FARMERS AND PRODUCERS POLITICAL LEAGUE MEETING
MINTARO, September 10.— A meeting of the local branch of the Farmers and Producers’ Political League was held on Friday evening. The President (Mr. Torr) was in the chair. The proposed fusion of the anti-socialistic parties was discussed, and the opinion expressed that a union which included the National League and the Liberal and Democratic Union would be impracticable, and would only swell the ranks of the Labour Party. A resolution was carried disapproving of the fusion of the three organizations. Mr. Torr and Mr. A. P. Brown were appointed delegates to attend the Adelaide meeting.
PASSING OF JOHN GARRAND
MINTARO, July 23.—Quite a cloud was cast over the township this morning when it became known that Mr. John Garrard, who had been laid aside for about three weeks had passed away. The deceased was a fine specimen of that rugged character which has done so much towards the development of the farming districts of the State.—About 11 o’clock last night Mr. Stanley MacNamara started for Clare to obtain medical assistance for a resident who was sinking. After a 12-mile gallop at night through heavy rain and swollen water-courses, he had reached the bridge near Bentley’s Hotel, when a cyclist rode under his horse’s feet. In the darkness neither rider had seen the other, for the cyclist had no light. The frightened horse reared, swung round, and cannoned into a low guard fence next to the bridge, jamming the rider’s leg against the toprail. The impetus of the animal’s plunge caused it to lose its equilibrium, and horse and rider fell over the fence. The unfortunate man was pinned to the ground, which luckily was sodden and soft, while the horse fell on its back on his chest and rolled off, forcing his head into the mud. Bleeding from mouth and nose, and unable to speak he saw the cyclist pick up his machine and carry it off on his shoulder. After lying for a considerable time in the rain Mr. MacNamara was able to get up, but still a farther period elapsed before he was able to walk. There being no gate he had to jump the horse over the fence to reach the road. Before leaving for Mintaro the doctor attended to his injuries. It is certain that the one thing which saved the rider’s life was the saturated state of the ground where the accident occurred. Steps are being taken to discover the inhuman cyclist who made off without any attempt to render assistance.
MINTARO’S SONS
Mintaro’s Sons. A special correspondent writes:—”Though far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife, the sequestered little village of Mintaro has sent forth sons who have won no mean places in the world. The three professions—divinity, law, and medicine, are represented in the honour roll. The Rev. P. Kelly, a priest who has won golden opinions on the west coast, first saw the light within a few miles of Mintaro; and the President of the Methodist Conference has been succeded (sic) at Broken Hill by the Rev. W. J. Mortimer, who hails from the same peaceful spot. Dr. Jethro Brown (Professor of Law at the University of Adelaide) is also claimed as a native, and so is Dr. Edgar Brown, his brother. Mr. G. Quinn, the energetic fruit expert and inspector of orchards, owes his early nurture to this place. Mr. R. H. Lathlean, solicitor, of Adelaide, was the son of a Mintaro shopkeeper, and the residents claim Mr. N. Jolly, the first Rhodes Scholar, as a townsman. Perhaps no place in our State of equal size can point to such a record.”
MULES AND MULE BREEDING
MULES AND MULE BREEDING. By Norman A. Richardson. … — First Mules, in South Australia. — The first mules in South Australia were imported by the Burra Copper Company. in 1857, and were employed carting ore to the sea-board. ‘ In the….
TENDERS FOR RENOVATION OF MINTARO INSTITUTE
TENDERS are invited until noon of WEDNESDAY, November 24, for the RENOVATION of MINTARO INSTITUTE, at Mintaro Central. Specification at Uren’s Store. No tender necessarily accepted. A. MARCH, Secretary. Mintaro Central.
