\\d
 
 View of PALL MALL, BENDIGO iTHE "FOREST CITY"). IN 1891. 
 
 o
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO, 
 
 KY 
 
 GEORGE MACK AY, 
 
 JOURNALIST. 
 
 /llbelbouine : 
 
 rUlNTKI) FOR I'UE I'U lU.IS ii KKS, MAl. KAY & CO., i;KN'I)l(JO, 
 
 IJy FERGUSSOX & MITCHELL LTD., 55 ELIZALETII STREET, 
 
 MDCCCXCI.
 
 Like leaves on trees the race of man is found, 
 
 Now green in youth, now withering on the ground ; 
 
 Another race the following spring supplies. 
 
 They fall successive, and successive rise ; 
 
 So generations in their course decay ; 
 
 So nourish these, when those have passed away. 
 
 — Popes Translation of Homer.
 
 T)LL 
 
 :e^3 1^1 1 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 The volume which I purpose introducing to the reader with these 
 few prefatory remarks is the result of over four years' careful 
 examination of various records, chiefly in the shape of files of the 
 Bendigo Advertiser. As that journal did not carry me back 
 beyond the year 1853, I was under the necessity of obtaining 
 information about 1851, 1852, and part of 1853 from other 
 sources. The task was easy with my dear and much lamented 
 friend and journalistic chief, Mr. Robert Ross Haverfield, at 
 my elbow, and I may here record how grateful I feel for the 
 assistance and encouragement which he so willingly supplied. 
 He must always be remembered as one of the worthiest of many 
 worthy old Bendigonians. 
 
 Readers who honor me by a perusal of this work will perceive 
 that the first eight chapters deal with the general history of 
 Bendigo, from the gold discovery in 185 1 down to the present 
 day ; chapters nine, ten, and eleven are devoted to an account of 
 Mining Development ; chapters twelve and thirteen to Politics ; 
 and chapter fourteen to matters Municipal. Thereafter follow 
 chapters on Water Supply, Journalism, Public Institutions, the 
 Churches, Amusements, Agriculture and Viticulture, and lastly 
 on Local Industries. 
 
 I have found facts and events besetting me in my investigations 
 in such battalions that I have had no occasion to draw on my 
 imagination, or to "adorn the tale." The narrative is plain and 
 unvarnished. 
 
 The work of compiling it was undertaken in consequence of 
 repeated complaints by old Bendigonians that there was no reliable 
 account of a district which had contributed so much to the pros- 
 perity of the colony ; and whatever demerits the volume may 
 possess in other respects, its accuracy can at least be guaranteed. 
 
 (r. M. 
 
 September, i8g/ .
 
 NOTE, 
 
 The Table which we give on page 88 is not supposed to be complete. It 
 would be difficult, if not impossible, to make it so. The Table is intended to 
 give an idea of the resources of the district. A few companies were in- 
 advertently omitted from the list, however, and it had gone to Press before the 
 omission was discovered. The following are the companies referred to (the 
 ligures are approximate) : — 
 
 Company. 
 
 
 
 Dividends to 
 31st June, 1891. 
 
 Called up 
 Capital. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 Johnson's Reef Gold M 
 
 ines 
 
 211,000 
 
 72,000 
 
 Victory and Pandora 
 
 
 
 
 170,000 
 
 60,000 
 
 Catherine Reef 
 
 
 
 
 86, COO 
 
 49,000 
 
 Shenandoah ... 
 
 
 
 ..1 60,000 
 
 ii,Soo 
 
 Old Chum 
 
 
 
 1 61,762 
 
 32,725 
 
 New Chum Railway 
 
 
 
 54,411 
 
 26,844 
 
 Duchess of I^dinburj^h 
 
 
 
 ! 16,200 
 
 7,200 
 
 Eureka Extended ... 
 
 
 .. .. 1 17,625 
 
 7,500 
 
 Victoria Quartz (since 1 
 
 885)' 
 
 
 
 I7,2CO 
 
 4,800 
 
 The United Whip and Jersey, which has no special record as a company, 
 represents an amalgamation of some of the richest claims of the early days. 
 There were thirteen of these claims, and they raised amongst them as much as 
 291,600 ozs. of gold, valued at ;,^l, 166,400. The ground of the Victoria 
 Quartz Company was also remarkably rich in the early days. 
 
 Since our mining chapters went to Press, there have been some new develop- 
 ments in the district. The ,Great Extended Hustlers' Company has had 
 increasing yields, and at present is working some rich stone at the 730 feet 
 level, which was formerly included in the ground held by Messrs. Latham and 
 Watson. 
 
 G. M. 
 
 Seplcinbcr, iSgi.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGF 
 
 Chapter I. — The Goi.n Discovekv ... i 
 
 Chapter II. — Dk^.oer Huntinc S 
 
 Chapter III. — The Law and its Admimstraiton ... ... 17 
 
 Chapter IV. — A.nti-Luense Agitation and Laving Out of 
 
 the Town 23 
 
 Chapter \'.— Progress ani> Development ... .. ... ... 31 
 
 Chapter VI.— Progress and Development— Continuep ... 40 
 
 Chapter VII. — From ihe Duke of Eoinburgh's \'isrr to 
 
 Mr. McLachlan's Retirement .. . . ... 47 
 
 Chapter VIII. — Sandhurst (Bendigo) as a Citv .. .. ... 54 
 
 Chapter IX. --Mining Development .. 64 
 
 Chapter X. — Mining Development— Continued ... 74 
 
 Chapter XI. — Mining Development — Continued 82 
 
 Chapter XII. — Political ... 95 
 
 Chapter XIII.— Political— Continued . loS 
 
 Chapter XIV.— Municipal 122 
 
 Chai'Ter XV. — Water Supply .. 131 
 
 Chapter XVI.— Journalism . .. 142 
 
 Chapter XVII. -Public Institutions, Etc. 148 
 
 Chai'tek XVIII. -Public Instiiutions, Etc. — Continued ... 156 
 
 Chapter XIX. — The Churches ... 166 
 
 Chapter XX. — amu.sements 171 
 
 Chapter XXI.— AGRiruLTURF and Viitculture ,. 176 
 
 Chapter XXII. —Conclusion ... 182 
 
 Appendix 191
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Pall Mall, Bendigo, in 1891 ... .. ... Fkon risriF.cK 
 
 Pall Mall, Bendico, i.\ 1855 .. CilmtekV. 
 
 Alexandra Fountain, Chaking Cros.s . . .. ('hapter \III. 
 
 Town Hall, Eaglehawk ... ... ... ... Chapter VIII. 
 
 Lord Salisbury's Lodgings in 1852 ... Chapter VIII. 
 
 Kruce's Crushing Machine (in 1857) ... ... Chapter IX. 
 
 Garden Gully Crushing Battery ... ... Chapter XI. 
 
 General View of the Ciiy in 1891 ... ... Chapter XIV. 
 
 Post and Pui;lic Offices ... ... ... .. Chapfer XVII. 
 
 Masonic Hall ... ... ... ... ...Chapteu XVIII. 
 
 St. Mungo Line oi' Reef from ]!elmont .Mine .. Chapiek XXII.
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Gold Discovery. 
 
 "Time will run back and fetch the age of gold." 
 
 —lililton. 
 
 1851-2 — Bendigo, a part of the Ravenswood Run — " Bendigo " — Discovery 
 of Gold — The Rush — The Diggers' Claims, and their manner of Living — 
 Stuck up in the Bush at Ironbark Hill — Mr. Home, the First Goldfield 
 Commissioner — Captain Dane — Mr. Cockburn — Mr. Gilbert — Mr. Panton 
 — An Amusing Incident. 
 
 >0 greater contrast can well be imagined or described than 
 that between the appearance of Bendigo in 1851 and 
 its appearance in 1891. One who had visited the valley 
 of Bendigo jirior to October, 185 1, and had not set eyes 
 upon it since that eventful year, would scarcely recognise 
 a single feature of the scene, if viewing it to-day. The late Mr. 
 Robert Ross Haverfield, who saw it before the gold discovery, 
 has described the valley of Bendigo in the following words : — • 
 
 " The flats, carpeted with green grass, were dotted here and there with 
 comely and shady gum-trees, while the creek banks, shaded with wattle, 
 sloped down to a chain of water holes, which, in the spring and winter 
 seasons, and indeed all the year round, before the gold era, contained a good 
 supply of sweet clear water. Down about the now desolate-looking Epsom, 
 the valley wore a really picturesque appearance ; the gum-trees were very 
 fine, and the wattle flourished Itixuriantiy." 
 
 The Bendigo valley was part of the Ravenswood run, first 
 discovered and occupied by Mr. Charles Sherrard. That 
 gentleman sold it to Messrs. Heape and Grice, of Melbourne, 
 during whose time the blacks were exceedingly troublesome, 
 
 B
 
 2 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Mr. Grice himself being on one occasion in danger of his life. 
 Messrs. Heape and Grice sold the run to Messrs. Gibson and 
 Fenton, and they held the run, of which the Bendigo Creek, as 
 far as the boundary of the Barnedown run, formed a part, at the 
 time of the gold discovery in 1S51. The creek was named after 
 a shepherd, or hutkeeper, in the employ of Mr. Sherrard. This 
 shepherd was known to be an accomplished bruiser, and had 
 been called " Bendigo " after the celebrated English prize-fighter 
 of that name. Thus this part of the Ravenswood run became 
 known as " Bendigo's Creek." Another explanation given by 
 some old residents, is that " Bendigo" is a corruption of 
 " Bandicoot." 
 
 It has been settled beyond doubt that gold was first discovered 
 on Bendigo at a place known in 1S51 as "The Rocks," at Golden 
 Square ; but it is not likely that the question as to who was the 
 discoverer will ever be decided definitely. It has been claimed 
 that a man named Johnston picked up a piece of gold in 
 October, 1851 ; also, that shepherds in the employ of Messrs. 
 Gibson and Fenton found gold at the locality mentioned ; and 
 again it has been claimed that Messrs. Gibson and Fenton were 
 themselves the first discoverers. Mr. Fenton states that they saw 
 the gold in the roots of a large tussock of grass which the wash 
 of the flood waters of the creek had laid bare. Whoever 
 discovered the precious metal, the news spread, and there was a 
 rush, which, however, proved unsuccessful. A few prospectors 
 remained, and did a good stroke for their pains in Golden Gully. 
 In a short time the news of their good luck got wind at Forest 
 Creek, and the second and permanent rush set in. By this time 
 the news of the earlier discoveries at Ballarat and Forest Creek 
 had reached Great Britain, and before many months ela]:)sed 
 thousands of the sons of the old land, and of the population of 
 the neighbouring colonies were flocking to \'ictoria. The 
 population of the colony rapidly increased from 97,000 in 1851 
 to 168,000 in 1S52, 222,000 in 1S53, and 364,000 in 1S55. 
 
 The valley of Bendigo was changed as if by magic, and after 
 the winter of 1852 almost all of natural beauty that Bendigo 
 had possessed had disappeared, and ''Ichabod " had been written 
 on its sadly mutilated face. Persons approaching the diggings 
 were made aware of their vicinity by an incessant discharge of 
 firearms by the diggers, and the continuous ringing of axes on
 
 THE GOLD DISCOVERY. 3 
 
 the butts of the trees. One was thus prepared to meet with 
 scenes of excitement and industry, and there was noise and hurry 
 and bustle enough, goodness knows — an immense waste of energy 
 — a vast useless consumption of gunpowder. It was a stirring 
 scene, with the swarming mass of active, hardy, and vigorous 
 young men who had been driven to the colony by the fever into 
 which the discovery of gold had thrown them. Among that 
 splendid band of pioneers were men of all grades of life — the 
 artisan, the lawyer, the doctor, and even the nobleman, mingling 
 together in the common throng, striving for the possession of the 
 precious metal which was to secure to them wealth and fortune. 
 And amongst all these mad, wild, novel scenes, the abominable 
 dust fiend held high revelry. Earth and clay, reduced to an 
 impalpable powder, lay on the roads ankle deep at least, and 
 the slightest puff of wind raised it in blinding clouds. In the 
 midst of all this dust and heat, and clamour and confusion, it was 
 not a good thing, as can be imagined, to be unable to get a drink 
 of water. But there was little or none on Bendigo in March, 
 1852, and a very considerable portion of the population were 
 compelled to fly to Bullock Creek, the Sheepwash, and other 
 adjacent water courses. As a natural consequence of the want 
 of water, the heat, the dust, and the unaccustomed hardships and 
 exposure, sickness in various forms was prevalent. 
 
 The results of the rush were astounding. Ironbark turned 
 out a vast quantity of gold, and numerous holes in that gully 
 were appropriately called "jewellers' shops." All the way out to 
 Eaglehawk, Sailors' Gully, and the neighbouring diggings, men 
 were rapidly realising fortunes, which most of them managed as 
 quickly to dissipate. Gold was dug up almost in bucketfuls on 
 Bendigo Flat. Two young men one morning sank a shallow hole 
 at the foot of the first White Hill, and from one pocket in the 
 slate took up 5olb. weight of the precious metal. The White 
 Hills yielded enormously ; and some pretty piles were made on 
 Epsom Flats. Those who have only known Bendigo as it now 
 is, will fail to recognise a faithful picture of the district before 
 its invasion by the great army of diggers. An immense amount 
 of work was performed in an incredibly short space of time. 
 Vast areas of ground were turned over to the bed rock, and rifled 
 of their treasures. Whole forests of great ironbark trees, with the 
 dense underwood growing among them, quickly disappeared. 
 
 b2
 
 4 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 It may be difficult for many to believe that the forest between 
 the First White Hill and our railway station, and, indeed, up 
 to Golden Gully, was so thick and dark that people often lost 
 their way in attempting to get through it, from any one of the 
 points named to another. The range dividing Sandhurst from 
 Ironbark was so densely timbered that no glimpse of the valley 
 of Bendigo could be obtained from it, and many robberies were 
 committed there. Men who ventured to bring their gold into 
 the township, as Sandhurst was then called, did so at great risk. 
 Mr. Joseph HoUoway, who used to visit the gullies for the purpose 
 of buying gold from the diggers, was stuck up one evening on 
 Ironbark Hill, but being on horseback he got away, and was fired 
 at twice as he galloped off, though fortunately without effect. 
 
 Although to many it may be uninteresting, the general reader 
 may wish to know something of the diggers' claims and their 
 manner of living. The size of claim which each digger was 
 allowed to hold was twelve feet square. Though the area 
 was small, the ground was frequently so very rich that the 
 digger was quite satisfied with its extent. Rich alluvial deposits 
 were usually found on and in the old pipeclay and slate beds 
 under the alluvial drift, from one to twenty feet from the surface. 
 When the hole was " bottomed " the diggers used to drive along 
 the stratum of soil containing the gold. Over the shaft v/ere 
 fastened three poles, straddle legs fashion, tied together at the 
 top, from which hung a block and pulley. The rope was then 
 drawn up, as a general rule, by means of a pole used as a lever, 
 with the fork of a convenient tree as the fulcrum. In some cases 
 there was a windlass instead of a block and pulley, but either of 
 these methods was suitable for the workings, which were generally 
 shallow. The diggers descended the shafts by means of notches 
 in the sides, and were able to run up and down with ease, so 
 expert did they become with practice. As the buckets were filled 
 with washdirt they were hoisted to the surface, and their contents 
 emptied into a big tub, where they were puddled — that is, worked 
 about by means of a spade and water. This process got rid of 
 all the sticky mud, and nothing remained but sand, gravel and 
 gold. This was shovelled into the hopper of the cradle. While 
 the cradle was bemg rocked, water was poured into the hopper. 
 All the sand and gold passed through the hopper into the 
 receiver below, the pebbles which remained being thrown away.
 
 THE GOLD DISCOVERY. 5 
 
 The residuum was washed in a tin dish at the edge of a pool 
 of water, and in a few minutes, under the hands of a skilful 
 manipulator, nothing but the gold remained. Of course, this 
 description is merely intended for those who do not know the 
 digger's methods of procedure, and it is presumed they will be to 
 a certain extent wiser after reading it. Those who have " been 
 there" before will simply be reminded of the well-known process 
 of gold extraction practised in the early days of the diggings. 
 
 The digger's residence was commonly a small calico tent on the 
 slopes of the gully where the claim was, and the area occupied by 
 it was twelve feet by eight. There were many canvas tents and 
 a few log huts, and some had rude chimneys. The furniture 
 consisted of one or two stumps of trees for chairs, while anything 
 in the shape of a box or tea chest served for a table. The bed 
 consisted of a stretcher or bunk made of forked stakes and 
 saplings covered with a rug and a pair or two pairs of blankets. 
 The cooking utensils were few, and intended to wear well. 
 There were two or three tin or pewter plates, spoons, knives and 
 forks (though the latter were not always present). Two or three 
 saucepans, one or two billies, generally completed the list, while 
 a frying-pan was regarded as a luxury. In a party of two or three 
 the work was divided ; one would carry the water and chop the 
 wood, another would obtain the chops or steak from the butcher, 
 while a third would meanwhile be busy baking the damper and 
 preparing the meal. The chief food of the digger was mutton 
 and damper. The damper was merely an unleavened cake made 
 of flour and water. The description given of the tent would not 
 apply in all cases. In some cases, the diggers paid more 
 attention to their comfort, and in others, less. The fires were 
 invariably lighted outside the tents, and at night, the effect 
 caused by the fires in all directions was very striking. The men, 
 after the labours of the day, would congregate round the fires, 
 chat with their neighbours, and spend the hours in a variety of ways. 
 The early diggers were succeeded by the puddlers, and at one time 
 there were upwards of 3000 puddling machines on the goldfield. 
 
 The separation of Victoria from New South Wales had only 
 taken place a few months previous to the discovery of gold at 
 Bendigo (on the ist July, 185 1), and the Victorian Parliament 
 had been opened by Mr, Latrobe, the Lieutenant-Governor, 
 on the nth November. The Ballarat diggings had filled
 
 6 HIS'lORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 everybody with astonishment just previously, and while the 
 Council was assembling, the Mount Alexander diggings were 
 discovered. These discoveries had the result of upsetting the 
 population, and coincident with the discovery of the Bendigo 
 goldfield there was a great exodus of people from Melbourne 
 and Geelong, while ship-loads of arrivals from the other colonies 
 proceeded at once to the diggings— an example which was 
 followed by the crews of the vessels themselves. In fact the 
 shipping in the bay became almost entirely deserted, and men 
 of all classes in the metropolis left their employment to make 
 their fortunes on the goldfields. 
 
 The Executive had taken charge of the goldfields, and some 
 of their first acts were to appoint Commissioners, make a regulated 
 license fee, and establish an escort. There was a chief Commis- 
 sioner residing in Melbourne, while Commissioners and Assistants 
 were stationed in the various diggings. We have the authority 
 of Mr. Haverfield for stating that Mr. Home was the first 
 Commissioner appointed to Bendigo. He was succeeded by 
 Captain Dans, who, at the end of six or seven weeks, threw up 
 his appointment, because (as he said) of the utter want of system 
 and organisation on the part of the authorities in Melbourne. 
 Mr. Cockburn was the next, but early in 1852 he was succeeded 
 by Mr. Gilbert. In the words of Mr. Haverfield, "Mr. Gill)ert 
 was a thoroughly strict man, but would permit no tyranny. It 
 has been stated that, in several instances in which diggers repre- 
 sented to him that they were unable to pay their license fee 
 (which theu amounted to thirty shillings per month) he paid it for 
 them out of his owm pocket, and to the great credit of those men, 
 they always repaid him." 
 
 Mr. Panton was at this time Assistant Commissioner under 
 Mr. Gilbert, and his great tact and moderation as a Commissioner 
 have frequently been cited as one reason why the diggers of 
 Bendigo did not resort to the extreme measures which resulted so 
 disastrously at Ballarat. 
 
 Mr. Haverfield has thus related a story about a digger who was 
 brought before Mr. Gilbert on the heinous charge of not having 
 a license : — 
 
 "The prisoner was placed with his back to a low sapling fence, 
 in front of the Commissioner's tent, and the court was held there 
 in the open air.
 
 THE GOLD DISCOVERY. 7 
 
 The man pleaded guilty ; but requested to be permitted to ask 
 one question. 
 
 'Certainly,' replied Mr. Gilbert, 'What is it?' 
 
 ' Well, sir, are the police allowed to fire at a man who hasn't a 
 license, if he runs away?' 
 
