8 June 1933

WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY

How Jim Got The Better Of His Mates

Resourcefulness has ever been regarded as one of the characteristics of Australians. The story of how Jim used his head to circumvent his mates when they deprived him of his rum has its humorous as well as its informative side.

In the early days of the State a party of overlanders from the eastern colonies came to South Australia search of land. Amongst their most cherished possessions was a cask of rum and amongst their number was an individual particularly addicted to that particular species of liquid. He was called Jim.

Now Jim was a thoroughly good fellow, except that, in the matter of the aforesaid spirit, he was never satisfied with a fair share of the tanglefoot. At the time of this episode the party was camped about midway between where Penola and Naracoorte now stand.

Owing to the bad habit of the blacks in raiding the camps of travellers and stealing their goods, one of the party was always left in charge of headquarters while the others roamed the country in search of the promised land. Jim always looked forward to this sentry duty. It meant that he was left alone for long periods with his beloved, cask, and its more beloved contents.

On the return of the hungry land seekers they could always rely on finding Jim in a hickish and hilarious mood, and no supper ready. Eventually they got tired of Jim and his eccentricity, and decided to put the cask beyond his temptation.

There was in the district an Aboriginal man noted for his climbing capacity. They got him to climb a high and particularly difficult tree, and then, by means of a rope, to haul the cask to the top. Certain that they had placed the rum beyond the reach of their thirsty comrade, they rode off in a cheerful mood on their daily search.

Jim watched them go with a wide grin on his face. No sooner were they out of sight than he got a tub from the cart, placed it in position under the tree, then procuring his rifle, neatly punctured a hole in the cask. When the explorers returned they found Jim dead to the world, and they left him there while they sadly set about getting their own supper.

Jim subsequently became the founder of one of the big stations in the South-East— M.G., North Adelaide.

Spiders

Despite common belief, spiders do not belong to the insect family. Moths, butterflies, mosquitoes and house flies are true insects, formed of two distinct parts. If a spider is closely examined it will be found that it is made up of three main component parts.

Another distinction is that an insect has three pairs of legs, whilst a spider has eight legs, four on each side.

Insects breathe through little tubes than run practically all over the body, and open into a row of holes on each side, but the spider breathes through a form of lung.

Considering its size, the spider is a great eater, the main reason being that it requires a considerable quantity of food to enable it to supply the silky thread used to make and mend its web which is so often broken and damaged by flies, weather, &c. Its food is, of course, produced principally through the medium of this web.

In South Australia there are very few spiders that could be termed dangerous. There are two species, however, that no risks can be taken with, namely, the red-backed variety, which as a rule is only about half an inch in length, and the trap-door spider, which is somewhat larger. The former is found in gardens, under old rubbish, outside woodwork. &c., but the trap door species is generally found in fields where it makes its home under the ground in a hole with a peculiar shaped entrance, covered with a substance made by the spider itself.

The common large tarantula so often seen inside houses should not be classed as venomous, as from all reports it is quite harmless. In Australia we regard this as an enormous spider, but in such countries as India and other parts of Asia it would be considered a dwarf. Spiders generally, should be considered useful, as the number of flies, mosquitoes, &c., that they destroy, is legion.— 'L.H.' Norwood.

Early Days at Stokes

Fifty years ago, in the hundred of Stokes, the youths of the district used to form parties to shoot wild cattle These animals had escaped years before from the large stations and roaming the uninhabited portions of Eyre Peninsula, had become savage.

When settlers first came to Stokes these animals were a menace. It was unsafe for a person to go on foot far from the homesteads. The cattle frequented certain waterholes in the district, and it was at these that the hunters prepared their ambush.

Tall gum trees grew near these watering places, and in the branches the hunters built 'nests.' They made platforms of saplings and boughs high up in the trees. Late in the afternoon they would get into these hiding-places with rifles, and wait for the cattle to drink.

They favored moonlight nights for these adventures. Sometimes they had an all-night wait, the cattle not coming until day break. But they always accounted for several wild animals before they left their 'nests.'

My father used to take part in these shoots and said the highest tally for a night's vigil was 31 beasts. I saw an enormous pair of polished horns that had once adorned the head of one of the beasts. The youth that shot the animal spent many hours polishing his trophies, and 50 years of time has not dimmed their lustre.

Amongst the earliest settlers in Stokes the names of McCallum, Fitzgerald, Thring, Carr, Provis, and Newell will be remembered. These settlers intended to go in for sheep farming, but dingoes proved very troublesome, and wheat-growing became more popular. Super was unknown, and the seed was broadcast by hand in most cases.

