Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 26/3/1870 (2)
There was no admittance to the interior, not even on business ; but the institution has been fully and ably described in most of the leading journals of the country, on the occasion of the opening. I examined some of tho scholars in the public school adjoining tho convent of St. Bridget, and found a large German element; the scholars were fairly proficient, and the teachers hard at work 85 on the roll, and 65 in average attendance for February. Ophthalmia, terribly prevalent, but, as one of the teachers remarked, "If all stopped at home that had sore eyes our school would be all but empty."
A very large wagon - headed roof of corrugated iron attracts attention in Kiewa-street; this is Mr Fallon's new cellar. This building is at present 125 feet x 69 feet X 14 feet, the lower walls being of granite 2 feet thick, and the upper walls of brick 18 inches thick; twenty seven l8 inch chamfered and tapered red-gum pillars support the upper floor, resting on beams 10 feet apart and 18 inches square, caps 5 feet long, joists 15 inches apart, each bay of the walls lighted by a grated window. A large tank takes the water off the iron roof, and the excavated earth makes quite a little hill. The casks are made of American oak, of various capacities up to 500 gallons, but Mr Fallon now employs coopers who are constructing casks to hold 1000 gallons each. The capacity of the cellar is estimated at 150,000 gallons. The store above, of course, corresponds in dimensions, or, to be correct, is a little larger.
Another cellar of Mr Fallon's, capable of containing 100,000 gallons, beneath the premises on the other side of Kiewa street. On the margin of the river, between it and the cricket ground, stands a tapering monument of marble, partially enclosed by an iron railing. This is to Hume, the discoverer - or rather one of the discoverers-of the Hume or Murray, November 17th, 1824. Some person or persons the persons unknown, perhaps indignant that Captain Hovell’s name was not placed on tho marble record, has carved it on a neighbouring tree, and fenced it round. The gallant captain's name is legible enough, but I failed at first to see anything on the marble.
The connecting link which spans the river between the two colonies is rightly named the Union bridge. It is a simple girder bridge, carried on four powerful supports, narrow against the stream, but having a very broad based with the current. This bridge has stood well, through all the viaducts and most of the causeway between it and Wodonga, a distance of two miles, have been carried away.
In walking down the river as far as Wahgunyah, I found the soil change – after crossing the quartzose and auriferous low ranges that commence at the hospital and end at Mr Dight 's station of Bungowannah miles, to one of a calcareous nature, that would grow wheat well in moister climate; but it is too hot and dry to be depended upon. Even maize does not seem to do. Every crop I saw was a failure. This may be an exception; for residents of twenty or thirty years standing inform me that the heat and drought of the last three months beats all their previous experience in the district. Wines, oranges, olives, sugar, figs, and many fruits ought to thrive; and as far as present appearances go, would pay better. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful country, bounded by belts of timber, and interspersed with clumps of graceful trees.
Low ranges in the blue distance bound the view, and at their feet farms and selections in any number. The mountains of the Upper Murray have long since receded and vanished. The river itself you see nothing of till Howlong is passed at twenty miles and then soon winds away to the left, and is no more seen till Corowa joins Wahgunyah by a capital bridge. The neighbourhood of Howlong is extensively settled, for I turned north here, seven miles to Moorwatha, nearly all through farming country, and the main road on both sides of Howlong for a long distance is settled. Howlong boasts of a fine steam mill and a large and commodious hotel.
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