 ' Most decidedly not ;' replied Mr. Gilbert in an emphatic 
 manner. 
 
 ' Then I'll bid you good morning, sir,' said the other ; and^ 
 vaulting over the fence, he flew down the Camp Hill as fast as 
 his legs would carry him, and was out of sight, before the police, 
 taken by surprise, started in pursuit. 
 
 Mr. Gilbert laughed immoderately. ' The fellow deserves to 
 get off,' he said, ' Let him go.' "
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 
 Digger Hunting. 
 
 " We must be free or die, who speak the tongue 
 That Shakspeare spake." 
 
 — lVo!dswo>-t/i. 
 
 1S52 — The Police Force — Digger Hunting — Sly-Grog Selling — What became 
 of the Confiscated Property? — Adulterated Liquor — The Unknown Fate of 
 many Diggers — Murders, Outrages, Robberies, etc. — The Commissioners' 
 Camp — In the Logs — Bribing the Doorkeeper — The Arch-^'illainy of the 
 Police. 
 
 ^p"^-^T;HATEVER may have been said from time to time 
 <^ji\ /A /,; with reference to the necessity for a Hcense-tax for 
 ^y/'-MyiP) d'og^^'S) nobody may venture to say a word in 
 t^S^is^J support of the manner in which the tax was 
 collected, while the fact that the diggers were 
 subjected to it without representation in the Government of the 
 country, was a distinct violation of one of the cardinal principles 
 of taxation. The tax was most unfair in its working. It pressed 
 alike upon the unsuccessful and the successful digger. The man 
 who was barely earning the necessities of existence had to pay 
 the same tax as the man who was working a mine of wealth. 
 For this reason, the duty should have been placed upon the gold, 
 and each would have been in a position to bear a burden in 
 proportion to the extent he was blessed with riches. As the 
 population on the goldfields was a mixture of various nationalities, 
 numerous were the doctrines of freedom and the rights of the 
 people to which expression was given. This circumstance, 
 however, did not militate against the success of the movement in 
 which these different elements joined. They had a common 
 grievance, against which they cried out with one voice. The 
 system of goldfields' management was obnoxious in the extreme.
 
 DIGGER HUNTING. 5J 
 
 The (jovernment arrangements were that each digger should pay 
 a license fee of thirty shillings per month for a claim twelve feet 
 square. The Commissioners were empowered to make daily 
 visits accompanied by the police and compel the diggers to show 
 their licenses. Owing to increased disaffection, the police force 
 had to be increased, and the collection of the tax became more 
 rigid than ever. An additional law made it imperative on the 
 diggers to act as special constables, under the penalty of being 
 treated as rogues and vagabonds. " Digger hunting," as it was 
 termed, was carried out with great cruelty, mobs of diggers who 
 had been found without licenses in their possession being literally 
 driven to the camp and subjected to imprisonment for ten days, 
 unless the ^^5 fine was paid forthwith. When we add to this 
 oppression the absurd and iniquitous system which existed with 
 regard to the sale of spirituous liquors, life on the goldfields was 
 one continual round of oppression and vexation, and it is little 
 wonder the spirit of rebellion grew strong among the population. 
 The state of affairs is so well described by Mr. Haverfield that we 
 cannot do better than quote his own words : — 
 
 "It is a matter of historical fact which it would be absurd and impossible 
 to attempt to disguise, that the conduct of the officials generally toward the 
 digging population was intolerably overbearing. The chief duties of the force 
 on the diggings were the collection of the license-tax and the suppression of 
 sly-grog selling. These were performed in a most objectionable, insolent, and 
 outrageous manner. 
 
 " ' Digger hunting,' as the search after men who had no license was called, 
 was a favourite amusement of both officers and men, and it was followed up 
 savagely, relentlessly, and with a refinement of cold-blooded cruelty that were 
 not only exasperating, but disgusting in the extreme. Men were chained to 
 trees and logs throughout the blazing heat of day, or the piercing cold of night, 
 whose offences consisted simply in not being able to produce their licenses on 
 demand, although they protested, and their statements were often found to be 
 correct, that they had left these precious documents accidentally at home. 
 But unless they had them in their pockets they were placed under arrest. It 
 is true that many of them had neglected to take out licenses ; but some of 
 them pleaded poverty, or represented the impossibility of leaving their claims 
 sufficiently long to enable them to visit the camp. It did not matter. They 
 were all subjected alike to the indignity of being treated as criminals. Little 
 wonder was it that disaffection was engendered to a dangerous degree. 
 
 " Not only was the sale of spirits, wine and beer, prohibited, but no one 
 was permitted to have so much as a bottle of any kind of stimulant in his 
 private possession. Seizures of grog were of constant occurrence. A police- 
 man would walk into a man's tent, and carry off a bottle of anything worth
 
 10 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 drinking or not worth drinking, that he might find in it ; and very lucky 
 indeed was the owner if he got off with the mere loss of it. The chances 
 were that he would be prosecuted for sly grog selling. Innumerable instances 
 occurred, in which tents were pulled down or burned down, and all their 
 contents destroyed, because small quantities of spirits had been discovered in 
 them. The sanctities of domestic life were not respected in the least by those 
 ruffianly police. The sleeping places of women, who (together with their 
 husbands) were innocent of any offence whatever, were invaded at all hours 
 of the night in the most unmanly and inquisitorial manner. Tents were 
 pulled down or unroofed at night (regardless altogether of the state of the 
 weather) in which women and young children were sleeping. Men were 
 beaten and kicked who ventured to expostulate with the perpetrators of these 
 grossly inhuman and most indecent outrages. The police were far more 
 dreaded by peaceable and orderly people than were the thieves and ruffians 
 who lurked about with evil designs in dark places, and about whose doings the 
 public protectors troubled themselves very little. 
 
 " Elphinstone, or Sawpit Gully, as it was then called, was the nearest 
 place to Bendigo at which spirituous liquors were allowed to be kept in bulk ; 
 and great was the trade that was carried on in smuggling them thence to Forest 
 Creek and Bendigo, In cases of detection, which were frequent, not only the 
 loading but the carts and horses, with everything thereto appertaining, were 
 confiscated. The discovery of a keg of brandy in a load of stores would insure 
 the loss of the whole, whilst the drivers and other persons in charge would be 
 taken into custody, and heavily fined or imprisoned. 
 
 " What became of all the property thus appropriated by Her Majesty's 
 Government in Victoria, is a question which has never been satisfactorily 
 answered. There were some sales occasionally of confiscated goods, under the 
 conduct of sergeants of police ; but it was believed, and certainly with good 
 reason, that only a small percentage of the property seized was ever submitted 
 to public competition. The general impression was that the bulk of the goods 
 passed into official use. There were those among the officials, we were forced 
 to believe, who lived luxuriously on these cheaply obtained things. We were 
 forced also to believe that there were officials who made a good'deal of money 
 out of them. At all events grog did not keep well on the Camp Hill. 
 
 " I do not at all overlook the fact that there were numerous grog shanties 
 of a very low character in various parts of Bendigo. But, as a matter of fact, 
 the crusade of the I'jolice was directed rather against those which were decently 
 and respectably conducted, than against the haunts of villainy and ruffianism. 
 Clearly, it was safer, and probably more profitable, to invade the former than 
 to attack the latter. There were grog shops everywhere— some of them 
 notoriously under the very eyes of the camp — in which men were drugged and 
 robbed in the most shameful manner. The object of the Government, no 
 doubt, was to check dissipation and crime, but the course taken for this 
 purpose was productive of the opposite effect. 
 
 " It was clear that the restriction of the sale of spirits, and of their use by 
 private persons, induced a desire to break the law. And, indulging his 
 inclination for a forbidden pleasure, the unfortunate digger often found himself 
 a serious loser both in pocket and in health. If supposed to have gold or
 
 DIGGER HUNTING. 11 
 
 money about him, he was hocussed by the sly grog sellers ; and when past all 
 useful conversation, was tumbled into a spare tent, known as the dead house, 
 where, after his pockets had been ransacked, he was left to suffer a painful 
 recovery. There can be no doubt that the early death of many a poor 
 fellow was attributable to the abominable system of adulteration, which was 
 carried on to a frightful extent, and in a really murderous manner. Yet, 
 notwithstanding all the known terrible evils of the sly grog system, it was not 
 until May 1S54, that any publicans' licenses were issued in this district ; and, 
 to give some idea of official doings at the time, it was currently staled — and 
 there can be no question of the truth of it — the licenseeSj in addition to their 
 fees, which were pretty heavy, found it necessary to have recourse to ' tip ' in 
 order to secure their licenses. 
 
 " Those who remember the times of which I am speaking, will not gainsay 
 the assertion, that there was every facility on the Bendigo diggings for the 
 perpetration of all sorts of villainous deeds. The diggers, ever wandering 
 from place to place, made few acquaintances, and when they disappeared 
 from certain localities, they were not missed, and no questions were asked 
 concerning them. Hundreds, in fact, might have been murdered in a month, 
 and no suspicions have been raised. As to police protection, the time of the 
 force was taken up, as I have shown, in quite another way from that of 
 looking after the safety of the friendless diggers. But even if the police had 
 been far more eflicient and attentive to their legitimate duties than they were, 
 they would have been unable to have prevented the commission of the 
 numerous outrages, robberies, and murders, which I believe were undoubtedly 
 perpetrated in outlying portions of the field. The police, I admit, could not 
 be everywhere, but they did not try very much to be anywhere, except where 
 it suited their convenience, their avarice, or their vindictiveness. To institute 
 any comparison whatever between those police and the force of the present 
 time would be much like comparing uncultivated savages with decent 
 civilised men. 
 
 " On the whole, the official proceedings of those days were such as to make 
 one's blood boil with indignation, or to make it run cold with horror and 
 disgust. I remember a night on which the tent of an intimate friend of mine 
 was torn down, carried off and confiscated, because part of a bottle of brandy 
 had been found in it. It was a splendid bit of canvas, both in quantity and 
 quality, and was lined with green baize ; whilst the floor was carpeted ; and 
 many a pretty trifle in the way of pictures and ornaments decorated this then 
 superior abode. My friend and his mate, with a German gentleman, who was 
 passing the evening with them, and whose singing and guitar playing had 
 attracted the attention of the police, were marched off to the logs on the Camp 
 Hill. Believe me, that after that night there was not a man of that lot, or of 
 the larger lot located on Bendigo Flat, nearly opposite the First White Hill, 
 who knew them, who would not readily [have taken up arms against the 
 authorities had actual rebellion taken place." 
 
 Reference has been made to the Commissioners' Camp which 
 had been formed on Camp Hill by Commissioner Gilbert. Mr. 
 George Edward Thomson, one of the best authorities with regard
 
 12 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 to the early days of Bendigo, in an exhaustive account of the 
 red-ribbon agitation of 1853-4, and of the rise of our pohtical 
 and domestic institutions, has given the following minute 
 description of the camp : — 
 
 " The camp, as it is usually styled, occupied an area of ground of about 
 seventy acres in extent, the boundary lines of which faced a row of stores 
 called Camp Street on the south-east ; Commissioners' Gully, now the Upper 
 Reserve, on the north-west ; View Street, then merely a small gully, to the 
 west ; and the road passing the Bendigo Hotel to Barnard Street, to the east. 
 The whole was enclosed by a two-rail fence, but the formation of the surface 
 was very different to what it is now. The present fence facing the Mall was 
 about a chain further in towards the rising ground ; from thence to the upper 
 walk from the ^'iew Street entrance the ground was flat, terminating with an 
 abrupt ledge of rock, a continuation of the same reef still existing near the 
 court-house, running through the wood where the master of the High School 
 now has his residence, and continuing nearly to the western boundary. At 
 the base of the rock was the natural channel of the Bendigo Creek, a small 
 portion of which until quite recently was enclosed within the present fernery. 
 The upper ground was reached by two paths, one at View Street, and the 
 other along the same tracks by which the court-house is at present approached. 
 The slope towards Commissioners' Gully has been very little changed, and an 
 entry was practicable at any point. The surface consisted of bare sandstone 
 rock, on which a few ironbark trees struggled for existence, and a few white 
 gums occupied the morejcongenial soil of the flat. Within this area was llie 
 lock-up, built of logs and roofed with bark. The remaining jDortion was 
 occupied by the police-court, commissioners' quarters, offices for issue of 
 licences, gold receiver, police quarters (mounted and foot), stables for horses, 
 etc., and on the arrival of the troops, tents for them likewise ; the stables 
 were only sheds formed of bark, the rest all canvas. At the north-east 
 corner, the present site of the gaol, was a considerable quantity of hay 
 protected from the weather by a covering, partly of bark, and part canvas." 
 
 We have referred already to the tyrannical conduct of the 
 goldfields' officials. The subject, however, is by no means 
 exhausted, and by the light of the description given above of the 
 camp, the reader will probably peruse with additional interest, the 
 following further c^uotation from the lecture delivered by Mr. 
 Haverficld in 1S84 :— 
 
 " A short time after the events last mentioned, I was given the opportunity 
 of testing the quality of the 'logs' myself. Our party, consisting of eight, 
 were working in the first White Hill, in a sixty feet hole. I had always been 
 very particular in seeing that all our fellows were regularly provided with 
 licenses as early as possible in the month ; on the fourteenth day of each of 
 which, one was liable to arrest if he could not produce his bit of paper for that 
 month. Now, in those days, we didn't bother much about newspapers ; and
 
 IN THE " LOGS." 13 
 
 we had been hard at work, and had not heard of the issue of an order, by 
 which every digger was required to be provided with his license on the first 
 day of the month. It was on the twelfth (I remember) that as we were 
 sitting at dinner, at the bottom of the shaft, I remarked that it would be 
 necessary for someone to go up to the Camp next day, and get our licenses 
 renewed. The words were scarcely out of my mouth, when we were hailed 
 from the top. ' Come up and produce your licenses,' cried a voice with a rich 
 touch of the brogue, and his words fell down the shaft like a spoonful of hot 
 burgoo. 
 
 " A parley took place, in which I was informed of the new order ; so I said 
 to my mates — ' I'll go up to the Camp and exjilain, I know Mr. Panton 
 very well.' They tried to dissuade me, and wanted to go into the drives 
 and barricade them. However, I went up, and on landing was roughly 
 seized by a constable, as if he had captured some very dangerous character ; 
 and then, with a dozen others who had been similarly caught, I was 
 marched up to the Camp, under guard of about a score of constables, at the 
 point of the bayonet. We were ranged along the sapling fence, of which I 
 have spoken before, in a row, and kept there for two or three hours, until it 
 suited Mr. Foster's convenience, who was then police magistrate, to hear our 
 cases. I was one of the first taken into the courthouse ; and to hear the 
 charge preferred against me by the policeman whose special prey I was con- 
 sidered to be, was something that perfectly astounded my innocent mind. 
 At last he said, ' Please yer worship, if I hadn't been just going down the 
 hole, this man wouldn't have come up.' I hadn't opened my lips before ; 
 but now I broke out. ' Please your Worship,' I said, mimicking my 
 prosecutor as well as I could, ' he wasn't game to go down. There are seven 
 men in the hole now, and he daren't go down for the life of him.' That was 
 enough ; my bump of prudence, if I've got one, had failed me at a critical 
 moment. ' Put him in the lock-up for four and twenty hours,' cried his 
 Worship, and away I was marched to the logs. My pockets were searched, 
 and I was compelled to open my mouth to have that spacious cavity examined 
 in order to see that I had nothing secreted there. A nugget of gold would 
 have been very acceptable no doubt to the lock-up keeper, but I hadn't one 
 about me. There was a very mixed lot inside. In a short time we heard the 
 police outside making a great noise ; and peering through the interstices in the 
 logs, we could see them opening champagne cases, and pretending to demolish 
 the contents. But so far as I could see, nothing was destroyed but the cases. 
 The bottles appeared to be very carefully handled. Presently one fellow 
 knocked off the head of one, and after taking a long drink, splashed the 
 remainder against the logs. ' There's a smell for ye, ye dogs,' he cried out ; 
 meaning by ' dogs ' us poor helpless bipeds within. In about an hour, I heard 
 the voices of two of my mates outside. They were talking to the lock-up 
 keeper, and I heard them offer him ;^5 to let me out. This he agreed to do, 
 and the door was opened. As I was passing out, a tall handscnie man from 
 within caught me by the shoulder — 
 
 " ' Pay to let I out, do'ee now,' ! he said. ' My zon 'have broke his aim 
 down to White Hills, and he a'nt got nobody to do var'n.' ' Carnish, 
 baintee ? ' I asked. ' Eese I be.'
 
 14 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 "'Well,' I said, 'I be Devonshire. ^Yhal'll you take?' addressing the 
 lock-up keeper. ' Oh, £i for him,' he replied, laughing. It was surprising 
 how pleasant a man he was when there was a tip about. The pound was 
 paid, and Cousin Jack walked away with us towards the White Hills, near 
 which we were camped. 
 
 "When we reached our tents, I got the fellows to bring me a tub of 
 water, and I stripped, and having had a good wash, I took the clothes I 
 had worn in the logs to the tire, and threw them in. Cousin Jack made a grab 
 at 'em. 
 
 " ' Oh, don't 'ee burn 'em,' he said. But I put my foot upon them. 
 'Look here, countryman,' I said, quite grandiloquently, ' I was a good subject 
 of the Queen this morning. To-night I be a rebel ! ' ' Be'est thee now? Well, 
 I be half a mind to be rebel meself ; but I beant got on so vur, as vur to go to 
 burn my clothes.' 
 
 " The first act of rebellion I was guilty of was to incite some influential 
 friends of mine in Melbourne to interview the members of the Government, for 
 the purpose of laying my case before them, and whether through their repre- 
 sentations or not, I can't positively say, Mr. Foster was sent back very shortly 
 afterwards to his inspectorship of police, from which he had been raised to the 
 bench. I was told by my friends that he had assured the Attorney-General he 
 would have treated me differently if he had known who I was. And I told 
 my friends to reply that that was just what I complained of, viz., that the 
 goldfields magistrates and some other officials thought they might treat a man 
 how they pleased if he was poor or unknown. 
 
 " To show what arch-villains some of the police were, allow me to relate to 
 you one brief anecdote : — A man who had been employed on a station in the 
 bush for several years, and had saved a nice little sum of money, came to 
 Eendigo in 1852. He had a wife and three children, and possessed a fine 
 tilted cart and two splendid draught horses. He brought with him a large 
 stock of provisions, and altogether was well provided. He was a steady, 
 industrious fellow, and deserved good luck, if he didn't meet with it. In 
 order to make sure of his money, he .buried it in a hole close to his tent, with 
 the cognisance only of his wife. One day, when he was away at work, some 
 men called, the appearance of whom his wife didn't like. They appeared to 
 her to be too curious in their examination of the tent and its surroundings, 
 and, watching them closely, she felt convinced that they had detected the 
 hiding-place of the money. After they were gone, therefore, she dug it up 
 and secreted it in the tent. The scoundrels were watching her all the time, 
 and they soon returned and demanded the ' plant.' She was dreadfully 
 alarmed, but denied all knowledge of a ' plant.' They would take no denial. 
 Finally, they threatened to kill her children, and most shamefully maltreated 
 her, and she was obliged at last to give up the money. Shortly after, her 
 husband returned, and while" she was tellicg him the circumstances a party 
 of police rode up to the tent. Of course, Charley at once told them his 
 trouble, in the fond but vain hope that they would endeavour to recover his 
 money. But they declared that they didn't believe a word of his story, and 
 also informed him that they had come (on information received) to arrest him 
 for sly grog selling, and also as a suspected horse stealer. It was no use his
 
 DIGGER HUNTING. 15 
 
 remonstrating, and his horses having been put to his cart, and his tent burned 
 down, they marched the family off to the logs. 
 
