CHILDREN’S CORNER
CHILDREN’S CORNER. ST. VINCENT’S JUVENILE CLUB. Little things on little wings, Bear little souls to Heaven. Letters to Aunt Eily. … Mintaro Station, December 26. Dear Aunt Eily— The old year is dying out, and the new one fast approaching, but I must not let it pass away without writing to you and wishing you and the orphans “A Happy New Year.” I intended to write before Christmas. Our holidays commenced on December 22. I like school very much, but I am glad the holidays have come. I ride my pony to school, and though I love riding I do not find it at all pleasant on hot days. Our annual examination took place a short time ago, and I obtained my compulsory certificate. I received my badge, and was very pleased to get it. I think it is very pretty. I am sure Rev. Mother finds it very difficult to do that sum you spoke of. Of course, St. Vincent’s Club will do it. Encloesd (sic) please find 5/ for the orphans. With the compliments of the season, from Your fond niece, Gertrude.
MISHAP TO THE MINTARO
THE MISHAP TO THE MINTARO. Port Pirie, December 31. The steamer Mintaro, 1,492 tons, Anderson captain, which grounded on Ward’s Spit last Wednesday, floated off this morning, and arrived at the wharf. She has 2,800 tons of coal on account of the Adelaide Steamship Company.
Country News
COUNTRY NEWS. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] MINTARO, February 6. Father Bogalski, S.J., who has been in charge of the Mintaro parish for the past eleven years, bid adieu to his congregation on Sunday last. As the result of a stroke of paralysis received some four years ago, he has become very feeble, and he is no longer able to undertake the duties of a parish priest. The parting scene was most touching and pathetic. The aged pastor was visibly affected in his farewell exhortation to the parents and children, and when he concluded by soliciting the prayers of his parishioners, the congregation melted into tears. When Mass was celebrated, a member of the congregation aptly remarked that the scene recalled to mind the description given of the parting of St. Paul from the clergy of Ephesus, when, before embarking, he knelt down and prayed with them on the shore, and when they wept, “being grieved most of all for the word which he had said that they should see his face no more.” Father Bogalski is not less loved; nor is his departure less lamented.
THE KADLUNGA SHROPSHIRES
THE KADLUNGA SHROPSHIRES. A VISIT TO A WELL-KNOWN STUD. [By our Special Reporter.] It is wonderful what a lot of wholesome enjoyment one can crowd into a day, especially a day spent in the country. I realized this to the full last Friday, when, with the babble of politicians still ringing m my ears, I caught the early train North and journeyed as far as Mintaro. What a different picture the country presents now compared with what it did this time last year! There is every prospect of a really good season. All we want to assure this is spring rains. A way up in the Far North and North-East during the recent awful drought I saw the lambs dying in all directions, with the grim sextons of the overway hovering around for their prey, and to remember that scene and look on the picture that presented itself as the train sped along—ewes lying down peacefully in the abundant feed and the lambs skipping about in the fulness of young life—was like a benediction. Mr. F. H. Weston was waiting at Mintaro with his buggy and pair, and we were soon spinning alone the road on the way to Kadlunga, the picturesque property of the Right Hon. S. J. Way, situated about six miles west of the Mintaro railway station, and eighty miles north of Adelaide. En route we called in at the Mintaro flag slate quarry, the workings presenting quite a busy sight. The old quarry on the other side of the road, which is now full of water and used in the warm weather for bathing purposes, was worked originally by Mr. Priest. It then got into the hands of a company of Melbourne speculators, and languished in consequence. The present Company which opened up on the other side of the road, had a hard struggle to keep afloat at first, but it is progressing very satisfactorily at present. The quarry is not only, on account of its freedom from breaks and by reason of the excellent texture of the stone, one of the first flag quarries in the colonies, but