This and That
Art, History, Crafts, Earth Sciences, Gardening,
Writing, Australian flora and fauna,
severe weather, Australiana, myths and legends
Art World
Lorn
Gallery
Best of The Best
exhibition of local artists.
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Now
Showing:
The artists have all contributed new work to the exhibition, so
there’s plenty to see and enjoy. Please drop by when you get a chance, as a
sign of encouragement and support to everyone involved. Bring your friends and
relatives along with you.
(New work will be shown in September Blog)
Parking available down behind the shops, turn right at The Avenue,
then left to the parking area down behind the shops.
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November Exhiibtion at Lorn Gallery
A PLACE TO CALL HOME
It’s
definitely not too soon to start your work on “A Place To Call Home”. We want
heaps of entries this year to rival or better previous efforts, so get
cracking. This community access exhibition is always a fantastic event with
which to end the year and your involvement and enthusiasm are paramount to
its success. Entry forms are available at the Gallery, and work is due in no
later than November 6th. My entry is formulating steadily in my head, and
Bill’s is still in its embryonic stage, where it could well stay! I’m really
looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with – the mind boggles!!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your queries or ideas regarding the
theme if you are in any doubt!
Lorn Gallery
17 Belmore Rd. Lorn NSW 2320
Ph: 02 4933 2533 Fax: 02 4995 9281
email: dowling@bravo.net.au
Director: Kathy Dowling
Gallery Hours Thursday to Sunday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
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Contact:
Kay
(02) 4934 1323
Christine (02) 4934 2573
Maitland Regions Society of Artists Inc.: http://www.maitlandartists.com/
If you live in the area and have an interest in art, the Social
Art Mornings held each Monday (excepting Public Holidays) at the Rutherford
Community Centre, are worth a visit. In
the short time I have been attending, I have found it to be a very friendly,
helpful group.
2011 August Exhibition
Congratulations to everyone who
entered our annual exhibition. The level
of talent increases each year, the enthusiasm of members for their craft show
no sign of waning. Congraulations to our
artists who won prizes in each section.
Well earned!
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The satisfied smile on the face of the
‘Old Fisherman’ says it all – a wonderful display and a job well done. Just a note here, I didn’t show all the prize
winning pieces, instead, an overall impression of what our members have to
offer is displayed. Paintings have
been displayed for uniformity and to cut down the amount of unavoidable
reflection on the glass.
Useful Art Websites
Carol
Adams developed these sites, I am already familiar with her art site and have
discovered she also has a free music site as well, could be useful for others
in the household.
What’s on in Maitland
Maitland
Region Art Gallery is an excellent facility to visit and gain
inspiration and maybe meet some of the artists whose work is being
exhibited. Art classes are also
available for adults. Don’t forget the excellent childrens’ programmes
available at the gallery.
Where to access local
Events
Maitland Visitor
Information Centre
Maitland Mercury (Local
Notices link)
Hunter Imag
Maitland Library
My Virtual Gallery
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These are all watercolour and watercolour pencil.
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Crepescule was originally a photo
which was printed on A4 pastel paper then overworked with pastel pencil,
blanking out unwanted leaves and stems, leaving only the rose and desired
features. The whole surface has been
worked with pastel pencil, even the water drop.
If found instructions and was curious to try this interesting exercise
,I think this might be classed as gicle (pronounced gic-lay).
In The Garden
Towards the end of August some plants mad a tentative reach for
spring, others a patently waiting for the real advent of spring. A miniature nectarine is reluctantly opening
a minimum of flowers and the Canadian walnut is refusing to budge – when leaf
buds begin to swell on it, spring is definitely here, it seems to be able to
distinguish the end of the winter’s cold spells and has been known to skulk
until October.
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Talking about the Canadian walnut, it’s amazing how many bird
species perch on its branches during the day, recently I noted magpies,
peewits, our resident blackbird practises his intricate song morning and night,
yellow-faced honeyeaters, fig birds, currawong, raven, grey butcherbird,
sparrowhawk, black-faced cuckoo-shrike, rainbow lorikeets, king parrots, silvereyes
on their way to flowering macadamia nut trees underneath ,blue-faced
honeyeater, red wattlebird, sparrows , a
pair of starlings, speckled doves and one or two Indian Mynahs if the red
wattlebirds are not around. I’d call
this a significant tree. The little
flock of superb wrens tends to flit around on a lower level and use the
Japanese persimmon from which to announce their superiority to the world.
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Our resident blackbird must be a very young male, maybe the
parents left him to it, knowing there is always plenty to eat (it was he who
dug those marvellously deep holes in the garden searching for grubs last
season) and found somewhere else for themselves. He has been quite amusing as he learns to
sing his song, the first effort were four very shaky notes which were not
melodic to say the least. Over the last
three weeks it has developed into a concerto of trills and runs interspersed
with Indian mynah, rainbow lorikeet and shrieking child imitations. It will be worth recording. By the way, have you ever heard Indian mynahs
trying to copy the blackbird’s “tic tic” sound?
It comes out as a” spit spit” sound, obviously they don’t have capabilities
of a blackbird. Cheeky little house
skinks are using any available sunbaking spot and take their time moving from
underfoot, they barely move when the rottie ambles up the ramp. They are amusing little creatures to have
around, useful too, have you ever seen one open its jaws wide and breathe in a
fly? Very deft.
Spring is creeping into the garden, macadamia nut trees are
flowering heavily, not a lot of rain which promises a good crop. Bulbs are making a display and the banksiae
rose opened a few flowers just to let you know its main display is due in
September.
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I thought you might like to look at an unusual and primitive
plant, the Ruscus.
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For some unknown reason the usual self- sown crop of nasturtiums
have grown twice their usual height and the leaves are enormous. Cabbage
butterflies prefer to deposit their eggs on nasturtiums rather than brassicas
(cabbage family). Honeybees need to negotiate through the leaves
to reach the flowers, they don’t seem to mind though. They are also enjoying the Honeygem grevillia
as are honeyeater types.
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Side by side – the old world and the new, May and NSW Christmas Bush.
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Community
Interests
Australian
Museum of Clothing and Textiles
Australian Museum of Clothing and Textiles Presents………
Simply Elegant
Visit the museum and view fashions that gave people a feeling of
luxury and elegance. Fine fashion, from
a special hat to classic shoes, tastefully co-ordinated for every outfit.
Simply elegant from top to toe.
Open
Thursday,
Friday, Saturday 10am – 3pm
Other times by appointment – Bus and School groups
welcome ring
Stephanie on 0403 652 550
Admission $3 Seniors $2.50
Location: The
Australian Museum of Clothing and Textiles,
Lt. Governor’s Residence, John Street,
East Maitland.
Maitland Gaol Precinct
For further information contact:
Nell – 49301135 or Letitia 49986416
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A quick peek at ‘Simply
Elegant”
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Maitland and District Genealogical Society Inc.
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Family History Fair
To be held on 9 October at the Maitland City Bowling Club,
Rutherford
Contact Details:
Maitland & District Genealogical Society Inc.
At the Maitland Heritage Centre, Mounted Police Barracks,17 Lindesay
Street, East Maitland 2320
Postal: PO Box 247, Maitland. 2320
Phone: (02) 4937 5301 (AH)
This is an excellent opportunity to find out more about your family
history and how to research it as societies from other areas and related
organisations will be present.
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Royal Australian Historical Society Conference
To be held in Maitland, 28, 29, 30 October 2011
Hosted by Maitland Historical Society Inc.
Contact Details:
Maitland Historical Society Inc.
Address: 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland
Phone: 0438 623 299
Postal: PO Box 333, Maitland. NSW 2320
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An Inspector Calls by J B
Priestley
A classic psychological thriller
Directed by Frank Oakes - September 14 to October 1
It's a comfortable night in springtime and the
prosperous Birling family are celebrating the engagement of their daughter
with her fiancee. It's all going very well and the whole family are wallowing
in their self pride.
There's a knock at the door and an inspector
calls. As the inspector starts to break down the party, we start to
understand more of the story. The inspector tells the group that there has
recently been a suicide by a girl.
The story unfolds as he explains to the group the
impact of their interactions with the girl.
Tickets are $20 (full) and $15 (concession).
Call Maitland Visitors Centre to book on 02 4931 2800. |
U3A
I would like to introduce this website to senior
readers, there are many interesting short courses available either self paced
or interactive.
U3A – University of The Third Age Online
Each course I have studied has been well presented, help is
available if needed and I have always gained interesting insights into my areas
of interest.
From
My Timeline
1788
Great Britain
1788: (Annual):
1. Probably the DRIEST year in the EWP series with 614mm of RAIN. (The Hadley series has this as 612mm). [ Other dry years: 1921 & 1887 q.v.] Includes the DRIEST December in the EWP series. www.booty.demon.co.uk/metinfo/wxevents.htm
1. Probably the DRIEST year in the EWP series with 614mm of RAIN. (The Hadley series has this as 612mm). [ Other dry years: 1921 & 1887 q.v.] Includes the DRIEST December in the EWP series. www.booty.demon.co.uk/metinfo/wxevents.htm
1806 Australia – Richmond Hill
Earthquake
Earthquakes a shock is felt at Richmond Hill 1806-1807 SG March 16 1806 - August 30 1807 -
Volumes 1V & V
Early
Australian Historical Records Index 1788 - 1813
* Denotes either HRA
= Historical Records of Australia or
SG = Sydney Gazette
Collated by
Lesley Uebel
1857 Australia – NSW Maitland
Flood
The Sydney
Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Thursday 27 August 1857, page 3
National
Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12999835
MAITLAND
FLOODS.
