Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 16/10/1875
DENILIQUIN
October 1
I fancied the anticipation in regard to the future of Deniliquin was somewhat too sanguine, but as two extra banking establishments are announced, I can only say that if the town and district will support four banks, there must be a great change for the better. A branch of the London Chartered Bank is to be opened this week. The permanent office will be next door to the store of Rosenfeld Brothers, and the temporary one in their private house. The Union Bank of Melbourne is also about to open a branch here, The NSW Bank is the longest established, and the Australian Joint Stock makes the fourth.
There is a large, old-fashioned building, seldom used, standing in about the most prominent place in Deniliquin. At certain times, lights may be observed inside in an evening, but there is always an air of mystery about the place. This is the Masonic Hall, and here for many years the Masons (who are numerous and influential) have held their meetings. Mr J. Carne has commenced an action for the recovery of the ground whereon the building stands, and two of the principal masons have been served with writs. The trial case come off for some time.
The Government propose to erect a new telegraph line between the Murray and Deniliquin. along the railway line. The poles are to be of iron. The company are to have telegraph stations of their own, and to provide operators, so that the wire may be read at all times of the day and night. For this privilege the Government charge five per cent on the cost of the wire need by the Company. The old telegraph line is to be taken down when the new one is erected.
Mr W Shenstone, of Rutherglen, is appointed secretary to the Deniliquin and Murray Railway Company in the room of Mr Foden, whose business does not allow him leisure to fulfil the duties of the office.
The arbitration case between the Railway Company and Sir John O'Shanassy was to have come off on Friday last at Mathoura and Mr Collier the managing director had all his witnesses ready. At the last moment Sir John sent a telegram, announcing that, he would not be proceeded with the arbitration court, and notice has been sent to his arbitrator. Mr Roward that the arbitration will be proceeded with without him. Mr Cochrane is arbitrator for the company. The claim is for twelve acres of land at £50 per acre, which the R S works take out of a pre-emptive section at Mathoura, and £900 for securing a portion of his leasehold from the water in the Gulpa Creek, making a total of £1500 and I suppose he wishes he may get it.
The telegraph line between here and Echuca is out of order, and messages have to be sent via Albury.
The latest this afternoon is that sheep and goods of all kinds are still carried across in the steamer on account of the flood. This comes pretty hard on the carriers, and in fact the trouble and delay is a very serious affair for the store keepers and others.
At last tenders are called for the bridge over the Murray and if the Border duties are dispensed with, Echuca will cease to be such an abomination as it is at present.
The New South Wales Government are putting all the bridges on the various roads from this place in thorough repair but the shepherds' huts are going up further and further out every day, and something like a little man extension than a keg of paint on an old bridge is needed as a public acknowledgment of the enterprise that is doing as much for the State.
It looks simple enough on paper that Messrs Saltbush Co. have sent so many thousand sheep out to Cooper's Creek or the Warrego, or other back country; but this means risking thousands and thousands of pounds on a hazard that has more chances against it than the gaming house.
I know of six and twenty native dogs lying poisoned in a heap on a dam on the Warrego, besides many others scattered about. Such a mob would destroy close on a thousand sheep in the night if the most watched care were not taken. Here are all the old array of charges that attend shepherding sheep, the oldest bushmen gets lost in the bush, and there is hard living and hardships of all kinds for the pioneer in the back country. The least the Government can do, is to put up a few bridges to make the roads passable.
Cobb and Co. not caring to run opposition to the train, are making Hay their head-quarters, and are building a coach factory, stables, offices, etc. They allow them small pay to open up the back lines of road, and then ran them off.
A fine lot of 500 fat cattle passed here to-day. They went from the Boolegal station, and I am informed there are 1000 more fat and ready to start for market. Messrs Pattermen of Ulonga, have become the owners of this station, with 6000 head of cattle at £10 per head. There is no station is the district that has sent such a steady, regular supply of fat cattle to the Melbourne market, as Mr Brook's has sent from this station for many years. The feed on the Lachlan is up to the knees, so I am told. I know it is over the sheep’s knees about here. Shearing is getting through. Campbell's, at Willeerat, have cut out, and several other stations will finish this week. At Wartbreand they commence next week,
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