Difference between revisions of "Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 20/7/1872"

Latest revision as of 20:59, 20 November 2015

A Tour to the South.

[BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT]

WAGGA WAGGA TO GUNDAGAI

CROSSING the river at Wagga Wagga, a canter of a few miles along its northern bank brought us to Gobbagumbalin, the residence of Mr Holloway. It is one of the prettiest cottage residences in the district. It is situated in a commanding position, several hundred feet, I should imagine, above the town. A good garden gently slopes from the house, and at the foot of the hill the magnificent Murrumbidgee flows. In the vista, opening out between trees from the rear, a view of Wagga Wagga may be obtained; and further to the left, green cultivated patches and Oak Hills seen. On the occasion of my visita mob of cattle (640), the property of Messrs Devlin and Holloway, were driven across the river. The cattle were fine large animals, and were being sent to market.

The greatest difficulty is occasionally experienced in crossing cattle, often resulting in the loss of several. Much depends on the drovers and how the cattle: are managed. About eight horsemen were present on this occasion. The spot chosen was a mile below the house. A beach gradually slanting into the water was on the near side, but the opposite bank was very steep, in fact almost perpendicular in many places. Twenty or thirty cattle were first cut out of the main mob, and driven into the water. A number of horsemen lining the bank prevented their returning, so they swam across, and climbed up the opposite bank. Forty or fifty more followed, and other equally small mobs were brought up in succession till the whole were crossed. The only difficulty experienced was their occasionally "ringing " and breaking away when approaching the bank, before getting on to the beach. Ringing is forming circles; when this is done in stockyards, they often by their united force break through and get away, as many a poor stockman knows to his sorrow.

Leaving Gobbagumbalin, with Mr M H Devlin and some other gentlemen, we passed through North Wagga Wagga, and about a mile the other side came to Oak Hill, the residence and estate of Mr M H Devlin. Passing through some good paddocks, the comparatively new system of dam-making was brought under notice. The plan is the use of the plough and scoop. The ground is first ploughed, and the horses then harnessed to a large flat-bottomed scoop which traverses the ploughed ground, and clears out all the earth ploughed up. Of course the gradient increases each time, but never becomes too great for horses to work. Compared with the slow old plan of making dams, the difference is very great. Here was a fine dam capable of storing a supply of water for two years, the filling in of which was commenced by one man and two horses on the Monday morning, and finished by them on the Saturday night.

Cantering through those paddocks we came to the stables from which "The Wonder of the World" was brought out for inspection. This, the largest horse in Australia, is a magnificent black entire with white foot. He stands 18 hands high, girth 8 feet 9 inches; arm 26 inches; under knees 13 ¾ inches. His measurements in arm and knee are the same in thigh and hock respectively. As may be imagined his hoofs, corresponding to his immense size, are very large; and what is important, the blacksmith says that sounder hoofs he never shod. "The Wonder of the World " is an imported horse. His sire is the (paradoxically) well known Tom Thumb; dam by Champion, from celebrated mare Nettle. The performances of the Wonder of the World in Australia only were given me, and may be summed up in one word. "He has never been beaten." At the Geelong Pastoral Show, he weighed 27cwt. His even proportions are in keeping with his great size, therefore he does not look such a large horse till an ordinary horse stands at his side. The comparison, then is like a pigmy to Chang the giant. Wonder of World has been exhibited, and carried off prizes at Geelong, Wahgunyah, and Wangaratta in Victoria, and at Albury, and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. At Wangaratta, after carrying off prizes for three years, he was excluded from again competing. At Wagga Wagga he has also carried off prizes for the past three years.

In the paddock, a few hundred yards from the stable, we next inspected a number of choice cattle, boasting a pedigree that would do credit to any stud in the old country. There were several yearlings of the Butterfly breed in the lower paddock. Among the cattle the following were awarded prizes at the Wagga Wagga Pastoral Show in 1870:- First prize, best colonial-bred Shorthorn cow; first prize, best Hereford heifer; champion prize, best cow in yard, Dahlia H., 1871; champion prize, best cow in yard, Peg M'Master; second prize, best colonial-bred Short horn, under two years, Australian; special prize, two best Shorthorn bulls, Australian and Goldjacket; first prize, best Shorthorn cow, Peg M'Master; first prize, best cow in milk, Sally Purple; first prize, best colonial-bred Shorthorn cow, Peg M'Master; first prize, best Hereford cow, Beauty. I have given these to show the monopoly of prizes Oak Hill has enjoyed. There are other finer cattle which were also pointed out on the estate; prominent among these was Superfine, a splendid cow, whose relations figure well in the stud book. Superfine is the dam and grand dam of many of the fine cattle written of on the Murray River. The blood represented in the Oak Hill herds includes the progeny of Grand Prince, Count of Empire, Warlaby, Prince of the Purple. Diana, Flora, Fenella, Aurora, and Dahlia. Mr. Devlin's faithfully built brick residence is pretily situated on the hill side of the estate; a well-kept garden and orchard is in front.

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