, after returning thanks for the He afterwards asked this gentleman why he did addreBS, and for the expressions of loyalty to this, and he replied, "Because Wentworth had the King contained therein, performed the cere­ such a magnificent career afterwards.” (Laugh­ mony of declaring the King’s Parade open and ter.) This struck him (Sir Francis) as a good of laying the foundation-stone of a memorial to reason why the credit should not be taken away Surveyor-General Evans. In the course of his from Blaxland. Wentworth was a boy, and after­ remarks he congratulated the Mayor and those wards went to a university in England, and sub­ who had been associated with him for their sequently became one of our greatest orators forethought and enterprise in making Bathurst and statesmen. This, however, was no reason so beautiful a city, and adding to its attractions why the credit should not be given to Blax­ by this parade. Speaking with reference to the j land. Evans also deserved a great deal more projected memorial to Evans, Sir Gerald said] credit than he got for his magnificent work !n that this was an occasion for calling to mind j opening up this magnificent western country. the great services due to Australia by the pro­ It wp.s left to Evans to complete the crossin? fession to which Surveyor Evans belonged. of the mountains, and to discover these mag- ! (Hear, hear.) Surveyors and civil engineers had nificent plains, after much trouble and labor, done more to make Australia the Australia that and they could readily understand his feelings we know than we were prone to recognise with­ as the first whit'e man to see such a magnifi­ out reflection. It was really the work of the cent panorama unfolded before him. Evans had no idea of the great prosperity of Bathurst surveyors and the engineers which formed the j _

72

to come, and at the time whoa he wrote about the few who remembered the name of Bathurst these plains, and when from the top of Mount as “ the settlement.’* That was some time back Pleasant (which he named) he saw the magni­ in the history of the place. The Macquarie ficence of the plains, he said that there was River was once a magnificent stream of deep enough country to keep all the animals that waterholes, and people crossed it in boats, were bred in Australia for 100 years. Sir Fran­ or swam their horses across, from Kelso to cis was glad to say that Evans was very much j Bathurst. He recollected, too, when a school- | mistaken. It was quite proper, said Sir Fran- j boy, the executions which took place outside cis, in conclusion, that they should place upon the old gaol door, on the site of the present this site a memorial to Evans, who was the | j court-house. After Kerr discovered gold—the discoverer not only of the Bathurst Plains, but j famous “Hundredweight”—he (Sir Francis), of the Lachlan River, the Macquarie River, and' with others, rode in from Brucedale to Bath­ the beautiful valley of Wellington, and Oastle- urst in a tandem, carrying the gold in their reagh River. Evans was also more than an hands. It created a great sensation. They explorer. Married twice, he was the father of stopped outside the old “Free Press” office, 19 children, and It w&B gratifying that that and, in the words of the paper at the time, day they had amongst them a daughter, grand­ “were greeted by a large crowd.” There were son and great-granddaughter of the man who only 150 present. Compare that incident with 100 years ago, discovered the plains upon which to-day, and they would see what progress had they now stoua (Cheurs). Amidst renewed been made. (Cheers.) cheering the Governor led forward these three Mr. E. H. Carr, JM.H.R.. also responded. descendants of Evans—Mrs. Turpin and Mr. : The Governor subsequently addressed a large Ernest Evans and daughter, of Temora—on to gathering of children from the local public the open space In front of the foundation stone, and priyate schools, and concluded by granting where they could be seen by the vast crowd. them holidays for the remainder of the week. Cheers for the King, the Governor, the Mayor, VICE-REGAL RECEPTION AND Sir Francis Suttor, and the descendants of GARDEN PARTY. j Evans concluded this portion of the festivi­ During the afternoon the Governor held a ties. reception at the Court-house, and later on, to­ gether with the other members of the vice- OFFICIAL LUNCHEON. j regal party, attended a garden party held in i his honor in Machattie Park. Both functions I were very largely attended. The male members THE SPEECHES. of the party were subsequently shown over the Experimental Farm. During the day Sir Fran- ' cis Suttor presented Miss Strickland with some BATHURST, Wednesday.—The Governor, in 1 gold specimens from Rowley’s Reef, Hawkins responding to the toast of his health, said hill, Hill End, encased in a silver casket. that it was interesting to see such a well-laid- CHILDRENS SPORTS AND out city as Bathurst, with its architectural SPECTACULAR DISPLAY. beauty, the trees and streets and the good or- dpr in which they were kept. Opportunities for Children’s sports were held on the Show- energy and enterprise were not limited to these ground. A feature of the afternoon was a places. He hoped that they would all unite grand spectacular display by 2000 children from in honoring the memory of Surveyor-General the local public and denominational schools. Evans, the discoverer of the finest district in The youngsters, who were clad in white, and New South Wales. carried Australian flags, were mustered into Mr. W. H. Webb proposed the toast of “Min­ groups forming the letters of the name Evans. isters and Parliament/’ Then, to the accompaniment of music by the Sir Francis Suttor, in responding, referred Bathurst District Band, the white figures moved to some remarks made by Mr. Webb concern­ in flag drill. The display was witnessed by the ing the ladies’ vote, and said it reminded Governor, who warmly congratulated the chil­ him of an incident. A short time ago he dren on their performance. entertained four ladies at Parliament House, and the discussion turned on this subject. He asked w'ho was to battle for them? ftot one of them could tell him, but he was the unfor­ tunate one. (Laughter.) Referring to early Bathurst. Sir Francis said that he was one of

quarie '.hen ordered the road to be [ made. It was commenced in July, EARLY HISTORY OF 1814, and finished in January, 1815. ; Lieutenant Cox, chief magistrate, at BATHURST Windsor, supervised the work, which I was carried forward in stages, to each of which Macquarie gave names— ' Springwood, Jamieson. Valley, Black- STORY OF THE DISCOVERY. j heath, Cox River, Fish River, Sid-

When Deputy-Surveyor of Lands I mouth Valley, Campbell River, and George William Evans was directed to J Bathurst— the last after Lord Bath­ make a survey of the track over the urst, Secretary of State for the Colo­ n ie s . Blue Mountains, following on the dis­ coveries of Blaxland, Lawson, ana In May, 1815, an official party set Wentworth, he found their furthest out from the coast to cross the moun­ camp three miles west of the Valley of tains, and formally open the new road. Clwydd. He pushed on 98 miles frcra The Governor had in his entourage Mrs. Macquarie, his secretary, Mr.

Rt. Rev. DR. DUNNE. Present Catholic Bishop of Bathurst. Rt. Rev. DR. QUINN First Catholic Bishop of Bathurst.

Campbell; Captain Antill, of the 73rd that point, and discovered Bathurst P la in s . Regiment; Lieutenant Watts, of tlhe 1 46th; Mr. Redfern (surgeon), Sur­ This was in 1813. Governor Mac veyor-General Oxley, Mr. Lewin, a j painter and naturalist, and at Bath-

74 15

On the other bank of the river urst Plains lie was joined by Evans. were settled Captain Hawkins, Cap­ They arrived at the plains on May 4. tain Piper, the Rankin brothers, Kite and stayed for a week. Macquarie of Kelso, Lee and Smith, the West fixed the site for the township, and brothers, and Stuart Mackenzie Cox, on Sunday, May 7, 1815, the official of the Hereford Estate. At WAmburn- opening' of the road, and practically dale Creek George Suttor had a grant. the foundation of Bathurst, took place William Cox had a grant on the right In the following month tihe Gover bank of the Macquarie River, and in nor issued a “ Gazette” notice, com­ 1817 was in charge of the district. manding those who had asisted in He established a station, which he making the road to “appear before called Burrendong, near the junction him” at Eastern Greek stockyard, and of the Cudgegong and the Macquarie. grants of horned cattle were made to I In 1815 Richard Lewis was appointed Thomas Hobby, Richard Lewis, John superintendent of the district under Tye, Thomas Gorman, William Dye, Cox’s orders, at a salary of £$o p e r i Samuel Freeman, Daniel Eyres, Jaimes annum. In 1822 George Suttor was I Kelly, William' Martin, Matthew made superintendent, 'succeeding ! Mucklow, and Mrs. Green, widow of Jaznes Blackman. On August 23, | Thomas Green. Each was ordered 1819, Lieut. William Lawson, of the to bring his own branding iron, as Royal Veteran Company, was appoint­ tne cattle were to come out of the ed commandant and justice of the Government herd. Peace at Bathurst in succession to The first grant of land given in the William Cox. Bathurst district was to Maurice Char­ The erection of the first windmill on les O ’Connell, of the 73rd Regiment the other side of the Blue Mountains — 1000 acres, March 22. 1814. was, of course, an event in the his­ On June 10, 1815, William Henry tory of Biathurst. This primitive ap­ Akock was granted 400 acres, Joseph pliance was put up in 1824 by Haw­ Bigg 200 acres, James Ghisholme 15° kins, the first coroner. It was not acres, Robert Job 200 acres. On Oc­ till 17 years later that the first steam tober 31, 1815, J. Liddeaxd N'ichols grinding mill was conveyed to the was granted 700 acres; on October 8, township. The first mail coach ran 1816, John Martin, 530 acres; and j in 1824, when James Smith and Tho­ Richard Rouse, 450 acres. On Janu-| mas Ful'lar, of Parramatta, made a ary 13, 1818, Richard Rouse received start, and undertook to carry passen­ another 150 acres, Thomas S. Amos gers there in four days at £\ p e r h e a d . 800 acres; John Palmer 155° acres, 1 Letters were taken for is each. At John Pye 300 acres, and on Septem­ this time the district was flourishing ber 20, 1818, Walter Lang 700 acres. In 1826 it was estimated that 25,000 In 1820 those who had se:t:ed in head of cattle and about 70,000 sheep the district were Lowe, of Sidmouth, were owned by the settlers. Never­ on the Fislh River; Hassall, of O ’Con­ theless, conditions were still primitive nell’s Plains; and Lawson and John among the landholders. Many who Street, of M cquarie Plains. There could reckon themselves worth up to were a few small farms close to the ,£10,000 in stock were yet living in township, and the large estate known huts they had run up to serve as as Mount Pleasant, belonging to their first homes. Bathurst was fam­ Colonel Stewart, of the 3rd Regiment, ous about that time; for its cheese, who retired with the rank of general, the Rankin cheese (called after a Mrs. was settled on at Evans’ Plains. Rankin, its producer) being sold up Colonel Stewart died there in 1854- to a shilling a pound wholesale. As la te a.s 1 8 2 7 th e t o w n s h ip v.'r.a d e s o r i b -

