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Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 26, 29 July 1863, Page 3

Moama, or Maiden's Punt—When we arrived for the first time at Maiden's Punt, on the Murray.river, tired and travel-worn, Maiden's then humble hostelry was hailed with pleasure. It was then the central point of the cattle trade between New South Wales and Victoria. In fact, it was the only market; and Mr. Maiden mostly the buyer. In this capacity he aeted for both the settler and the butcher, and he having a good practical knowledge of the business, brought that knowledge naturally to bear upon the trade. The result was, that in two years he amassed a fortune of upwards of £68,000 in this trade alone. Like most men who rapidly acquire fortunes above their most sanguine expectations, he was not content, but launched largely into the purchase of squatting stations, which, I understand, have not turned out so fortunate as could be desired. Be that as it may, wherever he be now, we know he was one of the pioneers of the colony, and has left imprinted his name in local history. On revising the spot I found it was no longer " Maiden's Punt," but " Moama j" instead of the cosy sanded floor of Maiden's Inn parlor, in which I remembered that thousands of pounds often changed hands in one day, I found a lofty brick edifice had taken its place—an edifice seemingly too large for the present trade.—Riverine Herald, July 1»