A Wanderer’s Diary

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 17 (Supplement)

A Wanderer’s Diary

The van left Nerang for Numinbah at 8 am., it had four brakes ajid was drawn by eighteen horses, and the whole turnout should have prepared me for what was ahead, but luckily I was ignorant as I had not even bothered to make inquiries as to my destination. Numinbah, I thought, was five miles or so out; actually it was between twenty-five and thirty miles; ail but the first five miles being over a track that was nothing more or less than a bullock-waggon track, and for that rea£on alone take my advice, if you are coming out there with me, then pack a good kapoc mattress under you and don’t sit in a heap or you will be unable to leave your bed for a week after you get there; also hook your toes into something that wont give, and grip something else tightly with both hands, for you are now on a Queensland road. Once a motor car did get out there in a dry season, but it took a full day to do it. and returned with broken springs, buckled rims, and a sprung chassis on top of a bullock waggon. That is a fact which you can prove if you care to write to any of the Numinbah or Nerang people I mention in this account. This place is almost at the top of the Nerang Valley, which runs in a south-west-erly direction to the Queensland and New South Wales border, between Tweed Heads and Wallangarra. The Nerang stream runs : through this valley, and as a permanent source of water, unaffected by seasons or drought. Although stony, there are many ; large areas of river flats which are very fertile, and good crops could be grown on them: the land round Advancetown and the Numinbah sawmill being specially good forest and scrub was both thick and gcod. By ot oeing among high hills, which condensed the moist clouds into rain, the rainfall was even and fairly regular. Since my time a good road has been constructed from tjie sawmill, through the New South Wales 1 tick and rabbit-proof fence, which has enabled the settlers to get their produce into New S>uth Wales in better condition than they : could before; also, if they care, they can. by using cycle? or cars, get in themselves < and do their ehopping easier than they can do In Nerang. but may not cross the border with any animals, without first undergoing 1 the dipping required for the prevention of 1 ticks, < The first five miles out from Nerang was s good going, except that the road had a six- f inch covering of dust, which the horses raised : in a choking cloud. An occasional pot-hole ’ threatened to pitch the passengers forward ’ under their hoofs ; it was really an enjoyable 1 stretch as Martin, the driver, was fresh and 1 able to talk. t Later, however, it was just one continu- 1 oils succession of bumps and jars. First the 1

front wheels, and then the back dropped into a water channel, a pothole, or climbed over and dropped down over huge boulders, stumps or rootfl. or a variation would come on hillsides, where the wheels on one side or the other were so much lower than the opposite side that the van would slide almost as much sideways as it went forward.?, and every minute it seemed as though the van must be thrown over on its Aide. There were forty to fifty bullock teams using the track, and to a man who knows this it is sufficient explanation to enable him to know how the road would be. Except for short stops to spell the team the horses were taken at a hand gallop and it was speed alone that dragged us through. At Advance town, where we stopped to rest and feed the horses and ourselves, there was only a few small farms, and an hotel, that could by no stretch of the imagination enable it to be called palatial. Of this hotel many a tale could be told, but two will suffice A couple of Brisbane agents one day called at the hotel (?) for dinner, and asked the publican if it could be had; he replied that he supposed so. but he was not sure. However, he thought his wife had put on a meal to cook just before he had locked her up; he was busy, so perhaps the gentlemen would find out for themselves? In the kitchen the agents found a large pot on the fire, and lifting the lid discovered that a turkey, feathers and all. and one small bandicoot complete, with skin, were cooking Those gentlemen did not wait for dinner. The keeper of the hotel claimed that a dog had twice as much sense as a man, and he always lay down in every creek or puddle he came across when out walking because, he said, his dog always did so; he sold out and left shortly after I went north, either he or his license had to go. Leaving Advancetown. Martin began dropping cans and parcels of groceries and hardware all along his route and it was dark before we reached the farm and partook of some tea. The moment I set eyes on these people I decided that a month would be my limit, and it gave me a feeling of relief to hoar a woman’s voice declare, “It’s no good. Martin, we don’t want him here, and he isn’t going to stop.” After a while a man came out with a lantern and a plate of food, both of which he placed on the floor, or rather, the doorstep, and told me to get to work on it; later, a mug of tea was brought; afterwards I was shown a pile of corn sacks and told to sleep there, but to leave them straight and tidyin the morning. I asked where T could get a wash and was shown a tap and given a piece of soap and a Jute sugar bag for a towel; later I learnt that I owed my reception to the fact that I had been sent out by the senior Mrs . who he junior did not like. Next morning a brother of this farmer took me a mile down the road to a farm which he leased to a man named , and who. it so happened, wanted a man. I. waited at the gate of the milking yard while A spoke to the man and then called me over. Just as I reached them the map stood up from behind a cow. he had been stripping, and there and then I almost turned and ran; he wa« red-headed. There are really four things I am afraid of and of these the two I most dread are women and red-head* 3 . If I had only cleared out then I would have saved myself or.e year of unpaid labour, and seven years of trouble for myself and others. But I stood and answered in the affirmative his two questions: "Did I understand machines, and would I start work righ 4away ” I warned him that I was all but useless for stripping or hand milking, as my hands had stiffened before ever I took up farm work, but that did not bother him. so long as I could handle the machines; so I took the cupe off the cow in the bail ahead, and put them on her mate, while the boss watched me, remarking when I straightened 1

