Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 21/9/1872 (3)
(see previous)
Just below the residence there is the Great Kalara, or large reed bed mentioned by Sir Thomas Mitchell. It is ten miles long and eight or nine miles wide. An extraordinary sight in those reed beds are the nests of the ibis which extend for several miles. A few years ago a party consisting of Mr Peter Tyson, Mr D'Archy, and a number of shearers, rode into the reed beds amongst these nests, which they found placed in layers. The party secured a great quantity of eggs, which I believe are excellent for puddings.
The day following my arrival, Mr D'Archy and myself went for a ride to see some cuttings for water supply from the Lachlan to a lake on the neighbouring run, that of Mr Tyson's. Many thousands of pounds have evidently been spent on this work. Leaving D'Archy's, with many thanks for the great courtesy and kindness shown me, I proceeded on my road to Balranald. The nearest station was eighteen miles distant, and for the great part of the way the country was under water. Travelling beyond a walk was almost impossible. A few heavy showers of rain fell which did not add to the pleasures of riding. Approaching the Juanbong (aboriginal "Swan") station, I noticed some very fine cattle on the plains. Juaubong is a cattle station the property of Mr Tyson. The residence is a fine brick building, and before it there is a splendid lake.
The next morning a substantial lunch was thoughtfully placed in my valise by Mrs Tyson, and I commenced a very long journey of thirty five miles over a dreary country without a single habitation. The day was a short one, so I had to push on, but my good little horse carried me along very well. The evening was closing in when I reached my destination for that day, viz., Paika , Messrs. Macfarlane and Webster's station. This is one of the prettiest stations on the route.
The homestead is almost in a peninsula, for a fine broad lake with a green shelving shore is on three sides. A thickly wooded island is in the centre. This llake abounds in wild fowl of every description, and the swans, pelicans, ducks, and geese, are remarkably tame on it. The spacious resilience and coach house, stables, &c, are thatched in a capital style, with a kind of rush well suited for the purpose, and which grows on the run. Thatching is found far better than shingles or slates, being warmer in the winter, and cooler in the summer. Paika is the residence of Walter M'Farlane, Esq., one of the firm who own the station. Both sheep and cattle are on the run. Two well bred shorthorns were pointed out to me. The first is Prince Frederick, a roan rising three years, by Monarch, dam Rowena. Monarch's sire is the Duke of York, descended from R. Booth's celebrated cow Fame. The second short horn is Prince George, also a roan, and only two years old, though big enough for a three-year old. Prince George was bred by the Queen, at Windsor, from R. Booth's celebrated England's Glory, dam Carolina 2nd. These and others will greatly improve the stock of the district.
There are a large number of lakes on the station, in fact it is too well watered. Some of these lakes, are very picturesque, and range in circumference from two to fifteen miles. I saw more emus and bustards or wild turkeys on Paika station than on any other part of the Murrumbidgee. Hobbler first took up Paika in 1845: Wentworth followed; Edmund Flood next; then Augustus Morris, who sold to the present owners, Webster and M'Farlane. Before leaving Paika the blacks or rather the remnant of the former large tribe were pointed out, camped on the opposite bank to the house. They are rapidly dying out.
I was most hospitably treated at Paika by Mr mid Mrs Macfarlane, and I left there after lunch on the day following my arrival. The road runs through a dreary mallee scrub for the greater part of the distance to Balranald-ten miles.
Balranald is a township on the Murrumbidgee, 560 miles south-south-west of Sydney. The population is about 350. It was laid out by Mr M?. about twenty years ago. It may be interesting to know that the first inhabitant was Mr Robertson, who built, an hotel there twenty-three years ago. He was followed by Mr Locock, and then come Mr Denis Hannan, at present the oldest resident, who arrived twenty-one years ago. It is a curious fact, and speaks well for its progress, that Balranald has doubled its population within the past eight years.
Balranald has a resident police-magistrate, a court house, lock-up. police-station, a post and telegraph office, a Public-school, several good stores, and public houses. Robert B Mitchell, Esq., is the police-magistrate, and be is highly spoken of in his small kingdom, which also includes Moulamein and Euston. Mr, Mitchell is a son of the historical Sir Thomas Mitchell, whose eminent services in exploring the interior of Australia will long be remembered. The Queen's Bounty, or annual distribution of blankets to the blacks, took place during my visit. After they had all been served, Mr Mitchell called for three cheers for the Queen, which the blacks responded to. The Balranald Court-house - a, plain wooden building - was undergoing considerable improvements. The interior and exterior had received a few coats of paint, and the private room of Mr Mitchell was handsomely fitted up and had a good library. A garden containing many choice plants and flowers surrounded the courthouse. These improvements were carried out at the sole cost of Mr Mitchell.
The post and telegraph office, under the charge of Mr G T Harrison, is one of the best buildings of the kind on the Murrumbidgee. It is of brick, with slated roof, and contains five rooms. A small brick building a few yards in the rear is used ns a battery room, and stables. The whole was erected at a cost of .£1500.
Tim Public school and teachers' residence are two buildings, built of wood at a cost of £380. The attendance on the occasion of my visit was 42. The school seems to be efficiently conducted. Mr H Murray is the teacher, and the following gentleman are the members of the local board:-Messrs. Walter M'Earlane, JP, J Cramsie, P H Comitti, WN Garside, and C Silvester. A new Church of England, the first place of worship in the town, has recently been commenced. A description of the building appeared in those columns at the time the foundation stone was laid, a few weeks ago. The Rev W H Tarrington is the resident minister.
There are two good stores in the town. The principal one is a very fine brick building, carried on by Messrs John Cramsie and Co. Beside this the firm have a wool store, a large galvanized iron building, and several smaller buildings in the town. They do a large trade. The other store has recently been established in the town. It is the property of Mr Thomas Linton, and under the management of Mr A Halbert. A large new building is now about being erected by Mr Linton. There are two good hotels in the town, carried on by Mr Peter Young, and Mr William Hall, respectively.
One good point about Balranald is its prospective advancement. Though it is in an incipient state the inhabitants believe in its future greatness, and the very fact of_ the population having been doubled since Mr Mithcell's arrival eight years ago, speaks much for its future.
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