Hearing of the great opportunities that Australia offered for young men, I decided to go out to that glorious land of sun-shine and see what fate had in store for me. I therefore shipped on board the good ship Hesperus. She was an ideal ship from a sailor's point of view, just recently built. This was her maiden voyage, to take out some 200 odd assisted immigrants to South Australia.

After an interview with Capt. Legoe, who was master, and who examined my credentials, he agreed to give me my discharge upon her arrival there. Our passengers were mostly married men, with their wives and children. The majority were mechanics. We had also a good number of single girls in the charge of a matron. They were superior to the general class of immigrants. What with concerts, dancing, and all kinds of sports, and pleasant weather the time passed quickly, for on arrival at the anchorage we hardly realized that 80 days had elapsed since we had left the shores of dear old England, many of whom were never to see them again.

After many handshakes, good wishes, and good-byes, our passengers left us, and were landed at the Semaphore. When berthed alongside the wharf at Port Adelaide, and having received my discharge, I proceeded to friends. Upon my visiting the city I was struck with amazement at seeing its beautiful wide streets, shops, public buildings and squares, and could hardly conceive that this was a city only 39 years old. What vast progress had been done during that short time.

I Apply to Join theTroopers.

During my rambles viewing the various sights to be seen in the city. I was attracted by a fine young fellow in a handsome uniform riding a splendid bay horse. He sat and handled his horse like a cavalry man. What puzzled me was the uniform, the likes of which I had never seen before. I thought it might be some one connected with Government House.

I asked my friend who might he be, and was told that he was a police trooper. As my curiosity was aroused, I asked him many questions as to what their duties were, and so on, and was told that they did duty in the country districts, where they had large tracts of country to go over. I was surprised to see that the mounted police of the State were dressed in such gorgeous uniforms, because the contrast between them and the mounted constabulary in England was so vastly different.

I also wanted to know if he thought there was any likelihood of my having a chance to join, as I thought that life would suit me. My friend advised me to apply at the troopers' barracks, and produce all the testimonials I had; and, better still, if any of my friends had anybody at court I might have a chance; otherwise I stood a poor one, for the troopers were considered the pick of the service. I fully made up my mind to join the troopers if my application met with success.

I therefore presented myself shortly afterwards with my testimonials at the orderly room of the mounted barracks. A smart active N.C.O., with a slight limp, asked my business. When I told him I was a candidate for the troopers, he looked me up and down and said, 'Well, yes, your are just the stamp and right weight (I was then, about 10 st. 7 lb.), but I do not think there are any vacancies at present. Stay here and I will go and see the Chief Inspector.'

He returned and took me before the chief, who asked me what work I had been doing and a number of other questions, after which he turned around and said, 'Corporal Gate, give him an educational test and then let me see it.' Having had a fair education I was pleased to think that the test given me was not a difficult one. Upon handing it back to the corporal he remarked, 'Very good.' He went with it to the chiefs room, where I was again called in. The chief told me that there were no vacancies at present, but to leave my address with the corporal, and should one occur I would be notified. In the meantime he would advise me to get a little bush experience. I thanked him, and in the orderly room entered my name in the candidates' book. I was quite elated when I left the barracks, as the fact of my name haying been taken and entered in the candidates' book testified that I had not been rejected. This was my first experience to what afterwards proved a long career of police life.

My Bush Experiences.

I got acquainted with one Capt. Smith, by name, who was in charge of a snagging boat on the River Darling, N.S.W. He took a fancy to me for reasons best known to himself, and told me he wanted a mate, that the position was vacant, and that he would engage me if I had a mind to accept it. I told him that I knew nothing about snagging or what it meant.

'Well,' he replied, 'you know all about blocks, tackles, and ropes.' He explained to me that the work required to be done was taking out logs which were in the river and cutting down trees on its banks which were likely to fall in the river, and therefore be a danger to navigation.

We left a few days later, for Milang, and proceeded upstream in the old Tyro for Wentworth, where the remainder of the men joined us. We then proceeded to Avoca and Kinchega, and there pitched our camp. The captain and I had a a bell tent, the men had square tents with flies.