NEWCASTLE,
Monday Evening, 6 o'clock.-A brother of Mr. William Wright (who had worked his
way down along the line on a railway " trolley," with the utmost
difficulty and danger, and for miles of the way up to his waist in water,)
brought, this evening, the first intelligence we had from Maitland for
forty-eight hours, and with it the welcome information that the flood had begun
to subside, having fallen about a foot when Mr. Wright left at half-past 6 this
morning ; its greatest height having been 3 feet 11 inches above that of either
of the previous two floods. In about an hour after the arrival of Mr. Wright,
the Customs' boat arrived here from East Maitland, having left there at
half-post 10 o'clock a.m. this morning, and having sailed or pulled down the
whole distance, by way of Morpeth, bringing the mail bags. The men described
the flood as having subsided a few inches when they left, and there can be no
doubt therefore that the waters are falling-both their account and that of Mr.
Wright agreeing on this important point, although, strange to say, the opposite
is the fact at Hexham, about halfway between here and Maitland, where the flood
had risen four feet between yesterday morning and this afternoon. No loss of
life is known to have occurred at Maitland; a part of the Victoria Bridge had been
carried away, but the extent of the damage cannot as yet be ascertained. The
extent of the flood will, perhaps, be better understood by stating that the
Customs boat had sailed up High-street, West Maitland, as far as Doctor Scott's
house.
Mr. Bell,
the engineer of the railway, who, anxious about the state of the line, went
upon the engine yesterday morning with the train, informs me that the accident
mentioned in my last communication occurred in consequence of the earth which
supported the sleepers having been washed away, and that the rails having
therefore become bent by the passage of the engine over them, the two
second-class carriages which followed were thrown off the line and broke the
couplings, becoming thus disconnected
with the engine. It appears that the road where the accident occurred was at
the time, uncovered by the flood, and appeared firm to the eye. About eight
miles of the line are now submerged, and the road where the current acted on it
is much damaged, the water cutting a passage through in several places-so much
so that it will take two or three weeks to repair. The line was formed so as to
give the surface an elevation of two feet over the highest known flood, but in
places where depths were taken to-day, the water averages two feet two inches
in height over the rails.
Numbers of
cattle, horses, &c, have been saved towards Hexham, by Mr. Bell having
to-day humanely ordered the gates of the line to be opened, which, from its
elevation above the surrounding land, afforded a sort of refuge for the cattle,
and to which ; they flocked afterwards to the number of a hundred or so. Great
numbers of horned cattle, pigs, &o, are, however, drowned, or have perished
from cold and exhaustion, and it is to be feared that many small settlers in
that neighbourhood will be ruined.
On the
bridge which crosses Iron Bark Creek, a number of snakes, wild cats,
bandicoots, and other wild animals, had this morning taken refuge - the fall of
the water under the bridge giving the latter a higher level above the water the
land adjoining. Mr. Hannell’s and the neighbouring inn, at Hexham, are full of'
people in the upper stories, who have taken refuge there, and Constable
Legerwood has just sent a message down to request that a steamer be sent up the
river to take them off but there is none here for such a purpose, and it is to
be hoped that a rapid fall in the waters will now render it unnecessary.
NEWCASTLE,
Wednesday Morning, 11 o'cíock.-- I have now little to communicate from here;
the waters are subsiding, but it is said rather slowly. The fall at Hexham
yesterday is said to have been one foot. An opinion, worthy of notice, is
entertained here by some old colonists that the damming up of some of the
channels of the Hunter, some distance the river - a part of the works which
have been recently carried on for deepening -the Hunter-has caused the severe
flood which has just visited Hexham, -these dams having impeded the discharge
of the, water and sent it back on the latter place. This opinion may be incorrect,
but it is very generally entertained here, and the examination of the channels
up the river yesterday by Mr. 'Bell (another part of the current statement now
passing round here) seems to give countenance to it.
1861 Australia - Maitland
Chilly
The Weather – Since our last notice of the Maitland
Weather, but little alteration has taken place.
We have had one or two showers each day, a little warm sunshine, and a
tolerable quantity of clouds, but no flood as yet has taken place. The atmosphere, on the whole, has been
chilly. Maitland Ensign 21 August 1861
1861 Australia – NSW Maitland
Flood
The Sydney
Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Wednesday 14 August 1861, page 5
National
Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13065047
THE.FLOODS
.
Abriged
from Yesterday’s Maitland. Mercury)
The fears
entertained prior to the publication of our last issue, that this flood would
attain a greater height and be more disastrous than even those of 1857, have
not been verified. The waters of the Hunter, after reaching a level about four
inches above that of the last flood, have greatly receded, though they
ominously remained stationary for an unusually long time.
The rise
finally ceased about midnight on Thursday, and by about midday, on Friday, a
fall of four inches was observable. This, however, was little increased during
the day, and after sundown there appeared to be a trifling rise again, caused probably
by the pressure of the waters from Singleton, where the river had been rising
up to seven o'clock on Thursday morning. On Saturday morning, there appeared,
however, to be but little change in the level, though there was an evident
commencement of a fall, and the recession of the waters continued this time
with more rapidity, for by noon the overflow near Messrs. Hall and Co.'s was
greatly reduced ; and by three o'clock it had wholly ceased. From that time
until now (Monday evening) the fall has been steady
and uniform ; and the river now stands eleven or twelve feet below the utmost
height it attained.
The back
water continued to rise long after the river had begun to fall ; and signs of
its increase was perceptible as late as Sunday morning. Whether this was caused
wholly by the long-continued direct overflow of the
river water that forced its way up Wallis Creek by the effects of the rain on
the heads of the creek and its tributaries, or by a combination of these
causes-it is certain that an enormous accumulation of water in the low lands to
the south of the town was the result. It stretched along both sides of the
railway, shutting off communication with St. Paul's church, on Sunday, and
widening as it proceeded westward, encroaching upon the racecourse on the one
side, and on the other creeping for a considerable distance up Bourke and Elgin
streets.
The West
Maitland Railway station was accessible only by making a wide detour, and
reaching the line by way of the ridge on Mr. Skinner's land. The water rose
some distance up the railway embankment, and whilst
nearly entering the goods station, compelled Mr. McKenzie, the station master,
to leave his house, which is
built upon a somewhat lower level. Beyond the station the railway appeared like
a mere causeway running
across an extensive lake ; and it has been necessary to send men in front of
the trains to test the
condition of the embankments. The back water extended this time beneath the
Northumberland Bridge, invading the kitchens and lower offices of the hotel ;
flooded out the inhabitants of John street, where it rose to the eaves of some
of the houses, and into portions of Durham-street ; and ran towards the river
again beneath the Long Bridge, rising several feet in the cottages built in the
lower road and covering a portion of Dr. Wigan's yard, whilst on the other side
of the bridge it approached closely to Mr. Nott's (late Pearce's) mill. On
Sunday morning- the back water began to recede ; and it has now fallen
perceptibly. - Its unusual rise was the cause of a greater amount of
inconvenience and loss, as well as-of alarm in the town, than attended the last
flood.
The sheet
of water seen from the Long Bridge stretched continuously to Dagworth, where,
as we learn, the loss sustained by the settlers will be most serious. Even
amongst those whose land is favourably situated, the proportion of it that
escaped inundation is comparatively slight, and not only is the labour of the
past thrown away, but nothing can be done in the way of farming operations for
a long time to come. Proceeding from Dagworth to Louth Park the some
observations apply ; but, perhaps, the settlers there are even in a worse
plight. None of the crops here, we are informed, can be saved, and a
considerable extent of land had been sown with wheat, or prepared for that
crop. A few of the people of that locality took refuge in that two-storied
house-the homestead; but their communication with town was cut off yesterday
(Monday) when the boats returned to Newcastle. There being some other boats in
Maitland, however, they would, doubtless, soon be relieved.
The water
is slowly receding from Louth Park, and also from the neighbouring lands of-
Lochend, or the Creek is now running out into the river, and its level is
steadily falling. We learn that the flood was very extensive-at Bolwarra; and
numbers of the settlers had, with their families, to seek refuge on the higher
portions of the estate.
The
extensive sheet of water that connected East Maitland with Morpeth on Friday
last has surprisingly diminished; and appears to be still draining away with
great rapidity. This remark applies to Narrowgut and its neighbourhood, and
also to Pheonix Park, the latter place appearing much as it did before the
flood. A considerable quantity of water still remains, however, in the hollows,
especially on Mr. Vivers' farm. In Narrowgut, one settler who had lost a crop
of lucerne in May, had since sown wheat, and will suffer the loss of this
also. Others again have lost as much as
200 and 390 bushels of corn. A settler, on Phoenix Park, who lost a crop
of lucerne cut and cooked just before the July flood, has now suffered a second
loss and is probably but one of many in
a similar unfortunate condition.
At Morpeth,
where the water is receding fast, the river rose to about two feet above the
level of the last flood by about two o'clock on Friday morning. This was about
two inches over the second flood of 1867. The goods in the H. R. N. S. N.