OBITUARY ANDREW O’SULLIVAN
Obituary An old and respected identity of West Adelaide has just passed away at Mintaro railway, in the person of Mr. Andrew O’Sullivan. The deceased gentleman for many years conducted a school at the old St. Patrick’s Hall, West terrace, in the eighties. He was a gifted mathematician, and a favorite (sic) with his pupils. For the past eleven years he has been residing with Mrs. Horgan at Mintaro, and was a general favorite (sic) with the farmers of the district. Mr. O’Sullivan died on Sunday morning, after a short illness, and the interment took place at Manoora on Monday morning.—R.I.P.
Mintadloo Estate
MINTADLOO ESTATE. At the Burra Town Hall on Friday Mr. Lane Addison, on behalf of Elder, Smith, & Co., Limited, offered for sale 1,690 acres of freehold, forming portion of Messrs. Thomas Goode and Sons’ Mintaldoo estate, situated six miles from Clare, Mintaro Railway Station, and Farrell’s Flat. The land in question is being farmed on halves, and a portion of the crop promises to yield up to 30 bushels to the acre, which is sufficient indication of the quality of the soil. There was only a small attendance of buyers. Farmers are busy haymaking, and the fact that the neighbouring properties of Canowie and Koonoona are about to be subdivided also militated against the sale. The land was offered in seven lots. The highest price bid for any one of the blocks was £8 an acre, but it did not reach the reserve, and no business resulted.
Mintaro Weather
MINTARO, September 21.— The weather during the past three or four days has been remarkably cold, with driving showers of rain and hail. On Sunday morning there was a fall of snow for a quarter of an hour, but the snow melted away as soon as it touched the ground. The country at present bears a sloppy appearance and could well do with a little sunshine. The rainfall for this month is already a record one.
Torr Story
Mrs. Richard Dale left by the Ormuz last week. Prior to going, she told a representative of THE CRITIC the following interesting story:—”I came out to Australia,” she said, “six months ago to see my aged mother and my brothers and sisters, and, as neither they nor I are any longer young, it is more than probable we shall never meet again. Nearly all the Torrs live to ripe old age. My mother is now 95 years old. Her sight has greatly failed of late, but otherwise she is hearty and well. My eldest sister is over 70, and, with the exception of my father, who died a few years ago, all of the family to which I belong are still living. Torr blood pulsates through the veins of more than one hundred souls in South Australia. My late father was engaged in mining when the Burra Burra mine was in full swing; three girls and four boys made up our happy family then. My eldest sister is now the widow of the late Mr. James Brown, of “Montrose,” Mintaro, which property adjoins Sir Samuel Way’s Kadlunga estate. When I first knew it it was used as a depot for the mule teams, which were imported from either Spain or South America, I forget which, to pack copper—and afterwards to cart it in wagons—from the Burra to Port Wakefield. My uncle, “Old King Torr”—he always went by that name—lived for many years in Mintaro, and my nephew, Professor Jethro Brown, of the Adelaide University, was born there. Another of my nephews now lives at Montrose, and he aspires to becoming a breeder of prize sheep. My sister had a large family, and they promise to do likewise. My husband was one of the earliest bush missionaries north of the Burra; that is over 40 years ago, and it was about that time I met my fate. We went to live at Crystal Brook Station, which was then owned by the Bowman Brothers. They (the Bowmans) made lots of money in those days, and the cheque they paid for Poltalloch, a station in the South-East, was the largest ever drawn in South Australia up to that time, and was as much talked of then as the cheque recently drawn by the Price Government in payment for the Adelaide trams. Until six months ago I had not seen many of my relatives for 28 long years.”
Mintaro News
MINTARO, July 28.—The Mintaro Literary and Debating Society held a meeting in the institute hall last evening. The President (Mr. M. A. Kelly) presided over a large gathering. The programme was ‘An evening with Dickens.’ An overture was played by Mrs. M. Kelly. A biographical sketch of ‘Dickens’ was given by Mr. Kelly, and readings from ‘Domby & Son’ by Mr. W. J. Martin, from ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ by Mr. W. E. Martin, and from ‘Pickwick Papers’ by Messrs. Paul, Hunter, and March. A duet was contributed by Misses Tickle and Jamieson.