ed as a Government settlement, every j | Regiment; the superintendent of the house in the place being Government. I Government stock, John M axwell; ana Up till 1830 no more than one hotel the chief constable, James Blackman. had made its appearance, the monopo­ ' The Church of England clergyman list being one Kite, of the “ Dun Cow.” - was the Rev. John Ebpy Keane. Then came the “Golden Fleece,” The Bathurst Bank was opened in kept by an ex-bandmaster of the 40th 1835— the first country bank in the? Regiment, William Blizaid, ar.d tihe colony. Bathurst was then not doing “ King W illiam,” by Richard Mill. i much in the way of agriculture, being In 1824 the settlers were greatly almost entirely engaged in she wool- troubled by the natives, and there is growing. Quarter Sessions were held on record a punitive expedition, un­ in that year, Dillon’s Inn being tht der the leadership of M ajor Morrisef,, ! court-house. Major Croker, of ihe consisting of four magistrates, 40 po­ 17th Regiment, took up his quarters lice, and some seulers, who made over at Bathurst Government House in towards Mudgee, and in an encounter 1832. The fiist public celebration ot that took place many . natives were Divine worship was held on February . k ille d . 12 of that year. It was in the Pres- j The settlers of 1825 still had the byterian form. The Church of Eng- ; memories of Ae old land strong in land had its house in Bathurst in 1837. | their minds. One incident of the In 1842 there were Wesleyan and Pres- : times showed how the early. colonists, byterian churches, the township still still clung to English traditions of cli j being under military rule. j mate and surroundings. Ic was thi, establishment of the Bathurst Hunt, Much weighty consideration was given to the proprieties, specially the uni­ form. The club had for its quarry | at the meets only the dingo, but it ( would appear that the animal had the satisfaction of knowing that he was I being pursued by gentlemen properly attired according to book. The uni­ form was a green jacket, turned up j with velvet, the semblance of a dingo being on the collar, the buttons being of brass, with “ Bathurst Hun';” stamp­ ed upon them. In the historical re­ cords we have to note that a meeting, as which the question of dress was dis cussed, was a stormy one, and seem­ ingly the clinching argument was the grave and emphatic statement of one member that “ he would rather go to the devil in a frock-coat than to heaven in a jacket.” In 1828 the officer in command 01 the district was Lieutenant James (H. C. Beavis, Photo.) Hon. Secretary Centenary Cel'obraticn.s. MR. J. BAIN. Brown, ot tne 57tn Regiment; the

l | superintendent, A. M ‘Leod, late 57th

in the district were the Hawkins, wl o, indeed, claim to have been living on THE PIONEERS the plains prior to any' grants being made. In 1820, at least, T. Fitzher- bert Hawkins, an ex-naval captain, formerly of the Commissariat Depart­

OLD BATHURST FAMILIES. ment, was awarded a grant near Kelso, known as Blackdown, and now owned bv Mr. Robert Gihnour. His son, however, T. J. Hawkins,- obtained

With tie early history of Bathurst Walmer estate, on the opposite bank must always be associated the original of the river, which is still in the pos­ Coxes, Lees, Hawkins, Rankins, Sui­ session of the family. tors, Stewarts, Rutherfords, and other An old family who still reside in founders of now well-known Bathurst Bathurst are the Rankins, originally f a m ilie s . landed proprietors in Scotland. ivjr. The construction by William Cox George Rankin, however, emigrated to of the road over the Blue Mountains Australia in 1821, settling first in Van in 18x4 at the orders of Governor M ac­ Stewart, of the Buffs, came from Scot­ quarie was 'the first real event in the land to Australia with his regiment, history of the township. Mr. Cox in and took up the estate of Mount Plea­ return received a grant of land .on the sant, near Bathurst, which was given right bank of the Macquarie River, and its name by the explorer Evans, on was one of the first to purchase a ship- account of the magnificent view from it's s u m m i t . I t is c u r io u s to n o te how- many of the original settlers in 'the Bathurst Plains were from the Land o f C a k e s .

The. Suttor family afford another in­ stance of the fact. William Henry Su.'tor, grandfather of the present head of the family, Sir Francis Suttor, was 16 years old when in 1821 he accom­ panied his father, George Suttor, to take up a grant on the Bathurst j Plains. So much of the land had, ! however, -already been alllofted that , the Suttors took up a grant about eight | j Dieman’s Land, which he soon aban- | ^ doned for New South W ales, obtaining ja grant near Bathurst in 1822.

The M'Phillamys are another in­ stance of a Sottish family which set- ! tied in Bathurst at an early date, and ' are now in possession of three large HOX. JOHN MEAGHER, M.L.C. estates at Charlton, Orton Park, and ment of merino sheep from the Cape, Gorman’s Hill. About 1820 Colonel whose descendants now form the Cele­ miles north of Bathurst, which, under brated iMudgee flocks. Early settlers the name of Brucedale, is one of the if£w grants, like Walmer and Mount

Bathurst’s 100th ^Birthday

HOW THE DISTRICT HAS CROWN.

OXE OF AUSTRALIA’S LEADING PROVINCIAL CITIES. The celebrations in the midst of which Bathurst now finds herself mark the attainment of the iooth anniver­ sary of the discovery of Bathurst Plains. One. hundred years is a brief period in the world's history, but in that time the scene west of the Blue Mountains— as indeed also on the coastal side— has undergone a wonder­ ful transformation. The outlook from the western ridge of the Great Divid­ ing- Range is now altogether different LATE JAMES RUTHERFORD. o that beheld by Deputy-Surveyor- One of the Pioneers. General Evans, when, just a century I Pleasant, still held by the original ago, he crossed the Blue Mountains ' grantees. on the trail blazed a short time pre­ viously by Blaxland, Wentwortfh, and William Lee, who settled near Kelso Lawson. Where then there was only in the same year, was a native of Cum­ a vast stretch of emerald-carpetea berland, in the north of England, who pilains, ^roken here and there with came to this country at an early age. patches of bush, there, is now a pros­ The Lee family, it need hardly be said, perous and growing district of which is one of the best-known in Bathurst Bathurst is the centre. Kelso on thi | at the present day. eastern bank of the Macquarie was the scene of the first settlement, but The name of the late Mr. James it was early perceived that the othei Rutherford, Bathurst’s “Grand Old side of the river was the natural site M an,” who was with us until a couple for a city, and so soon afterwards the of years ago, is one which will per­ mustard seed which subsequently ger­ haps be imperishably associated with minated and blossomed into the metro­ the history, not only of Bathurst, but polis of the West was planted. of Australia. His chief claim to this The story of t'he discovery, formid­ rests upon the grand pioneering work able as was the task of those respon­ which he. accomplished first as a part­ sible, may be told in a few words. On ner in and later as head of the famous November 19, 1813, Evans, acting un­ coaching firm of Cobb and Co. So der the directions of Governor Mae- j

far as Bathurst is concerned, he will quarie, crossed the Nepean at Emu j be remembered by posterity principally Island “ to explore the unknown coun­ because of the magnificent work which try west of Mt. Blaxland,” which he accomplished in connection ,'with marked the limit of the track blazed the progress of the city and its in­ by the trio of intrepid explorers 01 stitutions. which Blaxland was a member. Evans