Company's store (to the back of which the water penetrated, reaching almost to
the telegraph office) were, by working all night, moved out of the reach of
danger, and so escaped injury. The same precaution was adopted in most or all
of the other stores, in some of which there were considerable quantities of
goods when the rise commenced. Mr. Jaques, who has suffered from flood four
times this winter, has not lost much from his wharf, but has incurred rather
heavy damage through the entrance of the water into his store to a height of
about five feet; his wharf, moreover, has in one place been injured, the
planking, though
fastened down by five-inch spikes, having been torn off and carried away. In
consequence of this
damage, of the delay to business, and of the cost of putting things in order
again, Mr. Jaques will lose probably
upwards of £250. Mr. Heugh, who was fortunate in removing his soap-boiling
materials, &c, from flood-reach before the rise, has also suffered loss
through the stoppage of business. The interruption to steam communication
between Sydney and Newcastle, caused by the flood, will now be rectified, and
the steamers will be able to resume their regular places on the line. Swan
Reach, and the lowlands in that neighbourhood and at the back of Morpeth, were
greatly flooded. At Hinton the flood was
very high this time, the Paterson- having overflowed its banks and inundated a
large, extent of land. The water entered Mr. Lawn's
mill, and even approached Mr. O'Brien's hotel. The rich flat near Air. John
Christian's was covered.
The
residents of the lower portions of the town and neighbourhood were all
compelled to leave their houses. Many took refuge in the National Schoolhouse;
but were as early as Sunday beginning to return to their houses, so quickly was
the flood receding.
At Raymond
Terrace the river rose rapidly on Wednesday, and attained its greatest height
by about two o'clock on Friday morning, when it stood three feet below the
level of the flood of August, 1857, or one foot higher than in July 1857. The
Williams River was very high, overflowing at its junction with, the Hunter, at
Nelson's- Plains. Many of the residents in the low lands had to leave their
houses, but not much damage was done in the town, the people being generally
prepared. Some of the settlers up the Williams, however, have had corn damaged.
On the other side of the river, at Miller's Forest, though, some of the
settlers had to remove, the loss sustained would appear to have been
comparatively slight.
From all
the flooded localities the water is receding; but most rapidly where the inundation
was direct from the river, and the banks are not higher than the adjacent land,
and. in such localities, but in such only, it is hoped that the crops may not
be wholly destroyed. In consequence of
the greater extent of the backwater this time, there were more removals in town
than in July; and Mr. Fullford's rooms
at the Royal Hotel were again liberally placed at their disposal, whilst many
took refuge at the hospital, where preparations were made
for the reception, of a greater number.
Writing on
the 8th instant, our Dungog correspondent says:-On Sunday morning last it
commenced to rain, but nothing more than a Scotch mist during the day. Monday
was a dull, dark day, and it looked for wet. On Tuesday it set in with good
earnest rained all day, and continued all night. Yesterday morning it commenced
to pour down in good earnest and continued till this morning about daylight,
when the whole of our cultivation flats were one immense sheet of water,
bearing all down before it, carrying the soil and young wheat crop away. No
flood yet has done the damage equal to this one, the cultivation of land being
all newly ploughed and sown with wheat. Our
neighbourhood being a most heartbreaking appearance this day.
Farmers had not got over the calamity of last
April flood ; most of their maize gone now in many (and most all) places, the
young wheat destroyed, and all fences curried away. The waters are falling, but
slowly. This day much rain fell, but towards evening the sun shone out with
indications of a clear up. We thought ourselves most fortunate to escape last
week's flood, but this day settled all. I have not heard of any loss of life ;
in fact, the flood of 1857 cautioned all parties against living on low lands.
All communications are stayed, although our worthy mail contractor managed to
have our Maitland letters in due time. No Sydney mail. Farmers are down,
consequently a great depression must follow.
Our
Wollombi correspondent writes:-I am sorry to report that we have been visited
by another disastrous flood, more destructive than the one experienced a
fortnight since, as the water has risen several feet higher, and covered more
land. The height of this flood is, on the Wollombi Brook, within two feet of
that of May last; and a great quantity of grain, almost sown but yesterday, is
now under water. The damage to fencing is very great; and, as to the roads, it
is impossible to say when these will be at all passable, washed, as they have
been, by now three successive floods within the same number of months.
It is a
most severe and trying time for the residents of this district, and the badness
of the limes but adds to their discomfiture. Our bridges are covered with
water, and we cannot have any communication with the town of Wollombi. Large
quantities of fencing and other wood have been swept away by the current; and
the labour that has been disposed upon the land within the district seems now
destroyed by the quantity of water that will remain upon it when the brook
recedes.
Friday morning, 6 a.m.-The water began to fall
some eight miles from the township and the tributaries all overflowing the
land. 12 m.-The
wind S.W., with a prospect of the weather clearing up.
Saturday,
12 m.-It is with pleasure I report that the water has fallen here eight feet,
since yesterday morning, but it will be a week the horsemen can ford the brook
at least. We have yet to receive the sad news of other damage near to and in
the town of Wollombi. Large rafts
of timber are to be seen now lodged where the water has risen; and, as the
water recedes, it is seen that fencing has been washed away in many parts.
Weather
fine, though heavy clouds still lying about, indicative of further rain. A
messenger with this starts to-day, but whether he will succeed in getting over
the township bridge is doubtful for to-day. As a matter of course, we have not
received any papers lately, owing to so much rain. Cattle and horses are
looking very poor within my circuit.
1864 Australia – NSW Manning
Flood
The Sydney
Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Wednesday 24 August 1864, page 5
National
Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13101843
THE FLOODS
(From
Yesterday’s Maitland Mercury.),
Tinonee,
Manning River Our correspondent says:
In my last
I told you it was raining, and looked as if we were about to have a change. I
little thought at that time what a gloomy account I should have to give you in
to short a time as the following, viz.: It rained constant all Saturday night
and all Sunday, Sunday night, and Monday. On Tuesday the river began to rise
very rapidly, still raining; Tuesday night still raining; and on Wednesday
morning the river had risen twenty feet, and still rising. Our punt broke away,
and went three miles down the river, and there it now lies high on the land.
This day much of the surrounding lands were under water: farms that a few hours
ago were looking beautiful with green barley, and spots of wheat springing up,
became submerged, and from my shop door it appeared one large sheet of water.
Immense quantities of large timber come down the river; this occurring, after
the repeated freshes we have had lately, gave us reason to know that the waters
had risen very high up the river. One large straddle, containing a quantity of
pumpkins, some fowls, and a cat, went down the river; and although I have not
heard of any loss of life, still feel sure many inmates of the different farm
houses on the banks of the river must have been in great danger. Many of the
surrounding houses in the lower parts of the township were under water, and it
was eight feet deep in Mr. Poole's mill. Many of the settlers on the Taree
Estate and Munderbrook have suffered severely; some had to leave their houses
and seek shelter elsewhere. It was up to the roof of the punt-house. It
continued rising up to Thursday afternoon, about four o'clock, and still
raining ; on Friday morning it was receding fast-but still looking very dull
and threatening ; on Saturday morning, falling fast, This has been a very fine
day ; the sun shone out beautifully-the first time for nine days.
(Part of an
extensive article)
1879 Australia – Victoria
Hail
Storm
The Sydney
Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Wednesday 24 August 1870, page 5
National
Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13213924
A SEVERE
STORM IN VICTORIA.
The storm
which swept over a great part of the continent on Wednesday afternoon was one
of almost unprecedented violence, and attended with disastrous effects, and
oven loss of life Out of many we (Daily Telegraph) collect the following
particulars -
At about 3
o'clock in tho afternoon (says the Star) Ballarat was again visited by a severe
hail, rain, and thunder storm, from the north-west, lasting for an hour, and
attended with some exceptional circumstances Mr. Bryce,
Bridge-street, handed to us the top blanches of some peppermint trees and dead
pieces of fern and bark, which had
fallen near his premises during the height of the storm, leading to the
conclusion that they had respectively been cut of and caught up during a
whirlwind. Mr John C Shepherd,
collector, Victoria-street toll-gate, Melbourne Road, states -"At 3 o
clock on Wednesday afternoon l was standing in the porch of the
"Victoria-street toll-gate, Melbourne Road when the thunderstorm was
passing over Ballarat. There came one
vivid flash of lightning, and the electric fluid struck directly opposite to
the gate, about 100 yards on, close to the railway line, amongst some young
saplings, and cut them off just as quick as the lightning itself, and took them
up into the air like a whirlwind. Many
pieces descended close to the door of the toll-house " Men standing in the
a yard of the gas works, and in the rear of the premises of Mr. J K Baird,
observed that the air was quite darkened for a time by the quantity of matter
carried over the town at a considerable elevation, and they became aware of its
nature by showers of twigs and bark falling upon them and about them. The rain cloud that seemed most potential
during the storm overspread the town like a pall, and caused a gloom which for the
time rendered it quite impossible to transact any business in shops and
offices. The lightning was very vivid, and
the thunder loud, and following almost without interval of time. The rain for a considerable period was heavy
and continuous. With reference to the
whirlwind, we are informed by Dr Whitcombe that he, being at the time near the
corporation cattle-yards, Ballarat West, noticed the cloud of vegetable debris
is coming from tho north-west, and apparently extending far beyond the reach of
vision or even the horizon, giving rise to the impression that some tremendous
atmospheric phenomenon must have occurred in a comparatively remote region of
the continent to cause so remarkable a visitation.
Bendigo
One of the
severest storms (relates the Advertiser) that have visited this district for
some years occurred on Wednesday. The
previous evening gave numerous evidences
of something unusual approaching. It was remarked that the domestic animals
were uneasy, and many people complained of being unable to sleep during the
night. Towards morning the rain began to fall, and up to half-past 10 o'clock
it rained without ceasing. Then there was a slight interval, and again it
began, and those showers kept coming and going from tho north and north-west
until 3 o’ clock in the afternoon Then the wind changed to west and south-west,
and the clouds in huge dark masses rolled quickly across the sky, the rain in
the meantime coming down in drenching showers. The lightning played ominously,
and the crashing sound of the thunder was terrific. At Sandhurst the rain came down m one sheet
of water, and covered the streets in a short time, the roadways soon becoming indistinguishable from the
gutters. The amount that fell may be
guessed from the fact that in the space of about seven minutes 0 76, or over
three-quarters of an inch, fell. The Independent
Office was almost swamped, and the cellars of several other buildings were in
danger, but the fortunate clearing-off of the rain so quickly saved the town
from very great loss.