1 co move to the next. “You are the man I i have been looking for? Carry on, you are ( engaged." This plant was a four-cow plant, with a j hundred and fifty-gallon separator, which was j far too big for the plant and the milk would } he cold in the vat before it was started, so ( hot water was added. They were milking a hundred to a bun- , dred and thirty cows twice a day and get- ’ ting eight to twelve gallons of cream a day. , The herd was a mixture of all breeds and ( crosses. The boss had been farming all his < life, but never before had he used machines 1 and seemed to be quite unable to use them 1 ; himself. There were never less than four < adults and a young boy in the yard all j • doing something, and although I got my way ; where the machines were concerned, I never j , got him to get the crowd out of the yard. 1 and I told him that if he and I alone could ■ I not manage it was up to us to get out, for , • in New Zealand when cows were in full milk , two could attend a six-cow plant, and I felt. . I a fool doing nothing more than put the cups i on and off the cows; his wife used to milk about a pint from each cow before the ■ machines went on ; he stripped and his fatherI in-law and son bailed up and let the cows go. • When I went there the machines were only I partly cleaned every other day. and cows 1 were milked at a nressure of eighteen pounds - because if lower the cups fell off. Cream was graded either bad or fair; I ‘ got pressure reduced to twelve pounds, and : used blocks under the cupfl at firs’-, but later j I ran a lead pipe along the rafters of the ] ' milking shed and with four rings and lengths | of elastic with hook- 3 . I could get just the 1 right support for the cups, so the blocks ] wore done away with. Proper cleaning of the machines improved ] the grade of the cream, and before I had ‘ been there a month the boss had got me i another boy to help, while he and his wife and 1 children took three weeks’ holiday. Then the 1 fun began. A wae a seaman and carried a 1 j knife, seaman fashion in my belt: it was 1 I only a little knife, but it was sharp and 11 very handy on the farm, but people professed 11 to believe that I was dangerous and I might 1 kill someone with that knife. * With me on the farm was not only the cow hoy but the boss’ father-in-law and sister-in- c law, and as soon as the owner left on hie 1 holiday another of the family, called G , f came and camped on us. professing to pro- f tect the old man and h;s daughter from me. f That was good for me, and I acted up to i it so well that everyone knew me as “that I mad Cockney bloke of C ’s. \ A few mornings later this young man v came down to the yard just as I was about to start the plant, and later on I noticed that the gauge was showing a pressure of twenty pounds. I rectified that hut again, just before the finish of the milking, it rose again and again I corrected it. The evening of the same day it continued 1 acting queerly, and I was strongly suspicious S that the boy was playing up. I asked the t youth who worked with me if he had seen t F- fooling with the gage, and he replied that F had not touched it. Next r morning, however, I caught the culprit. H t was the father-in-law himself! I reduced 9 the gauge and warned him to leave it alone, 1 as I had no time for silly tricks and he t would meet with trouble if I had any more e of it. Hearing this he started a lot of wild * talk, informing me that when the machines r were installed the agent had sent out two 8 experts, who his mother had to pay £3 a week each, and these two experts had told r them to use the machines at eighteen to 8 twenty pound?, and he was going to see that h I did not milk lower, or he would «ari- mr v and a lot more of the same sort of talk. I told him in reply that I was in charg->, nd - told him also to get out of the yard. The upshot was that he went off to Southport to d tell his mother, and she sent back word that a F must be left alone by her bovs until n C got back.—“RED BALL." n tl

