1 Dec 1932

DIARY OF A 'ROLLING-STONE'

Missed Chance With Peter Waite

A glimpse of the North in the seventies is given in this story of a young man's experiences which incidentally involves two persons who subsequently became prominent in the life of South Australia : —Peter Waite and Seth Ferry.

Life In The Seventies.

— I was born at North Rhyne in 1860. After leaving school at Saddleworth at the age of 11, I worked for Mr. John Johnstone for 2/6 per week, then for Mr. Hugh Aicken. While with Aicken I was stable boy. On one occasion Mr. Seth Ferry came for the loan of a horse to go to Chintford. Knowing he was a good rider, I told him there was only one mare called Duchess available. She had thrown Mr. Aicken and broken his collarbone.

However, Mr. Ferry said he had to go, and was not going to walk. So I caught this mare, and he mounted. As far as I could see them she was giving him a lively time. It was not 'Buck' Ferry, but 'Buck' Duchess. He encountered Mr. Aicken on his way. Mr. A. told, him there were plenty of quiet horses, and I must have 'put one over him.' On his return Mr. Ferry was leading the mare, a very tired man. On reaching the stable he said to me, 'I will break your —— neck if I get hold of you. But I had a good friend in Mr. Aicken's sister (afterwards Mrs. Graham, of Magpie Creek).

About this time Mr. Hugh Aicken started with a mob of horses for the New Areas— Narridy, Crystal Brook, Georgetown, Gladstone, Laura, Caltowie, and Jamestown. I was mounted on old Lollypop as drover.

Arriving at Narridy, we stayed at a settler's place. Mr. Aicken sold him a saddlehorse. This horse was unbroken. Mr. Aicken wanted £10 for him, but the man wanted him ridden before he would pay the money. Hugh said he would ride it. He roped, saddled and bridled the horse, and mounted with the other animals still in the yard. But the settler was not satisfied. He wanted him ridden in the open field. Half the money was handed.

Mr. Aicken called me over and told me to saddle Lollypop and drive the mob after him. This I did, and the colt shot across the open field. I had to take after him and lead him back to the mob. We then yarded man and mob together. Eventually we arrived at the site where Laura, now stands. The only place to live was in a hole dug in the ground.

Going back to Saddleworth, I found my mother had re-married. I could not agree with my step-father, so I decided to leave. This I did at 11 o'clock one night, and I got to Laura early next morning. I arrived at Georgetown at 8 o'clock, where I met Mr. J. Poole from Saddleworth.

He said, 'You young devil, you have run away.' He took me into the hotel, gave me some breakfast, then said, 'Now get; if your step-father comes after you I will try to stop him.' This he did. He filled him up with beer, put him on the old mare, and started him home, saying, 'You can't catch that young devil; he has the best horse on the place.' Having done this I caught the mail from Saddleworth to Kapunda, then the train to Adelaide. I had two pounds in my pocket when I left home.

In Adelaide I stood about the railway station until a cabman asked me where I was going. I told him I did not know. He took me to his place, and afterwards to a labor office. From this office I got employment at Balaklava for three months.

Then, having returned to Adelaide again, visited the labor office and was once more successful in obtaining wool picking, this time at Parratoo. While on the station some of the shearers made bets as to which of the boys could ride a donkey which used to frequent the cookhouse. Several boys tried, but none was successful. One morning a strange black donkey came in. The town boys would not ride him, so I tried my skill. When I mounted the donkey bolted for the stockyard, where I slipped off.

As I turned to go back to the shed a man called to me. He asked me who authorised me to ride the donkey. I told him the truth. He said 'If you can ride donkeys you can ride horses. Put the saddle and bridle on that horse, and bring my buggy ponies in.'

I told him I was a wool picker, not a rider. He said. 'I am boss here, boy. I am Peter Waite.' I did no more wool picking after that. I drove Peter Waite from paddock to paddock the remaining part of the season. There were 65 shearers on the board (1875). Mr. Waite wanted me to stay on with him, but I would not. I presume I lost the chance of the life time. But, there you are; that is just what a rolling stone would do. —David Hodge, Lock, W.C.

More About Kangaroo Island.

— The hill on Kangaroo Island on which Captain Flinders landed in 1804 [sic][should read 1802] is named Kangaroo Head. Many years ago the Penneshaw school children built a little cairn with an inscription on the spot. A peculiar thing about the island is that there were no black people there [for about 2000 years before Europeans arrived] until they were taken there by the white men. In the early days there were many runaway sailors on the island. They used to go over to the mainland in their boats, steal the lubras, and take them over to the island.

At Kingscote there is the oldest mulberry tree in the State. It was planted over 100 years ago. There are three very old houses called Faith, Hope, and Charity. Faith was the first house (or shack) built in South Australia [sic] [Built in the late 1850's. There were many more dwellings built before this dated from 1836, and even earlier - Ed.] . Situated near Kingscote, it was made of logs and mud. [sic][built of stone].

Captain Flinders named Fresh Water Bay because of the spring on the beach. Today it is known as Hog Bay, because, when the early settlers arrived, there were many wild pigs running over the beach. They used to come to the beach to get a drink from the spring. The wild pig has died out, but there are still a number of wild goats on the south coast.

Years ago there were many whaling stations on the coasts. Today, of course, they are closed. One such station at Penneshaw was owned by Chinamen. Today one often comes across large bones in the sand, and sometimes little clay pipes, supposed to be opium pipes.

There is a local tradition about a black gin who swam Backstairs Passage. The feat seems impossible against the strong current and the shark-infested sea. But rumor says that one of Australia's best swimmers is going to try to swim the Passage at Christmas. If he succeeds we will not doubt the story of the black gin any longer.