CASTLEMAINE
The M. A.
MAIL says -" A hailstorm of great violence broke over the town on
Wednesday afternoon In a few minutes the streets were covered with lumps of ice
of different shapes. After the storm had sufficiently abated to allow of anyone
to venture out of doors, it was easy to pick up pieces of ice of the size of
hens' eggs. The market-house windows and
those of private individuals suffered severely, in the Catholic Church eighty
panes of glass were broken, and in the Primitive Methodist Church forty. In other churches and houses many windows were
broken. In fact, in every part of the
town, the destruction of glass was very great, fortunately, the wind was not
high at the time of the shower, or all the windows facing the north and west
would have been wholly demolished. The
almond trees have again been unfortunate. Last year the high winds stripped
them of their blossoms, the storm of Wednesday has done similar mischief. The
storm was accompanied by heavy
thunder and vivid flashes of lightning.
The barometer was lower than for any previous day during twelve months. The phenomena of a hailstorm has not been
witnessed on such a scale by any white man in this part of the colony ".
GEELONG
According
to the Advertiser, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon a heavy thunderstorm broke
over the town from the northwest, the rain and hail came down in torrents, the
thunder rolled, and the lightning flashed. The channels soon began to run over,
and pedestrians were to be seen everywhere rushing to the nearest shelter The
night before had been clear and cold, but the number of meteors which flashed
across the sky, rendered almost invisible by the peculiar state of the
atmosphere, showed that the weather was still far from settled Between 3 and 4
o’clock the barometer in the harbour office fell as low its 29 26, or lower
than it has been known for fourteen years.
DAYLESFORD.
The storm
here was terrific in its destructive
violence. The account in the Mercury is
to the effect that a stiff breeze from
the north was accompanied by very heavy showers and a thick mist. The barometer had fallen very low, and
everything portended some extraordinary commotion in the atmosphere. Suddenly,
about half-past 3 - as nearly as possible the same time as the storm of 1867
broke upon us--the atmosphere became almost dark enough to require artificial
light, a torrent of hail descended, forked lightning darted from ominous clouds
overhead, and above the deafening roar of stones on a hundred roofs was heard
the booming of Heaven's artillery.
Presently, something thick as a cloud of dust rushed up Vincent-street
from the north, and a heavy
cart belonging to a man named Trewen was
overturned like a straw, and the frightened animal left kicking on the
ground. Immediately the balcony of the
Manchester Hotel was wrenched off and, with the brick parapet and part of the
second story , dashed in heap of rubbish into the roadway. Several windows and verandahs were blown in
or torn to pieces, and the house of Mr Wright, a chemist, was actually
destroyed, the roof and sides being blown in.
At this moment sheets of corrugated iron, and zinc, shingles, and even
planks of wood, were flying through the air in all directions, and the only
wonder is that no one was injured, or even killed, by these dangerous missiles.
The Catholic schoolroom, a wooden building 50 feet or 60 feet long, was struck
by the wind or the lightning, and crumbled into a heap of splintered timbers.
Happily, though the schoolmaster and a teacher were inside at the time, they
made their escape unhurt, and there is cause for greater thankfulness in (he
fact that the children had been dismissed before the squall. A more unfortunate
event than even the demolition of this schoolroom was the partial destruction
of that attached to Christ Church, known as Common School No. 190. This was a solid structure, very well adapted
to the purpose, and cost several hundred pounds. The transept that escaped the
gale of 1867, is now a mass of ruins while
the western half of the building, which then fell, is now spared. But we have
yet the worst calamity to relate,
is that is that Christ Church an edifice
which altogether has cost between One thousand and £5000-has been seriously
damaged. When the hailstorm commenced, the contractor (Mr. Clayfield) with the
other men, engaged in finishing the porch at the north-western corner, retired
into it to escape the fury of the storm. The outer door unfortunately not being
up, the wind rushed into the porch with irresistible force, flung them against
the inner door, and then on to the church floor. Immediately afterwards they
were astonished to see the eastern
portion of the roof burst out from the inside, and then sink down again with a
tremendous report. At the same time the load ridging, but lately laid in
cement, was tom up from end to end. We may add that an immense tree in front of
Christ Church, 5 foot or 6 foot thick, was blown down at the same time, but
happily fell in the opposite direction to the pressure of the wind, or the
front of the edifice would have been completely crushed. There is scarcely a
house in the borough that has not suffered to some extent by the great
hailstorm of 1870, and we trust it will be many years before we shall be
exposed to another one like it. Had not the children in the two demolished,
common schools been dismissed about half an hour before the disaster, the town
would have been plunged into mourning.
1883
Indonesia
Krakatau
The
eruption at Krakatau on 26 and 27 August 1883 unleashed a series of devastating
tsunami which claimed most of the 36,000 lives lost during the eruption. The
tsunami, which resulted from pyroclastic flows discharging into the sea,
inundated the low-lying coasts of the Sunda Straits with reported run-up as
high as 36 metres above sea level and flooding as far as 10 kilometres inland.
The waves were sufficient to raise large ships 10 metres above sea level and
carry them up to three kilometres inland. Reported deaths from the tsunami
occurred up to 800 kilometres from the site of the eruption. Pyroclastic flows
from the eruption travelled 80 kilometres over the sea surface, resulting in
about 2,000 people along the south east coast of Sumatra dying from burns.
1912 New Zealand
Snow
The Mercury
(Hobart, Tas.: 1860-1954), Tuesday 13 August 1912, page 5
National
Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10241059
SEVERE
WEATHER IN NEW ZEALAND.
WELLINGTON,
August 12.
A heavy
southerly gale has been experienced over most parts of the Dominion during the
last two days, and heavy
frosts, with snow falls, have been recorded in many places.
Weather Report
The Sydney
Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Friday 30 August 1912, page 7
National
Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15332565
CHANGEABLE
WEATHER, FALL IN
TEMPERATURES
SNOW
ON THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
HAIL SQUALL
IN CITY,
Now that
the monsoonal depression has retreated north-eastward to the North Tasman Sea,
the weather over eastern New South Wales has come under the Influence of an
Antarctic disturbance, which since Wednesday has
expanded still further northward further light to moderate rain has been
recorded along the highlands and North
Coast, also at a few scattered places in tho Central-Western districts,
Riverina, and Central and South Coast.
Snow also
has become a feature with the Antarctic disturbance, being a little more
pronounced than hitherto this season on the South and Central tablelands and
south-west slopes. Light snow falls were also reported from the Blue Mountains
and Jenolan Caves At the latter place a heavy fall occurred, lasting 20
minutes.
Emmaville
65 points, Tweed Heads 60 Kiandra 43, Eden 10, Tenterfield 35, Mullumbimby 33,
Tabulam and Casino each 31. Lismore 30, Forbes 20, and Glen Innes and Ballina
each 25.
Yesterday
morning it was fine and clear at places in the Central and North Coast
districts, Central West and Far West, but otherwise it was cloudy to overcast,
with .showers on the S W slopes, Central and southern tablelands Snow was
falling at places on the southern highlands. Temperature was depressed
generally, some of the differences being over 10 degrees the largest was 14
degrees at Lismore, and 13 each at Michelago and Kiandra The lowest
registrations (on the southern tablelands) were Nimitybelle 20 degrees. Kosciusko 22, Kiandra 24, Cooma and Bombala
each 27.
In the
city, the west and south-west winds experienced were of about the most
pronounced character during the present season for, throughout Wednesday and
during Thursday morning they blew with moderate to fresh force, and were quite
squally at times, the greatest velocity reaching to 50 miles per hour at about
noon yesterday from the WSW.
The
temperature, too, became colder, and during the day sank to 43.9 degrees, the
lowest reading since the 1st instant when 42 1 degrees was recorded.
At about
11.30 am a strong hail and rain squall struck the city, but with it only about
2 points of rain were recorded. The hail
was quite thick for a few minutes, and was of a size varying from about rice to
that of peas. Later in the day more hail storms passed over the city.
ALBURY –The
weather was unseasonably cold in the Albury district on VVednesday falls of
snow were reported from
Bethanga, Mullengandra, and other high position in the district.
BATHURST -
-Snow fell fairlv heavily in Bathurst this morning, though preceding showers
would not allow it to
settle.
BLACKHEATH
-Snow has been falling on and off since 8 o'clock this morning indications
point to a
continuance
CLIFTON
-After several days' fine warm weather, a very cold change set in last
night Today the weather has been
bitterly cold-in fact, the coldest day experienced for many jean. A heavy storm
broke over the district about 3pm and heavy showers of rain fell followed by a
heavy snowstorm.
GOULBURN-A
light fall of snow to-day was sufficient to cover the ground for the time
being, but it soon melted.
HARTLEY
VALE -The first snow of the season is falling.
The weather is bitterly cold, and indications
point to a
heavy fall.
LIVERPOOL –
During the progress of Tuesday’s thunderstorm at Moorehank 133 points of rain
here
registered
in nine minutes .
MITTAGONG
-Light to moderate rain has been recorded at Mittagong during the past 43
hours, with
alternating
sleet, snow hail and sunshine about every hour since 9 o clock this
morning. A heavy fall of snow occurred
at about 10 o clock, lasting for an hour, accompanied by bleak , westerly wind
NOWRA -Rain
blowing from the south west this morning brought up small hail preceded by a
slight
fall of
snow. There was a similar fall early in
the afternoon.