What with dense scrub on both sides of the river, the Australian bush was a wondrous sight to me, and made a great impression upon my mind. I had seen nothing but the sea and its mighty billows and tempests. I therefore made up my mind that this country was in future to be my adopted land.

To witness our axemen cut down a huge gum-tree was an eye-opener to me. I had heard of the lumber men in Canada being adept at tree-felling, but I would back our Australian bushmen against them, at any time.

When camped near a sheep station I availed myself when time and opportunity occurred to visit them, and see the shearers at work. In talking to one of these managers, I happened to mention that we had a splendid cook.

'Well,' he said, 'you are lucky. I have had a lot of trouble with the men constantly complaining and grumbling about the cook, and I have had to get rid of two, although they were good.'

Upon asking the reason, he replied that they could not satisfy the shearers, as they said the mutton was either cooked to a cinder, or raw, and that the bread was not better than clagger, and only half-cooked. I said, 'I suppose you have a good one now!' 'Well, about being a good cook I can't say, but certainly the men have now no complaints.' 'How do you account for that,' I said, 'since you say they are such a dissatisfied lot!' He informed me when he engaged the man, he asked if he could cook. He said, 'Yes, a little.' 'Well,' I then said, 'can you fight? For, unless you can you are no use to me.' 'Boss,' he replied, 'If there is any fighting to be done I'm the boy that can do it.' Considering he stood about 6 ft. high, well built, and of fine physique, I thought he was just the man I wanted, so I engaged him.

All went well for a couple of days, and then the fun began. Some of those who had installed themselves as the leaders and spokesmen, asked him 'what the hell' he meant by giving them food not fit for dogs to eat. The cook who stood at the head of the table with his sleeves rolled up, and arms whose muscles were the size of legs of mutton, like the proverbial village blacksmith, walked up to one of the malcontents, and asked what was the matter with the food. He was shown a plate of roast mutton and was told the 'stuff was raw. ' Before the spokesman had uttered another word, the plate and contents were dashed on his head, and with a blow from the cook's fist, which knocked him down as if he had been kicked by a mule, sent him sprawling on his back. The cook then asked if there was any one else who had any complaints, but ne'er a one replied. After this everything went on as merrily as wedding bells. The cook was a good poker player, as well as a fighter, and his winnings added immensely to his salary.

It was amusing to hear some of the conversations from these men. Two old cronies were having a chat. One would say, 'Well, Bill, where are you going to knock down your cheque after we cut out from here?' (This would be about the last shed shorn.) 'I'm going down to Johnny Egge,' he answered Johnny Egge was a Chinese, and kept a hotel at Wentworth. Jack would then say, 'Is he a good sort. Bill?' 'My oath, he is! , I knocked down 50 quid last year in a fortnight, and never saw daylight, and was drunk all the time, but Johnny Egge is the boy. He never lets you go away with out a couple of bottles of rum to put in your swag, my oath.' 'Well, Bill, he's the man for my money.' 'Right, oh, Jack, we'll go together.'

And so their conversation rolled on, with plenty of oaths intermingled with it. Although these men had a peculiar way of expressing themselves, they were not intentionally blasphemous. It was the language to be heard in a shearing shed in those days. I thought at the time what a great similarity there was between shearers, bush men, and sailors, for they all earned their money like horses, and spent it like asses, and when it was all gone did not worry about it, but took it quite philosophically, and went to work again contented and happy, in order to get another cheque to have another good drunken spree.

Pay Day.

Our paymaster came downstream once a fortnight with the money to pay the men's wages in camp. Upon receiving my first fortnight's cheque I was surprised to see the amount that had been paid me, and thought that surely the paymaster must have made a mistake in making out my cheque, and I told the captain so.

'Why,' he said, 'haven't you got enough?' 'Enough! Why, captain,' I replied, 'I've received about what I would get for nearly three months' wages at sea.' 'Well,' said he, 'stick to it, and remember, my boy, that you are not at sea, but in Australia.' 'Thank the lord for that,' I replied. 'I will be a blooming millionaire if I get many of these.'