tlers, However, although blessed with I i and his well-equipped party encoun­ a rich count*}’, suffered much at the I tered wet weather, and this, added to hands of depredator}' natives— fron the rough nature of the country, en­ tailed delays which brought November attacks by whom, by the way, Evans j 26 before the actual starting point of and his party had been singularly free the expedition— Mt. Blaxland— was — and murders and reprisals followed. 4 reached. The country which now It was at . this time that the “ Black confronted Evans as yet had not been Rebellion” broke out, and in the sub­ trod by white man With great dit 1 sequent! punitive measures the unfor­ ! ficulty, the party surmounted the ' tunate aboriginals were ruthlessly main ridge, reaching Evans’s Crown, | slaughtered. But these were not the near Tarana, on December 1, ana only tragedies which disfigured the from this peak, 3200 fee? above sea early history of the district. Another level, there was unfolded to the eyes of white men for the first time tht vast stretch of plains upon which Bathurst now stands. “Bathurst Plains” was the name which at onct- suggested itself to Evans, who con- | sidered that no- better compliment ! could be paid by him to the then Secretary of State for Colonies, that) to suggest) to the Governor that the district should be. named after Earl Bathurst. The actual set­

tlement did not take place j till two years later, the centenary of which will be 1915. It was in this year, May 7, 1815, to be precise, "I at jovernor Macquarie crossed the Mou.i- :ains and selected the site for the town. Many Governors have visited the ris- trict since, but, next' to Macquiiie, the name of none will be so clos:Iy j associated with the history of Bi/.h- urst as that of Sir Gerald Strick1 md, to whom has been allotted the li'Jior BISHOP MARSDEN. j of laying the foundation stone 01 die First Anglican Bishop of Bathurst. memorial in commemoration of the achievement of r record the begi rv.ig and more serious trouble arose through of which is imperishably linked with the action of a magistrate, whose bar­ ; the name of Governor Macquarie. barity led a number of convicts and Naturally rough and primitive at I'icket-of-leave men to take to the bush. first, as settlement extended along the Bloodshed followed, and three encoun­ Macquarie and the Lachlan, the baby ters took place before the outlaw’s were township grew and prospered until finally captured. Ten of them were | it attained the position of metro­ hanged at Bathurst, and ‘Jhe record of polis of the west which it has the tragic event is still preserved in ever since held in undisputed posses­ the archives of Holy Trinity Church, sion. Agriculture soon became the Kelso, the oldest church West of the companion of grazing. The lonely set­ Blue Mountains.

It was in 1851, when Hargreaves last Parliament. He is just now fight­ made his famous discovery of gold at ing for a continued period of repre­ Ophir, that Bathurst first boomed. sentation. Whether he will succeed, With tlhe subsequent discovery of gold or whether he wil' be displaced by an­ i at Hill End, the population of the lis- other Bathurst native, Mr. Ernes: ! trict suddenly swelled as if under the iDurack, is the pioblem of the hour.

Rt. Rev. DR. LONG. Present Anglican Bishop of Bathurst.

influence of a magic wand, and for some years ■ Bathurst was a decidedh prosperous trading centre. It was .,t this time of fabulous prosperity, No­ vember 13, 1862, that the town was proclaimed a municipality, the jubilee of which was celebrated last year. Mr. R. Y. Cousins was the first mayor. This gentleman and all his colleagues, with the exception of Mr. J. W. Ash­ worth, now 86 years of age, are since dead. The late Messrs. William Leo , and W. H. Suttor were the first Par­ liamentary representatives of the d is

I trict under responsible government THE OLD SCOTCH KIRK. granted in 1856. That was in the Formerly on the site now occupied by days of double-seated constituencies. GartrelPs bakery, William-street. Mr. John Miller, a native of the dis­ trict, was tthe representative in (the

OLD COURT HOJS F. AND fiAOT.

83

ed, especially fils own race. Before re­ THE F/BLY BI&TCEY OF turning to Bathurst, he was decorated W'ith a brass plate on which he was BATHURST styled “ Conqueror of the Interior,” npt, a s usual, “ K ing,” for he said there were too many kinds. SOME HIGHLY INTERESTING PACTS. I d 1826, Bathurst appeared to be in a flourishing condition, and the district had acquired a fame for its cheese. THE PIONEERS. Amongst the makers were Captain Pi­ per, Mr. Innes and Mrs. Rankin. The In 1824-25, the natives gave a great letter’s cheese bore her name, and was deal of trouble in the Bathurst district, sold wholesale at gd and 1/ per lb. and in the latter end of September the Cheeses were sent to Sydney in many CJommandant, Major Morriset, four hundredweights at a time. Mr. Haw- m agistrates and about forty soldiers and kind’s water mill, and also that of Mr. six mounted settlers, left Bathurst for Innis, afforded great assistance to the M udgee, the overseer and several of the settlers; both were erected in 1824. settlers knowing that part of the coun­ In 1825, the Bathurst Hunt had been try well. Many of the natives were killed established, for the purgcse of coursing in an encounter with them, one being the native dog, which caused much de­ the well-knpwn chief “ Blucher;” this struction to the flocks. The uniform of •was in the early part of September, 1824. the members was. a green jacket, turn­ Another native chief of the Bathurst dis­ ed up with velvet, and ornamented with trict was one named “ Windrodine,” bet­ a native dog embroidered on the collar ter known to the colonists as “ S a tu r ­ gilt buttons with “ Bathurst Hunt” day,” who fell in a fight with a tribe stamped on them. Each member kept a from the south, and died on 21st March, certain number of dogs, and davs were 1829— death being caused through a fixed for a general turn out. It was dur­ wound in the knee which mortified. He ing the formation of the association that died in the Bathurst Hospital and was a solemn meeting was convened to de­ buried near it, his body being wrapped cide upon the dress that would be most in his mantle and his weapons deposit­ appropriate ficr the chase. The assem­ ed in the grave with him. For many blage was a stormy one for some time years he was the terror 'of the surround­ when at last one of the members arose ing country, his height was about six ana w’ith some considerable gravity ob­ feet, and he w'as noted fjor his kindness served “ that he would rather to th e to women and children. At one time, g/j devil in a frock coat than to heaven in a five hundred acres was offered for his jacket. This settled the matter, and head, but he surrendered to Governor frock coats were carried, nom. con. to Brisbane and was introduced to him at the ever Lasting fam e of the prof^ ser. Parramatta. There he resided for a _ In 1826, the “ Sydnev Gazette” adver­ short time in the Domain and, from that tised the Bathurst Classical and Mer­ period, looked upon the white man with cantile School, where young gentlemen greater easiness of spirit. Another not­ could be boardecT and educated for thirty ed Bathurst native was a guide named guineas per annum. Mr, Holloway wras “Piper,” who accompanied Major Mit­ the proprietor. Even in those days Ba­ chell cm his expedition to the rivers Dar. thurst was not without its Literary So­ ling and Murray, in 1836, and on his ciety which was instituted in 1826, un- return with the partv to headquarters der the direction of a president, vice- was rewarded by Major Mitchell with his president, and committee of five mem­ own red coat, and a cocked hat and fea- bers, the entrance fee being three guin­ . ther, which had once belonged to Gov­ eas and annual subscription two guineas. ernor Darling. His portrait, thus cos­ Bathurst of to-day possesses one of the tumed, was drawn by Mr. Fernyb, ugh, finest School jof Arts in New South ajid soon appeared in print shops. Pi­ wales, which began its existence in per enjoyed all his newly acquired con­ 1855 the building being erected in 1S60- sequence with-a high head, and those 61. Not only schools, but colleges grace who knew him gave him small sums of the township. money; with this, he purchased silk In 1827, Bathurst is described as a handkerchiefs and wore them on his town purely Governmental, every tene­ breast, gowns for his gins (for he had ment being occupied by Government of- two), and, to his credit, he abstained from intoxicating drink, looking down nces. A Government farn, adjoined the settlement, and was estimated at a lbss of with contempt on those whlo so indulg­

