Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 20/7/1872 (2)
Returning from Oak Hill, nearly to North Wagga Wagga, a lane to the left was followed, and led up the river towards Gundagai. The first station, three miles distant, rejoices in the name of Eunouyhereena. (I am not sure about the authography.) The station is under the charge of Mr Robertson. The residence of brick and wood is on the river bank. Au orchard is in front; and large oaks and willows dip their foliage gracefully in the water.
Continuing the journey, a large number of farms and cottages were passed. Among these are two worthy of particular mention, viz., the farms, with comfortable houses of pine, the properties of Messrs. William M'Intyre, senior, and John McIntyre, junior. The soil of these farms is a rich loam.
A few miles beyond, and I turned into a gateway to the right which led through well grassed paddocks for half-a-mile, and Oura, the home station of William Rand, Esq., was reached.
Like Eunouyhereena, a considerate inroad has been made by free-selectors on Oura Station. Nearly two thirds of the station has thus been taken up. A good frontage to the Murrumbidgee, and some well-grassed undulating country, with hills, from which delightful landscape views are had, still remain. Oura is a cattle station, and at present carries about 1500 well-bred cattle.
The next station to Oura is the well-known Wantabadgery run, the property of W O Windeyer, Esq. At the foot of a rocky hill, twenty-five miles from Wagga Wagga, is the residence of the superintendent of the station. Mr A J A !!MISSING, who most hospitably entertained me. Wantabadgery is a fine pastoral property, having an area of 73,000 acres, 6000 acres of which are purchased. The station has a frontage to the Murrumbidgee of about five miles.
Wantabadgery is a sheep and cattle station; about 30,000 sheep and 1800 head of cattle are kept on it.
Many thousands of pounds have been spent on improvements, and chief among these are the sheep wash, centrifugal pump, and steam saw mills, about ten miles N. of the home station. A few miles beyond Mr Beveridge's the residence of Mr Windeyer, is just discerned between some trees. The road then continues along flats, past lagoons, at intervals on the bank of the river, and over some low hills. Leaving the home station of Mr Jenkin's, to the right over a pleasant road for live miles, brought me to a newly formed house, having many attractions. This is Kimo, the station and residence of Robinson, Esq. The residence recently completed by Mr Robinson, is faithfully constructed on brick and stone foundations on the acclivity of a hill, which enhances the prospect. The river below, and Murrumbidgee ranges in the distance, make up a good picture. The area of Kimo is 30,000 acres; about 4900 acres are purchased on the northern bank of the Murrumbidgee. It is a cattle station. Mr Robinson's other station at Copabella, was described some months ago, and will be remembered as being the home of Cast Anchor Jack, an outline of whose remarkable history was also given. Kimo, recently purchased by Mr Robinson, is a most valuable property and with the judicious improvements now going on its value will be doubled in a few years. The trees on some thousands of acres are already “rung," and fencing is also being proceeded with. What was also pleasing was the attention to detail on the station. No carelessness in the shape of broken rails or posts, or bad gateways were seen. Writing of the latter reminds me of the excellent improvement here on the old plan of making gates. Kimo gates are chiefly constructed on this plan --
Those gates are of hardwood, and answer admirably for parish roads. It is a sore grievance with land holders that those gates are wantonly left open by passers by. Cattle and sheep repeatedly got out, and the loss and annoyance are very great. The advantage the gate I have roughly sketched above possesses over others, is that it opens either way, is self-closing, and not liable to be broken or destroyed. The top hinge fits on a perpendicular iron bolt on a horizontal bar attached or driven into the main post, B. The lower hinge has seemingly no fastening, but the strengthening bar has two iron bolts, semi-circles, projecting perpendicularly, which fit into grooves in the part of the hinge which is fixed to the main post, B. In opening or shutting the bolts of the hinge rest alternately in one or the other iron groove. This peculiar make gives it a tendency to close exactly at the post A, therefore no fastening of the gate to this post is requisite. When open on either side the action of the lower hinge is such that the gate is thrown slightly out of the perpendicular, and so has always a tendency to swing to, and after two or three oscillations remains closed. (This gate appears to be hung on the principle of what is called, by some, the swinging, and by others, the rocking gate, common enough both in England and here for entrance gates, to respectable country and suburban residences. The principle on which the gate is hung is this:- Only when the points of support, in a swinging door or gate are in the same perpendicular line, will it remain in any position in the are of its oscillation on its hinges, If the top or bottom hinge be placed to one side of a perpendicular line, the gate will swing toward that side of the perpendicular. If the bottom binge be made alternately movable from side to side of the perpendicular line described, it, is obvious that the gate may he made to swing by its own gravity, ether one way or the other, as the hinge is thrust to one side or the other.)
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