 " When they were brought before the court, Charley's wife immediately 
 recognised in the informer one of the men by whom she had been robbed. 
 She informed the magistrate of the fact, and although she was, indeed, 
 vouchsafed a hearing she was not believed, for the Bench was assured that she 
 was a woman of the lowest character. Charley was sentenced to six months' 
 imprisonment for sly grog selling and violently resisting the police, although 
 he had never raised his hand, and his cart and horses and other property were 
 ordered to be confiscated. The wife was discharged, but only, she was told, 
 in merciful consideration for her young children. The poor woman left the 
 court without a shilling in her pocket to buy her children bread. But she 
 made up her mind that she would start at once for the station they had left. 
 By the kindness of persons she met on the way she managed to subsist, but 
 the way was long, and she could make but slow progress with her three 
 children. She arrived one afternoon on the Loddon, and to her consternation 
 found that the river was running and that it was impossible for her to get 
 across. A cold drizzly rain was falling, and she and the little ones were wet 
 to the skin. They had had nothing to eat that day, and the children were 
 crying bitterly from cold and hunger. The poor mother felt broken-hearted. 
 She knelt down and tried to pray. But, worn out with grief, and anxiety, and 
 fatigue, and finding herself unexpectedly cut off from the hospitable home 
 which she knew was at no great distance, it was little wonder that her reason 
 did not sit steadily on its throne. According to her own account, she felt 
 impelled to drown herself and her children. Standing there looking at her 
 shivering little ones through her scalding tears, and hesitating which of them 
 she would throw into the river first, she was startled by a sharp, shrill cry. 
 Turning round, she perceived a young black boy bounding towards her. He 
 was an orphan who had been brought up at the station for which she had been 
 endeavouring to make. He quickly explained to her that he was with a dray, 
 which was returning home from an out station; that they had crossed the river 
 at a shallow place a little above, and that having espied her from the opposite 
 bank, the bullockdriver had sent him down to her. They could see the dray 
 from where they were. 
 
 " ' No you cry, Mrs. Charley,' said the boy affectionately. ' Vou all right 
 now— directly.' 
 
 " ' Bless his dear Ijlack face,' she used to say afterwards, in telling her 
 pitiful tale, ' It seemed to me like an angel come down from heaven.' 
 
 '* Her master interested himself in Charley's case, and, after some trouble, 
 succeeded in procuring his release ; and Charley, joyfully returning to his old 
 employ, registered an oath that he would go near the diggings no more. 
 
 "The authorities took very little pains to conciliate the population, which 
 was being oppressively taxed in order to maintain them : and although it is 
 anticipating a little, I will give you one practical illustration of their high and 
 mighty proceedings, and contemptuous disregard of the feelings of those whom 
 they were authorised and instructed to rule with a rod of iron. After our first 
 little hospital had been established, the Government officials undertook to get 
 up a ball for its benefit. Now you would think it would have been only
 
 16 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 reasonable and proper to have invited some of the leading townspeople — those 
 who had built the hospital — to act as stewards. But the only stewards 
 appointed were gold-laced gentlemen of the camp. This exclusiveness was 
 regarded as so cutting a slight that Sandhurst was aflame with just indignation. 
 A large number of persons refused to attend the ball (which proved a failure), 
 and the hospital gained nothing by it. Burton's circus was here at the time ; 
 and several gentlemen having combined for the purpose of getting up another 
 ball for the benefit of the hospital, hired the circus, paying Mr. Burton ^^150 
 for the night, and laying out ;^200 in preparations. War to the knife was 
 declared between town and camp. The great night arrived, and I don't think 
 it would be possible to find anywhere on record an instance of greater 
 vindictiveness and tyranny than that of which the Commissioners were then 
 guilty. I should have told you that they had any amount of grog at their own 
 ball. And what did they do? In the evening, before this famous historical 
 town ball opened, they marched down in person with a posse of police, and 
 seized the whole of the wine and spirits that had been provided. The late 
 lamented Mr. Lewis Macpherson, of the firm of L. Macpherson and Co., as 
 quiet and good-natured a man as ever breathed, was, perhaps, one of the 
 most emphatic among the many gentlemen who remonstrated with the 
 Commissioners in his condemnation of their conduct. And the ire of the 
 valiant wearers of the gold-laced caps being roused, they threatened to send 
 him to the logs, and he was actually marched some distance in that direction 
 under arrest. But they thought better of it, fortunately for their repute. 
 Despite their efforts to mar success, the ball proved all its promoters could 
 have desired. It was, in fact, quite a splendid affair for those days, completely 
 eclipsing the great camp effort. A sum of ^^150 was netted for the hospital, 
 which would have received /200, had not the caterer been fined ;i^50 for 
 having contraband goods — to wit, grog — in his possession, and the amount 
 was paid by the committee."
 
 THK LAW AND ITS ADMINISTRATION. 17 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The Law and its Administration. 
 
 " Of all injustice, that is the greatest which goes under the name of law." 
 
 — L' KstramrCx 
 
 1851-3. — The License Tax of 30s. per month — Proposed increase to £T) — 
 Objection by the Dig^jers — Movement under Captain Harrison — The Pro- 
 posal Abandoned — Bendigo Mac. — His Administration of the Law— Simon 
 O'Neil — Sergeant Richards — Sly-grog Selling. 
 
 pN our last chajiter the manner in which the h'cense tax was 
 
 collected, and the way in which the mining regulations 
 
 were administered, have been described minutely, and 
 
 ^^ reference will now be made to the circumstances accom])any- 
 
 ing the imposition of the tax, and the way in which the 
 
 Government were compelled by the strong force of public opinion 
 
 to abandon the idea of an increase. 
 
 The first proclamation of the Lieutenant-Governor respecting 
 the issue of licenses for gold digging, was dated August i6th, 
 1851. 
 The following was the form of gold license :^ 
 
 GOLD LICENSE. 
 
 " The bearer, , having paid to me the sum of one pound 
 
 ten shillings on account of the territorial revenue, I hereby 
 
 license him to dig, search for and remove gold on and from any such Crown 
 
 land within the , as I shall assign to him for that purpose 
 
 during the month of , 1S51, This license must be produced when- 
 ever demanded by me or any other person acting under the authority of the 
 Government. "(Signed) A. B., 
 
 " Commissioner." 
 
 The diggers m.urmured at the enforcement of this law, but so 
 intent were they on their work that they at first paid the tax with 
 tolerable submissiveness, and gave but a passing thought to the
 
 18 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 injustice of it. The manner in which it was collected, however, 
 was calculated to create discontent, and the murmurings became 
 distinct protests upon the issue of a further proclamation announc- 
 ing the intention of the Government to increase the license fee 
 to ;£3 per month from the ist January, 1852. The Argus 
 warned the Government of the impolicy of this step, and advised 
 the authorities to prepare for a serious outbreak among the 
 diggers if the double fee were enforced. The diggers were 
 reported to be buying up guns, pistols, and ammunition. A 
 public meeting of 14,000 diggers was held near the Post Office, 
 Mount Alexander, on the 9th December, to oppose the jQT) 
 license fee. Meetings were also held at Bendigo in front of 
 Captain Harrison's tent on the 8th and 9th December, 1851, 
 against the ^3 license, Captain Harrison being the chairman. 
 The meeting was addressed by Messrs. Frencham, Count 
 Landostni (a Polish nobleman), Moss, M'Donald, Russell, 
 M'Grath, Sandbach and Regan. The various speakers strongly 
 denounced the ;£2) license, and resolutions to stand by each 
 other to the last, in resisting it, were unanimously carried ; also a 
 resolution of thanks to the Argus and Geelofig Advertiser for their 
 sympathy and support. 
 
 The movement was successful, and on the 15 th December it 
 was announced that there would be no increase of the fee. Upon 
 this, the movement among the diggers subsided. (The agitations 
 of 1853 and 1854 will be dealt with in subsequent chapters.) 
 Captain Harrison, who was the leader of the agitation against the 
 ;£3 license fee on Bendigo, did not figure in the movements of 
 later years. He died in 1869 at the age of sixty-seven years. It 
 may be mentioned that before the goldfields movement he took 
 part in those for the separation of Port Phillip from New South 
 Wales and for the cessation of transportation. 
 
 In 1853, when the yield of gold exceeded that of each of the 
 two previous years, the presence of crime and numerous dis" 
 orderly characters on the goldfield rendered a strict administration 
 of the law necessary. In this year, INIr. Lachlan M'Lachlan, or 
 "Bendigo Mac," as he was more familiarly styled, appeared upon 
 the scene, and administered the law with a rigour and severity 
 which brought upon him censure from many quarters. Enough 
 has been written at various times upon this question, however, to 
 preclude the necessity for an expression of opinion here. Suffice
 
 " 13ENDIGO MAC." 19 
 
 it to say that " desperate evils require desperate remedies ; " but 
 though this was evidently the axiom recognised by " Bendigo 
 Mac," there is reason to fear there was occasionally a want of 
 discrimination in meting out the punishments which the law of 
 the day allowed. 
 
 At the time Mr. M'Lachlan was ordered to Bendigo, 
 Mr. J. T. Sanders was the Clerk of the Court, and Mr. Ryall, 
 our present Superintendent, was sergeant in the police force. 
 
 As we have said before, the Bendigo goldfield was peopled, for 
 the most part, with a sturdy race of men, who had ventured 
 thousands of miles across the seas to try their fortunes in the 
 country of which they had heard such inviting accounts. 
 Naturally, also, the same reports which tempted thousands of 
 the flower of Britain's sons to come so far, attracted many of 
 a very undesirable class of colonists, and among them some of 
 the worst of the criminal class who had effected their escape 
 from Van Dieman's Land. Very possibly Mr. M'Lachlan 
 exaggerated the extent of the evil, and from the records of his 
 actions as Police Magistrate, he too often imagined that those 
 brought before him were criminals of that dark dye to which 
 allusion has been made. Certainly, however, his strict adminis- 
 tration of the law had a very wholesome effect — it cleared the 
 district of men whose presence was undoubtedly prejudicial to 
 the public safety. 
 
 In dealing with the criminal class in those days, Mr. M'Lachlan 
 had a clever and powerful assistant in the person of the late 
 Simon O'Neil, then the chief detective officer of the Bendigo 
 district. O'Neil, who had formerly been for a short period 
 connected with the Van Dieman's Land police force, had 
 considerable knowledge of the habits of the criminal class who 
 came over on a visit to Bendigo, as well as a personal knowledge 
 of many of the hands themselves who were infesting the district. 
 From him the Police Magistrate was in the habit, previous to 
 the opening of the Court, of obtaining particulars of the men to 
 be brought before him. When an old hand happened to be 
 among the prisoners, he would be terrified by the fierce reprobation 
 of " Bendigo Mac," or by the glare which shot from that inevitable 
 eyeglass, and would have his antecedents published in the Court 
 by the Police Magistrate in such expressions as, " I know you, 
 you scoundrel ; your name's so-and-so ; you were at Norfolk
 
 20 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Island in such a year; you were one of the Point Peur boys in 
 such a year." Of course the prisoner would be quite at a loss to 
 account for the Police ISIagistrate's knowledge of his past career. 
 Perhaps the Police Magistrate would direct the detective to look 
 at the man's hands, and if there was a sign of his doing no work, 
 he would say there was no need to go into evidence, and have 
 the offender taken to gaol. A notable practice of the Police 
 Magistrate was, when some fellow of doubtful antecedents was 
 before the Bench, to take a view of his back, "Turn him round, 
 O'Neil," he would say, and, adjusting his eyeglass, the Police 
 Magistrate would survey him for a moment or two. " That will 
 do, O'Neil. Now, sir," addressing the prisoner, " you can't 
 deceive me, sir; you are from the other side, sir; — you are a 
 Tasmanian convict." If the charge against the man was trivial, 
 the Police Magistrate, turning to another favourite henchman of 
 his, would say, " Sergeant Richards, see that this ruffian leaves 
 the district within twenty-four hours, if not, bring him here again." 
 At other times he would say to a prisoner, " This district is not 
 big enough for both you and me. One of us must leave — which 
 shall it be ? " The prisoner would feel, of course, that there was 
 very little doubt about the matter, and would promise to make 
 himself scarce, requesting, probably, a couple of days' grace in 
 order to wash up a bit of wash-dirt ; and, in most cases, his 
 Worship would grant the time, but with a terrible caution 
 that it must on no account be exceeded. With drunkards, 
 Mr. M'Lachlan commonly dealt very summarily, and the usual 
 sentence, " Fined forty shillings ; take him away," formed the 
 burden of one of the popular local songs of the late Mr. Charles 
 Thatcher, whose rendering of his own ballads at the Shamrock 
 free concerts, obtained for him the soiibrujuet of "the Inimitable." 
 Of the officers named above, O'Neil died in Geelong in 1S69, and 
 Sergeant Richards was for some years stationed at Hamilton. 
 
 Many other incidents have been related in connection with 
 Mr. M'Lachlan's career as Police Magistrate. Sometimes when 
 prisoners became violently abusive, the threat of the "gag" 
 would be used, and in one particular case, where two Tasmanians 
 would not desist from their abuse of " Bendigo Mac," it was 
 actually put into execution, Sergeant O'Neil putting an effectual 
 stop to their flow of vituperation. It took the combined strength 
 of that strong detective officer and some half-dozen constables to
 
 SLY GROG SELLING. 21 
 
 handcuff the prisoners and fix the gags in their mouths, and even 
 after that they vented their impotent rage by glaring horribly at 
 Mr. j\ri.achlan, and (to slightly alter the quotation) "looking 
 daggers though using none." Mr. M'Lachlan's extensive dealing 
 with the criminal class of those days naturally evoked their hatred, 
 and it was consetjuently not to be wondered at that he was 
 frequently afraid to walk the streets, lest he should be attacked. 
 The only instance of the kind related, however, is that of a 
 drunken man who endeavoured to assault " Bendigo Mac." Mr. 
 M'Lachlan showed considerable pluck, and secured his man 
 until the arrival of the police. An amusing story about the con- 
 viction of Dr. of Pall Mall, for sly grog selling, has also 
 
 been told in connection with Mr. M'l.achlan's rule as a police 
 magistrate. It was well known that the doctor referred to was a 
 breaker of the law in regard to sly grog selling, but the difficulty 
 was to effect a conviction. However, the responsible officer was 
 informed by the Police Magistrate that he riust bring the doctor 
 to book on pain of losing his situation. The officer was 
 accordingly put on his mettle, but was equal to the emergency, 
 and disguising himself as a digger, he called at the doctor's to 
 have an aching hollow tooth drawn. Just as the doctor was 
 about to perform the operation, the patient felt the necessity for 
 his courage being fortified by a drop of something good, and 
 asked to be allowed to go to the nearest public house. But the 
 doctor said he needn't go, and drawing some curtains aside, 
 pointed out where he could obtain what he required. Having 
 paid for his nobbier, and gone through the fortification process, 
 he submitted to the operation, but of course had to have another 
 dose of the '' creature " at its conclusion. This exploit was the 
 means by which a charge of sly grog selling was sheeted home to 
 the doctor. The liquor was confiscated, a ^^50 fine inflicted, and 
 the doctor was obliged to leave the district. The laws with 
 regard to confiscated property were lax in those days, and it is 
 related that " Bendigo Mac's " man Dick did a brisk sly grog 
 trade with the liquor which formed part of the doctor's confiscated 
 property. 
 
 In the days when the State, by an arbitrary and blundering 
 administration, brought about the Red Ribbon agitation, which 
 caused so much public disturbance on Bendigo, Mr. M'Lachlan 
 carried out the law very strictly. He took active measures to
 
 22 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 suppress the disturbances which were so frequent. At that time 
 there were numbers of native New Zealanders at work in Bendigo, 
 and when the agitation was at its height, some hundred and fifty 
 of them armed themselves with pistols, guns, etc., and marching 
 to the residence of the police magistrate, volunteered to place 
 themselves under his orders in maintaining the peace of the 
 district. They camped outside of his residence for a night and a 
 day, but their services were fortunately not required for the 
 preservation of order, which was secured more peacefully and 
 effectively by the Government making reasonable and just con- 
 cessions to the diggers. In carrying out the harsh license law, 
 INIr. M'Lachlan frequently expressed his regret at having to fine 
 men who were without licenses in consequence of poverty. 
 
 ^s^
 
 ANTI-LICENSE AGITATION AND LAYING OUT OF TOWN. 23 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Anti-License Agitation and Laying Out of the Town. 
 
 " For freedom's battle, once begun, 
 Bequeath'd by bleeding sire to son, 
 Though baffled oft, is ever won." 
 
 — Byron. 
 
 1853-4. — The Anti-Gold License Agitation — -The Loyalty of the Diggers — 
 Dr. Owens and Mr. G. E. Thomson — Memorial to the Lieutenant Governor 
 — The Red Ribbon — Reduction of the Tax — The New Goldfields Bill — 
 Sandhurst Nomenclature — Progress of the Township — Police Office — 
 Bendigo Bank — Surveying the Township — Government Land Sales — Camp 
 and Auction Streets — Pall Mall — Communication with Melbourne — Prices 
 on Bendigo. 
 
 ^^^OBODY can be surprised in view of the circumstances 
 wiirii ^^^^^'"^ have already been referred to, in connection with 
 '"-'/ the state of the law and the administration of it on the 
 ^ll. goldfield, that the spirit of discontent which had been 
 engendered should have eventuated in the anti-gold- 
 license agitation. As the diggers began to know each other their 
 common grievance against the law, and the manner in which it 
 was administered, bound theni together in a way which nothing 
 else but a community of interest could. Leaders who could 
 temper their enthusiasm with moderation were not hard to find ; 
 for among the diggers were very many men whose education 
 fitted them to adorn high positions, and, indeed, many such 
 were content to continue as privates in the ranks of the great 
 organisation which sprang up on the prevailing discontent. The 
 men were not disloyal as has been alleged ; their feelings were 
 not those of men antagonistic to the Crown, but of individuals 
 with a deep-seated grievance against an ini([uitous law. 
 
 It was not until 1853 that the movement assumed a definite 
 shape. As we have already noticed, a proposal had been inade to 
 increase the tax from 30s. to ^3, but it was resisted so 
 strenuously that the idea was abandoned. In the agitation 
 which had been occasioned by this proposal, Captain Harrison
 
 2-4 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 took a leading part. In 1S53 the populations of the Ovens and 
 Forest Creek were the first to become incensed, their display of 
 feeling being due to acts of especial severity by the authorities. 
 Dr. Owens, who had removed from Bendigo to the Ovens district 
 became one of the champions of the diggers on that goldfield in 
 conjunction with Mr. Angus Mackay. A digger was shot by one 
 of the troopers, and Dr. Owens at once took his stand against 
 ''digger hunting" and the license system, which led to it. " He 
 called together one of the largest meetings ever held there ; 
 resolutions were passed, and he and Mr. Mackay were elected to 
 proceed to Melbourne to represent the digger's case before the 
 Commission which had been appointed to inquire into the 
 grievances of the diggers. But previous to the appointment of 
 the Commission, public meetings had been held on Bendigo, at 
 which recognised leaders were selected, and a platform, which 
 had the main object of freeing the diggers from the iniquitous 
 system was constructed. Mr. George Edward Thomson was the 
 prime mover. The eForts of the Anti-Gold-License Association, 
 which was then inaugurated, were in the direction of obtaining a 
 reduction of the fee. Mr. Thomson, thijn in his prime, was a 
 powerful speaker, and a shrewd and temperate guide, and it was 
 but natural that the diggers selected him as their chief spokesman. 
 At a meeting held on the 6th June, 1853, in the camp reserve, 
 near where Charing Cross is now, the licensing system and 
 the tyrannical proceedings of the camp oi^cials were denounced 
 in no measured terms. A memorial was prepared in reference to 
 this and other questions, and at the end of July it had been 
 signed by 23,000 diggers of Bendigo and Castlemaine, 8000 
 signatures from M'lvor swelling it up to 31,000. The memorial 
 was taken to Melbourne for presentation, but the reply of the 
 Lieutenant Governor (Mr. La I'robe) was, that the (Government 
 were not inclined to make any change in the existing laws. " He 
 was satisfied the diggers were mere grievance mongers, and he 
 knew what was his duty, and would do it at all risks. If the 
 diggers troubled the Government much more, he would let them 
 hear how cannon could roar." 
 
 " What terrible revolutionists the men composing the meeting which re- 
 ceived the answer of Mr. La Trobe must have been (says Mr. Ilaverfield) 
 when they let him hear how loyally they could roar when called upon to show 
 their attachment to the throne."
 
 ANTI-LICENSE AGITATION AND LAVING OUT OF TOWN. 2o 
 
 On the 2 1 St of August, a mass meeting was held at the Hospital 
 Hill, and every digger in sympathy with the movement wore a 
 red ribbon as a badge. Mr. Thomson says it may fairly be 
 estimated that ninety per cent, adopted this simple mode of 
 showing their sympathy with the movement. The dangers of 
 a disturbance became very serious, and the camp officials with 
 their military, were very apprehensive of an attack. Another 
 meeting was held some days later, at which it was decided to 
 tender ten shillings as the license fee. Ten persons selected by 
 the meeting went to the camp of the Commissioners and 
 tendered the ten shillings, which was refused ; but a promise 
 was made that a messenger should be despatched to Mel- 
 bourne with an account of what had taken place, and an 
 assurance was given that no molestation would be offered to the 
 people assembled. 
 