;&2ooo per annum. The herd of cattle in the 48th Regiment, and he died at at this farm, and the one at Wellington Bathurst on 18th February, 1S32. Valley, was estimated at 5000 head. Pre­ On or about igth July_ 1S31, Captain vious to this date, ,a settler taking a Payme, of Dunn’s Plains, wias murder­ grant of 2000 acres had a present made ed by bushrangers. He had only arriv­ him by the Government of twenty cows ed in the colony eighteen months pre­ to start with, to make up in some mea­ viously, ,and had purchased the farm sure for the expense of victualling and fflom Captain Sealy. He was a seafar­ clothing twenty Ci'own prisoners. This ing man, having retired into Yorkshire system was abolished by Governor Bris­ many years previously to settle and farm. b a n e . He had no family and left a great deal The estimated number of cattle at of property. “ Since the location of Bathurst at the close of 1826 was about lands by the Veteran Pensioners, and 25,000 head, and there were about 70,000 distribution of small grants to native sheep. Frequently men with £5000 to lands, cultivation began in real earnest,’’ £> 10,000, in land and stock, were still liv­ states the “ Sydney Gazette” of Febru­ ing in their original huts composed of a r y , 1 8 3 2 . rammed earth, but there was always The site of the Bathurst township wras, plenty of good cheer within. At this until 1832, at Kelso, about a mile from period the pasturage was in a bad state the present site. In May, 1832, it was owing to the long continued drought, and urged that the laying out of the town­ settlers were seeking new pasturage in ship on the opposite side of the river, the M udgee district, • then recently dis- ■ should be c a r r ie d out. and at the latter c o v e r e d . end of the year the new township was In 182S, the officer in command of the opened. In May, 1S34, the “ Svdnev district was Lieutenant James Brown, Gazette” states that, “ after a tedious 57th Regiment; Superintendent of Gov­ delay of about a yeaj and a half since ernment Stock, Mr. John Maxwell; the opening of the township, arising Chief Qonstable, Mr. James Blackman; from forms of office, several allotments Clerk of the Bench, Mr. John Webb; As­ in the new township have been sold, sistant Surgeon, Mr. Richardson; the while buildings were rapidly springing Coroner was still Mr. F. F. Hawkins; up around.” the Church of England clergyman, the In 1832, there resided in the Bathurst | Rev. John Espy Keine. One sergeant district an old man named “ Tom my Row- i and thirteen privates were stationed on den,” one of the First Fleet, of the the Bathurst Plains, besides mounted t r o o p e r s . corps iof Royal Marines, who had served His M ajesty for fifty-one years ,for which In 1833 the Police Magistrate was he received a pension of 2/3 a day. He Thomas Evernden, Esq., late of the 3rd boasted that he had never experienced a Regiment, or Buffs. It was Lieutenant day’s illness in his life, and he was jvell Evernden who had been appointed to known in the districts of Windsor and command the troop of cavalry that had Cornwallis, as “old Tommy Rowden.” been raised and equipped from the 3rd H e w a s of those who had witnessed Regiment by Colonel Stewart, then 'One the early foundation of Australia. An­ Lieutenant-Governor. This troop con­ other well-known character in the dis­ sisted of picked men from the regiment, trict was “ David the Welshman” (Da­ and were organised tq> put down the vid Arthur), who had squatted in the bushrangers, then so troublesome in neighborhood of IJuree; he died at the the western districts. On the 4th No­ beginning of 1835, and in his life allow­ vember. 1825, the first detachment of ed himself not even the necessaries yet, troops of cavalry formed the previous at his death, he left legacies to the year had fallen in with a party of bush­ amount of £600. rangers, amounting to seven in number, Previous to 1832, the mails were con­ in the district of Bathurst, and Maurice veyed to and from Sydney by contrac­ Connell, who was reported to be tone of tors, who transferred them to the mount­ the most notorious of the g’a.ng, was killed on the spot by Corporal Brown. ed police at Penrith, and they Brought Until 1830, Mr. Kite, the wealthy them to a;nd from Bathurst; this method landholder, monopolised the whole of the was abolished in 1832, and Watsford, hotel trade, but in 1831 there were three the Sydney and Parramatta coach pro- inns, Thomas Kite’s “ Dun Cow,” Wil­ prie(:rs, were under contract to earn' liam Blizzard’s “ Golden Fleecc,” and them right through, the latter taking Richard Mill’s “ King William.” Wil­ five hours longer in the conveyance. liam Blizzard was formerly bandmaster Major Croker, 17th Regiment, was in command of the district at this period, having arrived from headquarters on the i road, and a pit was at once opened near 14th January, 1932, with Mrs. Croker the western base of Mount York, in the and family; he resided at Government Vale of Clwvdd, at a spot known as House, Bathurst. About this time the “ Coal Pit Swamp;” but the difficulties Rev. Dr. Lang paid a visit to the dis­ of transport also rendered this commod­ trict, accompanied by a newly-arrived ity an expensive item. minister of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. On 20th January, 1832, at the sale of ’Thompson, with th.6 view of establish­ Government stock, 150 sheep brought ing a place of worship for that body. 7/6 to 8/6 per head, the wc

tes it issu e d w e r e £ 1 a n d £ 5 r e s p e c ­ able succession of high mountain grades, tively. The first Government cash rough roads, rugged rocks, broken transactions were with the Com m issariat, bridges, and other disagreeables, were when quarterly payment of pensions w'as a constant source of torture to the Bath- ; ordered to be made from the Bank of urst settler. Yet Bathurst produce i Bathurst to such recipients as lived found a ready market in Sydney, espe- j within the district. daily cheese, which was generally sold j The Court of Quarter Sessions, at at the Colonial Produce Warehouse, 100 this date, was held at Dillon’s Inn, and Pitt-street, kept by David Bell. two branch jfc-st Offices had been estab­ The “ Sydney Gazette,” commenting lished, one at Hassan’s Walls, and the on the difficulties of road travelling, second at O’Coanell Plains. About this 1 states: “ His Excellency the Governor, time, Mr. Cox,“ en., disposed of his es- • in 1882, may possibly breakfast at his tate, “ Hereford,” near the settlement, v seat of government, Sydney, and dine at to Mr. Wentworth, who was on the eve the Vice-Regal L»:dge, Bathurst, take of making Bathurst his future abode. morning excursions to Wellington; but Ampngst those who had then ' recently until steam excavators shall have remov­ taken up their residence at Bathurst was ed mountains and made roads for Mr. Icely and family, at the estate of steam coaches to run, we, in 1832, must “ Coombing,” near Mandurama, which be content with the sober, old-fashioned had “ lately” been made a police dis­ pace rf nine miles an hour and avail trict; Mr. Kemmis and family, at O ’Con­ ourselves of the accommodations of nell Plains; Colonel Wall, late 3rd Regi­ Weatherboard Hut, and the hospitality ment, or Buffs, w-ho removed from Par­ of the host of ‘ The Three Australian ramatta to Bathurst Plains; Mr. Watt, Governors,’ old Pierce Collett.” from India, who purchased the farm of The price of fuel at Bathurst was ex­ Mr. Blackett, qjontiguous to the settle­ tremely high, so much so, that when m e n t. tenders were called for supplying the In 1834, a sale of confiscated prop- military of that town with it, the terms . erty belonging to Godfrey of Boree, for were so excessive that none were accept­ many years a carrier on the mountain ed. Coal at this period (February, 1832) : road, tpok place. He had been tried at had been discovered on the mountain I the Criminal Sittings at Bathurst for re- ,

ceiving stolen sheep a-considerable ex­ grant nor by purchase. The site of the tent, and was deprived of his property town was only distinguished bv a Gov­ which consisted of horned cattle, horses, ernment house, jail, court-house, post- and sheep, which were sold on the 2gth office, and barracks, while the popula­ October, 1S34. So valuable was the tion had collected in sixty or eighty stock considered, that men from Syd­ houses built in an irregular manner on ney, and as far as Twofold Bay, as­ the Sydney side of the river, at a dis­ sembled; amongst those noticed ’were tance (of a mile from the intended site men who had filled at different periods of the town.” The approach to the the post of Commandant at Bathurst township was equally inconvenient; ap­ from its foundation— Captain Cox, Lieu­ parently, “ the only road in use being tenant W. Lawson, Colonel Morrisset, very indirect, and passing through a Colonel Wall, and Captain Chetwoode, muddy holow named ‘the Bay of Biscay,’ the officer then in command. The pro­ and which could not be altered ^coving ceeds of the sale amounted to a little to the adjacent lands which had been less than ,£2,000. granted to individuals.” At this time, Dr. Wardell’s fine es­ In 1837 there was a Church of Eng­ tate at Jane’s End was disposed of on land. In 1842 a new’ church was erect­ le a s e . ed, a Wesleyan and Presbyterian, and a When the Qoilony was divided into po­ general store. The township was under lice districts, in 1834, the district of military rule. The old gaol stood on the Bathurst not only included the County i ground where Machattie Park, named of Bathurst, but also the Counties of after Dr. Machattie, of Bathurst, is Roxburgh. Georgiana, Wellington, Phi) i»pw located. The oldest church in the lip, and Bligh, comprising a population district is Kelso, built in 1837, previous of not less than 4,000 persons. In No­ to which a temporary building was in vember, 1834, an alteration took place use since 1826. The church stands in when, by direction of the Governor, the an old cemetery, wherein the graves of described limits of the police district w-as 3 people are found, the date of as follows: “ Having the Court House which began about 1830. near the River Lett, and serving as in­ termediate district between Bathurst and Penrith the eastward to Weatherbvard Hut stream, on the Mountain Road, ti? be bounded by that stream, the Rox Ri ver, and southward ot Mountains Col- long, Murrum, Werong, and the divid­ ing range between Werong and the head *>f the Fish River, to be bounded west by the Fish River, Dixon’s Creek, ar_i. the range which separates the Counties of Roxburgh, and Cook; on the north by the Capertee, or Colo, River to the junction of 0 -vwen’s Creek, in­ cluding a space west of that creek, Mount Tomah and Mount Hay and the Weatherboard Hut Inn, as far as afore­ said. This district, which is proposed to be called ‘ The Clwydd,’ will contain part of the q unties of Westmoreland and C o o k .” Major Mitchell, in his work “ Travels h i Eastern Australia,” describes Bath­ urst as a settlement of scattered houses, “ Peace and Plenty now smile on the banks of the Wambool”—the native name for the Macquarie River—he writes, but he states that the inconveni­ ence and want of plan for road and streets was strikingly obvious at Bath­ urst “ A vast tract, had, indeed, been reserved for a township, but then no streets had been laid out, allotments for building could neither be obtained by

