1950 - Chudleigh, E. R. Diary of E. R. Chudleigh 1862-1921 - CHAPTER II. SORTING STOCK BEFORE THE SALE OF THE SPRINGS; LONGBEACH; OFFERED WORK AT MT. PEEL; THE SALE, p 47-65

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CHAPTER II

SORTING STOCK BEFORE THE SALE OF THE SPRINGS; LONGBEACH; OFFERED WORK AT MT. PEEL; THE SALE.

4th July. Cold, dry. Eight of us started in the morning well mounted and by six in the evening succeeded in yarding over 100, most of them cows and calves. De Rensey and I were both rushed once but our horses were much too nimble to be caught. They bounded out of the way in an instant and the animals shot by like a thunderbolt. One man going full split after a bullock it stoped dead. The horse went up against its sides with such force that he was shot out of the saddle but not much hurt.

5th. Damp in the morning.

Snowed from twelve all day till Sunday. This is the country in which it never snows according to some swell's account. We helped young Mathias on a few miles with the cattle which are going on to another run. They are his father's [the Archdeacon]. Got and paid for my whip and left my old one to be freshly tailed. Whips are 1£ each. Came back to the Springs.

8th. Damp. Polished up my stirup-irons and bit. Put furse over the yard we are going to kill in, the mud being about two feet deep. Draper came up from town and brought news of the fight. The navey was getting the best of it but Harry Jones beat in the end of which I am very sorry as he is a bouncing bruit. Milked 7 or 8 cows to help the men.

9th. Rain in the mourning. Fine all day. Out on the run all day collecting the cattle that had been scattered by the snow storms. Some had come 16 miles before the snow. Brought home 7 6 of Knapman's for the butcher, 1 for ourselves. The cow and steers stuck us up at the yards so we left them in the paddock. Cox and Millet came here to-day. I do not know what to think of either yet. Millett is of Cornish extraction. A fether in his cap in my eyes.

10th. Dry harde froast. Killed the cow. Cox had four shots and Draper one before it was droped, rather good shooting for five yards. Settled with Parleby 12£ 2s 6d. Jones and Hardecastle came in the evening so with Mr Cox and Millett we are rather full. A curious speach of an irishwoman worried Mrs F. G. [who] told her that a lot of men were coming here soon and she did not know where to find room for them. She replied, if they are married

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they may sleep in my room, but I'm not going to have a lot of boys turning my room upside down.

11th. Hard froast. Started Hardecastle some way on the road with his cousin Millet. Draper and I went all about the run looking for some calves which we did not find. Went over Mr F. G.'s new town of Lincoln on the banks of No. 1 Gully. Went to Campbells and ordered a stock whip handle. Came home and found George Sale and soon after Robert Jackson and his sister came so we are always full. Mrs F. G. and George Sale played and sang all the evening very nicely. Sale has been six months on the digings.

12th. Cold, cloudy. Went to Ch.Ch. in the morning with Cox. Brought up the letters and executed all my commissions with my usual correctness. One letter contained a cheque for over 5000£ so I have to take it to Harman. All the cattle we cut out for young Mathias got away from him in the snowstorm of Monday and joined with their mobs again. Paid 2£ 7/6 for my boots to-day. Do not owe a penny to anyman.

13th. Fine. Went to Ch.ch. with near 5000£ of station money to Mr Harman.

14th. Very hard froaste. Draper, Amy, Willie and I were out on the run all day collecting the cattle. Brought home about 30 and yarded most of them. Robert Jackson came up for his sister. Draper and I leave here at daybreak tomorrow with cattle for Long-beach where we have to cut out some 200 head. I expect to be away about ten days.

15th. Dry, cold. Up before daylight and after several delays got off in good time. The snow was all gone on this side of the Selwin though the ground was harde froazen. On the other side it gradually increased till we reached the Racia which we did an hour after dark. It froase all day. I do not think I have been colder for a long time than today. Met OBrian and we had a talk about the old Matoaka and its passengers.

16th. Dry. Froasty. Draper and I after a deal of trouble got the cattle across the river which fortunately was dead low, the calves were near dead with the cold. OBrian came a short way with us. The country looked very strange, one sheet of white only broken by the sea on the left. The hills looked like rows of sugar loaves. We drove along for 20 miles without a single sign of anything living in any direction. We reached Turton's at seven and had a sucking pig for tea, a wilde one.

17th. Dry, froast. A lot of us amused ourselves sliding over a

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branch of the Ashburton, a thing not often to be done. The ice was over 4ft. thick. We drove the beasts on to the Longbeach and then roade on to Hardecastle's where we found Cox and Millet and Cartwright the man who brings the cattle. We got in time for tea. We passed some 15000 sheep on their way to Dunedin and there are over 2000 cattle on the road also; the market will be glutted with those cattle but not with fat.

18th. Dry. The ground covered with ice all but impossible to keep the horses on their legs. Went to the station and got the cattle together, put them over a bite for the night to keep them from mixing again. This little job took 8 of us some 5 or 6 hours rideing about like madmen to accomplish, after having riden nearly twenty miles in the morning. We cooked our tea and went to bed and slept soundely. In this expedition we only take our boots off, the bed being two planks on the clay floor of the hutt.