 The diggers at Waranga and other places were at this time 
 showing an opposition to the tax and the system that prevailed, 
 which would take no denial, and at length the Legislature were 
 obliged to take the subject into consideration. The Commission 
 to inquire into the grievances of the diggers followed, and 
 eventually resulted in the passing of a Goldfields' Bill, in which 
 it was provided that the license fee should be reduced from 
 thirty shillings per month to thirteen shillings and fourpence. 
 In the meantime the payment of the fee had been suspended, 
 a proclamation being issued pending the settlement of the 
 Bill. Mr. Haverfield relates that, when simultaneously with 
 this proclamation signed by the Lieutenant-Governor, another 
 informing the diggers that they must pay the tax as usual, and 
 signed by the Chief Commissioner, Mr. Wright, was posted, the 
 diggers wished to know which proclamation they were required 
 to obey. Mr. Panton replied, "The one signed by the Governor,"' 
 and added that the tax would not be collected until the Bill 
 had passed. 
 
 The reduction of the fee to thirteen shillings and fourpence 
 per month settled the question for a short time only. The new 
 Bill did not please, while the tyranny of the officials and police 
 was quite as bad as before. The root of the evil^ — taxation 
 without representation — had not been lost sight of in the 
 agitation, and the extension of the franchise to the diggers was 
 one of the demands which was now made. In their desire to
 
 26 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 pacify the digging population, the Government nominated 
 Mr. E. N. Emmett as a representative of the goldfield in the 
 Legislative Council, the only branch of the Legislature then in 
 existence. Mr. Emmett was to have his nomination endorsed 
 by the diggers, but they wanted the right to nominate and 
 elect ; and while Mr. Emmett was held in high esteem by the 
 population, the proposal simply to endorse his nomination was 
 rejected with scorn. Mr. Emmett had, along with Dr. Owens, 
 Mr. G. E. Thomson, Mr. W. D. C. Denovan, Captain Brown, 
 Captain Harrison, Mr. Robert Benson, Captain Baker, 
 Mr. R. R. Haverfield and others, taken a leading part in 
 the agitation of 1853. Matters had been brought to the stage 
 mentioned at the close of that year, and it was decreed by fate 
 that a period even more eventful than that through which the 
 diggers had passed in the early stages of the agitation, should 
 ensue before the wrongs under which they suffered were altogether 
 rectified, and before they obtained the rights to which, as free 
 men, they were justly entitled. The year 1853 closed with the 
 manifestation of great opposition to the License Tax, while the 
 new Goldfields' Bill, which had ' been expected to remedy 
 matters, was looked upon with much disfavour, and considered 
 an unjust and oppressive enactment. The diggers, at public 
 meetings held throughout the diggings, pledged themselves to 
 use their utmost efforts to procure the abolition of the license 
 fee, and to secure for all residents on the goldfields a full and 
 fair share in the representation of the colony ; and at these 
 meetings it was distinctly understood that only constitutional 
 measures would be resorted to in procuring the required 
 reforms. 
 
 Sandhurst is generally understood to have been named after 
 the English military college of that name, because of the 
 ])resence in the ranks of the regiments ordered to Bendigo of 
 officers who had graduated at that institution. Be this as it 
 may, the name was as inappropriate as that of Castlemaine, 
 where there was no castle ; or of Beechworth, a town situated in 
 mountainous country, while the Beechworth of England is in a 
 ([uict landscape. The native names are quite as euphonious 
 and far more applicable. No exception can be taken to 
 Campaspe, Wimmera or Loddon. The diggers gave names to 
 the gullies in and around Sandhurst, such as Ironbark, California,
 
 ANTI-LICENSE AGITATION AND LAVING OUT OF TOWN. 27 
 
 Long, Spring, and Golden, which are appropriate. In the case of 
 Eaglehawk, the first diggers found a large nest of this king of 
 Australian birds in one of the trees in the gully. In the case 
 of Pegleg, one of the first diggers had a wooden leg, and Robinson 
 Crusoe got its name from an eccentric solitary character who 
 pitched his tent there when it was opened. Sheepshead, Tinpot, 
 and Deadhorse Gullies are ridiculous enough, but they have each 
 reference to some fact connected with them. 
 
 I'he judgment of the Surveyor-General in not allowing stores 
 and buildings on the space of ground known as Pall MaU was 
 early proved by the overflowing of the creek. Every fall of rain 
 of a more than ordinary nature made crossing the creek at View 
 Point, anything but safe. About February, 1854, a start was 
 made towards the erection of a bridge, but the progress of the 
 work was tedious in the extreme. Pike's bridge, which was at 
 the site of the fountain, was erected about the year 1857. Mr. 
 W. Smith was the architect and Mr. M. Rundell, the contractor. 
 The timbers — logs thirty-feet long — were carted from the ranges 
 at Ironbark. 
 
 The police office in these days consisted of two moderately 
 sized tents joined together. In one sat the Magistrate and clerk 
 behind a species of counter, and administered justice through a 
 kind of open window, as they would refreshments to a thirsty 
 crowd. The Post Office also consisted of two tents, one for the 
 receipt, and the other for the delivery of letters. 
 
 The Bendigo Bank was chiefly composed of wood upon a 
 strong stone foundation. The strong room was of stone, roof 
 and all. The interior of the bank was S})acious and airy, the 
 walls being nicely papered ; but the roof was of canvas. This 
 institution was situated on the flat at View Point, just within 
 the camp enclosure, and almost on the site of the present Bank 
 of Victoria. The proprietor was Dr. Smith, and the manager 
 Mr. Emmett, who was also the originator. Though nearly 
 all the other goldfields had been favoured with branches of the 
 metropolitan establishments, Bendigo was without such a con- 
 venience until private enterprise supplied the necessity. In 
 March, 1854, the Bendigo Bank was purchased by the Bank of 
 Victoria for ;2^2,5oo, the transfer being made on the 13th of 
 that month. The manager appointed was Mr. George Vallentine, 
 who had been previously manager of the branch at Geelong.
 
 28 HISTORY OF 13ENDIG0. 
 
 Mr. Emmett, who was manager of the Bendigo Bank, resumed 
 his occupation as an auctioneer. The bank commenced building 
 operations alongside the wooden structure later in the same year. 
 
 Early in 1854, surveyors were engaged marking out the streets, 
 and many persons commenced to erect permanent buildings. 
 The site of the town was the gentle slope extending from the camp 
 to the low dividing ridge near Back Creek. Very likely little 
 thought was given to its extension in all directions, from the 
 bounds thus indicated. 
 
 About the beginning of August, 1854, a Government land 
 sale of town allotments took place at the Theatre Royal, Mr. 
 E. N. Emmett being the Government auctioneer. There were 
 ninety-eight lots submitted, situated in portions A, B and C of the 
 township of Sandhurst. The greater number of these lots had 
 improvements on them from the value of ^^150 to ;2^'i,8oo. The 
 lots with no property on them were fixed at the regular upset 
 price of ;^5o an acre. \<'hile those with buildings were fixed at 
 various prices according to their probable value from ;;^ioo to 
 ^800 per acre. The highest bid was for a corner lot near the 
 Black Swan, at the north-east corner of Pall Mall, for which at 
 the rate of ;z^3,ooo per acre was given, besides a valuation of 
 ;:/^i5o for property situated upon it. In another instance at the 
 rate of upwards of _;^2,ooo per acre was given for a lot, and in 
 many cases the rate o( ;^ 1,100 was reached. 
 
 Improvements went on at a rapid rate thereafter, new buildings 
 replacing the tents and slab huts which had previously existed, 
 and the inhabitants beginning in earnest the work of erecting for 
 themselves permanent buildings. 
 
 The sale of building allotments was accomi)anied by an order 
 for the removal of the buildings which had been erected upon the 
 reserves and streets of the township. By the end of October, 
 1854, the space formerly covered by the shops and stores of Camp 
 Street and portion of Auction Street presented nothing but heaps 
 of rubbish, fire-places and portions of the former buildings. The 
 front of Pall Mall began to rise from the piles of ruin, irregular 
 and unfinished, but presenting here and there a shop whose well 
 finished front wcjuld not disgrace Collins Street. 
 
 In the latter part of 1853 a line of coaches was established 
 between Bendigo and the metroi)olis by Mr. R. J. Howard 
 Hitherto the time occupied in covering this distance was four
 
 PRICES ON 15ENDIGO. 29 
 
 days, and the enterprise of Mr. Howard resulted in this space 
 of time being reduced by one-half. Previous to this, Mr. 
 Howard had established a post office at Forest Creek, and a 
 conveyance between that place and Kyneton for the forwarding 
 of the mails. He had also taken part in the movement which 
 was made against the attempt of the Government to enforce a 
 double amount of license fee. In March of the following 
 year the newly-discovered goldfield at Bryant's Ranges, Tarren- 
 gower, proved such an attraction that Mr. Howard resolved 
 to move his line of coaches from Bendigo to that place, and on 
 two nights in succession Mr. Howard was entertained by his 
 friends on Bendigo, who wished him success in his new under- 
 taking. It was not long after this that the firm of Cobb & Co. 
 established a line of coaches between Sandhurst and Melbourne, 
 and later on between Sandhurst and Inglewood and other places. 
 As the railway lines were constructed, however, their sphere 
 became limited, until at length, in iSSS, the office of the cele- 
 brated firm on Bendigo was closed. 
 
 The following is a list of the prices current at the beginning of 
 January, 1S54 :— Flour, ^45 to ^48 per ton; oats 17s. per 
 bushel; bran, 9s. per bushel; sugar, dark, S^sd. per lb. ; sugar, 
 light, 6j/2d. per lb.; tea, Congou, ^8 los. per chest; coffee, 
 IS. 9d. per lb. ; raisins, lod. to is. per lb. ; sperm candles, 2s. 3d. 
 per lb. ; Cavendish tobacco, 4s. per lb. ; currants, 2s. per lb. ; 
 butter, good, is. lod. to 2s. per lb. ; ham, is. 4d. ; bacon, is. 2d. 
 per lb. ; salad oil, 20s. per dozen pint bottles; pickles, 22s. per 
 dozen pint bottles ; bottled fruits, 36s. per dozen ; serviceable 
 draught horses, ^^50 to p^6o ; middling, ^^30 to ^^40 ; good 
 hacks, /^2o to ^30 ; and middling, ^"15 to ^20. Good mousing 
 cats brought from j[^2 to p/^3. 
 
 AVriting of an earlier stage in the history of the goldfield, 
 Mr. Thomson says : — 
 
 "Flour was from £\(i to ;^20 per bag, equivalent to l)etween five or 
 six ounces of gold ; nothing sold by weight could be purchased under 2s. per 
 lb., beef and mutton only excepted ; fresh pork was 2s. 6d. ; ham, 4s. to 
 5s. per lb. ; butter, chiefly Irish salt, was 4s. to 5s. per lb. ; milk, 4s. per 
 quart ; sardines, small tins, 3s. each ; pickles, principally London manu- 
 facture, 3s. 6d. per pint bottle, and the other things in like proportions. Fresh 
 vegetables of any kind were scarcely procurable ; cabbages brought from 
 3s. 6d. to lOs. a-piece ; onions, 4s,, and potatoes is. 8d. per lb. ; other descrio- 
 tions were not obtainable at any price. Mining tools and implements were
 
 30 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 equally clear, a cradle costing £6; puddling tub, half II.II.D., £if los. 
 Horse feed shared in the like fabulous prices; oats were from £i los. to £t^ 5s. 
 per bushel ; bush hay, £']o per ton. English pressed sold to 2s. per lb., but 
 very little was used at that price. Coined money, or its equivalent in paper, 
 was extremely scarce ; purchases were thus very frequently effected by the 
 interchange of gold for other commodities ; the Government took it in pay- 
 ment of revenue at the rate of £t, per oz. ; copper money was for a long time 
 unused, boxes of matches doing duty for it when anything less than a shilling 
 had to be accounted for. The gold buyer escaped the necessity of small 
 change by having no smaller weight than a half-pennyweight."
 
 PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT. 31 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Progress and Development. 
 
 " Peace hath her victories 
 No less renowned than war." 
 
 —Milion. 
 
 1853-7. — Representation of the Diggers — Visit of the Surveyor-General and 
 Colonial Secretary — The Census— The Chinese Question — Education — 
 Visit of Sir Charles Hotham — The Anti-License Movement — The Ballarat 
 Rebellion — First Local Court — Eight Hours' Movement — Price of Township 
 Allotments — The Liquor Question — Murray River Railway. 
 
 g^N the 27th December, 1853, some forty or fifty of the 
 detachment of the regiment, up till then stationed on 
 Bendigo, left for Melbourne, their withdrawal being 
 regarded as an indication of the confidence of the 
 Government in the continuance of tranquillity. 
 The representation of the diggers formed the subject of a 
 public meeting on the 31st December, 1S53, when the chair was 
 taken by Dr. Owens. Motions were carried protesting against 
 the new constitution, and appointing Drs. Owens and Wall a 
 deputation to read the protest at the bar of the Legislative 
 Council. A third resolution was moved that the meeting await 
 with an.xiety the election of Representatives to the Diggers' Con- 
 gress, believing that when elected, they w-ill at once proceed to 
 relieve their constituents in a loyal and constitutional manner of 
 the obnoxious clauses of the new bill, and effect the abolition of 
 the license tax. 
 
 Early in 1854, the Surveyor-General (Mr. Clarke) and the 
 Colonial Secretary (Mr. Foster) visited Bendigo. A deputation 
 waited on the latter for the purpose of laying before him the 
 requirements of the diggings and the grievances under which 
 the residents laboured. Ihe objection to the new Gold Act
 
 32 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 was brought under J\Ir. Foster's notice by Dr. Owens, who said 
 the feeling against the Hcense tax was daily gaining strength ; 
 whilst there was a very strong objection to the new constitution, 
 which failed to provide representation for 150,000 of the colonists. 
 Mr. Edmonds and Mr. Mackay also spoke, the latter stating that 
 until the diggers were enfranchised, and granted the same 
 privileges as other members of the community, the goldfields 
 would be in a state of constant agitation. The Colonial Secretary 
 replied that, though it was the anxious desire of the Government 
 to enfranchise the diggers, it could not be done for two years, or 
 until the proposed measure had received the assent of Parliament. 
 About a month later, great indignation was expressed when it 
 became known that Drs. Owens and Wall, who had been deputed 
 to bring under the notice of the Legislative Council the grievances 
 of the diggers, had been refused permission to appear at the bar 
 of the House. 
 
 In April a census of the people of Bendigo was taken, and 
 the total population was announced some months later as 
 15,480. A considerable number of the diggers had left for other 
 fields at the beginning of 1854, and these figures by no means 
 represented the population of Bendigo in its most prosperous 
 days. It was estimated that the number of Chinese on the 
 goldfield was then about 4,000. 
 r~ About the middle of 1854, there was a strong agitation on 
 the goldfields against the Chinese ; and in consequence of some 
 indiscreet remarks by one of the leaders of the movement, a 
 disturbance very nearly occurred. This fact had the effect, 
 however, of forcing the hand of the Government, who, becoming 
 alarmed at the marked hostility of the mining population to the 
 wholesale introduction of the Chinese into the colony, brought 
 in a bill imposing a capitation tax of ^10 per head on every 
 Chinaman entering the colony, which the Legislature passed. 
 Protectors and Interpreters were provided by the Government. 
 By an enactment passed in 1858, the protection ticket was 
 superseded by what was termed a residence tax of j£^ per 
 annum. This pressed hardly upon the poorer classes of Chinese, 
 and before long a spirit of insubordination was manifested. 
 Having suspected some of their head men at Castlemaine of 
 being concerned in the enforcement of the obnoxious residence 
 tax, some of them actually caused placards to be distributed,
 
 00 
 
 < 
 
 Oh
 
 PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT. 33 
 
 offering a reward to anyone who would kill the head men. To 
 make matters worse for the Chinese, a storekeeper named 
 M'Elligott was murdered in his store at Ironbark Gully by thrpe 
 Chinamen. This was in the very height of the agitation caused 
 by the enforcement of the tax. There was some reason to 
 suppose that the murder was committed by hired assassins, and 
 as some time elapsed before the chief of the three murderers, 
 Ah Key, was arrested through the instrumentality of Hung Si, 
 another Chinaman, it was thought they were trying to hide the 
 culprits. This they denied, but the circumstances of the murder 
 prevented the subject of the treatment of the Chinese from being 
 dispassionately discussed. Eventually, however, owing to the 
 interest manifested in their behalf by a number of prominent I 
 citizens, the residence tax was abolished. 
 
 Some reference to the provision for the education of the young 
 may be of interest at this stage. The number of schools on 
 Bendigo in August, 1854, was seven, of which two were conducted 
 under the national system, three were Wesleyan, one Presbyterian, 
 and one Roman Catholic. There were no schools connected with 
 the Church of England, the Rev. Mr. Gregory, the Episcopalian 
 clergyman, taking an active part in the establishment of national 
 schools. Of these, the Presbyterian school, which was established 
 by the exertions of Dr. Allison, was alone unsupported by the 
 Government. There was one national school in Sandhurst, near 
 View Point, while the other was at the Seventh White Hill. Mr. 
 Orlebar, the inspector of national schools, who visited Bendigo at 
 this time, stated that the most numerous attendance which he 
 found at the former school was thirty-two children, and at the 
 latter fourteen. All these children were very young, and none 
 were far advanced in the several branches of education. The 
 Wesleyans had a school in Sandhurst, another at White Hills, 
 and a third at Golden Square. The attendance at the first was 
 about forty, at the second thirty-five, and at the third somewhat 
 less. At the Presbyterian school the number of children in 
 attendance was about thirty-four, and at the Roman Catholic 
 about fifty. The total number of children at the seven schools 
 was about 238, which the correspondent of the ArgJis (Mr. 
 Mackay), after making every allowance for the character of the 
 population and the inducements for the children to go to work 
 instead of to school, considered was not one-seventh of the 
 
 c
 
 34 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 number of children that ought to have been in regular attendance 
 at school. He severely condemned the Government for not 
 attending to this matter, for he considered that the want of either 
 religious or secular instruction could not fail to have a very 
 demoralising influence on the character of the succeeding 
 generation. 
 
 In July a movement was set on foot for the representation of 
 the district at the forthcoming Paris Exhibition. Mr. Panton 
 was appointed president, Dr. Allison hon. secretary, and Mr. 
 Vallentine hon. treasurer. It was decided to hold a local 
 exhibition to be opened by the Governor, at which the exhibits 
 to be afterwards sent to Paris should be shown to the local 
 residents. 
 
 The 4th September, 1854, was a day of great excitement and 
 rejoicing on account of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor's 
 visit. The Criterion Hotel was decorated with flowers, evergreens, 
 and flags, as were nearly all the hotels in Sandhurst. It was 
 about five o'clock in the afternoon before His Excellency and 
 suite arrived at Golden Square. Mr. Emmett and Dr. Tierney, 
 accompanied by Mr. Walsh, met the cavalcade with hats off, and 
 having welcomed His Excellency to Bendigo, invited him to a 
 public dinner from the townspeople of Sandhurst, an invitation 
 which was graciously accepted. The crowd then stopped the 
 carriage, several of them took out the horses and proceeded to 
 draw the carriage along. The band struck up " God Save the 
 Queen," and afterwards the " Conquering Hero." The diggers 
 fell in behind the band, then the Germans with their flag and 
 band, and next the men of other nations, coloured Americans 
 and Chinese with banners. At the Royal Hotel at View Point 
 there was a banner hung across the road with the words : — 
 
 " he's a right 'un," 
 
 inscribed on it. At the bridge at View Point there was a 
 triumphal arch, over which was placed a crown with the 
 standards of England and America floating over it. The 
 Governor made a speech in which he thanked the diggers for 
 their reception, which had thoroughly convinced him of their 
 loyalty. In the evening the hotels were brilliantly illuminated, 
 the Criterion, Freemason's Bendigo and Royal Hotels being most 
 conspicuous. Over the Criterion was the inscription in illuminated
 
 VISIT OF SIR CHARLES HOTHAM. 35 
 
 letters — "Welcome Sir Charles and Lady Hotham to Sandhurst." 
 It should be also mentioned that at the Hibernian Hotel, Golden 
 Square, there was a banner placed over the road with the words — 
 Cead milk /ail the. 
 