Centenary of Bathurst. HE Centenary of Bathurst was celebrated last week in a manner worthy alike of th^piistoric event and T of the people of the district. Tne festivities were on a big scale, and the arrangements were admirably car­ ried out. The picturesque city was crowded, visitors being attracted from far and near. The most important day of the holiday week was Wednesday last, when a memorial foundation-stone was laid to commemorate the centenary. The State Governor ^ras present, and among the thousands of spectators were the daughter, grandson, and great-granddaughter of Mr. Evans, the Deputy Surveyor-General, who, following up the work of Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth, had the honour of discovering the great western plains.

HE State Governor, who was accompanied by two daughters and the Minister for Education, was enter­ Ttained at breakfast by Mr. John Meagher, M.L.C., after which a civic reception was tendered by the Mayor (Alder­ man Rigby) and aldermen of Bathurst. The vice-regal party was welcomed in a decorated pavilion in the centre of King’s Parade, a guard of honour being provided by the cadets. An illuminated address was presented to his Excellency, who subsequently declared the King’s Parade open, amid the enthusiastic cheers of several thousand spectators. Sir Gerald Strickland then declared .the com­ memoration memorial foundation-stone in honour of Sur­ veyor Evans well and truly laid. He said:—“The occa­ sion calls to mind the great services done to Australia by the profession to which Surveyor Evans belonged. Sur­ veyors and civil engineers have done more to make Aus­ tralia the Australia we know than we are prone to recog­ nise without reflection. It is really the work of the sur­ veyors and engineers which forms the greatest contrasts between the occupation of these plains by the black men and their occupation by Anglo-Saxons,to-day. Much has been done for Australia by education, much by constitu­ tional government, and by the extension of the civic liberties, but when it comes to bedrock, to the primary industries, through which we live and through which -these plains have their prosperity, we must look to the fruits of the work of the engineers. It is, therefore, specially fitting that a monument should be erected to Evans, who was not only an explorer, but a member of the profession to which Australia owes so much.”

O l R FRANCIS SUTTOR gave an interesting address, in Tl'RPIN, DAUGHTER OF SURVEYOR EVANS, G. W EVANS ^ the course of which he paid a high tribute to the (GRANDSON) AND HIS DAUGHTER. work of Evans. There was a distinguished gathering at the centenary banquet, when the Governor, in acknow­ ledging the toast of the Governor-General and the State Governor, paid a tribute to the hardy pioneers who, at the danger of their lives, followed in the wake of the ex­ plorers, pushed settlement westward, and extended the bounds of civilisation. The toast of “The Ministry and Parliament” was proposed by Mr. W. H. Webb, and re­ sponded to by Sir Francis Suitor. Mr. J. Miller proposed “The Day We Celebrate.”

N the afternoon his Excellency the Governor and Miss I Strickland held a reception in the courthouse, after which a garden party was held in Machattie Park. In the evening the State Governor was entertained a t a banquet by the citizens of Bathurst.

Rural Scene. (Reproduced from a painting by courtesy of Mrs. J. Rutherford). Photo, by A. R. Gregory, Bathurst

Bathurst Residence in Early Days. Reproduced by courtesy of CC Mrs. J. Rutherford from photo, by A. E. Gregory

H C. Reavis. Photo. St. Joseph's Mount A K. Gregory, Photo. “ Hereford,” See letterpress on l-age 45 Residence of the late James Rutherford

Evans' Crown Reproduced from a drawing by Miss Geraldine Rutlierford

View showing Old Brucedale In the foreground- and the present Suttor family's residence on the hill

Major - General Stewart’s Obelisk at “The Mount

Mr. J. H. Stewart’s Residence, “The Mount

91

H. C. Beavis Photo. George W m . Evans Major-General Stewart

H. C. Bfavis Photo. James Rutherford Mayor, 1868 ------

92

MRS. BUSBY, (whose portrait appears opposite), was authoress of the enthralling incidents recounted in the “ Bathurst Daily Times ” at the end ot 1901 and beginning of 1902, and subsequently reprinted in pamphlet form. Mrs. Busby was perhaps the first white woman to cross the mountains by rough and hazardous means of transit, over eighty years ago. She was the wife of Dr. Busby, Colonial Surgeon, to whom a tribute is paid in our references to the local hospital. When she arrived in Bathurst the only buildings were six brick cottages and two mud houses, occupied by the military and police officials as the penal establishment. Kelso, then the city,” boasted two public houses — one at each end of the village — and a number of straggling, low-roofed cottages. Mrs. Busbi' resided for upwards of 80 years in Bathurst, and died at the advanced age of 96.

Hie Women of the We3t

They left the vine wreathed cottage, and And there are hours men cannot soothe, the mansion on the hill, and words men cannot say; The houses on the busy streets where life The nearest woman’s face may be a is never still, hundred miles away. The pleasures of the city, and the friends The wild bush holds the secrets of their they cherished best; longing and desires, For love they faced the wilderness— the When the white stars in reverence light Women of the West. their holy altar fires, The roar and rush and fever of the city And silence, like the touch of God, sinks died away, deep into the breast, And old-time joys and faces— they were Perchance he hears and understands the gone fo r many a day; Women of the West. In their place the lurching coach-wheel, For them no trumpet sounds the call, no or the creaking bullock chains; poet plies his arts, O'er the everlasting sameness of the Tliev only hear the beating of their gallant never-ending plains. loving hearts, But they have sung with silent lives the In the slab-built, zinc-roofed homestead of ~.ong all songs above, some lately taken run, The holiness of sacrifice, the dignity of In the tent—beside the bankment of a love railway just begun, Well have we held our father’s creed; no In the huts o f new selections, in the -all has passed us by, camps of man’s unrest, We faced and fought the wilderness, we On the frontier of the Nation live the sent our sons to die; Women of the West. And we have hearts to do and dare, and The red sun robs their beauty, and in weari­ yet o ’er all the rest, ness and pain, The hearts that made the Nation were The slow years steal the nameless grace the Women of the West. that never comes again; — George Essex Evans.

m Mr. J. H..Stewart, of “ The M ount” H. C. Beavis Photo (See letterpress on page 31) M r. Jo h n L ee (See letterpress on page 31)

Mr. George Lee Mr. W . H. Suttor, Junior See letterpress on page 31 (See letterpress on page 25)

Sir Francis Suttor Mr. H. C. Suttor

94

Extract from "fhe Bathurst Times".20.11.191>.

" ...... Until 18J0,Mr Kite.the wealthy landowner

momopolised the whole of the hotel trade,trit in

1831 th ere were th ree Inna, " Thomas K it e ’ s "Dun

Cow"; William Blizzard’ s "Golden Fleece",and

Richard M ills’ "King William". The site of the

Bathurst township was.until 18^2,at Kelso,ahout a mile from the present site". 141 [John k j 95 H 3

T W t n^ t p r ^ HowickThe Street, JeweIIer Bathurst ** An old established Jewellery Business with a reputation to keep op VISITORS may rely on Good Jewellery, Good Service, and a Square Deal at WINTER'S The Park Hotel jVlotor Gar Trips Overlooking Machattie Park Large and Airy Apartments Visitors are notified that that Mr. Cuisine under personal supervision Percy Hunt will arrange M otor Car of Mrs. Munro Trips on extremely moderate terms Best Wines and Spirits Porter meets all trains Address: 231 Russell-st, Bathurst T elephone 84 ’P h o n e 259 I42[jp(#t\k]

t NATTY WOOD’S Famous Tea & Refreshment Rooms Bathurst C. BRIGGS, Ground Floor, are the Largest and most Up-to-Date out of Sydney Hairdresser & Tobacconist Our Large & Small Banquetting Rooms 98 William Street U pstairs are available for all classes of Public and Private Functions. Comfort­ Give him a Trial able seating accommodation for upwards Telephone 135 of 200 guests. NATTY WOOD, Regular Communication with Tatt’s 102 WILLIAM STREET, BATHURST

Hotel Open and Lighted for Arrival of all Night Trains. Hot & Cold Water Baths Try W. H. GARTREhli Night Porter always on hand For all that is Best BUTLER’S TEL 218 The Best Bread The Best Confectionery The Best Small Goods HOTEL VICTORIA The Best Pastry Right opp. Railway Station B athurst The Best Summer Drinks (no cabs necessary) ’Phone 66 William-street Table a Speciality Medium Tariff I

------Ei 1 8 1 3 1913. Pioneering C e n te n a ry Colossal Hardships. Celebrations Wealth. in Commemoration of the Discovery of the Great Western Plains of N.S.W. by Deputy Surveyor General Evans in 1813.