19th. Damp, cold mist. We went in different directions to look for the cattle with an arrangement to meet at a fixed spot, which we did with much difficulty by the middle of the day and were going home in a bad temper, cold and wet, when the mist lifted for an hour which gave us time to get the cattle. We drove them along the coast 8 miles to their old camp left them with their new owner and went on to Scot and Grey's [Coldstream] where we four, Cox, Draper, Millet and I slept.

20th. Dry in the morning, rain at night. Took the cattle over the Rangitata and went about 20 miles back to Hardcastle.

21st. Dry. Draper and I took a cow and calf and bullock from Hardecastles to the station. Millett went to get a few wilde pigs of which animals there are hundreds about here. Cox went to Ashburton to see a man about some cattle and came back to the station disappointed. We were a large party in the hutt tonight. Mr Moore [of Glenmark] who has bought half of the run and four of us. We had tea and rowled up in our blankets.

22nd. Misty in the morning soon cleared off. Mustering all day. Bob Cooper came in the morning for two horses. We went down to the beach in the evening and after making each other and ourselves wet through went home.

23rd. Cloudy. Started Draper and Cooper with their horses for Mount Peel. Cox and I went on the run and after waiteing a long time for the men about some more cattle went back to Hardecastles. I cleaned my saddle and bridle. Wain came by on his way to Ch.Ch. We had a long yam on things in general. I

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contemplated another journey to Dunedin with some of Mr Coxes fat cattle.

24th. Dry. Having nothing to do and having finished my two books Rolande de Montville and Granby I took a good walk with Nettle as companion. Draper and Cooper came back in the evening.

25th. Fine. Draper and I started early to the [Longbeach] station for the horses, about five and twenty young ones and an old mare that does mother for all so I caught the mamma and roade her, the young ones all followed to Hardecastle where we picked up Bob Cooper and some more foals and then went on to the Ashburton which had been rising for three hours, the water came over my knees. The horses were in a great fright and came round the mare like a flock of children. We got across all right and soon got over the wetting. We expected the Racia to be high so we arranged to leave early. Went 50 miles.

26th. Rain. Up by five. Had a bit of bread and started. Went 20 miles to the river which we reached in good time, found it rising fast. We struck the river opposite the A. C. house and came out 5 miles up the stream. Cooper and I had a swim and we were always in a state of bob. We went from spit to spit. It took us over three hours to cross. It rained and blew all the time. We had breakfast and I changed the yellow cow, a fine horse in the water, for the old mare Sprightly and went away home 23 miles over the plains with my youngsters. The Selwin was low. Reached home soon after dark, making 100 miles in 2 days.

27th. Fine. Mr Harper's Sunday Service in the evening.

28th. Fine and very hot. Cleaned my saddle and bridal which wanted it very much. Helped the [FitzGerald] children to catch and clip their fowls and mend the yard and make nests in the hen house etc. etc. Read some of the funny parts of Virdant Green to them in the evening and rote some more of this diary off from my notebook. I have four weeks to take off yet from June 2 to the 22nd. It is a great trouble to write from notes.

29th. Fine. Mrs F. G. has been unwell for several days and today being worse I went to Ch.Ch. with a note to Dr. Barker who came up at once. I finished my commissions of which I always have a number called for Mrs Gresson and came back. Mrs F. G. has been realy very ill, she is better now. Mrs Gresson stays here some days. Mr Cox and Millett came here and Draper came back to-night so the house is full.

30th. Fine. Cox and Millett left in the morning. Draper

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and I were on the run all day, took some very wilde bullocks to Ch.Ch for the butcher. One of them would run after you like a dog till he was pumped and would then stand and shake his head at you. It was very cold in the evenings and looked snowy. Mrs F. G. is still very unwell. Some fellow has pounded four of our horses so Draper and I shall have to fetch them tomorrow.

31st. Damp and cold in the morning and continued rain all day after eleven. Draper having several things to do in Ch.Ch went for the horses. We heard that a lot of our cows were pounded last night. There is some consolation in knowing that the cattle doe the fences more harm than the pound does us. I have many things to do when I have a day. I shall begin my home letter tonight.

1st August. Rain all day. Mending clothes a great part of the day, began the Diary of a Physician by Samuel Warren a very good book. Mrs Fitz-Gerald is much better, came down after dinner. Mrs Gresson is here still, a very nice quiet motherly person and my idea of a Judge's Lady. Draper went to town again to-day. We want a dry day to bring in a bullock to kill. Killed two pigs this week.

2nd. Dry. S. W. Going over to Mrs Lowes with my corduroys to be altered. I took Amy with me on Midge, Mrs Gresson's pony formerly Mrs F. G.'s I roade her a little before Amy as she is apt to be freshey so report says, but Midge was quite sane to-day. G. D. Draper has not made his appearance yet, I must send an eye after him if he does not appear tomorrow. Payed Campbell 7/- for my whip handle.