 On the 5th September, His Excellency and Lady Hothanx 
 attended a public breakfast, and subsequently opened the 
 exhibition. The building in which the exhibition was held was 
 erected on the ground granted for a Mechanics' Institute. It 
 was sixty feet by twenty feet. There was one grand entrance on 
 the north-west side, while the front of the building was composed 
 of open windows hung with purple drapery, the panels above 
 being ornamented. 
 
 In the evening. Sir Charles and Lady Hotham honoured the 
 Princess' Theatre with their presence, when Sheridan Knowles' 
 play, "The Hunchback," was performed. The tickets of admis- 
 sion for the evening were 21s. and los. 6d., but the house was well 
 filled notwithstanding. Sir Charles and Lady Hotham expressed 
 their pleasure and surprise at witnessing a performance of such a 
 description on Bendigo. 
 
 Next evening, His Excellency and Lady Hotham were enter- 
 tained at a dinner, which was served in the large room of the 
 Criterion Hotel. Dr. Smith was in the chair, and 120 persons 
 were present, including the Surveyor-General, Colonel Valliant, 
 Captain Kaye, the Police Magistrate (Mr. M'Lachlan), the 
 Resident Commissioner (Mr. Panton), Commissioners Wilkinson,. 
 M'Kenzie, Reynell, Standish, Dr. Roche, Messrs. Lyttleton, 
 Winch and other officials. On the following day. His Excellency 
 and Lady Hotham left Bendigo for M'lvor. 
 
 The winter months of 1854 saw a complete change wrought 
 on the aspect of the township, by reason of the newly-surveyed 
 streets. New and substantial buildings were going up in all 
 directions. Notable among these were the Bank of Victoria and 
 the Wesleyan Chapel. 
 
 The disaffection among the diggers had not been removed by 
 the concessions of the Government towards the end of 1853, and 
 all through 1854 efforts were being made to bring about a farther 
 change in the existing state of affairs. There was a great deal of 
 bitterness imported into the struggle, though not to such an 
 extent on Bendigo as on other goldfields. This was in no small 
 measure due to the moderation shown by Mr. J. A. Panton 
 
 c2
 
 86 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 during this trying period. Wliile at Ballarat and Creswick the 
 diggers were being goaded into excesses, the diggers of Bendigo 
 had no cause tc complain of such tyranny. At the same time, 
 the yoke was galling and oppressive, no matter how moderately 
 the law might be administered. In some instances, the diggers 
 were led by men of warm temperament, and Captain Brown, 
 through his injudicious language and foolish threats, was placed 
 for a period in prison. On the 26th August, 1854, an anti-license 
 meeting, convened by Mr. Denovan, was held in front of the 
 Criterion Hotel, and attended by between two and three thousand 
 persons. The chair was taken by Dr. AV^all. Resolutions were 
 carried in favour of the total abolition of the license tax and the 
 Gold Commission, and in favour of the extension of the franchise 
 to the mining population. The committee appointed to carry 
 out the views of the meeting, were Dr. Wall and Messrs. Emmett, 
 Denovan, Armstrong, Meaton, Mackay, Dixon, and C. Howard. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 5th September, a mass meeting of 
 8,000 or 9,000 diggers was held, at which a memorial was drawn 
 up for presentation to the Governor, Sir Charles Hotham, then 
 on a visit to Bendigo, stating in detail the various objections to 
 the license tax, complaining of the total exclusion of the 
 inhabitants of the district from any share in the representation 
 of the country, and asking that the lands should be thrown open 
 to the people. The assembled diggers then formed into pro- 
 cession and marched to the camp, to the house of the Resident 
 Commissioner (the present residence of the principal of the High 
 School), where His Excellency was then staying. His Excellency 
 having heard the memorial read, promised to give it his con- 
 sideration. With regard to the lands, he said the Government 
 were doing their best to have them thrown open to the people as 
 fast as they could. He would endeavour to make the tax as 
 light as possiljle. A tremendous burst of cheering from the 
 assembled thousands greeted His Excellency at the conclusion of 
 his remarks. 
 
 Notwithstanding the reassuring tone of His Excellency's 
 addresses while on Bendigo, there was no mention of the 
 diggers' grievances in his speech at the opening of the Legislature, 
 and this fact was strongly commented on. 
 
 On 14th October a public meeting was held in front of the 
 Criterion Hotel, on the subject of the management of the
 
 THE EUREKA STOCKADE. 37 
 
 goldfields. The chair was taken by Mr. Hopkins. Resohitions 
 were passed to the effect that the agitation for the redress of 
 the grievances should be persisted in, that the co-operation of 
 all classes should be invited, and that an association be formed 
 to be called "The Croldfields Reform League." The meeting 
 was addressed by Messrs. Emmett, Wall, MacPherson, Benson, 
 Walsh, Dumphy, Burrall, Edmonds and Denovan, and the last 
 gentleman was appointed one of two delegates to visit the various 
 goldfields, and also Melbourne and Geelong, to obtain their 
 sympathy, and to secure their aid in urging the claims of the 
 residents of the goldfields upon the Government. 
 
 The state of affairs on the diggings became intolerable towards 
 the close of 1854, and culminated in the celebrated Eureka 
 Stockade riots at Ballarat, on the 3rd of December. Just before 
 these riots took place, a monster meeting of miners, held on 
 Bendigo, gave a hearty reception to Mr. Holyoake, a delegate 
 from Ballarat, who came to ask that the diggers of Bendigo 
 should unite with the diggers of that goldfield in their efforts to 
 abolish the license tax and obtain free and equal representation. 
 Mr. Emmett was in the chair, and the meeting was addressed by 
 Messrs. Holyoake, Denovan, Benson, Dumphy, Dixon and Dr. 
 Roche. i\fr. Denovan was delegated to represent Bendigo, 
 but when he and Mr. Holyoake had proceeded part ol the way 
 over to Ballarat the news of the riots and the proclamation of 
 martial law reached them. Further efforts in the matter of uniting 
 with the diggers of Ballarat were therefore futile, and INIr. Denovan 
 returned to Bendigo via Castlemaine, where he addressed a mass 
 meeting of diggers. Had Mr. Holyoake's visit taken place earlier, 
 the Eureka Stockade affair miglit have been avoided. 
 
 The news of the Ballarat disturbances created great excitement 
 on Bendigo. The details of that great historical event, and the 
 effect which it had upon the Government of the day as illustrative 
 of the necessity for the abolition of the oppressive laws under 
 which the diggers lived, it is not necessary to refer to here. 
 Upon the resignation of the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Foster), 
 which took place shortly afterwards, his successor (Mr. Haines) 
 appointed a Royal Commission. This Commission proceeded to 
 the goldfields, and eventually recommended a comj^lete change 
 in the management. These changes were announced by Mr. 
 Haines in the Council and shortly after carried into effect. The
 
 38 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 miners' right was substituted for the iniquitous license tax ; leases 
 of auriferous areas were granted, local courts were established^ 
 and the goldfields obtained the privilege of municipal institutions 
 and legislative representation. This latter was certainly not of the 
 character demanded. Dr. Owens, who was the first representative, 
 had to be elected by all the diggings before he could take his 
 seat. However, from this time forward the rights of the digging 
 population began to grow in extent and influence until at length, 
 under the new constitution two years later, Bendigo was repre- 
 sented in the lower branch of the Legislature, as well as forming 
 part of the North-Western Province of the Legislative Council. 
 
 On the 2Sth July, 1855, the election of meml^ers of the first 
 local court took place, with the result that the members were 
 Messrs. Cunningham, O'Connor, Emmett, M'Kenzie, Benson, 
 l^enovan, Hulkes, Wetherell and Hoskins. The local courts had 
 been established by the Government for the purpose of framing 
 mining laws and regulations. Mr. Panton was gazetted chairman 
 of the local board for the Bendigo district. 
 
 A meeting was held on the loth May, 1856, in support of the 
 eight hours' movement in Bendigo, and an association called 
 " The Amalgamated Builders' Association," consisting of masons, 
 bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers and glaziers was formed. 
 
 The first Circuit Court was held in February, 1857, the 
 occasion being the first time upon which His Honor Chief 
 Justice Stawell entered upon the duties of Chief Justice, to which 
 position he had just been elevated. 
 
 At the beginning of 1857 the town was showing signs of 
 considerable advancement. The price of land had trebled in the 
 year. The population had increased, and though the number of 
 persons engaged in mining was not as large as formerly, those 
 who were following up other pursuits had increased threefold. 
 The population of the Sandhurst municipality was made up in 
 April, when it was announced that the total was 12,159 persons, 
 of whom about 2,000 were Chinese. Of the remaining 10,159, 
 6,865 ^^'^J"^ males and 3,294 females. It must be borne in mind 
 that the municipality did not at this time include Ironbark and 
 Long Gully. 
 
 Previous to 1857 the names of Lachlan Fraser, Henry Robinson 
 and others figure in the newspapers of the period as champions 
 of the temperance cause. On the nth June, 1857, a meeting
 
 PROPOSED RAILWAY. 39' 
 
 was held at the Bendigo Coffee Rooms, at which it was 
 unanimously agreed to form a society. Mr. Lachlan Eraser was 
 elected the first president, and Mr. D. Buchan the first secretary. 
 The first public meeting was held in the Church of England 
 schoolroom, and was eminently successful in awakening attention 
 to the importance of the new movement. The society made 
 steady progress. The number of members at its formation was 
 nine, and in iS6o they amounted to 243. While on the r2th of 
 August, 1857, we find that the inaugural dinner of the Licensed 
 Victuallers' Association on Bendigo was held, on the 8th of 
 November a visit was paid to Bendigo by Mr. R. Heales, M.L.A., 
 on behalf of the Temperance League of Victoria. 
 
 It has been stated that the movement for a railway from 
 Melbourne to the River Murray had a small beginning, the first 
 meeting in Melbourne on the subject being attended by only two 
 or three persons. The project was first mooted on Bendigo in 
 July, 1855, when, at a public meeting, presided over by Mr 
 Vallentine and addressed by Mr. Lysaght, Dr. Backhaus, Mr. 
 Bissill, Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Harney, Dr. Hunt and Mr. Mackay, it was 
 decided to memorialise the Governor on the subject. Surveys 
 were subsequently made. The direct route from Melbourne to 
 Sandhurst would have left Castlemaine out, and one of the 
 proposals was that a branch line would meet the requirements of 
 the " Great Centre." There was a severe newspaper war on the 
 subject, and while Sandhurst residents desired the direct route 
 and a much shorter trip, Castlemaine residents considered that a 
 diversion should be agreed to in their favour. The Sandhurst 
 people resisted the diversion, and were desirous that the direct 
 line first proposed should be carried out, as the proposition to 
 carry the line through Castlemaine would not only be unjust and 
 injurious to Sandhurst, but would inflict a permanent tax on 
 the traffic between Melbourne and Sandhurst. However, the 
 agitation, so far as Sandhurst was concerned, proved of no 
 avail, for on the 12th September, 1857, the Legislative Assembly 
 decided that the Murray line should pass through Castlemaine to 
 Sandhurst. Captain Clarke, the ex-Surveyor-General, maintained 
 that by carrying it through Castlemaine the formation of the line 
 vv^ould be delayed for eighteen months. On the 4th May, 1858, 
 the tender of Messrs. Cornish and Co. was accepted for its 
 construction at a cost of ;^3,356,937.
 
 40 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Progress and Development. — (Continued.) 
 
 " They are the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time." 
 
 — Shakspeare, 
 
 1857-67. — The Local Court— The Mining Board — Departure of Mr. Panton — 
 Sir Henry Barkly — The Burke and Wills Expedition — Opening of the 
 Railway to Sandhurst — Town Improvements — Eight Hours in Mines 
 — Value of Town Properties — Inglewood Tramway — The Sandhurst 
 Exhibition. 
 
 ^HE local court, one of the first local bodies instituted 
 by the Government on the goldfields had not been 
 found to come up to expectations. The court had, no 
 doubt, done good work, but its proceedings were 
 frequently distinguished by the absence of harmony and 
 the presence of discordant elements, which prevented the proper 
 conduct of business. On the 21st October the court resigned in 
 a body, owing to the refusal of the resident warden to adopt two 
 recommendations of leases of quartz reefs for the purposes of 
 mining. The Board passed a resolution to the effect that the 
 action of the resident warden was quite in keeping with the past 
 treatment of the miners by the Government. 
 
 One of the new creations of the Government was the Mining 
 Board, the first election for which took place on the 27th 
 February, 1858. The members of the first Board were Messrs. 
 M'Intyre. IMollison, Grove, Carpenter and Merington. Mr. 
 M'Intyre was the first chairman, and, with the assistance of his 
 colleagues, was instrumental in forming the first code of mining 
 bye-laws, which proved a very complete and valuable instalment 
 of local mining legislation.
 
 VICE-REGAL VISITS. 41 
 
 On the i5t September, Mr. Panton, who had noi.v been for 
 some six years resident warden of the district, was entertained at 
 a public dinner on the eve of his departure for England on leave 
 of absence. The dinner was largely attended, and the best 
 feelings were evinced towards Mr. Panton. A testimonial 
 consisting of a ewer and salver of Bendigo gold was presented to 
 him, and he also received a testimonial from the Chinese 
 residents of the place, consisting of a handsome gold seal and an 
 address. Mr. Mollison was appointed resident warden. Mr. 
 Standish, the Chinese protector, who was also leaving Sandhurst 
 at this time to take his place in the responsible office of Chief 
 Commissioner of Police, was the recipient of a testimonial from 
 the Chinese. Mr. Vincent Pyke was appointed warden and 
 Chinese protector for the Sandhurst district. He was one of the 
 members returned for Castlemaine at the first election for the 
 goldfields, and has since taken a prominent part in New Zealand 
 politics. 
 
 His Excellency Sir Henry and Lady Barkly visited Bendigo 
 on the loth October, 1861. They remained for five days and 
 visited some of the principal quartz reefs, descending into " the 
 bowels of the earth" some 300 feet and inspecting the underground 
 workings. Lady Barkly was lowered down the shaft on a chair, 
 and distinguished herself l)y knocking out auriferous quartz with 
 a pick, while the Governor doffing for the nonce his superfine 
 coat and his vice-royalty, donned the ordinary blue shirt and the 
 dress of the miner while inspecting the works. 
 
 All the Victorian Governors have paid visits to Bendigo. 
 Sir Henry Barkly's first visit was in 1857, and in 1862 he 
 opened the Sandhurst Railway. Sir H. Manners Sutton visited 
 Bendigo in 1866, and in 1867, when he was accompanied 
 by Sir John Young, Governor of New South Wales. In 1873, 
 Sir George and Lady Bowen were accompanied by Sir Hercules 
 and Lady Robinson, of New South Wales. Sir George Bowen 
 visited Bendigo again in 1874, 1876, and 1878; the Marquis 
 of Normanby in 1S79 and 1881 (with Princes Albert and 
 George of Wales) ; Sir Henry Loch in 18S3, 1SS6, and 1888; 
 and Lord Hopetoun in 1890 and 1891. 
 
 The fate of the Burke and Wills exploring party forms one 
 of the saddest pages in Australian history. Much interest was 
 taken in the work of exploration, so much was there to learn
 
 42 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 about the interior of the vast continent of Austrah'a, and when 
 fears were first entertained for the safety of Burke and Wills, 
 there was scarcely a person living in the colony who did not 
 share in the general anxiety. In July, letters were published 
 in the Advertiser from Mr. R. R. Haverfield, who had returned 
 to Menindie, after a trip through the Barrier Ranges to South 
 Australian stations in the "far north," as it was called. 
 Mr. Haverfield gave news of the death of four of the Burke 
 and Wills exploring party ; the supposed fate of its leaders ; 
 and some interesting details of the expedition. The subject 
 was the great topic of conversation, and it was worthy of note 
 that many on Bendigo, who knew Mr. Haverfield well, concurred 
 in stating that no better man than he could be found to lead 
 any expedition that might be sent in search of Mr. Burke and 
 his unfortunate comrades. In October 1861, Mr. Haverfield 
 returned to Bendigo, and published a number of articles, 
 entitled " Jottings in the North." It was not till the 
 2nd November that definite intelligence was received in 
 Bendigo of the fate of the Burke and Wills exploring party. 
 The particulars of their sad end, and the appointment of a 
 Commission by the Government of Victoria to inquire into 
 certain charges of mismanagement against the relief party, 
 it is not necessary to refer to here. However, it may be 
 mentioned that the 23rd November was the date of the arrival 
 in Bendigo on his way to Melbourne of Mr. King, the survivor 
 of the expedition. Mr. King met with a very kind reception 
 from the people of Bendigo. The inauguration of the Burke 
 and AVills Monument, at the Back Creek Cemetery, took place 
 on the 20th August in the following year. It would have been 
 much better if the INIemorial had been erected on a prominent 
 site in the town. 
 
 The Murray River Railway was completed as far as Bendigo 
 in 1862. On the 19th June, the ceremony of "keying in," 
 or laying the last brick of the Big Hill Tunnel was performed 
 by Mr. Higinbotham, the Chief Engineer of the Government. 
 Before the opening of the railway from Melbourne to 
 Bendigo the Council took up the subject of establishing 
 connection with the neighbouring districts of M'lvor and 
 Inglewood by means of tramways. The Sandhurst and Ingle- 
 wood Councils also held a conference on the subject of a
 
 OPENING OF THE RAILWAY. 43 
 
 tramway, but with no definite result. The work was commenced 
 three years later, but never completed. 
 
 The 2oth October, 1862, was a red-letter day in the annals 
 of Bendigo, ushering in a new era, in which the great goldfields' 
 centre of the northern district was to be connected by rail with 
 the metropolis. The line was declared open by His Excellency 
 Sir Henry Barkly, who met with an enthusiastic reception from 
 20,000 people drawn together by the importance of the event. 
 The banquet in honour of the occasion took place in the 
 afternoon in a temporary building attached to the Town Hall, 
 and some Soo persons sat down. The Chairman of the 
 municipality, Mr. Robert Burrowes, presided, having on his 
 right His Excellency the Governor. There were also present 
 the Chief Secretary (Mr. John O'Shannassy), the Attorney- 
 General, the Commissioner of Railways, the Commissioner of 
 Public Works, and other notabilities. After the loyal toasts, 
 that of the Governor was proposed by the Chairman, and 
 His Excellency, in reply, said that the opening of the railway 
 was not only a cause of triumph to Bendigo, but a triumph 
 in which all Victoria should rejoice. The banquet was one 
 of the most successful ever held in Bendigo. The building in 
 which it was held, was the scene of a ball at night. 
 
 Although the celebrations passed off without a hitch, it was 
 not so with the railway arrangements, and a large number of 
 visitors were obliged, unwillingly, to remain in Bendigo for 
 the night. As every bed in the various hotels had been engaged 
 days beforehand, great difficulty was experienced by the benighted 
 travellers in getting accommodation, and even the churches were 
 availed of in their extremity, and beds made of the pews. A 
 great number of the passengers, however, and amongst them a 
 large proportion of ladies, preferred remaining in the carriages 
 to running the risk of having to hunt for beds. The first official 
 railway time-table provided for three trains on week-days, and 
 two on Sundays. The fares for a single journey were 31s. 6d. 
 first class, and 23s. 3d. second class ; return tickets costing 
 47s. 3d. and 34s. pd. Return tickets issued on Saturdays were 
 available for the return trip by any train up to the following 
 Monday night. 
 
 The marriage of the Prince of Wales was the occasion of 
 a celebration in Bendigo on the 19th May, 1863. The town
 
 44 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 was gaily decorated ; trees, in commemoration of the event 
 were planted by the Chairman of the Municipality (Mr. M'Intyre) 
 at the View Street entrance to the Reserve, and medals were 
 distributed amongst the children. 
 
 In June, there was a riot amongst the workmen on the 
 railway ; and some time afterwards the navvies on the line 
 between Bendigo and Castlemaine threatened to invade the 
 town. Special constables were sworn in, but their services 
 were not required. The question of wages was at the bottom 
 of these warlike displays. 
 
 The most important occurrence in the month of September, 
 1864, was the completion of the railway from Bendigo to 
 Echuca. This line had been carried out with great celerity 
 by the contractors, Messrs. Collier, Barry and Co. 
 