7T N Australian National movement lias be^'- inaugurated, having: for its objective thf* erection of a monument fitting t*> the occasion—wh ch * dmittedlv w S'-ne of the most i otab e in Aus­ tralian bistbry. atid one which hi torians chronic e as ranking e ual in importance to the discovery of I’or Jackson. The Memorial will be ere*-ted in Bathurst (on the site of which Cit Surveyor Evans actua ly camped), and the foundation st'-ne will be laid on November 19th by the 1 ■ overnor of New South Waies, His Excellency Sir Gerald Strickland, K.C. IWI.G. The cost ot erection will be defrayed by public sub-cription. and that every A» strjilian resi«teut, no matter how humble his posiiion, may participate without undue self-denial, A GIGANTIC ONE SHILLING SUBSCRIPTION LIST has been opened. No subscription need, however, be limited to that amount. A Special Appeal is made to YOU. The Citizens of Bathurst are honoring the occasion by means of a Superb Fete, extending over seven decretary. SUBSCRIPTION CARD No. 968 f Presented by

t President: Arnoi.d Rioby, Esq., Mayor of Bathurst. Hen. Treasurer: D. F. W. Vkvkss. Hon. Secretary : J Rain, i rJown Clerk, Bathurst. A H. & P. Assn. ^ (See back cover). Bathurst. L THE NATIONAL SHILLING FUND CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS Towards erection of Memorial in commemoration of NO VEM BER 15th to 22nd, 1913. the discovery of the Western Plains of N.S.W. by Surveyor Evans in 1813. Subscribers of 10s and over Subscribers will please initial on square for each shilling subscribed.

Collector s Signature...... T ital Collector s Signature. Total..

97

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AND AT THE OFFICIAL LUNCHEON at 1 p.m.

R.S V.P. to Hon. Sec., Bathurst.

Hotel andf BATHURST EN Business V FETE

X T* 8 * IN COMMEMORATION OF THE H O f IS P d * DISCOVERY OF THE BATHURST °\ PLAINS IN 1813

’“‘Next to the Discovery of Port Jackson^ the f most important event in Australian history" SEVEN DAYS' CARNIVAL:

A Record of the Best f NOVEMBER 15 to 22, 1913 Houses in Bathurst. II SEE PROGRAMME on inside page.

secure your For further Particulars write to the ACCOMMODATION EARLY HON. S«C.: J. B A IN 97

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AND AT THE OFFICIAL LUNCHEOW at 1 p.m.

R.S V.P. to Hon. Sec., Bathurst.

l.P P

YOU who have not been there may not KAISER'S believe it, but those who have been City Billiard Saloon:: Gmpire Hotel Larkin Brothers there are very positive that the FOUR TABLES Up-to-Date TAILORS and Sawmills Hotel Bathurst,st‘ William St., Bathurst MERCERS « ■ is run on thoroughly up-to-date lines Corner Howick & William Sts. The Best-known Hotel in the West George Street, Bathurst 3d Beer Splendid Accommodation T el. 235. . Cab Meets all Trains ! • “ Call and Inspect, and make your Five Minutes from G.P.O. T e l . 72 Proprietor, J. McSorley Motor Car for Hire Tel. 165 acquaintance with the Firm JAMES BADLEY, P r o p r i e t o r Hotel Dudley Mrs. C. HEATH Court House Hotel BASSETT’S Confectioner & Dining T e l . 217 William Street Ample Accommodation for Visitors CYCLE and Spacious Balconies— Western Aspect and Refreshment Rooms Best of Wines and Spirits stocked B & B Best Wines and Spirits stocked Accommodation for Visitors MOTOR DEPOT Medium Tariff J* Table a Speciality 155 & 157 GEORGE ST., Bathurst Medium Tariff For Triumph, Rudge, and New Hudson ’Bus Meets Trains T elephone 110. Ice Cream and Afternoon Tea Motors :: Repairs & Accessories ADDRESS— at City Prices E. DOSWEI/L, Proprietor T e l . 203 Thomas Hartlands, Proprietor Next Webb & Co., George St. 1 \ ...... _ :r ......

98

Centenary Celebrations

T o Commemorate the Discovery of the Bathurst Plains in 1813

Under the Patronage and in the presence of HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GERALD STRICKLAND, K.C.M.G., Governor OF N.S.W.

President: ARNOLD RIGBY, Esq., Mayor of Bathurst.

Hon. Secretary: J. BAIN.

Literary_ <£ Competitions

Literary Committee.—His Lordship Dr. Long (Anglican Bishop of Bath­ urst), Very Rev. M. J. O’Reilly (President of St. Stanislaus’ College), G. Sydney Stiles, B.A. (Principal of All Saints’ College), Rev. G. H. Robertson, M.A., G. F. Longmuir, B.A. (Principal of Technical College), Sen. Inspector Hender­ son (Education Dept.), C. Jennings (Police Magistrate), A. McLachlan (Principal of Bathurst High School), R. W. Peacock (Principal of Bathurst Experiment Farm), W. A. Ferguson (Bathurst High School), and James Nesbit. m [blank]

Open Competitions. REGULATIONS Governing the Competitions, 1. ODE OR POEM, having reference to the Centenary; limited to 120 lines. Prize, £J0 I Os.

2. ESSAY: “ The Progress of Western N.S.W. since the discovery of the Bathurst Plains in 1813”; limited to 5000 words. Prizes: 1. All persons competing must accept tlie decision of the adjudicator appointed by the Committee, which shall be final and without appeal. First £10 10s, second £2 2s. 2. A ll manuscripts entered for competition must be written on one side of 3. SHORT STO RY, to treat of conditions of life in the early days of sheet only, leaving a fairly broad m argin. the Colony; limited to 3000 words. Prizes: First £5 5s, 3. W inners of competitions, where an age lim it is stated, must in all cases produce certificate of birth, or bona-fide evidence of age, before the prize is paid. second £1 Is. 4. Each competitor w ill place only an anonymous signature to the paper, and must also forward under separate cover a sealed envelope containing proper name. This envelope to be endorsed with the nom de plume, name of subject, and its num ber in the list of competition subjects.

5. W here there is only one competitor in any section, the adjudicator has the right to award first or second prize where sufficient m erit has been displayed, and has the right to w ithhold any prize where sufficient m erit has not been displayed.

6. The prize-winning Odes or Poems, Essays and Stories, are to become the property of the Centenary Celebrations Committee. Juvenile Competitions. 7. A ll com petition matter must be the bona-fide work ot the competitors. 8 . Entry Fees must accompany each competition paper, on the following scale:—Competitions Nos. 1, 2 and 3, 2/6 each ; Competitions Nos. 4 and 5, 1/- e a c h . 4. SHORT STORY, open to Students under J6 years on November 9. A ll manuscripts entered for competition must be in the hands of the Hon. Secretary, for approval by the Committee, not later than on November 1st, 1913. 30th, J9I3. Prizes: Books value, first £2 2s, second £1 Is. J. BAIN, Hon. S ecretary. 5. SHORT STORY, open to Students under J9 years on November 30th, J9I3. Prizes: Books value, first £2 2s, second £J Js. c BATHURST EN FET Centenary Celebrations: Seven Days' Carnr

1. O D E O R r OFFICIAL PROGRAMME: 120 line Saturday, Nov. 15 — 2 p.m., Bathurst Club Race Meeti 8 p.m., Grand Centenary Concert. 2. E S S A Y : “ o f the B Monday, Nov. 17 — 2 p.m., Bathurst Club Race Meeti First £ 1< 8 p m , Continental in Machattie Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 18 —10 a.m., Gun Club Pigeon Match; 2p 3. S H O R T ST Pony Race Club Meeting; 3 p.m., Conversazione Gar the Col' P a rty; 8 p.m., Continental in Machatiie Park. second i Wednesday, Nov. 19— 11 a.m., Grand Centenary Processi 12 a.m, Laying Foundation Stone of Memorial by Excellency Sir Gerald Stricldand, K.C.M.G.; 1 p.m., Qffi Luncheon ; 2 p.m , Start of Spectacular Drill Display Sports for School Children and Cadets; 3 30 p.m., Gar Party and Vice-Regal Reception in Machattie Park; 8 p Grand Centenary Costume Ball, to be opened by tl Excellencies Sir Gerald and Lady Strickland.

Thursday, Nov. 20 —Noon, Bicycle Sports and Motor C Gymkhana on Cricket Ground; 8 p.m., Juvenile Center Jtr Costume Ball.

