LABOR TROUBLE AT MARTINDALE
THE LABOR TROUBLE AT MARTINDALE. MINTARO, November 6.—Shearing at Mr. W. T. Mortlock’s Martindale station is still going on slowly. Since the strike, the contractors (Messrs. Young and Co.) have experienced great difficulty in keeping the stands filled, and the grass seeds are beginning to become troublesome to the shearers.
MINTARO, October 1906
MINTARO, October 23.— On Mr. S. Torr’s farm, near here, last week, the men engaged to shear quitted work. On the manager yarding the rams and wethers for them to make a start they enquired if there were any ewes and lambs on the farm, and on being answered in the affirmative they said they would commence on the ewes and lambs, or not start at all. Mr. Torr refused to alter his arrangements, so the shearers quitted. The shearers engaged at ‘Martindale,’ Mr. W. T. Mortlock’s estate, struck work on Saturday, and left the township, so that shearing at ‘Martindale’ is at a standstill until the stands can be filled again. Anniversary services in connection with the Methodist Sunday-school were held in the Methodist Church on Sunday. The Rev. J. Blackett, of Auburn, preached in the morning, and special singing was rendered by the scholars. The church was crowded in the afternoon, when the service of song, ‘Singing Jim’, was given. Mr. E. Tralaggan, the Sunday-school superintendent, who has been acting in this capacity for the last thirty-eight years, gave the readings, and solos were rendered by Miss O. Nelson and Miss E. Tickle, and duets by Misses Cook and Gillingham, and a quartet by Misses Kotz, Tralaggan, and Tickle, and Mr. J. Tickle. Mr. A. March. acted as conductor of the singing. The Rev. J. Gillingham conducted the service in the evening. On Monday evening a public meeting was held, when the service of song was repeated. There was a fair attendance. MINTARO, October 25.— On Wednesday the Methodist Sunday-school picnic was held on the grounds of Mr. Tickle. It was a splendid day’s outing for the children, who were conveyed to the ground in waggons. Tennis, croquet, and other games were played.
New Mining Syndicate
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. – A New Mining Syndicate. – A syndicate has been formed, comprising several local business men, with a view to working a piece of country on the estate belonging to Mr. W. T. Mortlock, near Mintaro, for goId. It seems that the syndicate means business, and work is to be started at once. Two men have been engaged, and all arrangements have been made for testing the locality, where it is known that a quantity of gold has been won. “Both alluvial and reef work will be attended to.
Utility of the Mule
THE MULE. The Utility of the Mule. Many years ago in South Australia when horses were less plentiful, mules were largely used for drawing loads long distances. Early colonists of the Lower North will remember the long mule teams which were used to convey copper ore from the Burra mine to Kapunda to be forwarded by rail to Adelaide. For many years the mule like the bullock, has gone out of use, but of late years there has been a tendency towards his general use. Of his utility there is no doubt. He is hardy, a good worker, and will do well under circumstances where horses would be incapable for requirements. Consequently, tho breeding of mules has been taken up by some stock breeders, and the demand for them shows that any prejudice that has existed against them is passing. Our illustrations give a good idea of the favor into which the mule has come. Recently a pair were sold in Kapunda for £50. They were bred by Mr. J. N. Smith, of Fords, near Kapunda. In America the mule is commonly used, and sometimes very large teams are to be seen. For instance, one of the illustrations is of a team of 34 drawing a gigantic reaping machine on a farm in the Far West of America. The reaper is a really wonderful piece of machinery. It not only cuts the wheat, but threshes it, cleans it, and even sacks it in one continuous operation. The quantity of work it performs is prodigious, and yet both mules and machine require only three men to superintend them. [image] A THIRTY-FOUR MULE TEAM. [image] A MOB OF MULES.
Dr Brown coming home
Dr. Jethro Brown, the new Professor of Law at Adelaide University, was born at Mintaro, and so is coming home. He is a nephew of Dr. Torr.
STANLEY, January 1906
District Councils. STANLEY, January 6. Present— The Chairman, Councillors J. Nykiel, and P. Smith. Circular received from Crown Lands Office re amending the Bush Fires Act. Hours for burning stubble fixed at 4 to 8 p.m. from February 14. £1 1s to be subscribed to the Home for Incurables. Audited accounts and balance-sheet for the past half year produced, read, and adopted. Main roads to be inspected. Mintaro pound to be temporarily closed, pending appointment of poundkeeper in place of J. McDermott deceased. Board of Health.—Secretary reported the death of Sanitary Inspector. Mr. George Scarfe appointed at £7 per year. Works ordered—Tenders for main road maintenance, and for 6 chains of metal on Farrell’s Flat, north of Cope’s. Receipts, £38 9s 8d ; payments, district fund, £31 2s
Professor Jethro Brown
Professor Jethro Brown, M.A., LL.D. (Cantab.), who is now Professor of Laws in the University College of Wales, Abersystwyth, has been appointed to succeed Professor Salmond as Professor of Law at the University of Adelaide. Professor Brown is a son of the late Mr. James Brown, of Mintaro, and was born in South Australia. He had a distinguished academical career. In 1892 he was Professor of History and Law at the University of Tasmania. Since then he has held the chair of law at the University of Sydney, University College in London, as well as at the Welsh College. Last year he was one of the examiners in law at both the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Dr. Brown is expected to arrive in Adelaide in May next.