 At the close of the year 1864, further improvements had 
 been effected in the town. Large additions had been made 
 to the Hospital and Benevolent Asylum, and a wing of the 
 new Mechanics' Institute nearly completed. At the rear of 
 the District Court in View Street, the foundation-stones of 
 offices for the Warden and Mining Registrar were laid. 
 The Beehive Stores were completed. The erection of Pike's 
 buildings was contemplated ; as also was an additional wing to 
 the Shamrock Hotel. 
 
 The question of eight hours for the miners became prominent 
 at this time. It was very rightly contended that if eight hours 
 was enough for those employed in the various trades, eight 
 hours was enough for the miner who had to work underground 
 at the risk of life and health. Ten hours was the duration 
 of the miners' working day, and Mr. Robert Clark and 
 Mr. Morris Collmann were the first men to take up the 
 question, with the object of having the eight hours' system 
 extended to the miners. Some of the employers at once 
 signified their intention of carrying out the eight hours' system 
 in mining, in order to afford their employes more opportunities 
 for recreation and mental culture. The agitation was continued 
 during the winter of 1865. A large meeting of miners was held 
 in the Shamrock Hall, at which a number of speakers advocated 
 the system ; they referred in sensible and appropriate remarks 
 to the injurious effects which too long hours at work in the 
 deleterious atmosphere of a mine had on the physical system,
 
 miners' wages question. 45 
 
 and to the great moral injury which the miners suffered by being 
 deprived of the time for mental culture and recreation. The 
 Miners' Eight Hours' Association was established, and the 
 following gentlemen were elected a Committee to carry out 
 its objects : — Messrs. M. Collmann, F. Palmatier, A. Hobson, 
 \V. G. Blackham, R. Clark, R. Bailey, G. Cummins, R. Rule, 
 Sheppard, James Hobson, W. Pendleton, T. Anderson, Crooks, 
 Pearson, and W. Cook. 
 
 In July, 1866, several of the mining companies decided to 
 reduce the rate of wages from 50s. a week to 45s. a week, 
 and a strike was the result. At a meeting on the 22nd July, 
 of the Eight Hours' Committee, Eaglehawk, attended by 
 400 miners, resolutions were carried to the effect that the 
 reduced wage should only be accepted on condition that the 
 hours of labour were reduced from ten to eight per day. The 
 chair was occupied by Mr. Morris Collmann. The first step 
 towards reduction was taken by the Nelson, Eagle, St, Mungo, 
 Star, and Bird's Reef Companies, which offered ^2 5s. for 
 miners and j£,2 2s. for labourers. The miners did not shut 
 their eyes to the fact that many mines were not paying ; but 
 their proposal to accept £,2 5s. for eight hours work must be 
 acknowledged to be reasonable. Altogether some sixty miners 
 were out on strike. £,2 5s. was eventually recognised as the 
 ordinary standard wage. 
 
 In January, 1865, a sale of Pall Mall property was effected 
 for ^2,520, the frontage being twenty-eight feet, and the price 
 ;^9o per foot. Mr. Tolhurst, who was retiring from business, 
 made an agreement with the Oriental Bank by which they were 
 to have the premises he occupied in addition to those they 
 previously had, taking the whole on a fourteen years' lease, at a 
 rental of £1^0 a year. 
 
 In September, 1866, an exhibition was opened in Bendigo, 
 and the occasion was the first visit to the district of 
 Sir H. Manners Sutton, the new Governor. The magnificent 
 show of gold and minerals, the produce of the district, evidently 
 pleased him. The Bank of Victoria exhibited no less than 
 4,200 ozs., the Bank of New South Wales, 2,000 ozs., and the 
 Oriental Bank some 4,500 ozs., while the mineral exhibits of 
 private parties formed not only a rare but a most valuable 
 collection.
 
 46 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 As an indication of the value of property in Bendigo in 
 December, 1866, it may be mentioned that Messrs. Macpherson 
 and Company submitted the Niagara Hotel and two adjoining 
 properties, a hairdressing saloon and smithy, to public auction, 
 and the property was withdrawn from sale after the bidding had 
 reached ;^2,96o.
 
 VISIT OF THE DUKE OF EDIN13URGH. 47 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 From the Duke of Edinburgh's Visit to Mr. M'Lachlan's 
 Retirement. 
 
 "It is an old saying, 'that charity begins at home,' but this is no reason it should 
 
 not go abroad." 
 
 — Ctitnberland. 
 
 1867-71.— Visit of the Duke— Burning of the Model Ship "Galatea" — 
 Retirement of Messrs. Francis Brothers — Heavy Flood — The Easter Fair — 
 Hospital Sunday — Departure of Mr. M'Lachlan. 
 
 m 
 
 ^HE Duke of Edinburgh visited Bendigo on the i8th 
 
 *?! 
 
 December, 1867, great demonstrations being made in 
 his honor. I'he grand sight of the day was when the 
 ■^^3 Prince arrived in the Reserve. It was readily admitted 
 by those who had seen all the demonstrations in the 
 colony that there had been nothing so picturesque as the 
 grouping of the children in one mass, on terraces as it were, 
 on the hill. This was the prettiest feature of the reception, 
 the singing of the " National Anthem'j" by the children in 
 the Reserve. There were altogether 6,000 children, present- 
 ing a most charming appearance. They sang in wonderfully 
 good tune, and cheered with a lustiness which astonished the 
 Royal visitor. 
 
 It was related at the time, and the story may be given here for 
 what it is worth, that the approach of His Royal Highness raised 
 a commotion amongst the female occupants of the hillside 
 adjoining the children's reserve, and eager inquiries were made as 
 to which was the Royal personage. An impression existed in the 
 minds of many that his carriage was drawn by greys. The
 
 48 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 mayor's (Mr. M'lntyre's) carriage was thus drawn, and it 
 preceded the Duke's, and as he passed along in all the dignity of 
 furred robes and cocked hat, an old and respectable Scotch dame 
 thought she had discovered the veritable Duke, and eagerly 
 pointing to the mayor, uttered quickly to her neighbour, " There 
 he is, the dear boy, God bless him !" Someone told her she 
 was mistaken and pointed out the real Duke, upon which, with 
 surprise depicted on her face, and still keeping her eye on the 
 cocked hat, she loudly exclauned, " Ma conscience." The 
 exclamation will be better understood when we add that Mr. 
 M'Intyre made an admirable Bailie Nicol Jarvie in Rob Roy. 
 Another story was to the effect that another Scotch lady 
 recognised the Duke by his likeness to his Royal mother, whom 
 she had seen in Edinburgh. 
 
 In the afternoon His Royal Highness held a levee at the Town 
 Hall, and in the evening the illuminations were universal 
 throughout the town and the general brilliant effect was 
 heightened by the lurid light thrown from the thousand torches 
 carried by the miners. 
 
 The demonstration of the evening was marred by a sad accident, 
 either owing to the fireworks or careless use of the torches. The 
 Volunteer Fire Brigades' rigged ship " Galatea,'' which had 
 formed a conspicuous object in the proceedings of the morning, 
 was driven along the crowded thoroughfare manned with young 
 citizens in sailor costume. The vessel caught fire, and before an 
 escape could be made, four of the occupants were most severely 
 burnt. With the assistance of the bystanders the flames were 
 extinguished, but so severe were the injuries sustained by the 
 lads that they had to be conveyed to the hosi)ital. Of the four, 
 one (James Brown) recovered from his injuries, but the other 
 three died shortly after the accident. They were A\'illiam 
 Langston M'Grath, Sylvester Francis Cahill and Thomas 
 Walters, each about eight years of age. They were buried 
 at the Back Creek Cemetery, and a movement initiated 
 by the citizens resulted in their graves being marked by public 
 memorials. 
 
 On the next day, the 19th December, the royal visitor and 
 parly visited Messrs. Latham and Watson's mine, where they 
 were shown the plant and process of crushing, and descended the 
 mine. At the 400 feet level a chamber thirty-seven feet long and
 
 BURNING OF PRINCE ALFRED HALL. 43 
 
 twenty feel" wide had been prepared. At the south end, near the 
 roof, were two stars with a crown between, in gas, while behind, 
 the dark space, where the cap of the reef had been taken out was 
 L'ghted for loo feet in length with candles. Champagne was handed 
 round, and Mr. Latham, on behalf of Mr. Watson and himself, 
 presented the Prince with a pyramidal stand ten inches high and 
 six inches in diameter at the base, having five sides, each of 
 which was filled with rich specimens. On reaching the surface 
 the Piince was invited to pick and choose from a case of splendid 
 specimens, which he did to the tune of a dozen or so. On the 
 road to Eaglehawk, Koch's Pioneer Crushing Works was visited. 
 After passing under several arches Eaglehawk was reached. 
 The borough was very handsomely decorated. At the Town 
 Hall the Duke was presented with an address from the 
 mayor and councillors, signed by Mr. Letheby (mayor) and 
 Mr. Tolhurst (town clerk). Subsequently, the Catherine Reef 
 United Company's mine was visited and the party then left for 
 Bendigo. 
 
 In the evening a ball was held in Bendigo in honor of the 
 Prmce's visit. A temporary ballroom had been erected adjoining 
 the Town Hall, and it had been most tastefully decorated with 
 flags and wreaths and flowers. It was 150 feet long by sixty feet 
 wide. Unfortunately, as the building was being lighted previous 
 to the ball, a portion of the decorations caught fire. A host of 
 men with willing hands was on the spot almost simultaneously 
 with the cry of fire, but the flames ran along the ceiling — 
 composed of the most inflammable materials, and as inflammable 
 almost as gunpowder from the heat of the weather — and before a 
 couple of minutes had elapsed the whole of the decorations of 
 the building from end to end were on fire and the flames were 
 bursting through the roof at all points. In about half-anhour 
 the interior of the ballroom was in ruins, only the shell of zinc 
 and iron remaining. This was the fate of the Prince Alfred Hall, 
 and the only consolation was that the accident had not occurred 
 when the building was full of people. In consequence of the 
 fire, the ball was postponed until after the supper, when the 
 courthouse, in which the supper was laid, had been cleared of 
 the tables. 
 
 The Duke of Edinburgh left Bendigo on the morning of the 
 .20th December. The day was one of mourning on Bendigo, for
 
 50 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 the flags which had been fluttering in the breeze in honor of the 
 royai visitor, were hoisted half-mast out of respect to the memory 
 of the three boys of the " Galatea." The flags had, indeed, been 
 hoisted half-mast on the previous day at the Duke's request. The 
 Duke subsequently donated ^50 towards the monument fund. 
 The funeral of the boys was largely attended by our most 
 prominent citizens, the funeral services being conducted by Dr. 
 Backhaus and the Rev. Father Kavanagh and the Rev. W. R. 
 Croxton. 
 
 The visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Bendigo was 
 rendered memorable in more ways than one, and not the least, 
 although they possess a grim aspect, are the memorials which 
 mark the graves of the three lads who lost their lives on the 
 1 8th December, 1867. 
 
 On the 1 2th March, 1868, when the news was received 
 of the attempted assassination of the Duke at Sydney by a 
 man named O'Farrell, intense indignation was aroused, and 
 public meetings were held throughout the district expressing 
 the public feeling. The news of the recovery of the Prince was 
 hailed with great satisfaction in Bendigo, thanksgiving services 
 being held in the churches. 
 
 The retirement of such a business firm from Bendigo as 
 Francis Brothers was like the removal of one of the public institu- 
 tions of the district, so long had the name been associated with 
 the place. Their retirement took place in March, 1868. Not only 
 were Francis Brothers among the first storekeepers who came to 
 Bendigo, but there were barely a dozen persons resident in 
 Bendigo in 1868 who were in Bendigo when the firm first 
 commenced business in the early part of 1852. In the golden 
 days of Golden Gully, as early as February in that year, Mr. John 
 Francis first established his store there ; when Bendigo was 
 unknown and the diggings were for the most part confined to the 
 locality around Golden Gully, or what is now Golden Square. In 
 the following year another of the brothers, Mr. Richard Francis, 
 opened another branch store at Eaglehawk, which had just then 
 been discovered and rushed. About this time others of the 
 brothers opened branch stores at Tarrangower and the new 
 goldfields, which, in those days, were rapidly being discovered, 
 and a large canvas store was opened by the firm in Camp 
 Street, where business was carried on for a while, until the
 
 THE EASTER FAIR. 51 
 
 town of Sandhurst was properly laid out, and properties in Pall 
 Mall became valuable as business sites. Francis Brothers then 
 opened their store on the present site of the Beehive, the pre- 
 mises being mostly composed of weatherboards. As business in- 
 creased — and it did increase greatly under the able management 
 of Mr. R. Francis — additions were made to the premises in 
 brick and stone, until in 1S63 another allotment was purchased 
 and a handsome structure erected. Since their establishment in 
 Bendigo death had removed two of the brothers, viz., Richard 
 and William. There are many persons on Bendigo to-day to 
 whom in days long since past the names of Francis Brothers were 
 ■" household words." The old firm was succeeded by that of 
 Messrs. Buick and Co. 
 
 On the 7th February, 187 1, what was said to be the 
 heaviest rain and the severest flood ever experienced on 
 Bendigo, took place. Very heavy rain fell from an early 
 hour, and Charing Cross, High Street, Pall Mall, Bridge 
 Street, and the reserve were completely flooded, the shops 
 being mvaded by the waters. A similar flood occurred a fort- 
 night afterwards. 
 
 The first Easter Fair on Bendigo was held in April, 187 1, 
 being opened by His Excellency the Governor, Viscount Canter- 
 bury. The movement was inaugurated mainly by Mr. G. Aspinall 
 and Mr. J. Burnside. It has been taken up very heartily every 
 year since then, and the Hospital and Benevolent Asylum have 
 benefited largely. The profits have not been so great in 
 recent years as they were formerly. In the earlier years the 
 movement was more generally supported, and local amateurs took 
 part in the various entertainments. In 187 1 the total proceeds 
 from the Fair were ^3,749 14s. 3d. The expenses were only 
 ^1,189 14s. 3d., and the charities each received ^1,280. A 
 glance at the table we give on the following page will show 
 how the rate of the expenses of the undertaking increased as 
 years went on. The most successful year was 1872, and the 
 least successful 1877. The total gross proceeds from the twenty 
 Fairs which have been held were _;^5o,2o5 os. 9d., and of 
 this sum ;^23,623 2s. 9d. have been divided equally between 
 the charities. In 1S90 and 1891 Senior-constable Barry was 
 instrumental in securing several hundred loads of wood as 
 donations to the charities.
 
 52 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 EASTER FAIR RECEIPTS AND AMOUNTS PAID TO HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM 
 FROM 187I TO 189I INCLUSIVE. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Gross Receipts. 
 
 Amount to 
 
 Hospital. 
 
 Amount to Asylum. 
 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. d. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. d. 
 
 1871 
 
 3.749 14 3 
 
 1,280 
 
 
 
 1,280 
 
 
 
 1872 
 
 4,482 4 9 
 
 1,499 
 
 7 10 
 
 1,499 
 
 7 10 
 
 1873 
 
 3>972 17 7 
 
 1,115 
 
 
 
 1,115 
 
 
 
 1874 
 
 1,840 3 6 
 
 490 
 
 
 
 490 
 
 
 
 1875 
 
 1,604 12 8 
 
 265 
 
 
 
 265 
 
 
 
 1876 
 
 3,731 18 7 
 
 I,OIO 
 
 
 
 1,010 
 
 
 
 1877 
 
 1,598 10 I 
 
 217 
 
 2 
 
 217 
 
 2 
 
 1878 
 
 2,396 6 5 
 
 580 
 
 
 
 580 
 
 
 
 1879 
 
 1,312 10 
 
 375 
 
 
 
 375 
 
 
 
 1880 
 
 2,447 14 3 
 
 31S 
 
 I 6 
 
 318 
 
 I 6 
 
 1881 
 
 1,805 9 4 
 
 561 
 
 5 I 
 
 561 
 
 5 I 
 
 1882 
 
 2,150 13 loi 
 
 533 
 
 5 6 
 
 533 
 
 5 6 
 
 1883 
 
 1,418 18 4 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 1884 
 
 1,718 I 6 
 
 379 
 
 19 5^ 
 
 379 
 
 19 55 
 
 1885 
 
 2,463 4 
 
 575 
 
 
 
 575 
 
 
 
 1886 
 
 3,235 8 6 
 
 Soo 
 
 
 
 800 
 
 
 
 1887 
 
 1,361 16 6 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 1888 
 
 2,192 3 3h 
 
 380 
 
 
 
 380 
 
 
 
 1889 
 
 2,855 JO 9 
 
 537 
 
 10 
 
 537 
 
 10 
 
 1890 
 
 2,157 9 II 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 1891 
 
 1,709 13 8 
 
 345 
 
 
 
 345 
 
 
 
 A much less expensive method of augmenting the funds of the 
 local charities was originated in 1873 by Mr. J. H. Abbott, M.L.C. 
 This was Hospital Sunday. The success which had attended this 
 movement in Birmingham induced Mr. x\bbott to try it here, and 
 with such success that Melbourne and the other centres of popu- 
 lation in Victoria followed suit. Hospital Sunday has since been 
 an annual institution. In Bendigo it has resulted in over 
 ^12,000 being divided between the Hospital and Asylum during 
 the eighteen years. Mr. Abbott has himself performed the most 
 of the work incidental to the jiiovement, work to which he has 
 devoted himself with the utmost cheerfulness. We have said 
 Hospital Sunday is much less expensive than the Easter Fair. 
 Of course there is no comparison. On one occasion as much 
 as seventy-five per cent, of the gross takings at the Easter 
 Fair were swallowed up in expenses, which have never been 
 less than thirty-one per cent. On the other hand, the expense 
 of Hospital Sunday is more than covered by 2^ per cent, of the 
 gross takings. We do not make these remarks in disparagement 
 of the work done by our Easter Fair Committees. The conditions
 
 MR. M'LACHLAN's departure. 
 
 58 
 
 in the two cases are not at all similar. Still, it is not too much 
 to say that it is not a happy circumstance that out of every shilling 
 paid by the public at the Easter Fair, something like ninepence 
 should go in expenses. Hereunder will be found the Hospital 
 Sunday receipts for each year. The amounts for the last seven 
 years include the Hospital Saturday collections, which reach a 
 total sum altogether of over ;^9oo. It should be mentioned 
 that in the earlier years several sums reached the Hospital and 
 Asylum direct : — 
 
 
 ^ s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 IS73 • 
 
 . 1,036 10 
 
 
 
 1879 . 
 
 .. 638 
 
 iS 
 
 4 
 
 1885 . 
 
 .. 825 7 11^ 
 
 IS74 . 
 
 627 7 
 
 4 
 
 1S80 . 
 
 •• 543 
 
 19 
 
 I 
 
 1886 . 
 
 •• 736 4 7 
 
 1875 ■ 
 
 4S6 
 
 4 
 
 1881 . 
 
 •■ 543 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 1887 . 
 
 .. 784 14 10 
 
 1876 
 
 749 18 
 
 4 
 
 1882 . 
 
 •■ 563 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 1 888 . 
 
 .. 831 5 I 
 
 1877 . 
 
 603 
 
 6 
 
 1883 . 
 
 • • 597 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 1889 . 
 
 • • 784 19 7 
 
 1878 . 
 
 660 
 
 3 
 
 1884 . 
 
 • ■ 746 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 1890 
 
 .. 688 18 9 
 
 Total, ;^i 2,447 33. 7d. 
 
 The departure of Mr. M'Lachlan from Bendigo was a notable 
 event in the annals of the district. He presided on the Bench 
 for the last time on the 31st May, 187 1, and in the following 
 month, the citizens took a formal farewell of him at the banquet 
 which had been arranged with the two-fold object of celebrating 
 the inauguration of the Old Bendigonians' Society, and bidding 
 him adieu. On the loth July, 1871, Mr. M'Lachlan was pre- 
 sented with a purse containing 700 sovereigns by the public 
 of Bendigo, the presentation being made by ]\Ir. M'Intyre in 
 the presence of a number of the citizens at the Shamrock Hotel. 
 
 " I always thought we would have the pleasure of burying you 
 here, Mr. INI'Lachlan," said an old lady to Bendigo Mac. shortly 
 after his approaching departure was announced. Mr. M'Lachlan, 
 who related the story, said he had not much doubt about the 
 lady's nationality. Mr. M'Lachlan died in August, 1S85, at the 
 age of seventy-six.
 