Relief Ship also a donation of 2s, hoping it will come in useful. On Wednesday I went out to see the Rangitikei Hunt Club’s Point-to-Point Steeplechase, and such a terrible thing happened there; a man was killed when his horse fell and rolled on him. It was so terribly <sad ; it took all the pleasure out of the event. I suppose you saw it in the paper. Wendy? We knew him very well, as we used to live near his place before we came here. Well, Wendy, this is all I can think of this week, so I will have to bring this short note to a close.—l am your ever-loving Ite. “WHITE WATTLE,” Marton. We have been lucky here, dear, for we have had a few sunny days, but heavy fronts though in the mornings. However, one does not mind that so long as the sun shines later. It was such a treat after the weeks of rain and cold. I expect we shall have our “Sybil the Witch” calling in again soon. Your gifts, dear, are ever so welcome. It is splendid of you to think of the poor children. Oh, I read all about the accident in the paper. Dreadful! —Wendy. “QUEEN MAY’S” PRAISE OF HER FELLOW ITES. Dear Wendy,—Here I am once again. Isn’t the weather dreadful these days ? I have Been several signs of spring, such as the little white goats, woolly ba-bas, and all the beauties of the flower gardens, including the bulb families, and the lovely white buds on the fruit trees. On Sunday “Queen Madge” and I went up the road on our horse to soe our friend, and on our way up I nearly stopped, because I heard the charming birdfl, but the loudest notes from them all were five clear notes from the tui. I know some of your Ites who attend the same school as I. “Morea” is a very kind-hearted girl, also she is a great scholar; then there is “Misty Morn" and she is another great scholar, too, and the last one is “Miss Dimple” who is a 1 great worker also. We are playing basket- ■ ball at school now, and I enjoyed it, too. , I like any games for that matter. Well, ’ Wendy, as news is scarce I will close with lots of love to you and all the Ites.—From “QUEEN MAY," Papaiti. So pleased to have your welcome letter, dear. Yes one can already notice spring is near. Will it not be lovely to have the fragrant flowers once again? Our feathered friends, too, notice the approach of spring, for in their songs one hears a new note. It is of joyousness because of the warmer days. How lovely to know some of our Ites, and all worthy ones, 100. Yes, basketball is a jolly winter game.—Wendy. “QUEEN OF SNOW” TELLS OF MOTHER’S AND DADDY’S VISIT TO COLLEGE. Dear Wendy,—The weather is awful, is it not, Wendy? Thank you for the mark you gave me. Recently mother and father went to Palmerston to the Massey College. First they drove in our car as far as town. There they got out and left the car, travelling the rest of their journey in a taxi. At Palmerston they saw pigs, cows, a black dog, horses, sheep, hens, ducks, and a man making cheese. There were 50 other farmers as well who went to the Massey College. After they had seen everything they partook of a big tea. They then came back to Wanganui. There was not a single drop of rain at Palmerston, but still the wind was cold. At Wanganui it had been raining all day. Mother and daddy arrived home late. Keith and I had to go to grannie’s. John was with her all day. We have three little calves now, Wendy. Could we write on the other side of our paper if we have lines on it? Good-bye, Wendy. Love. —From “QUEEN OF SNOW.” Westmere. We have had some really lovely days here, dear, of late. Quite a change from the rain and cold. What an interesting journey for mother and daddy. What a lovely time you must have spent while at grandmother’s, though. Yes, dear, you may write on the other side.—Wendy.