Burra Fifty Years Ago
BURRA IN DAYS OF THE MULE. COPPER SMELTING FIFTY YEARS AGO. By an Old Man. A few weeks ago when I noticed in the “Herald” the article on the old Burra mining days, I thought that a few lines regarding the old smelting days would be of interest to your readers, as there are, no doubt, some who know but little of the history of the old smelting works, although born, as it were, in sight of the isolated old smoke stack at present standing erect as a pleasant land mark and a reminder that Burra has seen better days. I would ask that we for a short time consider ourselves about 45 or 50, years younger, or imagine ourselves living in Burra in the year 1855. At that time things in the town were much different to what they are at present. Now we can see the ruins of what used to be a very busy place. There is nothing now but old tumble down buildings—truly a scene of desolation. But about 45 years ago, to take a walk round the old smelting works was an interesting event; still, even at the time I am writing, the first thing to strike the mind of anyone who had resided in Burra some years previously was the state of inactivity. This was brought about through the want of labor. On visiting the works at this time it was noticeable that out of nineteen furnaces capable of smelting from 80 to 90 tons of rough copper a week, and which had been known to turn out 95 tons, only five were working, the rest not having men to carry on the necessary work, besides the carting of fuel was much too slow. To show how the Victorian gold rush had affected Burra, I might say at this time the want of laborers was rather surprising, although steady men were offered splendid wages. At the time of my references, there were about 6,000 tons of ore waiting to be treated, and although the price of copper was good, the company could not get the stuff treated. As I said before, the state of affairs was surprising, and no wonder, when it was found that instead of the 1,000 men the company wanted to man the works, there were only about 200 available. I heard that at one time 400 teams could be counted yolked up consisting of about 3,500 bullocks. The establishment at the time mentioned, was in every way complete, comprising all within itself. There was a 35-stall stable, but the animals principally in use were mules, the smelting company alone owning about 450. They were chiefly worked in shafts, and 10 of them were able, in about eight days, to take three tons of ore or copper to Port Wakefield and return with a like weight of coal. This allowing them time for unavoidable delays, enabled them to average three trips a month. Two hundred of the mules were brought from South America. The company had 12 waggons weighing 18 cwt each, being all built on the ground and there were about fifty more which had been imported from England. As regards the furnaces, each one consumed from £120 to £130 worth of coal per week, a very large stock necessarilly (sic) having to be kept on band. The only skilled labor required on the smelting was the management of the fires and the drawing of slag without wasting the copper; for the rest ordinary unskilled labor sufficed. As regards men from different countries, there were all sorts. There were a lot of Chilian laborers, with their wives and families, besides English, Irish, and Welsh. At the time to which I refer from 120 to 130 tons of ore was smelted per week, yielding an average of 23 per cent of copper. Iron from manganese was greatly used for fluxing purposes, which was got at the place now called Ironmine, near Leighton, about 10 miles west of Burra. Another feature worthy of mention was the immense consumption of fire bricks. The company made these on the premises, getting the fire clay from the chalk cliffs, where it is at present possible to get fire clay second to none in Australia, thus leaving a profitable industry open for development. To manufacture these bricks a 40-horse power condensing engine had been erected, and with two pairs of rollers for the purpose of crushing the clay, was to be seen busy working, with the crushers for the fluxes. Everything worked well together, and as far as the quality of the fire bricks was concerned, they could not be beaten in South Australia at any rate. At this time the smelting establishment included a general store, a weighbridge, black smith’s, wheel-wright’s, and saddler’s shops, &c. On account of the scarcity of tradesmen the wheelwrights were for some time being paid 20s. per day. The general manager of this time (Mr. Williams) had a large residence, now partially occupied by Mr. F. Treloar. The company se well known as the English and Australian Chartered Company, I gather, commenced operations in South Australia in 1849, and up to the end of 1854 had smelted no less than 7,590 tons of fine copper, the average value of which may be set down at about £95 per ton. The price, at the time of which I am referring, being £120. During the same period the company had shipped 21,000 tons of ore, and had consumed about 27,000 tons of coal. According, to old reports, in six months, October 1850 to March 1851, the amount of carriage between Burra and Port Wakefield alone was about 10,000 tons each way, viz., 10,300 tons of coal up and 9,600 tons of ore down. During the season, which at the time of my reference was about at an end, the quantity had been about 3,000 each way. The Port Wakefield road (about 70 miles in length) had for a long time been
Continental at Mintaro
MANOORA. November 18. —Continental at Mintaro.— On Monday evening, November 13, a continental was held at the home of Mr. D. H. Power, in aid of the Anglican Church, Mintaro. The attendance was a large and appreciative one and the proceeds are a substantial aid to the church. A varied programme of instrumental and vocal musical and dramatic efforts was ably carried out, by the Misses Robins, Parsons, and Ward, and Messrs. Dempster, Parsons and Beeton. Miss Norman, as fortune teller, was also a great attraction to those who wished to pry into their future. The beautiful house and lawn were gaily decorated with flowers and lit up with numerous Chinese lanterns and acetylene lamps, and looked charming. Everybody seemed happy and to thoroughly enjoy the outing, the programme, and the bountiful supper provided. Mr. F. H. Weston, proposed a well-deserved vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Power and those who took part in the programme for the treat they had given the public. Mr. Power suitably responded. —Haymaking.— Farmers are just commencing hay making. There are some magnificent crops in the district, the late rains just suiting this part, have brought the crops on wonderfully. The late frosts have damaged some of the crops, but to what extent cannot yet be ascertained.
Mintaro News
MINTARO. November 15.- A Continental in aid of St. Peter’s Church was held on the grounds of Mr. D. H. Power, Wirrilla, near Mintaro, on Monday evening, when a large concourse of people assembled, and a varied programme of instrumental and vocal selections was carried out by Misses Parsons, Robins, Ward, and Beeton. The grounds were illuminated with Chinese lanterns, and presented the appearance of a veritable fairy land. Supper was provided. The proceeds should be a substantial addition to the church funds.