Events

1867 Dinner at Perkins Hotel

Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser, Thursday 28 March 1867, page 3 A MERRY NIGHT AT HIGHFIELDS.(To the Editor of the Darling Downs Gazette)

Sir— May I venture to request of you to give publicity in your most esteemed journal to the following few remarks. On the evening af the 22nd inaUi.t, having the birthday of Mr Perkin's, eldest son, your humble friend received an invitation with ***** from Mr Perkins to a supper given to celebrate that event. Although out here some time, I did not believe that such an appearance could be made in these hard times. Times when our Government cannot afford to allow us the paltry sum of £50 a year to enable us occasionally to hear from our friends. There were great inducements held out to us in the mother country come out and seek our fortunes in this land of gold —was it for the express object that we were never again to hear of those loved ones we left behind! Much seems to be the idea of the head of the Post Office Department; but I can tell him that such niggardly actions are unknown in that land of liberality and justice. Do you think, Sir, that many of us would ever have come to Highfields had we dreamt that the promises made by the Government regarding our disgraceful road and other things would be left unfulfilled up to this? Now that we are here, do they think for a moment that we are bound to stop ? Some of us have a few shillings left yet, and I think we ought to try some of the more favoured colonies. If the Posmaster-General could only peep into the Highfields Hotel on this occasion, and see the number of merry faces he is the cause of making sad ! Does he think that the arrival of the English mail has no joy for us. Surely his heart has not got so cold since he took office; if so, **** year will finish him. I wonder had he ever a sweetheart at a distance.

I did not mean, Sir, to tell you anything but of our joy, but one cannot shut his eyes while there are such things to make one sad. For what joy can there be in a country where the Government does not care for its people's wants. Knough, I will turn to the merry laugh and song. Time flew by, and we were summoned to a sumptuous repast, everything pleasant to the eye and taste, and after about a hundred partook, there were baskets left— I will not say full, as we felt that. On again went the dance and song, until Sol summoned each to his own home, on the way we had all spirits to sing ' He's a jolly good fellow.' I am, Sir, yours, &C., B. D. T. Highfields, March 23rd, 1867.

1888 Mr Dutton's Concert and Ball 10 Oct 1888 at the Cabarlah Court House

1890 Highfield's Debating society Social reunion 30 August 1890

1918 Fire at Cabarlah

Fire on 5th December 1918 (Warwick Examiner and Times  Sat 7 Dec 1918) 

"About 9 o'clock on Wednesday night an urgent message was received by the Toowoomba police from Spring Bluff asking for police and firemen to help fight a big bush fire that was threatening destruction to Smith's boarding house [this was almost opposite the current Cuckoo Clock shop]. Six firemen and a constable were promptly dispatched by motor car. As far as can be ascertained, the fire is moving through the hills at a course similar to that taken by the big fire several years ago. An exciting story of a journey literally through walls of flame was told by Mrs. W. Cattanack on her arrival by motor car at Toowoomba from Crow's Nest, about 9 o'clock to-night, Mrs. Cattanack, who was driving, was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. W. Herbert, and a Sydney visitor, Mrs. Burrcell. On approaching Merritt's Creek they found burning logs across the road and the trees on either side flame. The car had to be stopped and the ladies had to remove the burning logs before they could proceed. The fire seemed to be extensive, and the Smoke was very thick and troublesome. On approaching Cabarlah the fire again became serious, as it was burning on both sides of the road, and extended close to the township. The grass in the paddocks was blazing, and the flames wore extending rapidly. The residents of Cabarlah were hard at work endeavoring to beat back the flames and save their homes, and in one instance a store was threatened. The fire extended for miles, and the smoke was so thick that in places it was impossible to see ahead for more than a yard or two"

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