3rd. Fine. I brought some horses in from the run in the morning and worked at the Springs draging watercress out. This is fast covering the whole springs again. The worst thing that can come to a river is to have watercress. Draper and Cooper came up by dinner time so we all went on the run and succeeded in bringing the bullock we wanted nearly to the gates when it went off and could not be persuaded to stop. We secured a heifer though.

5th. Rain. The balls being too small for the gun they will not go straight but after sending some eight balls in her head she dropt. The yards are in a frightful state. It rained the whole day. We put three loads of furse and two of straw under the gallows but it all went under the mud. Every now and then your foot went through the straw and you stood a good chance of loosing yourself altogether.

6th. Fine. Mrs F. G. and Mrs Gresson started in the medium

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for Ch.Ch., Pearson the foreman, Amy Willy and myself riding. The track is almost impassable. I was fully employed thrashing on the leaders to keep them from being stuck altogether. We met the judge half way down coming to look for his wife. He took off his hat to the ladies and would have passed on had I not spoken to him. He has the worst seat on a horse I ever saw. Wyllie came back with me. I came back on the plain through the densest fog I have seen out here. We did not leave till sunset.

7th. Fine. My horse jumped a five barred gate standing this morning of his own accord. His former owner told me he was a splendid jumper. Did various little things in the morning, draged the Springs in the afternoon and caught some small eels. People were cooheeing all over the plains last night, they lost their ways. I set some right. It was very hot and would do them no harm to sleep out. I could not keep Willie out all night so I went home. I hit every mark right and my horse does not know the road. 7/-for whip handle Mr G. D. D. [G. Draper].

8th. Showers. Ditches and bank fencing, took the old boat out of the springs. I shall try to mend it. Draper came back without the horses. He could not finde them. He goes to Ch.Ch. tomorrow to stand God Father to Mrs Mellish's youngster. We commence cutting out and driving cattle again on Monday. We shall take cattle from here to Longbeach and from there to Mount Summers and then bring back other brands from Longbeach here to deliver to their owners.

9th. Dry, cloudy. Road with Willie to Whites and Days. Draper is gone to Ch.Ch. I gave him a cheque for 10£. Pulling watercress all the afternoon. Helped the men to milke. This is the worst time of the year for cows, 20 give about two pails full and no more. We only milk them to keep them on till the grass begins to grow, they soon pick up then.

11th. Cold, damp. Brought in the horses and cleaned the yard in the morning. Draper, the Judge and a Mr Reynolds [Reynell] came just as I was going to dinner so we all dined together. I and Willie brought in a bullock to be killed tomorrow. Draper went with a butcher to take the bullocks to Rickerton. The Judge and Reynolds went with Pearson to look at the pigs, cows, etc. wishing to buy some. Draper returned my cheque and I tore it up.

12th. Fine. Very hard froaste all night, hot in the day. Draper, Willie and I were out on the run all day. We were twelve hours in the saddle, a long time for a boy of nine years. Willie

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has often taken a ride of over 30 miles with me. We took some cattle to Mansfield the butcher. Draper received 11£ 10/- from Day for a bullock. Cox came here while we were out. I saw a most brilliant meteor this evening about 7 p.m.

13th. Fine. Draper and I driving and drafting horses all the morning and a very dirty job it is knee deep in mud and splashed all over. Driveing old milkers from one ground to another in the afternoon, turned Orelands Snowball out on the run with the other horses; we are doubtful about their staying with them.

14th. Draper and I went all over the run collecting the stray cattle and driveing them into their own mobs, we found the mob of thorough bread calves and drove home 19. They took a deal of whip to bring them on, the winter had made them very weak. Met Hardecastle going to Ch.Ch and John driveing the dray.

15th. Fine. I had a tremendous job to finde and get in the horses to-day. I went over some 15 miles. It was 12 o'clock before I got in. We then had a lot of drafteing in knee deep mud, then we dressed and went to Ch.Ch., called on the Gressons and saw Mrs F. G. who still looks very unwell. Mr F. G. talks of coming down [from Wellington] at the end of the month. Had tea with the Mellish's, great friends of Drapers. Mrs M. was a Miss Cooper. I think them nice people.

16th. Fine. Very windy, rain at night, going about all day. Dined at the Club [in Papanui Road], a very nice building but not pretty. Waited to see Cox till it was too late to go out, who had gone to Port to see one of his shipmates embarke for home. His name is Fielding [Fielden] he has had several Epelbphic fits brought on by drinking. Called on the Packes. Spent the evening at the Gressons, the judge is not at home.

18th. Fine, windy. George, Willie and I drove six bullocks to the butcher. We have often to drive between two fences and as soon as we have some woman will come out of her house and look at us. The cattle will not pass any one on foot so they turn round and rush 2 or 3 miles back and no earthly power can stop them. We are sometimes an hour trying to pass one house and often the cattle get so savage we are obliged to give it up and go some six miles out of our way solely because of the women, the men have sense enough to lie down.