My camp life was ideal and a glorious one, but unfortunately surroundings were infested by all kinds of snakes and scorpions. It was common on retiring at night to find a big black snake curled up nicely under our bedding, and as I have had a horror of snakes all my life I took the precaution always to have a good big stick to deal with them. But the men made 'little bones' about killing them. They would catch them by the tail, swing them around their heads, and break their backs on the ground— a most dangerous practice, it appeared to me.

The river was rising rapidly, and as snagging can only be done when the rivers are low the captain received orders to break up the camp. I was extremely sorry when I heard of this, for I had spent some of the happiest days in it since leaving my old home. After the camp had been disbanded we proceeded to Wentworth, the men to knock down their cheques, as was their custom in those days, and the captain and I en route for Sydney for a holiday.

The New Chum.

Upon our arrival at Wentworth we went into the bar of the Racecourse Hotel. It was filled with bushmen of all sorts, drinking and knocking down cheques, getting drunk, and having a good time, as they called it. Three barmen were hard at it supplying the wants of the thirsty ones, who were indulging according to their various fancies, some in champagne, others whisky, rum, or bottled ale; some singing, and others trying to; in fact, there was a regular pandemonium, the likes I had never seen before.

A couple of drunks were lying under a form. On our party entering the bar, one of the barmen went to one of them, shook him, and asked him if he said another dozen. He replied, 'Go to hell!' The barman went behind the bar, and said, 'Tom is shouting another dozen, boys!' and opened and served bottled ale all round. The shearing done, this was the lambing down. The custom was for them to hand over the cheques or orders to the publican, get no change, but to be told when it was all spent. This he took care to do in good time, as they became a nuisance and to make room for others. He would, however, give them a couple of bottles of vile spirits to take away with them.

In those days payment in many instances was made in giving orders on firms instead of cheques on banks. These were called 'shin plasters,' on account, I was informed, of bushmen carrying them in their stockings. I happened to have one to the amount of about £2, and as the captain and I were to leave for another hotel I shouted drinks for our boys and handed this order to the barman. To my surprise he did not hand me any change. I waited patiently for some time, thinking that possibly, as he was busy, he would give it to me at his first opportunity, but as he did not I asked him for it. He scowled at me, and asked me what the 'hell' I was talking about; wasn't I going to cut it out. I told him that that was my business, whether I was or not, but I wanted my change. He then called me 'a d——d new chum, a lime squeezer, and a b —— croweater.' As he took no further notice of me, I walked out of the bar in search of the police station.

Before I had gone many yards he overtook, me with a profusion of oaths, and said that he had a good mind to knock my sanguinary head off. I folded my arms resolutely and fixed my eyes upon him with an expression of utmost scorn. What he saw in my face I cannot say, but he hesitated and was lost. He saw that his bluster had not frightened me. I told him to 'cut that language out,' as I had had enough of it, and what I wanted was my change. He turned on his heels muttering, and told me to come and get it. I walked back to the bar and was handed my change, which was a few shillings of £2. This was my first experience of bush 'shouting.'

I did not mind that so much, for I had the consolation of knowing that the confounded fellow had been made to look pretty small before the crowd, who had enjoyed the fun, and were much dis appointed in not seeing a fight, which they dearly loved. I turned around and said to those in the bar, 'Boys, I am going to shout any of you who want a drink; you can have one with me.'

It was marvellous what effect it had upon them, for there was a response from them all. Even two drunks staggered up to the bar and said, 'My oath, we're in this; he's a b—— good sort.' But I added, 'I'm not going to shout here, as I have had enough of this pub and its ways, so come with me to the next pub, and well have a liquor together there.' The look of astonishment on the faces of the landlord and the barman was something to have witnessed.

I afterwards heard that this publican was one of the worst in the town, and that was saying a great deal for the publicans to be met with at Wentworth at that time. A few days afterwards the captain and I left for Sydney, and I was not sorry to have to shake the Wentworth dust off my feet, and thus ended my bush experiences in New South Wales.