Difference between revisions of "Alexandra Times at KellyGang 19/8/1876 (2)"

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My attention was next directed to a few if the principal stores. The most extensive is T H Mate and Co.'s, opposite the Custom House in Townsend street. It is reported that they do a trade of half a million pounds per annum. Their establishment is like a small town, every part of the business works like clockwork, and as the saying has it, you can get everything from a needle to an anchor. I was informed that the manager gets a salary of £1000 per annum and a large private residence in the suburbs of the town, drives his carriage, and is one of the leading men of the place.

We next visited Jones's furniture warehouse, and were conducted through the showrooms, where we found every requisite to furnish the smallest cottage or the largest mansion. There are many more large stores which I had not time to inspect. I was pleased to find our old townsman Mr William O'Callaghan, who is doing a large trade as a storekeeper under the style of O'Callaghan Brothers, his partner being Mr John O'Callaghan, of Wodonga. They have a fine building, their own property, in one of the best parts of the town, and my opinion is they have a fortune before them. We next made for Kiewa street, where Mr Wolfe Cohen, watchmaker and jeweller, has commenced business in a fine ship, well stocked with goods of his trade and articles worth from a shilling to fifty pounds. I had a chat with Mrs Cohen, who seems satisfied with the place and the increasing trade they are doing.

We next found ourselves at Veen's lemonade factory. He has scarcely started business, so I have very little to report about his trade. I hear he has a heavy opponent, who is patronised by Sir George F Bowen, Governor of Victoria, so I advised Veen to send a dozen or two of sodawater and gingerale to Sir Hercules Robinson, and secure his Excellency’s patronage, when he would have been fair start with the "big gun" at Yackandandah. Nevertheless I believe Veen will do good trade and make money, and that is the principal object we all have in view.

One thing I forgot to mention was a pleasant view I had of an orange grove in a garden belonging to Mr Higgins, draper. The trees were very numerous, and the fruit as thick as berries - a tempting sight to one fond of fruit, and who had never seen anything of the kind before. We now come to the State school, a large and handsome brick building, where several hundred scholars of both sexes attend. New South Wales has not the advantage of free education, its system being similar to the Denominational plan that was in vogue in Victoria a few years ago. Parents must, pay if possible, and if they have not the means they must sign a declaration to the effect, when the children's names are placed on a separate list, to be forwarded to the Department, which remunerates the teacher for their tuition.

We now have a view of the Hospital, situated on rising ground shaded with beautiful trees. I hope to see the day when we can say the same of our own institution. Still going round, we observe what the larrikins call “the cage," but which I will call the gaol. It seems a very extensive place, with high walls, giving little chance of escape. A very large business is done in this place, which is not surprising, considering the number of cases brought before the court at Albury. We next see a fine enclosures known as the cricket ground, a gift to the club by the Government. A large house has been built by the club for the use of the members, and a high substantial fence of sawn battens fixed close together encloses the ground, so that admission may be charged on the occasion of matches. The day I visited the ground football was going on, and good sport it is. No game will warm one more than a wood exciting game at football.

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