19th. Cold and cloudy in the morning. Fine all day. George, Willie and I on the run all day. We cut out a good many but missing some that we must take to Mount Summers we left them and Draper and I tryed to bring in a bullock for the butcher. He

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gave us some four hours harde work and we could not do anything with it after all. We founde Outlaw and his mob today. Made a plant of some 60 yds. of rope near 22 trig pole. Gerard F. G. [brother of J. E. FitzGerald] came up in the evening. Found Cox in a most peculiar state of minde. Rather mad.

20th. Fine. Cox and Draper gone to Ch.Ch. Cox looks as if he was dying and told G. he thought he was in the night and wanted him to get a clergyman. He looks as if something were tormenting his conscience. I went with a butcher to get in the celebrated black bullock that no one has ever yarded yet and after six hours hard riding and nocking two stock-whips to pieces and then resorting to a large wagon whip I got him inside the yards 5 times and the last time kept him there. The horses and I looked as if we had been rowled in deep mud. I now found the bull loose. He had chased the men to the house where they had fortified themselves with drays and carts. Master Barney had smashed his leather chain in two which is large enough to hold a ship, torn the hood off his eyes and was amusing himself by rooting up small trees, charging the large ones, nocking over some casks and piecies, roaring and blowing foam from his nose intensely happy. Pearson was on a cart mare that wisely would not be persuaded to go near him for she certainly would have been cought. My horse seemed to enjoy the fun and bounded out of Barney's way he receiving a slash across the eyes every time so he ran into the yard. My horse did not like to face him in so small a space but Master Barney on receiving one more cut ran into his town house like a cur dog where he was at once roaped up.

21st. Fine, quite Summer. I went to Ch.Ch. Dined at the Club with Enys, met Tryp who was very kind and told me to make myself at home at his station as long as he is in the country "he is going to England," very sorry he had not seen me before. I went to the Bishops to see Acland but he was gone to Port. Cox was much better but is still in an odd state.

22nd. Fell in with Mr Acland just as I was starting for the Springs. He asked me to come to Mount Peel next shearing which I shall do. I had mearly time to enquire for Mrs Acland who is quite well. I hope to see him again in a day or two. Mrs F. G. is still very unwell. Dr. Barker and Mrs Gresson will not let her move yet on any account.

24th. The bull got loose again. Smith, his keeper and I got him in again on foot. The fastening unhooked. It is to be mended

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before he goes out of his house again. Draper brought up the English mail.

25th. High, hot N. W. Half the run has just been burnt, and the air is dark with the smoak of distant fires and clouds of burned dust are wirling about all over the country. Draper, the butcher and I with infinite trouble got together 7 beasts that have never been yarded and drove them some 10 miles and within 2 miles of their destination when they cought sight of two horrible "men this time" on foot. They turned round and rushed away like mad things. We flew before them, cracked our whips and screamed but no go. If we came within 20 yards of them they came at us with a roar. Every stock-horse knows he must win the race or be tossed so they do go it.

26th. Rain. Last night coming home we had a line of unbroken fire on our right between 15 and 20 miles. It was a very grand sight. There were innumerable small vires or our left and some large ones of the Port Hills an extensive illumination. We again looked for the bullocks we lost yesterday. We found 3 and with the aid of 36 cows and calves we by nine at night got one bullock into the paddoc to do which we had ridden four horses off their legs and been over 24 hours in the saddle. We slept at an A. C. 130 people left Port for the new digings. Two men found 87 lbs [?] on Mt. Gatkin.

27th. Fine. Left some of the beasts behind for another butcher and brought the rest back to the run which was little trouble. Brought in a mob of horses and drafted them. I took the ones not wanted on to the run again. Draper went to town to do several things, one, to get a set of boxing gloves. Cox was here in the evening and brought up a lot of punches with him. He has cleared all his things out now and starts for Mt. Summers tomorrow.

28th. Rain and wind. Willie and I went about the run looking for sundry stray calves and foals but with not much success, founde the four lost bullocks in their own mob looking all the worse for their running. Young Curtiss walked out of the mob to meet us when we came near and shook his head in a threatening way so we were very respectful and kept our distance. Clearing some of the stock-yard it is like working in the tuffest of clay with furze and straw worked well into it. It is the tuffest stuff I ever saw.

29th. Showers. Doing several things about the station in the morning. Draper came back and brought Reynolds with him to look at some calves we could not find. We all three went to town

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in the evening and took down two horses one for Mr J. F. G. who we expect down by water tomorrow, the other for Mr Harper. Heard the German band in the evening, they played the first love waltzes for our edification after receiving 2/6 for the same.

30th. Very fine. Gerard F. G., George and I went to port and took F. G.'s horse for him. We took a boat at 3/- per hour and pulled and sailed about the harbour and called on an old farmer on the other side. We came round by the Sumner road which runs round by the coast for some distance and then you turn off to the right and a zig-zag path, takes you over the hills and into the town. Mr F. G. made this road and it is the only one drays can go over.

31st. Fine. Mr F. G. came in at 7 a. m. We went to Ch.Ch. after breakfast.