OBERON -The
weather is bitterlv cold. Snow has been
falling and the ground is covered to a depth
of two
inches
PORTLAND -
The weather continues very unsettled and today was exceedingly wild. Sleet and
snow been been falling at intervals, though not heavily enough to settle.
SHELLHARBOUR
-Very cold, squally weather from the west prevailed today accompanied by light
showers of rain
during the afternoon. Patches of snow were visible on the Illawarra ranges.
SUTTON
FOREST -The weather Ins been bitterly cold in Moss Vale during the last two
days, and snow has been
falling at intervals all to-dav.
WENTWORTH
FALLS-The first snow of the season fell at 7 30, and continued during the whole
of the
morning
WOLLONGONG-After
several warm days, rain fell here on Thursday. There was also a heavy fall of
hailstones. The day was the coldest
experienced during this winter
All weather pictures were taken during August 2011
Local
History
Hunter River at the Belmore Bridge, Maitland
To further investigate your family and local history:
Maitland & District Genealogical
Society Inc.
At the
Maitland Heritage Centre, Mounted Police Barracks,17 Lindesay Street, East
Maitland 2320
Postal: PO
Box 247, Maitland. 2320
Contact: MDGS01@tpg.com.au
Web: www.mdgs.org.au
Phone: (02)
4937 5301 (AH)
Address: 3
Cathedral Street, Maitland
Website: http://www.maitlandhistorical.org
Phone: 0438
623 299
Postal: PO
Box 333, Maitland. NSW 2320
Health
Medical treatment in the nineteenth century was somewhat different
to that given nowadays. In 1862 a
sapling fell on a little girl and hurt her.
The treatment for the youngster was warm bath, an applied mustard
poultice and castor oil - she did not recover.
In 1858 a child was dieing after apparently drinking rum, the
remedy given here was castor oil and a hot bath to make him bring up the rum. (
I wonder whether it was the rum or the treatment that assisted the demise of
the poor child? ) These excerpts from “Death in the Hunter” compiled by
MFHCInc.
Try this one - a NZ special
Cure for Drunkness (c.1850)
Sulphate of iron, 5 grains
Magnesia, 10 grains
Peppermint water, 11 drachms
Spirits of nutmeg, 1 drachm
Dose: One teaspoon to be taken in a wineglass of water twice a day. Highly
recommended.
Cure for Drunkness (c.1850)
Sulphate of iron, 5 grains
Magnesia, 10 grains
Peppermint water, 11 drachms
Spirits of nutmeg, 1 drachm
Dose: One teaspoon to be taken in a wineglass of water twice a day. Highly
recommended.
New and
Accurate Treatise of Cookery & c.
According to the Politest and Most Improved Taste – Physic
Section (spellings as shown):
Apparent
Death from Drunkeness – raise the head, unlloose the clothes, maintain warmth to the surface and give
mustard emetic as soon as the person can swallow.
Epilepsy
and Vertigo
Take male-peony roots fresh-gathered, four ounces; peacocks
dung of the white uniform sort, not the dark-coloured and chaffy, half a pound,
raisins, twelve ounces; prepare for a bag for two gallons. It is
held, says Dr. Fuller, to be a specific in the above distempers.
Property
Business
Ellalong – From a
Correspondent – Owing to the late floods all communication with Maitland with
drays must cease between Conjewai and Ellalong, unless immediate steps are
taken in the repairs of the roads.
Several respectable settlers have memorialised our member Mr. Eckford;
in order not obtain the money viz. 70
pounds, voted for the repair of this part of the road. This money has lain in the bank for months,
and it is unaccountable to them, why it is should be so long and uselessly kept
from the purpose intended. Great
complaints are made and blame attached to the Road Committee (it is not for me
to say deservedly or not) but it is apparent to all, that for some unknown
reason, this money is locked up, as are also upwards of 2000 bushels of wheat,
besides other grain, in Conjewai alone, which the farmers cannot get away,
owing to the impassable state of the roads.
No doubt the ready attention Mr. Eckford ever affords applicants to him
in such matters, and the active interest he usually evinces in the district,
will result, in immediate steps being undertaken to render a speedy reopening
of the roads for the great traffic from here to Maitland. This is a matter which also affects the
storekeepers in Maitland, as the Conjewai and Ellalong farmers cannot by any
possibility at present obtain their supplies.
Ellalong August 17th 1861.
Maitland Ensign 21 August 1861.
Elliott
Diamond and Tin Mining Company – Inverell, has been floated in
Melbourne with a capital of one hundred thousand pounds. The Morpeth and East Maitland Want, Friday
Evening 21 July 1899.
?Job
Creation – Not only have some public servants a knack of creating work for
themselves, but they also appear to inspire other people to do likewise. The Victorian Postmaster-General receives
many curious communications every day.
The best of those which came to hand last week was an application from a
man who wished to be appointed an “inspector of inland mails” in New South Wales at a large salary. This enterprising individual explained that
he would earn his remuneration by riding on the mail coaches, and by checking
the contractors carrying letters not bearing stamps or by preventing their
“removing the stamps from letters placed in their care”. Senator Drake declined with thanks. The above reminded us of an incident which
occurred locally. A man approached the
“gaffer” of a navying gang and inquired “Can I get a job?” The ‘gaffer’ looked him up and down and
replied slowly “Well I’d don’t know, there’s very little to do.” “That‘ll suit
me grand,” interjected the other; “it
doesn’t take much to keep me busy.” He did not get the job. Maitland Mercury 30 May 1902.
To
Dam-Makers - Wanted, Men with Drays and Tools to Tracy for
Dam-Making. Abundant grass and water. Apply to: Hardie &
Millar, Goangra Station, Lower Namoi. Maitland Mercury, 22
August 1876
Reporter
Wanted - Wanted, a Reporter from the Maitland Mercury. the
appointment will be kept open for a fortnight. Apply to: Tucker,
Gillies, & Thompson, Mercury Office, Maitland, August 15, 1876.
Maitland Mercury, 22 August 1876
To
Shearers and Washers - Shearing will begin at Gurley on about 28th
August; Washing about a week later. Edward A. Hunt, Gen Manager.
. Maitland Mercury, 22 August 1876
Smith’s
Helper, Apply Winter, High-street.
Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876.
Shearing will
Commence at Walhallow on or about the 7th September. Sheep Washers Wanted. J. Christian & Co., August 11, 1876
Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876
Shearing
and Washing will be commencing at Harben Vale on the 1st September
…………(damaged paper)…with Rations. R. R.
White, Harben Vale, Blanford
Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876
Notice –
Shearing (in grease) will Commence atat Belltrees on Monday, 11th
September. J. F. & H. White. Belltrees
Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876
Wanted - an Experienced Clerk, one customed to the
auctioneering business preferred.
Testimonials required. Apply at
once to Sparke, East Maitland. August
21, 1876
Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876
Cultural
Drill Hall – East
Maitland – Opening – On Friday evening last the East Maitland Drill Hall, a
fine commodious structure, was officially opened by Lieutenant Co. Ranclaud in
the presence of a number of officers and members of the local company,
etc. The proceedings were of a very
enthusiastic character. The hall was
gaily decorated with flags, ferns, Japanese lanterns, arms and accoutrements,
etc. Mottoes were also shown to
advantage, including “For Queen and Country”, For Australia, Home and Beauty”,
etc. Lieutenant Col. Ranclaud, accompanied
by the Hon. J. N. Brunker, was received with a guard of honour, and at the
request of Captain Williams opened the hall in a neat and appropriate speech,
in which he congratulated the company and the people of East Maitland upon
having such a magnificent hall.
In a short speech the Hon. J. N. Brunker congratulated Captain
Williams and the People of East Maitland upon the completion of the fine hall,
which would give them an opportunity of meeting as friends and bring about that
degree of friendship and union which was absolutely necessary for the purpose
of ensuring confidence among themselves.
At the conclusion of the speeches a grand social took place, dancing
being kept up till the early hours of morning.
Mr. Leo Dwyer acted as secretary to the movement, and in every way
gave great satisfaction.
Throughout the evening the 4th Regiment Band rendered numerous
selections of choice music. The Morpeth
and East Maitland Want 16 June 1899.
A Lecture - will be
delivered in the Court House, Paterson, on Friday, the 25th inst., by Mr. Thos.
Walker, in aid of St. Anne's Church. Subject: Wit and Humour, with
English, Irish, and Scottish Illustrations. W. Corner, Esq., J.P., will
preside. Admission: One shilling. Doors open at 7.30;
commence at 8. Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876
Music - The
Latest Jazz Songs: Here Comes Cookie,
Chasing Shadows, Believe it Beloved, Bon Jour Mam’selle, Hands Across the
Table, Your’re All I Need, Lady in Red, Winter Wonderland, It’s Easy to
Remember, Mr. & Mrs. Is The Name,
Jump On The Wagon. Musical Instruments and Music. E. Paskins, High Street. Maitland. Maitland Mercury 5 November 1935
People’s Saturday Concerts – These popular entertainments continue
their attractiveness, and the quality of the performance is well
maintained. On Saturday night last, in
spite of the threatening weather, there was a tolerably good attendance and a
varied programme was very satisfactorily rendered. Among the performers were several juveniles,
who acquitted themselves in a very creditable manner, drawing forth the marked
applause of the audience. Maitland
Mercury Tuesday 18 January 1870.