Tumby Bay (or Harvey's Bay as it was then known) was the nearest port. No jetty had been erected when the Provis family arrived, and they were carried ashore by the crew of the sailing vessel. This family owned the first post-office in the hundred of Stokes. Members of the family conducted the office for 37 years.

An ever-green reminder of the early days is a carob bean tree, growing on the 'Chinminna' property. Planted over half a century ago, it is now a giant. The branches arch over and touch the ground, forming a cool, leafy 'room' inside, I remember school picnic teas being served in this 'room.' Forty people were accommodated with ease.'— 'R.V.H. '

Strange Fish In The Sea

The Wiseman family have been associated with the fishing industry of Cowell for many years. It is on record that Mr. W. Wiseman [William Wiseman d. 1968 age 83] once caught 80 snapper in less than an hour, the average weight being 6 lb.

On another occasion he and his brother caught— in an hour and a half — two hundred, ranging from 3 lb. to 12 lb.

Cowell is a noted fishing ground, and at present a fleet of boats is engaged in the industry, including many Italians.

At certain times of the year the waters are infested with sharks, and fishermen have some thrilling experiences. Mr. W. Wiseman claims to have captured in one day no fewer than 180 sharks, measuring un to 6 ft.

About three years ago a whale measuring over 60 ft. was thrown up on the beach, a few miles north of Cowell.

Still more unique was the sight of a camel swimming in from the deep. It was believed to have been washed off of a vessel passing up the gulf. — 'Pegsotty,' Cowell.

Early Day Trial

South Australia's first judge (Sir John Jeffcott) was a sympathetic friend of the Aborigines and it was his earnest wish that they should receive all the benefits of civilisation.

In 1837 a trial took place before Sir John which is unique in the annals of Australian trials and which showed the uncivilised black in a not unfavorable light compared with many of his white brethren.

Two white men were charged with stealing a jacket, spears, and various other articles from Aboriginal inhabitants. This theft was committed at a hut which the natives had constructed at Glenelg. The hut was, as Judge Jeffcott pointed out, the first attempt by aborigines to emulate the homes built by white men.

His Honor said in the past the natives had been ill-treated by deserters, ex-convicts and men engaged in the whaling industry. He declared it was not to be wondered at that they occasionally broke out in violence, or retaliated upon their oppressors with the undiscriminating vengeance of the savage.

He drew attention to a proclamation which declared that aborigines were to be considered as British subjects, and as such were entitled to the full protection of the law. As the natives could not speak "white fellow's language" the services of an interpreter were necessary. An Englishman named Cooper, who had spent many years among the blacks, acted in this capacity.

The natives were greatly astonished and not a little flattered at the attention bestowed upon them. The judge considered that during the proceedings they displayed intelligence of no mean order. He told them that they would be supplied with food and clothing and taken care of, but it was hoped that they would do a little work in return, and he desired them to tell their people in the interior that the white men were their friends and would always meet them with kindness. He said that the men who had robbed them would be severely punished.

The natives replied that they wished the white men to be let off this time as they did not want to see them punished. His honor was greatly pleased at this proof of their character and disposition, and declared that such a request was one that would do credit to any class of people. After a promise that the stolen articles would be returned, and the natives would receive their value in other goods, the savages retired evidently well pleased at this evidence of white man's justice.— 'A.H.B.'

Early Riverton

Writing to his brother (Sir David Gordon), Mr. William Gordon, of Horsham. Victoria, says: — "I was very interested in the recent article in 'The Chronicle' about Riverton. Mr. Masters, the founder of Riverton, engaged father (Thomas Gordon) to go to Riverton to superintend the building of the flour mill.

Father and mother travelled from Adelaide in a bullock dray — the only means of transport then. Mr. Masters wanted the mill to encourage the growing of wheat, and to make the district self-contained in the matter of flour, pollard and bran.

When the mill was ready Mr. Masters induced father and Mr. Howard (Mr. Howard subsequently built and owned the Rhynie mill) to take a seven years' lease of it. They made a success of it.

Subsequently Messrs. Oldham and Strauckey took it over, and it was in their time that the boiler burst and killed three men.

The writer of the article in 'The Chronicle' is not quite right about the Mill Inn. Father erected the building for a general store, and I laid the foundation stone. It was several years afterwards that the store was bought by an Adelaide brewer (Mr. Beaglehole) and turned into a hotel.

Though only a lad at the time I well remember the blacks, Jimmy and Jacky Pike, murdering Mrs. Rainbeer and her two children. Both these natives often came to our place for food, and you will be able to remember how kind mother always was to the natives, as there were still plenty about Riverton when you were a little chap."

Real Life Stories Of South Australia (1933, June 8). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 17. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90886863