Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 2/11/1872 (3)

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The horses were good ones, and the country through which we passed was magnificent in places. We left the road far to the left in consequence of its almost impassable state, and often found ourselves on green knolls, among beautiful belts of pines, graceful coobas, and myalls. When about twenty miles from Kerarbury we passed the boundary fence, and found ourselves on the great Peters's run. Two miles further we came to the home station, called Tubbo, and were hospitably received by the manager, Mr James Burt. Mr Peters lives in England.

Tubbo House, I consider extremely picturesque, and the accompanying engraving will convey an idea of its beauty at the present time. It is near the Murrumbidgee, on the bank of which fine willows luxuriate, a good garden and orchard are before the house; and in the rear are a number of other buildings, galvanized iron woolstore, general stores, carpenters,, blacksmiths, and wheelwrights' shops. The station store, under the charge of Mr Walker, is one of the best of the kind in Riverina, - well supplied with grocery, drapery, &c.

About a quarter of a mile from the house is the wool shed-an immense building 200 feet long and 30 feet wide. There are two woolsheds for sheep shearing on the station, and 120 men were employed at the time of my visit. For the accommodation of this great number capital huts are erected, those for sleeping and having meals in being separate.

Tubbo is a huge station, covering an area of 450,000 acres. Though the Murrumbidgee frontage extends for 19 or 20 miles it is considered one of the worst frontages on the river at flood time, for it is then liable to inundation. The station improvements bear evidence of the judgment and energy of Mr Burt, who has evidently made the most of his resources. 320 miles of fencing have been constructed. The station carries 200,000 sheep. This immense principality of 700 square miles all fenced in and carrying 200,000 sheep deserves a fuller notice than the present; and I regretted that the great pressure on my time, did not allow my acceptance of Mr Burt's kind invitation to stay n month, and see the petty kingdom, over which he rules, at its busiest - shearing time.

The next day's stage was a fifty-mile one, and Mr. Burt provided two good horses for my journey. The one I got from Tubbo it was a real pleasure to mount and ride, for he was a noble animal. Mr Peter Rhind accompanied me. The first 20 miles were across plains and boggy ground; and we then came to the second woolshed before referred to. This is recognised as one of the model sheds on Riverina. It is not nearly so large as the one of Tubbo, but constructed on a better plan. It is well built, raised on blocks, and has a corrugated iron roof.

The improved plan is that when sheep are shorn they, are shot into pens underneath the building; and there are capital drafting yards on a good working model around. One of Wilding's travelling box wool presses is used. A few miles from the shed is the residence of Mr Alexander Burt, who has charge of this part of the station and shed. I got a fresh horse here, and after lunch, started for Buckenbong, 25 miles distant. I had been the road once before, in the summer time, so confidently proceeded alone. A short time after leaving the house I came to the Yanco Creek, which I found pretty high, and after following up the stream for some time? I selected a likely-looking crossing, where the heavy ripples I thought, indicated a shallow place.

I had scarcely advanced two yards, before horse and self went suddenly down over head into the water, and the next moment I found myself swimming down the stream with a strong current. The horse was fortunately an excellent swimmer, and I gradually bore his head towards the opposite bank. When about 25 yards lower down the more sloping bank was reached, where, after a few plunges, he landed me bravely. Half a mile beyond I got to a small roadside inn. I was of course saturated with water, and my clothing and papers soaking wet and damaged considerably. It was no use waiting here, so 1 pushed on, and shortly afterwards reached another creek, near Gillenbah, which also proved to be "a banker," but the horse swam it bravely, though wetting No. 2 was the result. Gillenbah I have before described as a crossing place opposite Narrandera, on the Murrumbidgee.

I remained at Mrs Hyland s inn for half an hour, and pushed on in spite of warnings to Buckenbong. I had only gone four miles when I was told that the river had overflown its banks, and it would be necessary to go twelve miles round to get to the home station of Mr Jenkins, at Buckenbong. I then ran up the fence for three or four miles, and at dusk arrived at the wool shed, where I found Mr Jenkins, junior, just getting in a horse for me, to go to Wagga Wagga the next day, as my arrival was expected. This act of kindness I most thankfully acknowledge. I left Mr Burt's horse at the woolshed, and on a fresh horse accompanied Mr Jenkins to Buckenbong. It was very dark. For six miles out of the nine we travelled through water, up to our horse's girths, and often just reaching the valise. The vast body of water which covered the plains here, was from the overflow of the Murrumbidgee, caused by the drainage of the mountainous country for hundreds of miles in this time of great rains.

It was about nine o'clock at night when we got to Buckenbong, soaking wet and completely exhausted. The next morning I tried to cross the Murrumbidgee in order to go to Wagga Wagga on the opposite side, but the impossibility was pointed out to me, and I was compelled to take the longer road. I again lost myself, (though only for a short time), on the trackless and in undated plains. The first night I spent, and was hospitably treated, at an out-station of Mr John Leitch’s and the second day I got into Wagga Wagga. After many narrow escapes, some of which I have, I fear, somewhat egotistically related in order to give an idea of the trials and difficulties which beset the traveller in Riverina, in winter. From Wagga Wagga I took the coach to Goulburn, and the train to Sydney, a journey occupying 38 hours, and thus completed my second

"Tour to the South."

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