1st September. Fine. The gold fever has taken every other man in the place, they are going off by hundreds report says wages in Dunedin are 5/- per hour. Cattle over six hundred lbs, we know fetch 20£ a head, here they are 13£. O for some ready money to get a mob. Mr Harman wants George and I to take a mob down for him soon. Mr F. G. told us some very amusing stories of the Mourays. We left town in the afternoon and called on Mr Burton on our way home where we slept.

2nd. Hot and cold. Went on to the station and got the horses in, intending to bring in a Beast for Day and ourselves but we were caught by some nasty fellows and had to cut out some beasts for them first. We then with much trouble brought in two bullocks with the dry milkers as decoys, the third and one we most wanted broak at the gate and rushed us so we let him go. We try him at every opportunity but always fail; we probably shall have to shoot him.

3rd. Fine, a shower. We could not kill our bullock having to take cattle to Ch.Ch. for Cook it was to late to come back to-night so we slept at an A. C. We drafted in the morning before we left. The yards are in a much better state now. A Mr Wilmer yarded a mob of 120 head of cattle here this evening. They are going to Dunedin. Willie had to do host being the only one here.

4th. Hot and cold. Draper and I started at daylight, drove back the cows and calves also fell across a mob of our horses and met Mr Wilmer and his cattle, got to the station before ten, had breakfast, brought in the bullock which I droped at the first shot, skinned him and hung him up on the gallows for the night, took a lot of cows out of the paddoc into the horse bite, had a letter

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from Mrs F. G. full of household instructions. Draper and I have been boxing so we can neither of us write.

5th. Fine. I went to Ch.Ch. and took down Amy's poney for her to ride up tomorrow. I spent the day at the Gressons, the judge has a great deal to do this Assize. There are two prise fighting and one sheep-stealing cases. Mrs F. G. much better. I did not leave till about ten. It was past one before I got to bed. Draper and Smith brought in a mob of calves and put them in the paddock.

6th. Fine. Draper went to town. I was ditch and banking all day mending the calf paddoc. George, Mr F. G. and Amy came up in the evening. Mr F. G. played on the [gap] and sang some beautiful old English and Scotch songs and told us the most amusing stories of the Members at Wellington also of the natives. He approves of ammalgammateing the natives with the Europeans, so do all the whites that live among them.

8th. Very fine. By twelve o'clock we had packed the Circulating Medium, it contained 6 children and a nurse with their iron beds and bedding, two boxes about 3 cwt. each, 2 baths and perambulator and innumerable other things ammounting to over a ton. Mr F. G. and myself. We had Unicorn reversed. Mr J. F. G. drove down and I drove back in the evening without one mishap of any sort. The children are at Mary Thornton's, Mrs F. G. and Mr are living in Dr. Turnbull's till their own is finished. Mrs F. G. is much better. The place seems dead without the small animals.

9th. Started early and fortunately found George soon after he left Harman's [station]. We found our beasts on Wilson's run [Broadlands] and brought them home picking up three more on our road. We yarded them all by seven in the evening. A very thick damp fog came on at sunset. Pearson twisted my whip tight. It is not much improved.

10th. Took 11 beasts to the butchers most successfully and on the way back tryed to bring a bullock into our yards, but it would not come so we left it. Draper's pony came down head over heels but did not hurt him, only pinched his foot a little. We had fourteen horses pounded today and had to pay 28s. for the same owing to old Day leaving the gate open, the scamp.

11th. Misty. Draper and I brought down some 40 horses into the yard and drafted four, two stray ones for the pound and Outlaw a large horse about 6 years of age and a most savage disposition. We drove them to Ch.Ch. and yarded them. Went to hear Thatcher and Madame Vitilli who is his wife. She sang better than ever I herd her before. Thatcher was not himself he

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mad one or two hesitations and once Madam had to prompt him whilst they were singing together. Found two more stray horses.

12th. George, Carslake, Gore and I came up to the station. Carslake had lost two horses and had advertised them 5£ reward to the finder. They were the two we saw in our mob yesterday so he came up to fetch them. They had both been on this run before and that is why they came here. Draper went to town again with some papers for Gerard F. G. He comes up again tomorrow.

13th. Showers. Fencing all the day and finished all the places that can be mended with sods, the remaing ones must have rails. Draper is still in Town. I expect he has gone to port to see the Jollys and Miss Cooper who come down by steamer tomorrow. I do not admire living quite alone as I have often been doing lately. Enys is in town I believe again. Mr F. G. and Olivier the auctioneer come up on Monday to make arrangements for the sale.

14th. Fine. Took some clothes to Mrs Lowe's to be washed.

15th. Showers. Fenceing all the day. Draper came up in the afternoon and brought all the town news. He said Enys had taken a part of Butler's run and wants me to go partner with him. I should be very glad if I could get tin enough, it would be a very good chance of getting our own fortune perhaps, certainly living but I shall see him tomorrow and come to some understanding. I can and will do something as long as I have health.

16th. Showers. I had to take all the blankets and bedding down in the medium but I did not like the risk of wetting them so did not go and consequently have not seen Enys. Draper and I have been ditching and banking all the day. It has been cold and whet all the day. I must go down tomorrow with the things if the weather is at all fine.