it is admittedly one of the best in the world. The Company, which has been in existence about five years, and is well provided with machinery, is at prevent carrying out a big order for the City Corporation. We saw a piece of slate with a perfect face which had recently been raised, and which weighed four tons. The heavy freight mars the success of an intercolonial trade. Passing through the village of Mintaro, which name Mr. Weston thinks is of Spanish-American origin, I was shown the old police station, a solid structure, which cost £1,000 to erect, and which at present is bringing in a rental of 1s. 6d. a week—very good interest on the original outlay! Ere long we drew up at the entrance to the Kadlunga Estate. Kadlunga means ‘hills and water,’ and any one visiting the property at the present time would realize the appropriateness of the name. The homestead is surrounded by ranges some 2,000 ft. above sea level, while mention of the fact that 23 in. of rain has fallen this year will give same (sic) idea as to whether there is any water about or not. The estate since it came under the able management of Mr. F. H. Weston has been greatly improved and the natural beauties of the place added to by extensive plantations of sugar-gums, pines, English trees, and well-selected shrubs. The homestead is situated at the head of a glen on the dividing ridge of the watershed, one fall making for the Wakefield and the other for the Broughton. The outcrop of weather-worn rocks gives a rugged grandeur to the surroundings which no artificial methods could impart. Among the harmonious confusion of rocks the wattle has found a footing, and the wealth of yellow flowers lends a glow of colour to the verdure-clad elevations which is particularly captivating, while the presence of a rock wallaby now and again darting in and out and round about adds further life and pleasure to the scene. The music of running waters is a feature which never fails to charm in South Australia. The creek, which was dried up by the drought, is quite sportive again, the waters careering along at an exhilarating rate. On the banks, which are composed of peaty soil, at present quite marshy and sodden owing to the bountiful showers, weeping willows grow. But one might as well attempt to paint the lily as try to describe the natural beauties of the homestead at Kadlunga. But it can safely be said that the view from the top window of the dwelling looking away over the huge basin with the delicate blue line of the Barossa Range in the distance does not easily fade from the memory. The average rainfall is between 28 and 30 in. I went up to see the Shropshire sheep, and I haven’t said anything about them yet. To the Right Hon. S. J. Way belongs the honour of introducing the farmers’ sheep into Australia. It is a wonderful sheep, and under the Southern Cross it has more than justified its high reputation. The Shropshire sheep is descended from a breed which has been known to exist in Shropshire and Staffordshire for upwards of a century, for Plymley, writing in the ‘Agriculture of Shropshire’ in 1803 thus describes this sheep—’There is a breed of sheep on the Longwynd that seems an indigenous sort. They are nimble and hardy and weigh nearly 10 ld. per quarter when fatted. The fleeces on the average may yield 2½ lb. of wool.’ Though sometimes confused with the Southdown the Shrop is a bigger sheep and a better-woolled sheep. The original Shrop was horned, and though some few writers state that the Southdown was used in the first attempt at improvement of the breed and to effect the removal of the horns, many men equally well qualified
MARTINDALE HALL
Personal Gossip … “Martindale Hall,” near Mintaro (S.A.), residence of Mr. W. T. Mortlock, M.P., was built for Mr. Bowman about 20 years ago at a cost of £30,000. The contractor, Mr. R. Huckson, also rebuilt the Adelaide T.R. and put in the foundations of the new Gov. offices Victoria-square. Was Mr. Huckson too who, 40 years ago, built the Melbourne Treasury. When last heard of he was living in Tas.
MORTIMER—TRALAGGAN WEDDING
MORTIMER—TRALAGGAN.—On the 3rd August, at the residence of the bride’s father, Mintaro, by the Rev. W. J. Mortimer, assisted, by the Rev. D. S. Wylie, Richard, second son of the late Richard Mortimer, of Mintaro, to Louisa, the eldest daughter of Edward Tralaggan.