— 'K.I.,' Kangaroo Island.

Early Yallunda Flat.

— Yallunda Flat, now the centre of a prosperous grazing and wheat growing district, is about 30 miles from Port Lincoln. It consists of a store and post-office, school, church, hall, and a show ground. The residents are justly proud of this showground, undoubtedly one of the most picturesque in the State.

Situated in the Koppio hills, bounded on two sides by the Tod River, and surrounded by large shady gum trees, it is a real beauty spot. About 27 years ago the first settlers decided to hold a picnic sports meeting here. The whole course was cleared by three or four enthusiastic young men, using hand rakes. Bicycle racing and horses over hurdles were the chief events. These meetings were the forerunners of the annual shows held nowadays.

The pioneers were sturdy souls, unafraid of hardships. Several of the settlers brought their families and personal belongings overland in waggons, around, the head of Spencer Gulf, The journey occupied many weeks. Cooking was done in camp ovens by the wayside. The names Olsten, Allen, Liddy, Vanstone, Campbell, Dawson, O'Connor, Rutherford, Pugsley, and Cabot recall some of the pioneers.

The first orchard was planted by Mr. Fairbrother. When land was first thrown open some of it could have been procured for a 'mere song.' One man had land offered to him by an agent for a halfpenny an acre! Now it is worth many pounds per acre.

Dingoes were a menace in the early days, and caused havoc amongst the sheep. It was necessary to yard the flocks every night to protect them.

At this time there were numerous blacks in the district. They were civilised and friendly, quite unlike their ancestors of the squatting days. They congregated mainly on what is known as Cabot's Hill, where remains of their 'wurlies' could be seen until recent years. When they felt the urge for a 'walk-about' they would go further north for a time. I remember seeing a party of about fifteen and dozens of dogs pass by my home at Stokes. They asked for tea, sugar, and flour, and offered some silver coins in payment. They were bound for Mount Isabel, about 16 miles up country, where wild game abounded and fresh water could be obtained from rock-holes. — 'R.V,H.' Yeelanna.

Couldn't Deceive His Reverence.

— Two men had a road contract between Yarcowie and Terowie. By mutual consent, they took a day off. They stayed at the Yarcowie Hotel till they had drunk their credit dry.

Then one set out with a very unsteady gait to get a 'billy' of water to boil for tea. On his way he met the local Catholic priest, who had been visiting the district. 'Will you lend me sixpence to buy a loaf of bread?' Pat asked.

The priest put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a sixpence and said, 'Here you are. But get it in the billycan. You'll get more for your money.' — 'Farmer's Girl' Mount Bryan.

In Pioneer Times.

— In the early days of Kangaroo Island, bullocks were used for many purposes. These were a few: they worked on the farm, pulled a drag loaded with wheat, barley or hay, were driven into the sea as far as they could go to meet the dinghy which used to bring provisions from the boat lying further out, and not least, the bullock dray served as a hearse, when occasionally a death occurred.

Before a cemetery was made at Penneshaw, the people who died were buried in many curious places. One boy was interred in his parents' front garden. Another man was buried on top of the hill, where they found his body, it was thought he died of heart failure whilst climbing the hill. Another man and two children were buried on top of a hill, and the graves could be noticed for years, but now they are hidden by scrub.

At Antechamber Bay there is a small cemetery in which lie some of the first settlers on Kangaroo Island and also some Tasmanian lubras. One day a man died, and his people decided on a place to bury him, on top of a big hill. The coffin was put in the bullock dray and driven up the hill, with the mourners following. Just as the bearers were taking the coffin out of the dray, the bullocks took fright, and bolted down the descent. Even today there is no hearse at Penneshaw, and the lorry which is requisitioned when needed is little better than the old time bullock waggon. — 'K.I.,' Kangaroo Island.

Presence Of Mind.

— Some years ago a certain lady passed through a rather hair-raising experience. Her husband became unstrung as the result of shell shock and worry. He used to get the idea that he would be able to cut off a person's head and replace it on their body without resultant bad effects to the victim.

One night the lady was awakened by someone moving in the bedroom. Opening her eyes she saw her husband coming towards the bed with a long knife in his hand. One glance at him was sufficient to tell her he was insane. Fear paralysed her body for the moment, but her mind worked clearly enough. 'I must not let him see that I'm afraid of him,' she thought. She sat up and smiled at him. He flourished the knife and laughed.

'The time has come to try my plan,' he said. 'I am going to cut your head off, and put it back again. You'll be all right, don't worry.' The woman said. 'Of course, I know you could do it well enough, but that knife you have is awfully blunt. Give it to me and I'll sharpen it for you on the steel in the kitchen.' She held out her hand for the knife. With one of those queer turns of mind so hard to explain, he handed the knife to her. She walked out of the room and shut and locked the door. Assistance was summoned and the man was safely secured. — 'RMS.,' Yeelanna.

How Adelaide Was Named.

— Ninety years ago [sic] [over 100 years ago] times were hard in England, and many people were unable to get employment. Edward Gibbon Wakefield was thinking of a plan by which men who were idle in England could be taken to South Australia. At first the English Parliament seemed unwilling to give control of such a large area over to Wakefield.

Then Wakefield won over the Duke of Wellington, and many members of Parliament followed Wellington's lead. Wakefield was so grateful that he wished to call the capital Wellington. William IV. was then ruling in England. When the paper naming the capital was placed before him to sign, he crossed out 'Wellington' and put Adelaide in its place.

He meant that the capital was to be called after his wife, Queen Adelaide. King William street was named after William, and a square at North Adelaide after Wellington. — 'Dago,' Penneshaw.

Real Life Stories of South Australia (1932, December 1). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 18. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90626286