Alexandra Times at KellyGang 11/10/1873
It will be readily admitted that the Goulburn is the most important river that belongs to Victoria. The Yarra is but a sluggish creek, and the Murray in no sense can be called a Victorian river. It is natural to suppose that Victoria, having only one river, would make as much fuss about it as a hen does with one chicken, or a mother with one only child; but, as a matter of fact, it is not so. So far from this bring the case, the Goulburn has hitherto been treated with as much indifference and neglect as if its waters were as bitter as the waters of Marah, and the soil on its banks barren as the Great Sahara of-Africa. Railways, macadamised roads, and bridges have been constructed, or are about to be constructed, at an enormous expense through every mining, agricultural. and grazing district in Victoria; but, save through the feeble efforts of local taxation, what has been done for the rich mining, agricultural, and grazing districts lying along the valley of the Goulburn, from its rise in the Woods point ranges to its confluence with the Murray ? As compared with other districts, there has been absolutely nothing done beyond what Nature has kindly provided and local enterprise supplied. That nurturing, fostering care which has been co lavishly bestowed on other portions of Victoria, has been withheld from the Upper Goulburn as systematically as if the inhabitants were a rebellious and perverse generation - a complete hot-bed of sedition unfit to be allied to or connected with any other portion of Victoria.
Our roads in winter are impassable; our shires and road boards are already forced to borrow money for the construction of bridges. We have no telegraphic communication. The gaol accommodation at Alexandra , the central township, consists of a lock-up about the size and shape of a large kerosene tin-can. No police court building except the ricketty establishment used for shire council meetings. The warden's offices are not much more commodious than an ordinary sentry-box. Our post-office is kept in a place 7 x 3 1/2ft. A great portion of the territory is unapproachable with goods and machinery, save by pack-horses. This chaos, this rudiu indigestaque noles is within cooey of Melbourne - only 75 miles, and along the valley of Victoria's only river, and our inexhaustible resources are allowed to languish from the neglect of the various governments which have held office during the past ten years.
It may be asked why is this thus? The answer is simple. We have had the misfortune to be represented in Parliament by one of Victoria's greatest politicians Sir Charles Gavan Duffy - who, when in office, devoted his time to broad general legislation, and in doing so was so badgered that he neglected the interests of this portion of his own constituency, and who whilst out of office, considered it in for a dig to do the deputation business, and ask for grants that have been freely bestowed on other districts not having an iota of the claims we possess. Again, we have been so long accustomed to neglect, that we have almost ceased to ask or even complain.
Our neighbors of Yea set us a good example in the example of a public library. They have made a good start, and from the energy already displayed, no doubt a very respectable collection of books will be got together in a short time. The small collection of books purchased from the proceeds of an amateur performance in Alexandra some time ago, unfortunately got burnt in the late fire. So we must make a fresh start. Our amateurs, who are ever ready to lend a helping hand, will, perhaps, take the matter into consideration, and give an entertainment for the benefit of a public library in Alexandra, between this and the new year.
During the past week the Alexandra public school has been closed in consequence of the greater portion of the children being ill from a general cold, and one child having died at Robinson Crusoe Gully from whooping cough. Dr Fergusson recommended the closing of the school for a short period. On Monday next the school will be re-opened.
Land at Gobur is getting of considerable value. An allotment sold at the Government land sale on Wednesday, was knocked down w at £120 per acre. This shows that some people believe in the future of the township, and the permanence of the New Gobur lead
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