Friday, Nov. 21—2.30 p.m., First Test, Band Contest; 8 f Second Test, Band Contest. 4. S H O R T ST Noon, Grand Centenary Sports Mee 30th, 191 Saturday, Nov. 22— Trotting, Cycling, Motor Cycling, Pedestrian Gymkhana a list of other Events; Cadet Competitions; 8 p.m., F in a 5. S H O R T S I Band Contest. 30th, 191 In addition to above, the unofficial entertainments will include Rifle Mat Gun Club Shoot, Bowling, Tennis and Golf Competitions, Operatic and Thea Entertainment, Picture Shows, and many other amusements.

For further information, and to secure accommodation, write to J. BAIN, Hon

BATHURST EN FETE Centenary Celebrations: Seven Days' Carnival

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME: Saturday, Nov. 15 — 2 p.m., Bathurst Club Race Meeting; 8 p.m., Grand Centenarj Concert. Monday, Nov. 17 — 2 o.m., Bathurst Club Race Meeting ; 8 p.m., Continental in Machattie Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 1 8 —10 a.m., Gun Club Pigeon Match; 2 p.m ., Pony Race Club Mejting; 3 p.m., Conversazione Garden P arty; 8 p.m., Continental in Machattie Park.

Wednesday, Nov. 1 9 —11 a.m., Grand Centenary Procession; 12 a.m, Laying Foundation Stone of Memorial by His Excellency Sir Gerald Strickland, K.C.M.G.; 1 p.m., Official Luncheon ; 2 p.m., Start of Spectacular Drill Display and Sports for School Children and Cadets; 3.30 p.m., Garden Party and Vice-Regal Reception in Machattie Park; 8 p.m ., Grand Centenary Costume Ball, to be opened by their Excellencies Sir Gerald and Lady Strickland.

Thursday, Nov. 2 0 — Noon, Bicycle Sports and Motor Cycle Gymkhana on Cricket Ground; 8 p.m., Juvenile Centenary « Costume Ball.

Friday, Nov. 21 —2.30 p.m., First Test, Band Contest; 8 p.m ., Second Test, Band Contest.

Saturday, Nov. 2 2 —Moan, Grand Centenary Sports Meeting, Trotting, Cycling, Motor Cycling, Pedestrian Gymkhana and a list of other Events; Cadet Competitions; 8 p.m., Finale of Band Contest. In addition to above, the unofficial entertainments will include Rifle Matches, Gun Club Shoot, Bowline;, Tennis and Golf Competitions, Operatic and Theatrical Entertainment, Picture Shows, and many other amusements.

For further information, and to secure accommodation, write to J. BAIN, Hon. Sec.

4kNational-Advocate,** TypoBathurst.

H. C. Beav s Photo. All Saints* Cathedral (See letterpress on page 47)

II. C. Beavis Photo. St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church (.See letterpress on page 49)

H. C. Beavis Photo. R.C. Cathedral (SS. Michael and John) Historic Anglican Church at Kelso First Church and Burial Ground in Bathurst

101

ALL SAINTS' CATHEDRAL" BATHURST.

The Rev.T.Sharpe.M.A., was the first incumbent of All Saints',The appointment being made in 1841.in 1843,Bishop Broughton visited Bathurst, and advo­ cated the building scheme then under consideration In 1845,the foundation of All Saints was laid.In 1852,the completion of the church tower was provi­ ded for, end in 1854, the peal of bells, was added. A year later the vestry was built.In 1^66, the add­ ition of a side aisle was made, and a grant of land received for a parsonage. The tower and north aisle were were enlarged in 1869, the cost being £975. During the same year the REV.SAMUEL MARSDEN, was appoint­ ed first Bishop of Bathurst, and the Rev.T.Sharpe, M.A.,was succeeded by the Rev.F.Clay,M.A." The first Diocesan Synod, was held on May 8th,1870. Bishop Marsden was enthroned on Maay 10th,QIUP,by Dr Bar­ ker, Bishop of Sydney. The RevClay was succeeded by the Rev.T.Smith. On April 28th,1874,the corner stone of the Cathedral extension, was laid by Bishop Barker. The final payment in connection with the heavy debt incurred on this account, was made in July,1911. Since that date,£4,225, has been expen­ ded on the organ, schools, and other building work. During 1882, the Rev.J.T.Marrlot, M.A.,D7D., acc­ epted the appointment of Incumbent and dean of the parish. Bishop Marsden was succeeded by Bishop Camidge, and the present Bishop, Is the Right Rev. G .M .L o n g .

102

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL?BATHURST

The foundation stone of the R.C.Cathedral of St. Michael, and St John, was blessed by Archbishop Polding, din November 3 0 th,1857. it is one of the most conspicuous and impressive features of the city's architecture. Adjoining it are several other well-designed edifices associated with the church, Including the Bishop's Palace. Indeed it would he difficult to find a more majestic and character­ istic series of ecclesiastic buildings in any other province of the State. Ranging from William St to George St, they face the whole length of the pic­ turesque side of the far famed Machattie Park. The building d»f the Cathedral was completed in 1860, at a cost of £12,000, the Bishop then,being Dr Quinn, a man of high Intellectual attainments and great personal influence. His very worthy successors were, Dr Byrne,and Dr Dunne, the pres­ ent Bishop. The administrator of the Diocese Is the Rev.Father Magee,with whom is associated the Rev.Father Lonergan.

ST STEPHEN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH" BATHURST

St Stephen's Presbyterian Church may be des­ ignated a gospel pioneer of Bathurst, having been erected as early as 1833. It also stands as a memo­ rial of the loyal adherence of those early settlers, who In migrating to Bathurst, carried with them a firm faith in Presbyterianlsm. <7e find in the local press records that the church was erected by private subscription, but chiefly by jthe late Mr George Ran- ken,Captain Piper, Dr Busby, and General Stewart, the latter s teams drawing the bricks, timber and shingles. The Rev.Thompson was the first minister. After a short period of ministry, he was succeeded by the Rev.K.D. . t Smythe, whose ministration continued for a period of 20 years. The church was well attended and supported In those days, the majority of the settlers being from Scotland. In 1855, the Rev.Smythe resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev.I.B.Laughton, who was followed in the early sixties by the Rev.Dr Geike, one of the most scholarly and Influential Presbyterian ministers of the '2.0% [blank] 103 time. His pastorate extended over the lengthy period of 30 years. He resigned in 1895,and his successor, the Rev James Klnghorn, ministered for loyears. Then the call was accepted "by the present minister, the Rev.J.H.Roberts- son.(1912).

H C Beavis Photo Methodist Church ------104

METHODIST CHURCH. BATHURST

The available records Indicate that missionaries of the Methodist denomination, were,-with characteristic evangelical energy- very early astir in the Bathurst district Cn the lecture hall of the fine church, which with its tall spire, graces William Street, is displayed the date, 1837. An antecedent and explanatory record hears the date of July fl,1836, which tells of a meeting then held at which it was resolved to build a "chapel”, on lend granted by the Govern­ ment to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee. The membership of the chapel at that time is given as 21, and the income for the previous quarter, £19-8-11. The Rev.F.Lewis pre­ sided at the meeting mentioned. During the following ten years the membership total increased to 197, and the miss­ ionary agent was the Reto.Benjamin Hurst. There were then three chapels in Bathurst circuit, and others were In course of erection or in contemplation^ Two Sabbath Schools, with 9a attendance totalling 100, and a day school with 15 pupils '’er e also brought into existence, the attendance at public worship numbering 600. With this pioneering record during a period,^when the only other Wesleyan ministersat work in New South Wales, totalled 6,(three In Sydney, one at Parramatta, one at Windsor, and one In the Hunter River district), it is perhaps less surprising that such rapid progress was subseq­ uently made along a smoother way. So in 1857, while the Rev. 'oseph Cram was in charge of* the circuit, we find these miss­ ionaries making comprehensive arrangements to raise funds for Gliding extension, and references in the contemporary press o these efforts, show that they were well rewarded. Steady xtenslon of the connection has since continued, and to-day, 1912), theBathurst district has 24 circuits,26 ministers, 5 ome mission stations, 103 churches, 12 schoolbulldings, 26 :irsonages, 2,484 church members, and there are 71 Sunday Sch ol8,wlth 3,683 attendants.