17th. Misty. I got the horses in the morning. George and I packed the medium and started tandem for Ch.Ch. and got on without any greater misfortune than the near hac breaking the splinter bar coming out and a few such trifles till I got on to the shingled road near Ch.Ch. where I stuck and coaxing and thrashing were quite useless, so I got a third horse and after an hours delay again got on the move and at las[t] reached Ch. ch. I spent the evening with Enys. He does not know what to do yet.

18th. Fine. Went with Enys to see Haasts modle of the moor bird, also the self recording electrical machine. It is a wonderful invention and beautifully simple. Mrs F. G. and I took the things from Turnbulls to Jacksons where I dined and then drove home.

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George stayed in town nominilly to hear Thatcher but in reality to be "as little Willie told him in the hearing of all the family" making love to Miss Cooper. Children will use their eyes and their tongues.

19th. Fine. Mended a gap in the garden hedge. Collison came with a letter for George but he is not come back from Ch.Ch. Collison dined with me and went back in the afternoon.

20th. I went to Marchman [Marchant] in the morning to tell them they could not have our rowler for at least 10 days. They fortuneately did not want it for fourteen when we shall have finished. I got my old whip from McDonald. He has tailed it very nicely indeed and it is now a very valuable whip. George brought up my heavy whip from town with him today so now I have three in all and two very good. He brought the English mail, two letters from tiny old Mith to me.

22nd. Fine. Hot. Strong N. W. George and I started early with the intention of getting 16 miles on our way with all the D brand cattle on the run. They belong to Deans the oldest run-holder in Canterbury. We had several old milkers and nearly all the others pail fed, only seven wilde ones. We had collections from five different mobs and they all walk off in five different directions. My horse refused to move just before we yarded them six miles from home about seven in the evening. I met Mr Bealey at the A. C. for the first time.

23rd. Fine. Strong wind all day. We started early and drove some 40 miles, 10 of which we had no occasion to. We did not pass a drop of water for 30 miles and the wind blowing clouds of dust from the burnt ground dead in our face. The greatest part of the country had been burned within the last month. We came to some pools in a dry river-bed in a hole. I feel suar there were two horses two calves and a dog drinking together, a most extraordinary thing and we thought they would all burst.

24th. Fine. Went with Muckle the manager [of Homebush] to see the stockyard. It is the finest yard I ever saw and I believe there is not a finer one to be seen anywhere. It will hold two thousand head. It is mad of the strongest posts driven three or four feet into the ground with 8 above connected by cross planks not a foot apart. It has 6 divisions; many of the posts are 1 1/2 ft. in diameter and as strong as oak; the top rails are clamped with iron. No earthly power could break that. I brought in the horses in the afternoon.

25th. Fine. George left Ch.Ch. at 8 a. m. and was here [at

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the Springs] at 5. We had breakfast by 6 and started to muster the cattle which we did with great success getting two bullocks into the yard that were never there before, but we could not find one mob so we shall have to get it tomorrow. We want nearly 50 head yet. This will delay our starteing till Saturday. George and I practissed ower flash horses jumping some rails. He smashed two. I smashed one. My horse went highest.

26th. Fine. Brought 63 more cattle into the yards making 116 in all. We had some trouble drafting. A large white bullock nearly caught one of the men when drafting, some of them are very savage. We are in a state of doubt about the Racia, there has been a norwester in the hills for four or five days and there is every chance of the river being bank high and not passable for a week, the first fresh is always the highest.

27th. Rain. Left the Springs with 117 head of all ages and tempers and consequently it was very difficult to get on. The wilde ones rush off in a body towards their mobs, the cows and calves go off by themselves at a trot and the pail feds turn round and walk home so you do not know which to go after first. We got as far as Gigg's and left one large bullock at the yard.

28th. Showers. Lost and sold one. Crossed the Selwin and went 11 miles to the Racia. Dined.

29th. Fine. Crossed the river. Had tea, spelled them two hours, drove on till 3 this morning, gave them and the horses two hours rest but we had to ride 4 miles to get the horses to Turton's [A. C.] went back again and brought them [the cattle] to Turtons, had breakfast, crossed the Ashburton and I reached Longbeach by 3 in the afternoon. George went on 6 miles further with a cow and two calves en ruite to Mr Jolly's. I intended to go back to Turton's tonight but could not get a fresh horse.

30th. Fine. Walked 7 or 8 miles to see a whale that had been washed up, but it was covered with shingle and I could not finde it. Hardecastle has made several casks of oil from it. I went to Turton's a tremendous wind blowing full in the face. I killed two pigs in the morning.

1st October. Blowing great guns, rain in the hills. Went some 30 miles to Mt. Summers which I should have reached by 12 but old Brunett shut up about 4 miles off and it took me some two hours to get her up. I found Mr and Mrs Cox and Millett. Mrs Cox is like Mrs Acland but much younger and nicer looking. It is a very good house but in a very cold place.

2nd. Fine. Cox, Millet and I started early, dined at the Hynes

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and reached the [Longbeach] station in good time. Found George there. It is over 40 miles from the one place to the other and yet Brunett came on with apparent ease at fully twice the pace I went yesterday. Company and head towards home do wonders to a shut up horse.