Radio
The Maitland Daily Mercury, Saturday 7 July, 1934
Under the heading "Broadcasting" on (Saturday) July 7
1943, 2NC, Newcastle broadcasting on a wavelength of 241 metres Today:
5.30 p.m. on relay from 2FC, Sydney, Children's session, 6.15: Model
aeroplane session, 6.30: Women's sports, 6.45: Sporting results, 6.50 Talk,
7.30 Relay from 2BL Sydney,sporting talk, 8.00: Ball-for-Ball description of
the second day's play in the third Test 3.45 close.
Maitland Daily Mercury of the 1930's
Tomorrow: 6.00: Relay from 2FC Sydney, Music, 6.5: Talk, 6.20:
Celebrity recital, 7.0:From St. Philip's Presbyterian Church Evening service,
8....30: Relay from 2FC, Sydney, music, 9.40: Interlude, 8.45: Elsa
Corry, soprano, Dagmar Roberts, pianist, 9.30 : Gladys Verona,
soprano, Alfred Cunningham, baritone, The ABC Sydney Radio Choir and String
Quartet, G. Vern Barnett, organist, 10.30: Close
Monday: 8.0 to 8.45 a.m. , Tuesday, relay from 2BL
2HD, Newcastle wave length 370 metres, on Saturday offered 7.55:
Topical chorus, 8.0: A ball-by-ball description of the second day's play in the
Third Test match, with bright studio entertainment during any intervals of
play. 3.30 a.m. Close.
2KO on wave length 212 metres Saturday night offerings
included 6.58: Serial Thriller relayed from 2GB, Sydney, 7.15 Music, 7.30
Sponsored presentation all British artists, 7.45 Sponsored presentation,
songs from the shows, 8.15: "The Laughing Cavalier", relayed from 2GB
Sydney, 8.20 Description of the main boxing events from the Newcastle Stadium
by Stan Heaney, dance music from the studio between fights, 10.0 Music, 11.0
Close.
2FC, Sydney on wavelength 451 metres, 8.0:"Grand Old-Time
Cinderella Dance, 12.0: Close.
2BL, Sydney, wave length 351 metres, Saturday night
offered "A National Programme", 8.00 From
Manchester: Third Test Match. Australia vv England (the third day's
play) Ball for ball description from commencement of play at 8.0 p.m.
(Australian time) until stumps, at approximately 3.45 a.m. Sunday.
It is interesting to note the length of broadcasting time and the
entertainment offered, Test Cricket, then as now, figured prominently.
All stations offered religious enrichment on Sunday. Maitland Daily Mercury of the
1930's
Fitzgerald’s
Cyclorama and Cenematographe Show of the Boer War and South Africa,
opened here on Saturday night last, but owing to some mishap in the
Cinematographe apparatus it was posponed until this evening, when they were
patronised by a very fair house. April
24th. . Clarence Town Notes, MEMN
(Maitland Ensign?), 4 May 1900.
Hunter
River Academy - Mr. D. PATTERSON announces new premises for his academy,
"So delightfully situated on the bank of the Hunter, and not more than
five minutes walk from either Maitland."
Subjects:- GREEK,'LATIN COMP"', and "PROSODY.
" MATHEMATICS, ANCIENT and MODERN HISTORY, BOOK KEEPING. GEOGRAPHY,
ENGLISH HISTORY, ENGLISH COMPN*, ENGLISH GRAMMAR, SCRIPTURE, GOOD
CONDUCT. (I take COMPN. to mean composition or comprehension.)
Morpeth Insights II Compiled by Ron
Anderson (Maitland Mercury and Hunter
River Gazette Maitland Ensign extracts) Maitland Mercury,
Saturday, December 23rd 1843
Provisional
School Teachers – Mr. Kelly at Morpeth, and Mr. Broadfoot, at Hinton, are
preparing a number of young men as provisional school teacher. The Morpeth and East Maitland Want 2 June
1899.
University
Examinations – The following is the result of the late junior University
examination as far as Morpeth and Hinton are concerned: Fanny Lavis, High School West Maitland,
geography C, English C, arithmetic B, geology C, drawing A; Miss Javis won the silver medal for drawing,
besting all competitors throughout the colony, Fred Collier, Boy’s High School,
East Maitland, English B, French C, Latin B, arithmetic C, geometry C,
geology C; John Youll, High School East Maitland,
English A, French B, Latin A, arithmetic A, algebra A, geometry B, geology
A. The Morpeth and East Maitland Want
Friday 28 July 1899.
 |
| Convict Brick, East Maitland |
Maitland Identities
Here is a list of Maitland identities, most probably not complete
though very impressive.
Jacky Jacky ( accompanied explorer Edward Kennedy as a well-
respected Aboriginal guide)
Greenway, Francis (1777 - 1837)
Gillies, William Neil (1868
- 1928)
Griffith, Sir Samuel
George Furber was born on 18 December 1810
Smith, John, 52, General Hewitt, Life, TOL (gave the use of three
cottages to Caroline Chilsholm, the immigrants friend, for accommodation this later became the first
site of Maitland Hospital .
Booth, Kenneth George
Edward Alan Hunt
Cory, Gilbert Ernest
Watson, Andrew Dougald
Butlin, Sydney James Christopher Lyon
Evatt, Clive Raleigh
Goddard, Thomas Herbert
Evatt, Herbert Vere
Waterhouse, Walter Lawry
John Anthony Bell
Nick Enwright
Sir Allen Fairhall
Charles Frederick Maynard
William Samuel Viner
Marks, Percy Joseph (1867 - 1941)
Caroline Chisholm
Dorothea Mackellar
Florence Austral
Farquharson, Marie Langley
Hinder, Eleanor Mary
Ruth Cracknell
Rosina Raisbeck
Lornal Byrne
Miss Eily Fry
Sport
Athletic Club – On Thursday a well attended meeting of
persons interested in the formation of a club to promote all forms of athletic
exercise was held in the Masonic Hall, West Maitland. Mr. F. H. Beckmann was voted to the chair,
and stated the object of the meeting. On
the motion of Mr. Fred, Falkiner, seconded by Mr. Stanislaus, it was resolved
that the club be called “The Maitland Gymnastic Club”. Mr.
Arthur Norrie was appointed Hon. Secretary pro. tem. Messrs. E. P.
Capper, Howe, Stanislaus, Beckmann, and Faulkiner were appointed a committee to
draw up rules and by-laws for the management of the club, and to submit the
same for approval at a general meeting of members. The benefits likely to be derived from a
society of this nature were discussed, and it was urged that gymnastic training
was designed to secure health and strength by the development, by exercise, of
the limbs and muscles for the body and that the bodily powers should be
strengthened as well as the mental faculties – that means of developing the two
should go hand in hand. It was decided
that a general meeting should be held on Tuesday evening. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated
the proceedings. Several gentlemen spoke
hopefully of the future success of the club.
Maitland Mercury 25 June 1881.
Foot Races
and Also Horse Racing - to take place at Owen's Gap, on August
29th. first Race for a Double-Rein Bridle, Also Single-Rein
Bridles, Whips, and Spurs and A Ladies Race, for a Concertina; And also a
Ball. Francis Smith Maitland
Mercury 22 August 1876
Challenge - Having
heard that M. Jones of Wollombi wishes to run me, I am prepared to MAKE a MATCH
to run him 125 yards for 25 pounds or 30 pounds a-side. Match can
be made at any time at Grogan's Metropolitan Hotel, West Maitland. August
21st, 1876, P. Callaghan Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876
Vacy
Cricket Club - A scratch match will be played by the above Club on Saturday,
on the 28th instant. Married V. Single. Wickets to be pitched at
10.00 a.m., sharp. A. J. Melmouth, Honorary Secretary. Aug. 22nd.,
1876. Maitland Mercury 22 August 1876
Races - East Maitland Races – Horse-owners are reminded that
entries for the above races close on Saturday, the 2nd July, and the
weights for the handicap events will be published on July 5th. We note that the Club have made a judicious
selection in the appointment of Mr. W. C. Quinton as handicapper. Maitland Mercury 25 June 1881.
Religious
East
Maitland Sports – The gross receipts of the tea-room at the late East Maitland
Sports amounted 22 pounds 12 shillings and 6 pence, and the expenses 3 pounds
9shillings. The substantial balance is to be divided among the four churches
named for charitable purposes: Roman
Catholic, Church of England, Presbyterian and Wesleyan. The Morpeth and East Maitland Want 16 June
1899.
Farrell,
Miss Millie – Kitchen Tea – Miss Millie Farrell, who is shortly to enter the
bonds of matrimony, was on Tuesday evening tendered a kitchen tea by a number
of friends. The tea was in the nature of
a surprise, planned by a committee of young ladies. On arrival at Mr. Farrell’s residence the
visitors set themselves out for enjoyment.
Games, dancing, cards, and harmony were indulged in the evening was
thoroughly enjoyed by the company of about fifty. During an interval in the proceedings, Mr. W.
Lancaster on behalf of the friends assembled conveyed to Miss Farrell their
best wishes for happiness n her new sphere, and asked acceptance of the many
articles donated by them. Mr. D.
Farrell, on behalf of his daughter returned thanks for the food wishes
expressed and the accompanying presents, and said it was a pleasure to receive
the company in his home. Maitland
Mercury, November 1923
Earth
Sciences
Space Junk Reaching Tipping Point
Subterranean Amazon river not a river
A planet made of diamonds found
Stars fade as universe starts to run out of gas
New Pilbara find fuels debate on earliest life
Perseid Meteor Shower August 2011
Young
World
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Only a few more
weeks before the bluetongue lizards come out of hibernation and wander around
the garden, sunning themselves and foraging for food. Mine have plenty to eat because I don’t place
pellets down to kill snails and slugs.