 54 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Sandhurst (Bendigo) as a City. 
 
 " While time shall last 
 Endure, and die but with the dying world." 
 
 —Ovid. 
 
 1871-91. — Sandhurst Proclaimed a City — The Fire at the Beehive — Improve- 
 ments — Sales of Allotments and Buildings — Eight flours in Mines — 
 Attempts to Reduce Miners' Wages — Outbreak of Small-pox — The Old 
 Bendigonians' Society — Visit of Ballarat Pioneers — The State Schools — 
 First Boards of Advice — An extraordinary Escape — Railway Accident — 
 Great Flood — First Juvenile Exhibition — A Strange Case — Lake Weeroona 
 The Census of 1881 — Visit of Princes Albert and George of Wales — 
 Opening of the Alexandra Fountain — The Telephone — Lake Neangar — 
 Mysterious Disappearance — Juvenile Industrial Exhibition — The Queen's 
 jubilee — The Electric Tramways — The Census of 1891 — Noted Visitors, 
 
 ^..^^1 ANDHURST became a city in 187 1, and by reason of the 
 
 „;^fc" rich yields from its 2:old reefs in the same and two 
 
 (iw!))) following years, its name was on ahnost every tongue, 
 
 'j^C both far and near. This bright period in its history is 
 
 dealt with in our chapters on " Mining Development " 
 
 however, and we shall not dwell upon it here. 
 
 The destruction of the Beehive by fire occurred on the 25th 
 August, 187 1. The fire originated in the office ot Messrs. 
 Haynes and Snow, and was first observed about six o'clock in 
 the morning. It had then burned its way through the floor into 
 the drapery shop below, and an hour afterwards the two stores 
 were on fire from end to end. The firemen could hardly do 
 more than prevent the progress of the flames to the adjoining 
 buildings, but a partially successful effort was made to save 
 Moore Bros', store. The fire was prevented from extending to 
 the rear by iron fire-proof doors dividing the front premises from
 
 THE FIRE AT THE BEEHIVE. 55 
 
 those facing Hargreaves Street. The work of destruction was 
 very great. The basement story of the Beehive was divided into 
 three extensive stores, two of which were occupied by the pro- 
 prietors of the premises, Messrs. Buick and Co., and the third by 
 Messrs. Moore Bros. The upper story of the main building, 
 fronting Pall Mall was apportioned out as ofifices, which, to the 
 number of between forty and fifty, were in the occupation of the 
 legal managers of the mining companies and stock and share 
 brokers. The entire building was composed of brick and stone, 
 the three stores of the basement being divided by strong walls of 
 brick. These front premises were entirely destroyed, the iron 
 doors as already stated preventing the extension of the fire to the 
 rear. As scarcely any of the legal managers had safes, all 
 descriptions of valuable papers relating to mining were lost in the 
 flames, and burnt scrip was carried by the wind all over the city. 
 The burning of the Beehive was not an object of interest to one 
 or two men, but to the whole bulk of the population. At first 
 people appeared unable to understand what would be the ultimate 
 result. To this question no answer could be returned. Many 
 thought the companies had been absolutely thrown out of 
 existence. The market had, during the previous evening, been in 
 a most excited state, and stocks had been dealt in to an alarming 
 extent. The consequence was that no one knew what would be 
 the best course to pursue. Men had entered into liabilities of a 
 most extensive character, when they found themselves thrown out 
 of the chance of obtaining money to meet them, simply because 
 they could not deliver scrip which had been burned while in 
 transfer. The number of persons who suffered through careless- 
 ness in not taking down the number of scrip when sending them 
 in for transfer was large. Some absolutely did not know the 
 number of the scrip, the person purchased from, or the name of 
 the scrip. Messrs. Buick and Co. were insured in various offices 
 to the amount of ^42,000 and Messrs. Moore Bros, and Co. 
 were insured to the extent of _p£6,ooo. 
 
 This disaster compelled the legal managers to find premises 
 elsewhere, and while the new building which was proceeded with 
 immediately, was being erected, the "Verandah" habitues took 
 up their quarters at the Shamrock. The new Beehive (the 
 present building) was completed in June, 1872, at a cost of 
 ^27,000.
 
 56 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 The City Family Hotel, of which Mr. J. C. Hadley was. the 
 lessee and Mr. J. B. Loridan the owner, was completed in 
 November, 1872. So general was the prosperity of the town that 
 great activity resulted in the building trade, and numerous public 
 buildings .were going up in all directions. In June, 1873, many 
 improvements had been effected, notably in Howard Place. 
 
 An allotment of land adjoining the Warden's Court, containing 
 26j^ perches, was on the 31st December, 1872, sold at the 
 Government land sale ; the upset price per acre was ;;^ 1,5 00, and 
 the improvements were valued at ;^i,c67. The purchaser was 
 Mr. A. England, for the sum of ^730, which, added to the 
 valuation, made ^^1,797. As an indication of the value of 
 property in the previous year, it may be mentioned that on the 
 13th December, 1871, the Lyceum Stores and Rainbow Hotel 
 were purchased by Messrs. Moore Bros, from Messrs. Woodward 
 and Co. for ^8, coo. 
 
 The Eight Hours' movement in connection with the mines, 
 which had been allowed to die out some years previously, was 
 revived in 1871 with the prosperity of the times. The wages 
 question engaged attention in the same year, a meeting to protest 
 against a proposed reduction of miners' wages being held at the 
 Lyceum Theatre in February, 1872. It was out of this movement 
 that the old Bendigo Miners' Association sprang into existence. 
 Meetings in connection with the wages question were held at 
 Long Gully, Eaglehawk, and other parts of the district. The 
 movement to maintain the rate of wages resulted successfully. 
 On the 29th March a picnic was held at Ravenswood, under the 
 auspices of the Bendigo Miners' Association. The demonstration 
 was a great success. An open-air meeting was held, at which 
 Mr. Robert Clark, president of the Association, occupied the 
 chair. Resolutions were carried, thanking the great majority of 
 mining employers for conceding the eight hours' system, and 
 supporting the miners in their resistance of the efforts on the part 
 of a few companies to reduce the wages from ^2 5s. to ^2 2s. 
 per week. 
 
 Eight hours was recognised as the period of labour for the 
 miner after this, and in 1S73 ^t'"- ^lackay legalised the system in 
 his " Regulation of Mines Act." In later years, through the 
 instrumentality of Mr. Bailes, the eight hours was made to 
 include what is known as the miners' "crib" time. Since 1872
 
 OUTBREAK OF SMALL-POX. 57 
 
 the wages of miners have only once been the subject of dispute. 
 This was in August, 1879, when an effort was made to reduce 
 them from j[^2 5s. to ^2, and the result was an extensive strike. 
 Public meetings were held in support of the miners, both at 
 Bendigo and Eaglehawk, the following gentlemen espousing the 
 cause of the men : — Messrs. Clark, Mackay, M'Intyre, Williams, 
 Moore and Casey, M's.L.A., and Messrs. Sterry, Burrowes', 
 Blackham, Collmann, Willan, Hall, Kirkwood, Kneebone, Cook,. 
 Trumble and others. The representatives of some twenty-eight 
 companies had met and resolved to reduce the rate of wages to 
 ;^2 per week, but they afterwards relaxed a little and agreed to 
 £^2 2s. per week. This did not meet with approval, and 300 
 miners went out in October. The strike was at length settled by 
 the mine-owners giving in to the demands of the men, owing to 
 the pressure brought to bear by the Government, who threatened 
 the mine-owners with the pains and penalties of non-fulfilment of 
 the labour covenants. 
 
 There was an outbreak of small-pox in Bendigo in July, 1872. 
 The cases occurred at Long Gully in a most malignant form, in a 
 family recently arrived from America, and persons who had come 
 into contact with the family also took the disease, one in Long 
 Gully and another in Job's Gully. Three children of the first- 
 mentioned family died. 
 
 The second annual reunion of the Old Bendigonians' Society 
 was held on the 25th September, 1872, and was attended by 
 representatives of the Ballarat Pioneers. Even at this time the 
 gaps in the ranks of members owing to deaths were numerous. 
 In December of the next year several members of the Old Ben- 
 digonians' Society visited Ballarat at the invitation of the Pioneers. 
 The anniversary of the Society was celebrated subsequently by a 
 picnic at the Murray River, and several of the Ballarat Pioneers- 
 were present. 
 
 The new Education Act came into operation in January, 1873,. 
 and on the 13th January the schools in Bendigo were literally 
 rushed, and it was found that everywhere the school accommoda- 
 tion was utterly insufficient. The new Corn Exchange had to be 
 converted into a schoolroom and was crowded with children of all 
 denominations and classes. The Presbyterian school became a 
 State school with 600 scholars on the roll ; the Catholic schools 
 also became State schools, and were crowded to overflowing.
 
 58 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 The members of the first Board of Advice in Bendigo were 
 Messrs. H. Hattam, J. H. Abbott, J. M'Intyre, R. Strickland 
 J. Stewart, James Fraser, and John Dawborn. The first 
 Board of Advice at Eaglehawk consisted of jSIessrs. W. Cook, 
 G. Willan, A. Hay, J. Lester, E. INIorris, J. Berryman, and 
 T. G. WilHams. 
 
 In December, a miner named M'Caviston, working at the 
 Hustler's Reef Company's mine, had an extraordinary escape. A 
 rush of water from the adjoining mine into the 530 feet level 
 made him go to the bottom of the shaft to warn four men 
 working there. They had left, however, and on M'Caviston 
 trying to ascend the shaft he was beaten back, and ultimately 
 retreated into the 665 feet crosscut. He went to the end of it, 
 140 feet from the shaft, and the water rose up in the crosscut. 
 Here he got on to a muUoch heap about five feet high ; there 
 was a slight rise in the crosscut, and by the time the mouth of it 
 was covered by the water, the water was only round the foot of 
 the muUoch heap. The water, as it fell down the shaft, pressed 
 the air back into this chamber, and though it rose sixty-five feet 
 in the shaft, the elasticity of the confined air kept it out of the 
 end of the crosscut, and also the twenty feet of driving on each 
 side, so that M'Caviston had some 4,000 cubic feet of air to 
 breathe. Everybody gave him up for lost, but the pumps were 
 kept going, and after twenty-seven hours' imprisonment he was 
 discovered alive and well amidst great rejoicing. 
 
 A very severe storm was experienced in Bendigo on the 
 i2th February, 1877, and in consequence of a portion of the 
 railway embankment at Epsom being washed away, the engine 
 of the 4.45 a.m. train to Echuca, ran off the line. The whole 
 of the goods' trucks were smashed by the accident, and a 
 large quantity of goods destroyed. There were only four 
 persons in the train, and they all escaped with their lives, 
 the only one receiving serious injury being the engine-driver. 
 The estimated damage was ^^5,000. Nearly four inches of rain 
 were recorded during the night. 
 
 A great flood which occurred on the 19th April, 1S78, caused 
 damage to property in the heart of the city to the extent 
 of ;^io,ooo, but the occurrence led to the reconstruction of the 
 Charing Cross Bridge on such a scale as to prevent any similar 
 disaster in subsequent years.
 
 FIRST JUVENILE EXHIBITION. 5^ 
 
 In March, 1879, the first Juvenile Industrial Exhibition in 
 Bendigo was opened in the Town Hall and temporary annexes. 
 The opening ceremony was performed by His Excellency the 
 Marquis of Normanby, it being the first visit of that nobleman 
 to Bendigo. He met with a hearty reception from the towns- 
 people. The Exhibition was very popular, and remained open 
 for several months. There were 518 adult and 1,174 juvenile 
 exhibitors. The Exhibition remained open from the last week 
 of March till the end of June, and during this period 88,406 
 visitors paid for admission, made up of 51,056 children and 
 37,350 adults. Besides, there were season ticket-holders to the 
 number of 1,226, which brought the total up to 89,632. The 
 awards were as follows : — Gold medals, 78 ; silver medals, 264 ; 
 bronze medals, 247 ; certificates, 282 ; and money awards, 
 ;^67 3s. 6d. After all expenses, a surplus of ^1,000 remained, 
 and this sum, supplen'iented by ^500 from Mr. George Lansell,. 
 w'as spent in the erection of the handsome Alexandra Fountain 
 at Charing Cross. 
 
 In September, 1879, an extraordinary case of concealment of 
 sex came to light in Bendigo, when the sex of a woman, who 
 for twenty years had passed under the name of Edward de 
 Lacy Evans, and had worked as a miner, became known. 
 Evans had been charged with being a lunatic, being remanded 
 to the lunacy ward of the Bendigo Hospital, and subsequently 
 to the Kew Asylum, where her sex was discovered. The most 
 singular part of the affair was that Evans had been a married 
 woman in America, but had been married as a man four 
 times in Victoria. 
 
 Lake Weeroona was opened on the 22nd October, 1879, by 
 Councillor Burrowes. There was a procession of boats and a 
 regatta. The citizens have reason to be proud of this sheet 
 of water, especially when they remember what a barren waste 
 the site was, before the Council enclosed it as a reserve, and 
 prepared it for the purposes of a lake. Since 1879 the reserve 
 has been greatly improved, and is now one of the most attractive 
 spots in the city. 
 
 The census of 1881 showed the population of Bendigo 
 to be 14,577 males and 14,087 females, or a total of 28,662. 
 Eaglehawk contained 3,786 males and 3,615 females, or a total 
 of 7,401. The educational returns showed the attendance tO'
 
 60 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 be as follows : — City of Sandhurst — Eleven State Schools 
 attendance, 5,135; fourteen private schools, attendance, 1,253. 
 Borough of Eaglehawk — Three State Schools, attendance, 1,559 ; 
 four private schools, attendance, 132. 
 
 Their Royal Highnesses the Princes Albert Victor and 
 George, sons of the Prince of Wales, visited Bendigo on the 
 5th July, 1 88 1. They each planted a tree at the Bridge Street 
 entrance to the reserve, to match the two planted at the 
 View Street entrance in 1863, in honour of the marriage of 
 their illustrious parents. Prince Albert opened the Alexandra 
 Fountain, and both princes visited the mines, and attended a ball 
 in honour of their visit. The city was brilliantly illuminated, and 
 the population turned out en jtiasse to welcome the Royal visitors. 
 
 August, 18S2, was notable for the introduction in Bendigo 
 of the telephone. Mr. J. H. Abbott was the first to construct 
 a line between his business premises and his private house. 
 Mr. J. \V. Faul did the same, and before very long a 
 Telephone Exchange was established, and this great invention 
 is now used by many business people. 
 
 The transformation by the City Council of the barren 
 wilderness near the gasworks into Lake Weeroona, led the 
 Council of Eaglehawk to form a lake below Canterbury Park. 
 This fine sheet of water, under the title of Lake Neangar, 
 was opened on the 12th December, 1S83, by the Mayor of 
 the Borough, Mr. Loudon. 
 
 The month of January, 1886, was rendered eventful by the 
 mysterious disappearance of Constable Ryan, about whom no 
 trace has been discovered from the day he disappeared — 
 6th January — to the present time. It was suspected that he 
 had been made away with by Chinese, but no traces of foul 
 play were discovered. Heavy rain fell on the night he was 
 last seen, and it was feared that he might have fallen down 
 a shaft. Diligent search was made, but with no result, and the 
 disappearance of Constable Ryan, who was a very popular 
 member of the force, is still unexplained. 
 
 Towards the close of 1886, a very successful Juvenile and 
 Industrial Exhibition, inaugurated by the Miners' Association, 
 was opened by Sir Henry Loch at the Town Hall and Market, 
 the two buildings being connected, as in 1879, by a temporary 
 structure.
 
 queen's jubilee celebrations. 61 
 
 On the 27th February, 1877, a terrible explosion occurred 
 at Arblaster's powder factory, near Eaglehawk, which resulted 
 in the loss of eight lives, and the total destruction of the 
 factory. Mr. Arblaster has had a series of misfortunes with the 
 factory, it having been destroyed on three subsequent occasions, 
 and Mr. Arblaster himself having sustained serious injury. 
 
 The Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria was celebrated in 
 a royal manner by the people of Bendigo and Eaglehawk, as in 
 all parts of the British Empire. The weather on the 21st June, 
 1887, was rather unfavourable, and damped the festivities to a 
 considerable extent. There was a procession of 10,000 State 
 school children, headed by Major Palliser and the Imperial Band 
 and 200 cadets. This large gathering of children was a great 
 sight. The mayor and town clerk and city councillors, and 
 Messrs. Burro wes and Bailes and Dr. Quick, Ms.L.A., and the 
 Jubilee committee of management, followed the school children, 
 thereafter coming the fire brigades, the various societies and 
 bands. On arriving at the Show Grounds, the mayor (Cr. Hayes) 
 delivered an address to those assembled. Tonite bombs were let 
 off, and the National Anthem was sung by the gathering, led by 
 Mr. A. T. Crook. JNIedals commemorative of the occasion were 
 distributed amongst the children. At night the city was brilliantly 
 illuminated, the general effect being something worth remem- 
 bering. At Eaglehawk there was a procession to the Park, 
 headed by the borough brass band and including the mayor 
 (Cr. Willan) and the borough councillors, Messrs. M'Coll and 
 Highett, Ms.L.A., and 3,000 State school children, headed by a 
 detachment of cadets. On arriving at the Park, the mayor 
 delivered an address, and a feii de joie was fired by the cadets, 
 followed by the National Anthem. Medals were then presented 
 to the children, and in the afternoon sports were held. A 
 memorial tree was planted at the head of Lake Neangar by 
 Mrs. Willan, and called the " Queen's Oak." Eaglehawk was 
 illuminated at night in honour of the occasion. 
 
 In May, 1888, a tramway conference was held between the 
 Sandhurst and Eaglehawk Councils, and the tender of Messrs. 
 Booth, EUson and Co. for the construction of electric tramways 
 was accepted. The Tramway Company was floated on the 
 26th May, and the line from Bendigo to Eaglehawk was com- 
 pleted, the company's plant was erected, and the cars arrived in
 
 62 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 time to make a start in June, i8go. The storage system of 
 electricity proved a failure however, and after some delay the 
 company obtained permission from the municipal bodies 
 interested to apply the overhead system instead. In 1891 the 
 company was wound up, and at the time of writing, the Municipal 
 Councils were negotiating with a new company, which proposed 
 to make a start, with the aid of steam traction, by December. 
 
 In May, 1891, the Minister of Public Works, in response to 
 the request of 4,000 petitioners and a six to one majority at a 
 vote of the ratepayers, changed the name of the city from 
 Sandhurst to its old and best known name of Bendigo. 
 
 In the same month the returns of the Census, which was taken 
 in April, were made known as follows: — City of Bendigo — 
 Males, 13,094; females, 13,641; total, 26,735. Eaglehawk — 
 Males, 3,610; females, 3,585 ; total, 7,195. Huntly — Males, 
 1,920; females, 1,483; total, 3,403. Marong — Males, 4,006; 
 females, 3,341 ; total, 7,347. Strathfieldsaye — Males, 1,808 ; 
 females, 1,520; total, 3,328. Raywood — total, 470. The 
 number of dwellings was as follows: — Bendigo, 5,817; Eagle- 
 hawk, 1,639; Marong, 1,668; Huntly, 780; Strathfieldsaye, 751 ; 
 and Raywood, no. 
 
 In the present and previous chapters we have referred to the 
 visits of members of the Royal family and representatives of the 
 Crown, and it will not be out of place to mention at this stage 
 that in recent years Mr. Froude, the historian, and Lord 
 Rosebery both spent a few hours in the city, making themselves 
 acquainted with its " lions " and resources. While they saw 
 Bendigo in its " modern " days, it was the privilege of the present 
 Premier of Great Britain, Lord Salisbury, to see it in its pristine 
 glory as a goldfield, in 1852. He was then Lord Robert Cecil, 
 and was making a tour of the world after completing his University 
 course. His visit was ostensibly for the purpose of noting colonial 
 constitutions and forms of government. As Victoria had no 
 constitution then, he could gather little information under that 
 head during his visit to this colony, but his brief sojourn on 
 Bendigo gave him an insight into the life and occupation of the 
 digger, which we have described at length in earlier chapters. It 
 is generally understood that he donned the digger's clothes, and 
 worked below ground himself, and also baked his damper, and 
 lived generally like others of the class. A weatherboard building
 
 A NOTED VISITOR. 
 