3rd. Fine. Had breakfast at 3 a. m. and Cox, George, Hardecastle, Millet and I started with 400. They drew through the gate well to the last hundred which kept us galloping till 12, when about 40 rushed the wire fence and tore it down and got out that way. We drove on till ten at night when we reached Dowling's station [Buccleugh] where we yarded and slept. We had a stretch of 19 hours to-day without a stop and burned dust blowing in clouds.

4th. Fine. Breakfast at five and made an attempt to brand but the race was too wide and the yards so bogy that we had to drag three cows out by the horns. We let them string along a trac and so counted them and took their old brands. We counted 370. We then drove them 7 miles on to Mount Summers run and Draper and I had no more to do with that lot. I lost my 14 ft. whip round a heifer's tail the scamp.

5th. Fine. George went to the Jollies. Mr Cox found my whip. We went over the caves. Service in the evening.

6th. Fine. Hardecastle and I left Mount Summers at 8 a. m. reached Long Beach at 8 p. m. and brought 3 cows with us. We stayed 2 hours at McClaynes [Lagmhor]. The caves I saw yesterday are very peculiar. They are formed by a small river which instead of running round the ridges that run out from the base of the mountain runs right through. The rock is soft limestone. There are some fine stalactites. The water runs in smaller caves underneath the ones you walk through and bubles up at intervals.

7th. Fine. Hardecastle [manager Longbeach] and I collected the cattle to take to the Springs expecting George to come tonight and starte tomorrow. We killed three young pigs and I got a Paradize Duck's egg a large white egg. I hope to be able to get a good collection of native eggs and birds too if I can but the skins are so difficult to keep.

8th. Fine. Collecting firewood on the beach all the morning. Went to see the whale in the afternoon. A heavy sea washed the fish if it may be called one over a bar into a large lagoon and it floated up a good way. The water has since burst out and left the whale high and dry some hundreds of yards above high water. The oil was runing out in streams, it did not smell nice. The birds were very numerous.

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9th. Fine. Did various things; looked for some cows that were lost but could not find them; killed two pigs and found a lark's nest. I blew two eggs and brought them home, they are like the English mud-lark. No George yet. Had a swim in the lagoon, it was about the coldest I ever had.

10th. Fine. Collecting wood and trying to let out the lagoon below the house. George and Bob Cooper came in the evening.

11th. Cold and rain. Collected as many cattle as we could finde and roade around by the mouth of the Ashburton to Turton's, which we reached by 7 p. m. quite dark and raining. There was a fat Mr Madson there that ways about 23 stone, his legs are beyond immagination, he dresses like Punches John Bull.

12th. Dry. Left 3 beasts for Turton and took the mob over the Racia. They would not take the water and gave us great trouble. Left a beast at Walters on the south side.

13th. Misty. Left the Racia. Flower's at 3 by moonlight, roped a cow here for beef. Reached Wilsons [Broadlands] at 7 1/2, left all the D cattle in his yard, had breakfast and reached the Springs by 12 at noon. I helped Mr F. G. to pack some furniture. George went on to Ch.Ch. Mr F. G. went in the evening leaving Hardecastle and I alone. I left my 14 ft. whip with a Mr Pitt to be tailed with Canqurew hide. The Australians use 9 ft. whips about 1/2 lb. weight. He had never seen a whip with Sutch dimentions as mine it is an unusually large one.

14th. Dry and cold. A heavy fall of snow on all the hills. George and I drafting cattle all the morning. We brought in some young horses in the afternoon and they did give us a run, eyes out. I road Bedlamite the largest, most powerful and about the fastest horse on the station. We went over some 15 miles; Bedlam won the Maiden Cup at the races. We are still minus eight horses; they must be got by the 16.

15th. Hot and cold. Brought in a lot of old milkers and after a good hunt and a long ride brought home 6 more horses. Mr F. G. and Olivier came up this afternoon. Tomorrow and the Springs will be no more; the eventful 16 has at last come and all the pet horses and fence destroying old cows are to go to the highest bidder.

I should like to pension all the horses and dogs. I do not care about the other things.

16th. Fine. The sale commenced with the cows, then the horses, then the agriculturall implements. I was going about on horseback and in the yards like a steam engine. I bought my horse for 19£ a filley riseing 2 or 3. It was a good sale. Lots of fellows

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got drunk and we had a regular Tiperairy riot. They stuck to the rule where ever you see a head, hit it. We soused them with buckets of cold water. The man in the house cried because Mr F. G. would not let him help George and I. He exclaimed Och, but the boys sir, the boys sure and they will be braking their heads if I don't be helping them.

17th. Fine. Olivier sold the pigs and dairy things with innumerable other things. I was driveing in and drafting cows and horses all day. We have now got rid of all the things alive and dead. George and I have some horses to take to Longbeach and then I shall go to Mount Peel.

18th. Fine. George and I drove 7 horses to Ilam, then went on to Ch.Ch. Saw Mr and Mrs J. F. G. and the small F. G.s, dined with the Packes and came home after. We reached here at 1 in the morning. We take some cows to Ilam on Monday and dine at the Lances, great swells here. Tuesday we are engaged to dine at Packes before the ball so we shall be very fast this week and then the sooner we get up country the better.