There is also mulch in which little minibeasts to hide until the bluetongue
finds them.
A Story
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Introducing
Peri and Huff
Interviewer: “Good morning, today on Bush Wisdom, we are
talking to Peri and Huff, they will be telling us a little about themselves and
much more about the bush.” Peri and Huff are ancient. They are also very wise, knowledgeable about
the bush, how to look after the land, all that lives on it or in it. They teach us how to live
carefully so the land is kept healthy so
all living things will survive.”
Interviewer: “Peri, could you tell us something about
yourself, for instance, how did you get your name?”
Peri: “As you know I travel around the country,
observing people, wildlife and landform and how they interact with each
other. This involves a lot of walking;
Peri is short for peripatetic – walking from place to place while you work.”
Interviewer: “Huff, would you like to tell us about
yourself?”
Huff: “I am a magical being, I came to life when
Peri accidentally dropped a Blackbean pod on some opal grease. To move around, I ride on a Coolamon which
moves on a cushion of air. I help Peri
keep things in order, for instance, if a small bird has fallen out of the nest,
Peri puts it in my Coolamon and I fly up and place it back in the nest.”
Interviewer: “Peri and Huff have learned to observe
nature. The bush, animals, insects and
clouds tell what the season will bring, as well as what is to follow. Peri, what observations have you made that
tell you what the coming seasons will be like?”
Peri: “In cooler climates, deciduous trees will not
drop their leaves in autumn during warm spells, they will only show spring
growth after the last cold snap has passed.
In the tropics, some trees lose their leaves before the wet season, the
later they lose their leaves, the later the summer season will be.”
Interviewer: “What else have you observed?”
Peri: “Cattle and other animals change their coats
in spring and autumn, thick fluffy coats for winter, thin cool coats for
summer. Watch carefully, they will begin
changing their coats in February or sometimes even January, if winter is to be
early and cold. Watch again in spring,
they may begin losing their winter coat as early as the end of August if the
coming season is early and hot or may hold back until November in a long, cold
winter. Frosts sometimes begin as early
as February, they can last through until late in November.”
Interviewer: “Do other animals tell us anything about the
weather?”
Peri: “Black swans seem to know how much rain will
fall during autumn and winter, watch to see how high their nest has been built
above water level – that’s how high the water will become over winter. They build high enough that they will not be
sitting in water while brooding their eggs.
Interviewer: “Very clever!”
Peri: “During spring, birds will wait until the
weather is right before they begin to breed.
Grubs and insects don’t increase before it is warm, neither do plants
produce leaves, flowers and fruits needed to feed their young. When you see the birds take on their breeding
colours, you know it is nearly time to nest.”
Interviewer: “Are there any other bird observations you
would like to pass on?”
Peri: Migratory birds rely on good weather, they
arrive early if the season is early and will provide them with enough food to raise
young, water birds arrive in greater numbers after good rain. Common Koels, known as Stormbirds, fly from
Asia each spring, if the season is early, they arrive early.
They leave early, during late January to mid
February when the summer is dry or going to be extremely wet. However, if the season is mild they may stay
until March. Did you know that
Stormbirds tell us of an approaching storm?
You can tell whether an ordinary storm is coming or a wild electrical
storm with hail and high winds.
Did you also know all birds will often desert
an area two or three days before an earthquake?”
Interviewer: “What are other signs of bad weather?”
Peri: “Watch the birds, animal and insects, they
know what is coming. Black Cockatoos are
very noisy before rain. Birds are often
hungrier before rough weather.
If you
feed them you will notice all varieties of parrot arrive two or three days
before and stay until the weather passes.
Before a hail storm, cattle will crowd together, with their backs to the
storm wherever shelter is best.”
Interviewer: We have heard about larger animals, do
insects also indicate change of weather?
Peri: “Leaf curl spiders are interesting. They arrange their leaf to keep cool in hot
weather, often their front legs hang outside to help keep them cool. The leaf is turned to keep wind out in cool
weather, making it easy to see which direction the wind will come from.
Rain is coming when the leaf is turned to make
an umbrella so the spider can remain dry, it also is placed with its back to
the wind and rain. Ants become frantic and climb to high ground;
I think we have all seen thousands of ants climbing up walls outside the house at
some time.”
Interviewer: “Peri, I know you have a keen interest in
keeping the land healthy. What comment
would you like to make about keeping our soils healthy?”
Peri: “Puff and I enjoy helping to keep nature in
balance, we both observe effects and educate others who are interested, to keep
this balance. Soils in Australian are so
different, they have become degraded through overcropping. European and American agricultural methods
were used which relied on deep topsoil, however, our topsoils are thin and soil
has become poor, infertile and often eroded.
Weeds grow in poor soil, often they help
regenerate natural vegetation. Maybe the
old habit of crop rotation and fallow seasons was the best after all.”
Interviewer: “What advice can you give on creating habitat
for our native species?”
Peri: “Whether you live in the town or country, you
are able to help nature survive. It is
important to keep areas of natural bushland for species to survive, more
important are “bridges” of vegetation between areas of bushland. Here is where you become important, find out
what species live in your area, find out what plants they use, how they use
them. Even though your garden may be
very small, or even a few pot plants, one or two plants help add to the
“bridge”. You have become important to
the native species of your area. You
might even attract a few insects – insects are somebody’s lunch in nature!”
Interviewer: How do you plant a garden to attract the most
species?
Peri: If you are lucky enough to have a large
garden, you should be able to attract many different species if you plan
carefully. A natural forest has layers of different
heights, each layer attracts particular species. Next time you visit a national park, have a
close look, there will be the tallest trees, medium height trees and short
trees and shrubs, probably some vines as well.
Look lower still, there will probably be these
three layers of ground cover and possibly some fungi. These are the layers you need in your
garden. Of course there won’t be as many
and you may have to make do with counting a tall tree in your neighbour’s place
and settle for the next size down.
Complete your garden with mulch, it protects
your plants and the skinks will think you put it there just for them to sunbake
on!”
Interviewer: “Do you have a favourite story to tell about
the bush?”
Peri: “There is a beautiful valley where trees were
cleared to make way for farming the flat areas over a hundred and fifty years
ago. An introduced plant called lantana
soon grew around the edges of the remaining forest, it became quite a nuisance. In vain, the farmers tried to remove it.
Thirty years ago, something interesting began
to happen. Where light shone through the
lantana to the ground, seeds of native plants began to germinate, little by
little they grew up through the lantana until they outgrew it. The taller they grew, the higher the lantana
grew to stay in the light.
Finally the trees were so high the lantana
could grow no more and died. The bush
had returned and with it orchids, ferns, vines and fungi. Best of all, native animals began to return.”
Interviewer: “What a wonderful story! Peri and Huff, thank you for coming in to
share your knowledge.”
Word Help
Word meanings given reflect use in the story and occur in
order of use.
Involves – is
connected with, is a part of
Blackbean –
tall evergreen rainforest tree, Australian native, also known as the Moreton
Bay Chestnut
Coolamon –a handmade wooden dish used by Aboriginal women when
gathering bush tucker, carrying water or babies
Observe – pay
close attention to, look carefully at
Deciduous –
plants or shrubs shedding leaves at the end of a growing season
Brooding –
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
Produce – make
something – as in plants produce (or grow) new leaves in spring
Conditions – everything
such as shelter, warmth, rain, food
needed to produce young and feed them
Migratory –
moving from place to place following the seasons
Providing –
giving something that is needed, such as food or shelter
Extremely –
highly, a lot of
Approaching –
coming closer
Indicate -
signal, show
Regenerate –
improve, make new
Vegetation –
all the plant life of a particular area
Copyright JB
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Budding Scientists
Challenge:
What do you know about birds who visit where you live?
Make Your
own Survey
·
Write down a list of birds that you see during
a week, it doesn’t matter whether they are native species or introduced species.
·
What time of day does it visit?
·
Write down what you see each species eating
·
Does the bird like to be in very high trees,
small trees, bushes or grasses?
·
If you can, draw a picture of your favourite
bird
To help you identify your birds and learn more about them, visit
the website Birds in Back Yards:
Try this quiz from the Scribbly Gum site:
Great Garbage Quiz
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Australiana
Federation – Under Federation the farmer will have as
his market the whole of the States. A
vast difference between one and six.
That while we will pay a little more taxation under federation
than now, it will not amount to as much as we paid under the Dibbs regime. Then we had only one market; but under federation we shall have six. Are not the extra commercial advantages worth
the small cost?
Under federation, instead of sending the money out of the colonies
to provide employment for foreigners, we will keep it to provide work for our
own people; many of whom today cannot
obtain it, and consequently cannot buy the cheapest commodities.
If you continually take money out of your purse and do not put any
in its place you know the result. Just
so in regard to our present tariff. As
we are at present, we are emptying our purse to assist foreigners and are not
putting any money in. Under federation a
different state of things will exist.
The Morpeth and East Maitland Want 2 June 1899.
Federation – Maitland will record a heavy vote in favour
of federation on the 20th, and so it should, for if any part of the
colony is likely to gain by federation it will be the Hunter River
district. Deny it who can. The Morpeth and East Maitland Want 2 June
1899.
Federation – Premier Reid addressed an assemblage of
1500 ladies and gentlemen in the Maitland Town Hall on Tuesday evening last and
met with a magnificent reception. The
Morpeth and East Maitland Want 2 June 1899.