105

ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS IN 1841. j shafts fell down, with the load pressing heav­ ily on some part of it, making it very restive, and with no little difficulty we again dis­ The celebration of the centenary of the mounted. The horses would not stir an first crossing of the Blue Mountains last inch, for the load was far too heavy Our week set us turning back the leaves of Time goods were gone on several days in advance for glimpses of the past. But deeply as some of us, and there we stood, with just enough of us are interested in the history of the money to defray our expenses, the driver early days it is difficult for us to change the coolly telling us that he was very sorry, but scene, and really picture our land as it was ! his horses would not take the load, and he then. Last week hundreds of people went would not go without it About midday, how­ from Sydney to Mount York and back again ever, we bade farewell to Sytfhey, the driver in one day, travelling by special train or having procured another dray and horses, motor car. Such a journey would have dividing the goods between them. Owing to seemed beyond all the wildest dreams of the roads being heavy after a fortnight’s adventure even 50 years ago. To-day most rain we made but eight miles that day, and of us growl and grumble if our train is half as there was no food or water for our horses an hour late in a trip across the Mountains to ' we drove into an inn yard. Now, you must * Bathurst; how would we like to be plunged 1 not expect it was one of those comfortable back into the “good old days,” and take a places so common in dear old England, where week or more over the journey? We have after the fatigues of this troublous day we before us an interesting record of old time might have been accommodated at a reason­ travelling. It is a letter, written in 1841, able rate; but finding that £4 at the lowest by an Englishwoman, newly arrived in New would have been the demand our drays were South Wales, Mrs. J. C. Stanger, whose name drawn carefully under a shed, and for the was for many years well-known and re­ first time in our lives, with sorrowful hearts, we began to prepare our beds on the top, spected in the Bathurst district. The letter . contrary to the usual mode, which is under is written to her mother in the old land, the drays. I dare say you can believe we and carries us back to the days of the slept but little. Poor Mary and Sarah both pioneers. fell from the top, the latter's fall somewhat “The most speedy mode of travelling over modified by coming in contact with the dog. There would have been no danger of their the Mountains is by the mail cart, which falling out at all, but Eliza, not finding as leaves Sydney for Bathurst on certain days; much room as she had been used to, had but this is too expensive to be generally slipped into the manger, where she slept adopted, as the lowest fare is 90s each per­ peacefully for an hour or two till the man son. All, therefore, who cannot afford this, rose to feed his cattle, and mistaking her cap for the corn sack handled it rather too and have no conveyance of their own, are unceremoniously.” under the necessity of travelling by some of .Starting at daybreak the next day the little the drags, numbers of which are constantly party reached Parramatta by noon, and at on the road to and from Sydney. Uter many night found themselves fully 18 miles from anxieties respecting this journey it was settled Sydney! They spent the night in the open air, and the next evening reached Emu that our best plan would be to dispose of Plains. They attempted the rise of Lapstone many unnecessary articles, and purchase in Hill, but the horses were tired, and backed their stead the most useful and salable in over the road into a tree, from which they the part we were bound for. These were were rescued by an iron-gang in charge of a few soldiers. . . ‘In a short time we ; packed with all our other goods on bullock reached the huts, and were persuaded by the drays, and with a person who had purchased men to encamp for the night at this station. land at King’s Plains and wished to see it The soldiers were very kind, and gave the ! i we agreed that he should take ns in his own children a good tea in their quarters, while dray, with two horses, and our bedding and we lighted a large fire and prepared their provisions for the journey. We had hoped by beds in a tent which my deal- husband had made for the journey. Here, not quite un­ this arrangement to have had sufficient room, mindful of the company surrounding us, it to have travelled the distance in a week, and was decided that the pistols should be loaded, to have escaped the very undesirable com­ and Joseph and the man act alternately as pany of the bullock drivers, who are almost sentinels during the night” However, nothing exciting happened in the sure to be convicts of the very lowest night, and they set out next morning some­ grade. what refreshed. “After this agreement was made our driver, “ Now, again, the roads were heavy, and wishing to make the journey as advantageous the drivers were constantly mortified by the to himself as possible, loaded the dray with horses standing still, and then, again, lying down. Through this day poor Eliza walked various commodities of a bulky and weighty with dear baby, and I brought up the rear, character, paying no regard to our comfort and blocked the wheels at every stoppage, or to that of the horses. sometimes left half a mile behind, and then ■ “And now, fancy me, with my five dear having to run as fast as possible to perform 1 babies, seated on the top of this miserable this new duty.’ Next day, having reached Springwood. they parted with their guide, load! But although we were resolved on who left them to wait some other convey­ starting, the poor horses had evidently de­ ance. termined otherwise, both positively refusing "Towards evening that day we were joined to act as leader. After much whipping, by five bullock teams, and as one had behind scolding, and rearing up the horse in the his dray a new and empty one we agreed with

106 2J5 him to take us to Bathurst. And it was with cheerful hearts that about 11 the next morn­ ing w p found ourselves on the road comfort­ ably seated in our new conveyance, and form­ ing as the procession moved along a for­ midable array—for to every dray there were about three men to swear at, beat, and take care of the bullocks. Each team consisted of nine and almost as many dogs. Now, we had no more anxiety, for our cattle were slow but sure, and if any difficulty occurred it was only to hook on some ten or eight others and soon all was set right.” Anyone who has ever seen a bullock team can imagine the tediousness of such a jour­ ney and yet to these travellers the bullock drays seined to be quite a God-send, and the rest of the road was travelled by this means. After a number of days, more or less event­ ful on the bad roads the wayfarers at last reached Bathurst, having been about a month on their journey. And nowadays we can travel by motor to Bathurst and back in a single day!

C 'W / '- y

t

brations. Mr. Walker referred to Hs own association with the Blue Moun­ APPRECIATION tains celebrations last year. Speaking of the financial aspect of these, Mr. Walker said that they started out with MR. J. BAIN EULOCrSED. £1200 to play with, and they wound up with a credit nett balance of £1 7 s BY CENTENARY COMMITTEE. 6d. He expressed his regret in Mr. Saturday night’s meeting- of the Ba­ Bain's departure from Bathurst. He thurst Centenary Celebration Commit­ (Mr. Walker) always had a warm cor­ tee expressed its great appreciation of ner in his heart for Bathurst, and he Mr. J. Bain’s splendid achievement in hoped that the citizens would erect connection with the recent carnival something on King’s Parade which w e e k . would be a credit to the city of Bath­ The Mayor (Alderman A. Rigby), urst and to the Commonwealth. who presided, moved that the best Rev. Father Mullins said that ‘.he thanks of the Centenary Committee best speech of the evening was that and the citizens be accorded Mr. Bain which disclosed the balance-sheet. for his splendid work. Mr. Bain, he Father Mullins praised Mr. Bain for said, had worked early and late for his splendid work. He said be the movement, and the success of 'he thanked Mr. Bain for coming, to Bath­ celebrations w^s known throughout *ue urst and showing them what a real Commonwealth. They had a splen­ live man could do. They wanted two did balance-sheet to show, but above men in Bathurst— one who could get all, the most valuable thing in con­ water, and one who could show them nection with the carnival was the splen­ enthusiasm. (Laughter.) He trusted did advertisement which it gave to Ba­ that Mr. Bain wculd leave them the thurst. The citizens and the Centen­ secret of his influence. ary Committee owed a deep debt f Mr. H. C. Suttor spoke in terms of gratitude t« Mr. Bain for his work, warm praise Mr. Bain’s work in not onlv in connection with the Cen­ B a t h u r s t . tenary, but also with the Jubilee cele­ Mr. D. F. W. Veness sv.d that only brations. He sincerely regretted his those behind the scenes knew what de­ departure from Bathurst. volved upon an organising secretary. Mr. E. Williams, in seconding the Mr. Veness said he regretted Mr. motion, said that a great deal -f Bain’s departure, but at the same thankfulness was due to Mr. Bain. time he though that if a man got There was hardly a person in Bath­ a position such as Mr. Bain had se urst who would have carried the A’ork cured, he was onl. a ‘ mutton head” if out with so little friction. Everything V"- did not go along, and accept it. worked so smoothly, and this fact was (Laughter.) Bathurst should be due to the organiser. proud to know that one of the capitals Mr. C. Jennings supported the n.o- of the States had come to Bathurst to tion. He eulogised Mr. Bain for his get a man to cairv on one of its prin splendid enthusiasm. The move­ cipal institutions.

ment might have been a disastrous Alderman H. C. Beavis and M t . F . failure, and it was a serious responsi­ T. Ellis also added words of praise for bility for one rr?r. to bring it to such M r . B a in . a success. Mr. Bain had shown un­ Mr. Bain. ;n the course, of . **■ doubted courage. H iii* aj« a'qqntf |»««** •*» P*1 - —-— »« «p -m Alderman W. J M'Phillamy ;i’d [03 OI paitM»Ap» that Mr. Bain was the only man vho •q o i s o wm.01 *np »J*u *n» could have made such a success of the -aouwl in* ‘Mnra Xq nofwoq ‘T O 'ffa celebrations. “After they were <^3n«p«xics:anrx n ,-IK JO ‘uoPaoT over,” added Alderman M ‘Phillamy, “ I * ro T a ‘vJnop*xi«g y ■[ j h m w j « i decided that Mr. Bain was the only pebble on the beach.” • u « p ( ) d o Mr. Frank Walker, president of the Australian Historical Association, con­ ps89X-tt>¥A gratulated Mr. Bain and the commit­ tee upon the great success of the cele­ a ■ a h ■ ar i bu b _ -S L