19th. Fine. The bull got loose and George and I drove him in on foot. He has been in a bad temper all day.

20th. Fine. I drove some cows to Ilam. Smith started early with the bull. Draper went on to look for a stable to keep the bull in and met me at Ilam. We went to Ch.Ch. and got some ball things.

21st. Fine. Drove Mrs FitzGerald to call on Mrs C. Bowen who has just had a small son. Dined at Packes and then went to the ball. The room was fuller than anything I ever saw. Many of the ladies were miserable specimens of the sex and did most extraordinary things; many of the gentlemen were drunk at the end of the evening. There were some very nice people indeed but it did not give satisfaction on the whole there were to many snobs there. [Snob then meant bounder.]

22nd. Fine. Went to the great Canterbury Cattle Show. Our bull took the first prize, but he was a prize bull at home. The horses were very good, mares nothing particular. All the best sheep were imports. Pigs good. It was a very fine show for a young colony.

23rd. Showers. Bothering about my boxes all the day. I have at last got the things I want, put them into the bath-box and taken it to Mrs Packes. Mrs F. G. has the bath. It is of no use to me and the coffe etc.

24th. Fine. Ch.Ch. has been one cloud of dust for almost six

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weeks, it generally is so about most months in the spring, it is most trying to the eyes. I had to get some new boots for my pritches. I got a new pair for 2£ 10s., they had been made too small in the foot for another man so he took off one pound. Draper pays 3£ for all of his.

25th. Fine. To my great joy we are come back to the Springs again. Mr Jollie and Miss Cooper came about 8 miles on the same track when we came to the turn off, she was one of the nicest and most ladylike girls at the ball.

26th. Fine. Mr F. G. and Amy came up.

27th. Fine. Helped Mr F. G. to pack the medium. Had a tremendous bout with some cattle but we could not get them into the yards so Mr Wilmer shot the one we wanted in the paddoc which is over 600 acres. We were driveing a cow along the springs road this evening when it hoped over a fence into a man's garden. The man and his son in spite of our yells went to drive her out. She nocked the young man flying into some straw and in spite of a blow in the face from an ax nocked over the old man and then went on the road.

28th. Fine. Coleman and his wife left to-day so George and I are quite alone and have to do everything ourselves. We went out looking for some stray horses. We went 8 miles without success so we separated. George went to Wilson's to look at his mobs and I went in the other direction and droped on the horses about 3 miles from home so I drove them into the paddoc and mended the fence, before George got home. We have 2 missing now.

29th. Fine. Made a grand mend at the fence, found 1 horse and have tracks of the other, branding and drafting calves in the afternoon. I made a rhubarb pasty for tea and baked it in the camp oven. It would have been very good if it had not been burned.

30th. Fine. George and I brought in the one horse that was missing. We had a great deal of trouble to get it out of Wilson's mob. Doing odd jobs about the place.

31st. Fine. The dust most frightful. We took some horses to Ch.Ch. and some to a Mr Grey's two miles beyond the river Styx. I dined with Enys at the Club. He showed me a couple of walking sticks made of the spinal cord and tail of a whale. Every whale has a great number I believe.

1st November. Fine. There was a match between the Ch.Ch. Club and the boys of the Colledge, the boys were victorious. The match was settled in one inings.

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6th. Rain cleared by 11 a. m. 9 of us galloping harde till 3 p. m. succeeded in collecting the bullocks on the boarders of the Lake and after a tremendous gallop yarded them 9 miles off. One cow rushed me and stuck her horns through the saddle just above the knee. The saddle saved the horse a tremendous thrust and perhaps its life. We only kept 20 of the bullocks we yarded today.

9th. Fine. Went to the Racia.

10th. Fine, hot. Carhill asked George and I to help him over the Racia with his cattle. The river being high we had to go 4 miles up to cross. He and his men came to the first stream and then left us to cross his cattle and on horses alone without even a dog while they went back to the boat to cross. We left his cattle on the other side, had dinner and left with our horses before he came up. A nice lot to drive a mob of 300 cattle. We could not get beyond the Ashburton. I found 3 grey Gulls eggs in the Racia river-bed.

11th. Fine. Jones who came on with us from Harmans for the purpose of looking up land on the Ashburton did what he wanted and came on with us to the station, helping us to pick up two young horses that had got away from Bob Cooper twis. We brought them on in our mob. Jones lost George's stockwhip, just like him. I wrote a letter to my mither this evening and Jones is to post it for me in Ch.Ch. 60 miles my last and only chance of this mail.

12th. Dry in the morning rain in the afternoon as it often does though I call the day fine. I helped George out of the swamp with Coopers two horses. We meet again at Mt. Peel or Mt. Summers in four days. Jones makes a push for Ch.Ch. by this evening, 65 miles and 2 rivers on one horse. I roade into a high of whalebirds on the coast. There must have been near a million. They would not get out of my way. I cought 2 and might have cought hundreds.