(This made thoughtful reading)
An Australian Story
The 1950’s and early 1960’s heralded great change, not
only was WWII finished, the whole world seemed relieved to be experiencing some
level of normalcy after two world wars and a depression interspersed with El
Ninos and La Ninas adding complications to life on the land.
Do you remember the big old valve
wirelesses on which you could tune into other countries by shortwave, listen on
National Radio or your local station to Smokey Dawson, The Argonauts' Club, The
Village Glee Club, Blue Hills, Bluebottle, The Goon Show? How about the police spot just before the Friday evening
news which was heralded by the sounds of an horrific sound of a vehicle crashing followed by the words in sonorous
sepulchral tones "It's better to be late - than dead on time!"? Great attention was given to the evening news
and woebetide any child who talked during its duration. That sin was on a par with talking in church.
For that matter, you thought twice
about saying “no” to your parents or disobeying their direction.
You certainly didn't misbehave at
school because whatever punishment was meted out there, would be waiting for
you at home when your parents found out - consequently, you decided that
discretion was the better part of valour and behaved yourself.
Remember when Fanta, the orange
flavoured fizzy drink was first sold over the counter? It tasted quite
different to the local cordial and looked distinctive in its unique ridged
bottle. I suppose this actually heralded
the dominance of modern soft drinks and dominance of Coca Cola, as both Fanta
and Coca Cola were produced in the same factory - interestingly, the syrup of both was dark
brown before bottling.
That era was the advent of packet
soups, Chicken Noodle Soup was first advertised (you had begged for weeks for
some to be bought with the week's groceries and when you finally had your wish,
it tasted so awful that you passed it onto the dogs who definitely wouldn't
have anything to do with it either. To
this day I still think of that episode with both horror and amusement. It just couldn’t compete with homemade, farm
grown vegetables and soup bones cooked on the fuel stove.
My Grandparents purchased the new-
fangled invention – television. I
remember watching this new phenomenon for the first time at their place – of
course the programme had to be suitable for young eyes and finish in time to
ensure children had a good night’s sleep – none of this staying up until all
hours! I can’t remember now what I
saw, only remember that I enjoyed it.
Preparations to begin high school
education involved the tradition of being taken to choose the colour of your
first fountain pen and propelling pencil set along with the bottle of ink. This was very exciting and grown up until the
first time you blotted your exercise book or spilled ink on your fingers or
worse still your clothing. Removing ink
from clothing involved soaking the spill in a saucer milk to remove the stain
then washing the garment in the usual way – living on a dairy farm had some
unexpected advantages at times.
There was no such thing as a biro, in
fact at Primary School, you had helped the teacher make a new supply of ink by
adding the powder to water for the inkwells which provided an excellent
opportunity for the boy sitting behind you to dip the end of your plaits in the
ink to relieve his boredom. Children of
today are astounded when you tell them calculators weren’t around when you went
to school and are bewildered when you tell them you could calculate in your
head. They struggle between horror and
awe at the thought of you managing quite well without what they regard as an
essential item.
Russia launched its first unmanned
space ship in 1956, these peculiar shaped vehicles became the inspiration for
the ”Sputnik” ice cream, a slimline confection of icecream covered with
chocolate, again, quite different to the old “Have a Heart” and the traditional
icecream in a cone. These were the
forerunner of the myriad of ice creams and confections you struggle to choose
from today.
Grocery shopping then was much simpler,
you sat comfortably while the grocer gathered your order for you, using a
ladder to climb up to items on high shelves, weighing out biscuits into brown
paper bags from the biscuit bin or cut a wedge from and enormous cheese round,
wrap it in greaseproof paper then add it to your order. Sometimes he would offer samples of a new
product for you to try in the hope you would like it enough to buy some. He wrote your order on a docket and could add
it up himself without the aid of a calculator or checkout and give the correct
change - it was the heyday of mental
arithmetic.
Wrapping the groceries was an art, they would
be stacked carefully on a generous sheet of brown paper, then carefully and
securely wrapped and tied up expertly with string. I never remember a parcel falling apart, what
is more, the string was carefully wound up and kept for use around the house
and the brown paper covered our school books, lined cupboards and used to wrap
post parcels and when greased, line the cake tin used to cook the Christmas
cake. Everything was recyclable.
Our Greengrocer served each customer
individually, choosing the best on offer and placing them in a brown paper bag
which was then deposited in your string bag which you carried back to the
car. We were lucky, Greeks owned the
shop and we were introduced to the delights of capsicum, garlic, zucchini. Our butcher also chose and carefully packed
the week’s supply of meat, personal service that was the norm then.
The advent of the first supermarket in
town sounded the death knell for this personal service and the individual
family businesses that supplied it. I
still wonder why people were so eager to wander up and down aisles looking for
groceries, vegetables and meat, pushing heavy trolleys, emptying them at the
checkout, replacing the bagged items (brown paper bags at first, graduating to
plastic bags later) then pushing a heavy trolley back to the car, placing
purchases in the boot, returning the trolley, driving home and lugging them
inside ready to stow away. It doesn’t
seem like a lifestyle improvement to me.
This was the era when five pounds (ten
dollars) bought the family groceries, fruit and vegetables, meat and newspapers
for the week for a family of six.
Sixpence (five cents) bought a sizeable bag of lollies which you could
choose individually and were placed in a white paper bag. Sixpence would also buy a handsome package of
freshly cook piece of fish with chips, wrapped in white paper then rolled in an
outer covering of newspaper. If you
wanted a classier meal, one shilling and ninepence (eighteen cents) bought four
varieties of vegetables, pie and gravy at a local café. A milkshake or a spider was sixpence.
The pop scene had arrived, older
cousins were dancing the jive, rock and roll and Elvis were regarded as the
embodiment of evil, as was the whole pop scene and our parents were terrified
we would become degenerate. Generally, we
survived without too much happening and became upstanding pillars of society in
our turn.
Clothing had changed from the austerity
measures of WWII to brightly printed materials and full skirts, most women and
girls made their own clothes. Fashion houses
and Hollywood influenced what was worn, it only took a short time to reproduce
fashions seen in magazines and film. The
coronation of Queen Elizabeth and her subsequent visit also impacted on
fashion. It was the “done thing” on
important occasions to dress up, wear stockings, gloves and hat, shoes had to
be clean and everything co-ordinated. It
was also an era of relative innocence.
Introduced
Species
Immigrants for one reason or another have introduced plants or
animals that have become a pest away from their natural environment. It would have been better had this not
occurred, however, we cannot turn back time.
So what is to be done? Having
been closely associated with feral species and their removal from childhood, I
have come to the conclusion the best policy would be to make them useful and
they would become scarce. We need to be
creative.
As a farm child, I became closely associated with lantana, crofton
weed, fireweed and nagoura burr, these were removed in their season, generally
keeping them under control. Lantanna was
the worst, it was tall, bushy, prickly and rampant and was eventually beaten by
its own lustiness as its shelter encouraged native vegetation to germinate and
native outgrew the interloper, resulting in regeneration of the forest. This, I believe is the key to removing some
of our introduced weeds, where possible, grow plants native to the area closely
enough that they will choke out the incomers that mostly thrive on the outer
edges of forest growth.
Where this technique is not useful, perhaps introduced weeds could
be harvested before they reach flowering stage and turned into something useful
such as fertiliser, biofuel or even fibre.
They must be useful for something, we only have to find out what it
is. Camphor Laurel’s have become
somewhat a pest in Northern NSW, it will be interesting to see whether they
suffer the same fate as lantana and become smothered by regenerated bush.
Introduced animals have become a problem, some were brought in
accidentally, others to provide sport or food.
For example, Indian mynahs were brought to Melbourne protect market
gardens from pests. Early settlers did
not understand the new ecosystem, they did not realise that by clearing land
they hunted our native birds that would have eaten the grubs, grubs and slugs
that were causing so much trouble, it wouldn’t have been long before our native
birds returned and exterminated those garden pests for themselves. A wide variety of native birds are not at all
kind to Indian mynahs either, grow a grevillia to attract red wattlebirds and
the mynahs retreat.
Where populations of introduced birds have become so large as to
be a nuisance, it would be better to cull regularly. On the other hand, perhaps lazy humans who
throw down large quantities of food scraps in public places ought to be trained
not to do so, I often think that perhaps these introduced species are the
cleaning corps preventing us from walking knee deep in crusts.
It might sound harsh, however, foxes, rabbits could be shot, the
pelts used and the rest turned into fertilizer, it wouldn’t be as wasteful and
callous simply leaving them to rot. If
camels and buffalo could not be utilized any other way, it might be kinder and
more ecologically sound to process them the same way.
Our agricultural research organisations are not without blame
either – think of the cane toad! These
days they are not having it all their own way, our crow has found a way to eat
it and not ingest the poison, apparently some of our outback lizards are
developing a resistance to the poison. I
know they don’t survive being sloshed with Dettol (an accidental discovery) and
they don’t survive frosts very well, so let’s hope we have a very chilly few
years Australia wide.
Historically, cats and dogs came to Australia as companion animals
at the time of European settlement though there is a possibility they were
already in parts of Australia before this as some northern cats have Asian cat
species features and others introduced as a result of shipwrecks by early
European explorers, well before the advent of European immigration. At the end of the nineteenth century and
early twentieth century they were released into the wild to control rabbits,
typically with introduced species, they had as much impact on the rabbit population
as did the later introduction of the cane toad had on the cane beetle. Despite all good care, an animal will
occasionally escape into the wild, however, I have no patience with today’s
uncaring owners who don’t look after their animals and they turn feral, there
is no excuse for their owners actions and the resulting impact on the
ecosystem.
Technogranny
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