BROWN- BENNETT WEDDING
BROWN—BENNETT.—On the 29th December, 1897, at the residence of the bride’s mother, High School, Riverton, by the Rev. J. Gillingham, James Henry Brown, fifth son of the late James Brown, Esq., of Montrose, Mintaro, to Eleanor Maud, eldest daughter of the late John Bennett, Esq., Selwyn House, Woodville.
MULETEERS
WHEN WE WERE BOYS. [By an Ex-M.P.] … The English and Australian Copper Company had imported from South America some hundreds of mules with a number of muleteers. To the boys these formed a wonderful sight when they first trooped through the Burra. How we did admire those Spaniards as they rode along in their graceful gaily coloured ponchos and great sombreros, with immense spurs jingling and lassos fastened to queer-shaped, silver-decorated saddles. At the head of the troop was a Spaniard leading a piebald Chilian mare, with a small bell round her neck. No sweet vesper-bell ever had more charm for nuns devout than that little tinkle had for those—at that time—wild unbroken mules. Wherever the mare went there went they a la Mary’s little lamb. The Spaniards were passionately fond of watermelons. At that time these were so plentiful in the neighbourhood of the Burra that heaped-up bullock-dray loads would be brought in and sold for a song. As Don Pedro Ramirez was riding by one day I gave him a beauty, for which he treated me to a delightful canter on his mule. Ever after he was my friend. The mule camp was at Apoinga, about twenty miles away. One Saturday afternoon Pedro yielded to my earnest entreaties and took me home with him. He was the only Spaniard who was accompanied by his wife, and there was a daughter of about eleven or twelve years. The Senora Carlota was a merry, handsome woman, with great blue-black, velvety eyes, the sort that ruin more men than are killed by whisky—and the little Senorita Inez was the image of her mother. The mules were my delight; but how earnestly did the Senora and Inez, more by pantomime than speech, caution me about the danger that lurked in their hind legs! Not long ago I read of a little fellow who first saw the word ‘fool’ in print. ‘What’s a foul, dad?’ said he. ‘Well, my son, well—a fool is a man that strokes the hind-leg of a mule.’ ‘And does he find out that he’s a fool, dad?’ ‘Not in this world, my son.’ The next day was Sunday, and what a glorious day it was—one which should have lasted for ever. In the morning Pedro saddled a couple of mules, and with the sweet little Senorita I went for a ride. In the afternoon Carlota and Inez rolled dainty cigarettes, and we all lazily smoked. In the evening Pedro went off to gamble, the Senora played her guitarra, and Inez danced—danced in a manner which her namesake in the Ben Gaultier ballads might have been envied. Swifter than the Tartar’s arrow, lighter than the lark in flight— On the left foot now she bounded, Now she stood upon the right. The reluctant parting next morning was somewhat sweetened by Inez’s promise to send me a billete o caria amorosa by Pedro every week, a promiso which was faithfully kept. Many were the subsequent visits which I enjoyed at the mule camp, where I learnt to throw both Pedro’s lasso and Carlota’s beautiful little ivory-handled punal. But these Spanish-Americans longed for their Santiago home, and all too soon the time arrived for their departure. I begged to be taken with them, and Inez sobbingly seconded her balanteador’s entreaties. The Senora showed signs of yielding, but Don Pedro was adamant, so Inez and I arranged that as soon as I grew a moustache like her father’s I was to go to Santiago and marry her. Then we parted. Inez consoling me by promising to pray her patron saint every night to hasten on the moustache.
Obit. Grace Trallagan
MEMORABILIA, 1897. NOVEMBER … 18. … Obit.— … Mrs. Grace Tralaggan, of Mintaro, aged 91 and 10 months; arrived in the colony in 1840. …
Grace Tralaggan Death
TRALAGGAN.—On the 13th November, at Mintaro, after 48 hours’ illness, Grace, relict of the late F. Tralaggan, mother of H. Tralaggan, Mount Bryan, and E. Tralaggan, Mintaro, aged 91 years 10 months. Arrived in the ship Java, 1840.