 63 
 
 in which he is said to have resided part of the time may still be 
 seen at the White Hills. We have the authority of Mr. G. F. 
 \Valter, an old Bendigo resident, for stating that the house was 
 built by the Colonial Gold Company for their manager, Mr. Thomas 
 Comer, in 1852, and it was while he lived in it, pending the 
 building of the brick cottage in front, that the present Prime 
 Minister of England lodged there for a time as Mr. Comer's 
 guest. Both buildings are now owned and occupied by Mr. J. W. 
 Dower, Cambridge Crescent.
 
 64 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Mining Development. 
 
 'Father of flatterers, Gold, of pain and care begot, 
 A fear it is to have thee, and a pain to have thee not." 
 
 — Palladus, 
 
 1851 to i860.— The Days of Alluvial Mining— Nuggets— Mr. Westgarth's 
 Visit— The White Hills— A Fatal Accident—" Bendigo Worked Out "~ 
 Other Fields — The Sludge Question — The Quartz Reefs. 
 
 f'HE early stages of the alluvial era of gold mining on 
 Bendigo have been described in our opening pages, 
 and we desire now to place before the reader a >.omplete 
 account of the search for the golden treasure, which has 
 continued since 1851 to the present day. 
 At the time when the events narrated in our first chapter 
 occurred, Melbourne and Geelong had almost been deserted by 
 their male population. A correspondent writing from the latter 
 place to the Argus in December, 185 1, said "If the women and 
 children would only go to the diggings we might placard Geelong 
 with ' This town to let.'" The yield from the Bendigo field in 
 1 85 1 is officially stated to be 200,000 ounces. In 1852 the 
 field continued to yield enormously, especially towards the close, 
 but 1853 was the best year, the yield being 661,749 ounces, as 
 against 475,857 ounces in 1852. Though not a field famous for 
 very large nuggets there were some of very satisfactory dimensions, 
 amongst which maybe mentioned the "Victoria," which was 
 bought by the Legislature, for presentation to the Queen, for 
 ;^i,65o, and the " Dascombe," sold in London for ^1,500. 
 Some enormously rich yields from small quantities of stuff are 
 recorded, as we have already shown in our first chapter.
 
 i\iR. westgarth's visit. 65 
 
 The following information in reference to the principal nuggets 
 tound on Bendigo is from Mr. Brough Smyth's Goldfields and 
 Mineral Districts of Victoria. 
 
 A nugget weighing 573 ounces was found in October, 1852, at 
 White Horse Gully. It was partly encrusted with quartz, and 
 was valued at ^2,100. 
 
 The "Victoria" nugget, weighing 340 ounces, was found in the 
 White Horse Gully in September, 1852. Its surface was partly 
 encrusted with quartz and oxide of iron. 
 
 The " Dascombe " nugget, 332 ounces, was found close to 
 the last mentioned, amongst gravel, about a foot from the 
 surface. 
 
 A nugget weighing 288 ounces was found in Bendigo in the 
 same year. 
 
 A nugget weighing 338 ozs. 17 dwts. was found in Bendigo 
 in 1854. 
 
 A nugget weighing 377 ozs. 6 dwts. was found at Robinson 
 Crusoe Gully, in a deserted claim, in 1861. 
 
 In his account of his visit to Bendigo in 1853, Mr. Westgarth 
 says that as he approached the goldfield, the scenery became 
 more of a common place order, with a dusty aspect ahead. 
 Out-skirting tents with hobbled and tethered cattle and horses, 
 indicated the vicinity of the celebrated goldfield of Bendigo, the 
 appearance of which was decidedly more imposing from a 
 commercial and gold seeking point of view than that of Poorest 
 Creek. " The scale of operations, past or present, seemed 
 larger. The stores and tents seemed more numerous ; the roads 
 were certamly broader and more beaten down with traffic. 
 At Forest Creek, the diggings formed comparatively a strip 
 of the valley ; here the whole scene before us was one vast 
 diggings." In his observations on the diggings, Mr. Westgarth 
 said : — 
 
 The diggings here appeared to me on a more elaborate scale, and more 
 indicative of arts and appliances than at Forest Creek. Tunnelling, for 
 instance, was more common. On looking down a hole some twenty feet deep, 
 frequently no object was observable beneath ; but on adventuring a loud 
 halloo, a response would arise from the chambers of the solid deep, followed 
 by an ochre-coloured figure emerging on hands and knees into the visible 
 world. He bears perhaps a bucket full of the ochreous earth or gravel, that gives 
 the golden aspect to his person, and he is not disposed to make his appearance 
 to your call until he has filled up his bucket, and so avoided for himself an 
 
 D
 
 G6 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 extra series of movements, and the time thereby involved to the whole 
 party. 
 
 We came upon a pirty of four, who were excavating upon a more wholesale 
 scale than was hitherto customary. They had cut out an oblong square of 
 about eighteen feet by twelve, and with perpendicular sides, had got down 
 about six feet. At one corner they had got somewhat deeper, having the 
 usual impatience to touch the more auriferous beds ever associated with deep 
 digging, and at this part, just at the moment we came upon the party, the 
 point of one of the picks had gone through into an empty space beneath. We 
 found them greatly nonplussed, and gazing with marked vexation and 
 disappointment on the dark suspicious crevice that had just been exposed. 
 They perfectly comprehended that diggers from adjacent pits had been there 
 before them, and liad long ago, perhaps, scooped out all the richer material 
 for whose sake they had so elaborately commenced operations. 
 
 Describing the White Hills, the same writer says : — 
 
 We found the diggings penetrating to a depth of fifty feet perpendicular. 
 Seeing a windlass at work over one of the pits, we made for the spot, and met 
 a bucketful of the material as it reached the surface. This was a description 
 of auriferous matter that I had never met with before. It consisted of a white 
 quartz grit between sand and small gravel of very uniform appearance. It 
 was evidently very auriferous, for the gold was quite visible to the eye, scattered 
 in small particles throughout the grit. This was more particularly the case in 
 portions that were discoloured of a reddish brown, apparently from a mixture 
 of iron. Feeling some curiosity to explore so promising a mine, I adventured 
 a descent by a rude ladder consisting of a straight sapling with cross pieces for 
 steps, driven through the stem. " I guess it's twenty-five feet to the bottom," 
 
 said a voice from below in answer to our enquiry At the foot 
 
 of the pit I found two men with lighted candles, who guided me into the side 
 workings. These were entered most easily upon all fours ; for the auriferous 
 stream being quite thin, no more of other material was excavated than was 
 absolutely necessary. Tunnelling was continuous over the entire hill, the 
 claimants and their claims having repeatedly encountered, and run into each 
 other. A system of under propping by posts was also in operation to prevent 
 any subsidence of the upper beds. The auriferous grit I have alluded to was 
 a distinct bed of between one and two inches in thickness, of a dull grayish 
 white colour in the upper part, the lower being uniformly, as far as my 
 observations went, of the reddish brown hue already alluded to. The stratum 
 beneath the auriferous grit was the famous and universal pipeclay, which 
 appears almost everywhere in this colony in some form or hue. A few inches 
 of the upper part of this pipeclay was taken out and washed with the auriferous 
 grit, and about three feet of additional depth was cleared away to form a 
 convenient passage for the diggers. Their account of the yield of the grit was 
 to the effect that a bucketful gave them between two and three ounces of gold 
 after washing, and that a cartload would give nearly two pounds weight. 
 
 One serious and fatal accident was reported on the day of our visit, and was 
 of a peculiar character. A depth of about twelve feet in excavating a pit had
 
 A FATAL ACCIDENT. 67 
 
 brought the miners to some porous bed, through which the water began to 
 ooze into the hole, threatening to render the claim useless. An experienced 
 digger would most likely at this point have at once decided to abandon the 
 place as hopeless. The party, however, determined to stick to their labours, 
 and commenced bailing out. After a brief attempt, during which the 
 increasing waters had by degrees undermined the pit, the sides began to fall in 
 and a stick was lowered in order to pull up one of the men who had remained 
 below. This could not, however, be accomplished, although the influx of 
 earth and water had as yet reached only to his knees. In great alarm, 
 therefore, a rope was next procured, which gave the man a better hold. But 
 this also proved in vain, and the immersion was now beyond the middle. 
 Before any fastening could be effected on the person of the sufferer, the crisis 
 was already at hand. He could not be extricated, and a harrowing spectacle 
 awaited a surrounding crowd, who could scarcely credit the scene before them 
 of a fellow-creature deliberately perishing almost within touch of a hundred 
 able and anxious arms that were yet, in the hurry of the moment and in the 
 absence of available apparatus, quite powerless for any succour. 
 
 Parties of diggers were now (in the month of December, 1853), 
 congregating on the banks of the Bendigo Creek, where, during 
 the winter, it had been impossible to work. A considerable 
 portion of ground between View Point and Golden Square had 
 recently been taken up. Long Gully appeared to be the most 
 thickly populated of the gullies to the west, and a considerable 
 quantity of gold was being obtained there, notwithstanding the 
 scarcity of water. In Ironbark Gully the population was thinning 
 fast, and in Eaglehawk Gully this was particularly the case, the 
 scene being a great contrast to that of a few months before. In 
 travelling over the Bendigo diggings at this time one could not 
 help being struck by the vast extent of country over which profit- 
 able deposits of gold had been found. The noble sweeping 
 outlines of the long slopes, the undulating appearance of the 
 whole country, the rounded hills, capped with trees, contrasting 
 with the bare appearance of the gullies and slopes, and the 
 numberless white tents all reposing quietly beneath the splendour 
 of an Australian sun, irresistibly challenged admiration, and 
 formed a picture which, once seen, was not easily forgotten. 
 There was an idea of vastness conveyed by the Bendigo diggings 
 which was wanting in other goldfields. The Turon and the 
 Ovens possessed more beautiful scenery, but they were like 
 pigmies compared to this mammoth El Dorado. 
 
 It was generally considered at this time that affairs on the 
 goldfield were in a very depressed condition, and the fact that 
 
 d2
 
 68 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Bendigo had nothing except its gold to depend upon, forced itself 
 upon the population. The goldfield was "worked out" was the cry, 
 and unless some fresh discoveries were made in the neighbourhood, 
 it was felt that recovery from the general depression was very 
 problematical. It was suggested that prospecting parties should 
 be formed, and the Goverment petitioned. x\nd these remarks 
 were made while, a few hundred feet below, were the reefs which 
 only required to be reached and worked to bring to the district a 
 new era of prosperity. The subject of second bottoms was exciting 
 considerable interest among all classes. The Argus correspondent 
 (Mr. A. Mackay), writing at this time on the subject of second 
 bottoms, and of successive deposits of gold found at various 
 depths, said there was no doubt of their existence, and that these 
 successive deposits had been worked to advantage at various 
 goldfields. In all cases which had come under his observation 
 the several bottoms had been alluvial deposits of gravel, 
 sand or clay above the bed rock, or the bed rock itself. 
 An energetic attempt was being made to settle the question 
 between the first and second White Hills, where four men 
 had sunk a hole 112 feet, but want of funds was operating 
 against the venture. Similar attempts were made in Long 
 (iully, California dully, Eaglehawk and Sailors' Gully, but, 
 owing to want of judgment in the selection of sites for sinking, 
 the time and labour was thrown away. It was felt that any- 
 thing like this in the way of experiment should have been 
 superintended by those scientifically and practically acquainted 
 with the subject. 
 
 There was a decrease in the gold yield on Bendigo early in 
 1854, and, as new discoveries were made at Tarrengower and at 
 Mounts Moliagul and Korong, the population on Bendigo showed 
 signs of thinning. Diggers were still doing well on Bendigo, 
 however, and a party during one week took twenty-six pounds 
 weight of gold out of a hole near the creek above View Point. 
 In March there were signs of greater activity, and with the advent 
 of rain, it was expected there would be an increase in the gold 
 yield. These expectations were realised, the escorts taking 
 larger quantities of gold to Melbourne — the amount in one week 
 reaching 17,545 ounces. 
 
 There were unmistakable indications, however, that the alluvial 
 gold deposits were becoming exhausted, but the presence of gold
 
 OTHER FIELDS. 09 
 
 in the quartz reefs had already begun to make itself known. Air. 
 Haverfield, editor of the Bendigo Advertiser, who had con- 
 tinuously directed attention to this subject, even when the idea 
 was generally scouted, now strenuously advocated quartz mining, 
 and expressed the belief that the localities in which alluvial 
 mining had been richest, were in the vicinity of quartz reefs. He 
 considered that the hope could be reasonably entertained, 
 especially in the face of the assurances from gentlemen employed 
 in gold mining on Bendigo, that " the miners were now entering 
 upon a field of far greater importance as regards both its yield 
 and ]3ermanency than any hitherto worked in the richest gold 
 countries on the globe." This oi)inion was shared by the Argus 
 correspondent, who said about this time that it was known as a 
 fact that some scores of parties, working only with gads and 
 hammers, and crushing quartz in the rudest possible way, were 
 making thrice the ordinary wages of diggers, and still the certain 
 and undeveloj^ed treasures of the quartz veins were being over- 
 looked. He expressed the greatest surprise that capitalists had 
 not turned their attention to the auriferous quartz of Bendigo, 
 which, in many instances, must yield several ounces to the ton. 
 Claims were taken up in August on a vein which cropped out on 
 the dividing ranoe between Eaglehawk, Pegleg and Sailors' Gully. 
 It struck into P^aglehawk, just above the spot where the famous 
 surface diggings were discovered, crossed the gully, and appeared 
 on the ridge between it and Job's Gully. It then crossed 
 California and Long Gullies, cropping out on the east side of the 
 latter, where a number of parties were engaged in tjuarrying out 
 the quartz ; continuing its course it crossed Ironbark Gully near 
 its head, and here again it cropped out on the east side and 
 furnished employment to numbers of enterprising miners. This 
 vein was only one of the many vvliich intersected the district and 
 various gullies, and which had, in times previous, furnished the 
 immense quantities of alluvial gold which had been dug out of 
 Bendigo. 
 
 The goldfields at Maryborough attracted a large number of the 
 diggers from Bendigo, but the gold yields on the latter field 
 continued to average 10,000 ounces weekly. In October, 1854, 
 several enterprising tradesmen, among whom may be mentioned 
 Mr. Irons, Captain Bell and Mr. Hustler, were engaged in pro- 
 carmg and fixing extensive machinery for the purpose of
 
 70 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 crushing the auriferous quartz of the district. The advent of 
 these machines was looked upon as marking the commencement 
 of a new era. 
 
 The sludge question had long been regarded as a very 
 important as well as a very serious question, by reason of the 
 extent of puddling operations in the district. Attention had been 
 given to the subject two years previously, when the resident 
 warden advised the puddlers to form a sludge drain. Subse- 
 quently a public meeting of puddlers was held to receive the 
 report of the result of an interview between Dr. Owens and 
 Mr. Grant and the Commissioner of Public Works on the sludge 
 question. The Commissioner stated that after the new channel 
 was completed, the puddlers would be allowed to run the sludge 
 into the water-course. So matters continued until 1858, when on 
 the 3rd June a public meeting was held at the Shamrock concert 
 hall for the purpose of objecting to the assessment of the puddlers 
 {;£i2 for each machine per annum), as proposed in the new 
 sludge bye-laws of the mining board, until such time as the 
 Government should provide a main sludge channel for the 
 district, and, further, to memorialise the Government to place a 
 sum of money on the estimates for the construction of such a 
 channel. Eventually the Government voted ;^4,ooo for the 
 construction of a sludge channel, and for some years thereafter 
 the Council spent sums annually in its maintenance. 
 
 Great as were the yields from the alluvial diggings, Bendigo 
 rests its fame upon its quartz reefs, which, for their richness, have 
 been unrivalled in the world. Even the alluvial diggers were 
 aware of the existence of gold in the out-cropping quartz reefs, 
 but little attention was paid to the gold in this form while 
 the alluvial diggings continued to yield rich returns. The time 
 came, however, when, by the aid of machinery — at first of a 
 primitive kind — the gold was extracted from the quartz. As we 
 have already stated, Mr. R. R. Haverfield wrote ably and 
 frequently in favour of the district as a quartz field, at a time 
 when very many people were ready to declare that Bendigo was 
 " worked out.'' He contended that the reefs would be found 
 gold-bearing to any depths to which they might be followed, and 
 that sinking ought not to be limited to a hundred feet or so, as 
 advised by the geologists. How true a prophet he has proved it 
 is needless to say. Considering the great services he rendered in
 
 FIRST QUARTZ COMPANY. 71 
 
 these early years by his encouraging articles on mining, his name 
 must, of necessity, be associated with those of Ballerstedt, 
 \Vittscheibe, Luffsmann, Rceder, Touzeau, Lazarus, Koch, Hilde- 
 brandt, Bruhn, Nieman, Annear, Wells, Lansell, J. Watson, 
 Latham, J. B. Watson, Mueller, Rae, Jackson, Woodward, Sterry, 
 Burrowes, M'Intyre, Noy and others who have assisted to build 
 up Bendigo's reputation as a quartz mining district. 
 
 Quartz mining on Bendigo was still pretty much in its 
 infancy in 1858. During the last two years numerous reefs 
 had been opened, and many of the old ones had been sunk to 
 greater depths and been extensively worked. But an immense 
 number yet remained untouched, while none could be said to 
 have been worked out. Early in Jane there were shown some 
 pieces of stone of extraordinary richness that had been obtained 
 from a claim on the Garden Gully reef. The parties to whom 
 the claim belonged had been for some time working stone 
 that had only paid them from one and a-half ounces to two 
 ounces to the ton. On the 31st May, however, they struck 
 on a patch, and a few days after they were raising quartz 
 which, judged by appearances, would go at least thirty ounces 
 to the ton. 
 
 Early crushing machines on the goldfield were those of 
 Mr. E. J. Ensor, at New Chum, Messrs. Nicholas and party at 
 Specimen Hill, and Messrs. Young and Co., at Kangaroo Flat. 
 These machines were at work in the year 1855. 
 
 Additions continued to be made daily to the mining machinery 
 in the district. The district goldfield population in 1858 could 
 be thus classified: — Residents, 28,928; miners, 11,627, which 
 may be divided about as follows : — Engaged in quartz crushing, 
 859; puddlers, 2,130; sluicers, 32; leaving about 8,666 to 
 represent the tub and cradle men and Chinese. The population 
 within the municipal area was 12,500. A few words in reference 
 to what is said to be the first quartz mining company formed on 
 Bendigo will be of interest here. The meeting to form the 
 company was held on the 30th June, 1857, at the Criterion 
 Hotel. From thirty to forty persons were present, Mr. Burnside 
 being voted to the chair. It was decided to call the company 
 the " Bendigo Quartz Mining Company." The number of shares 
 was fixed at fifty, and the contributions five shillings per share 
 per week. An entrance fee of five shillings was imposed, the
 
 iZ HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 amount to form a surplus fund. The following is a copy of a 
 certificate of share : — 
 
 Bendigo Quartz Mining Company, 
 certificate of share. 
 
 Sandhurst 185 
 
 No. 
 
 We certify that Mr of 
 
 is the proprietor of One Share (numbered as above) of and in all mine or 
 mines, ores, metals, machinery, moneys, and all profits of this Company, 
 subject to the rules and regulations of the said Company. 
 
 Entd 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 .Treasurer. 
 
 N.B. — Should this Share be sold, or otherwise disposed of, this Certificate, 
 together with the authorised Form of Transfer, duly signed by the contracting 
 parties, must be left with the Secretary ; nor shall the Secretary then register 
 the same, unless all calls and arrears have been paid up. 
 
 At the beginning of 1859 the Camp Reserve was thrown open 
 to the diggers, but they were not very successful, and the rush 
 soon subsided. 
 
 The yields of gold from the quartz reefs continued steadily to 
 increase, and many new leads had been opened at the end of 
 February and the beginning of March with varied success. Some 
 new crushing machinery was erected in various localities. In the 
 alluvial workings there was little of interest to report at this time. 
 A rush took place at Huntly, and a number of the claims paid 
 very well. At Epsom the crushing of cement was pursued with 
 highly remunerative results. On the 29th April a cake of gold 
 was exhibited in Mr. Jackson's window which eclipsed anything 
 produced up to this time in Victoria ; it weighed 1,230 ounces, and 
 was the produce of eighty tons of stone, raised during three weeks 
 by Messrs. Sibley and Co., from their claim in Ironbark Cully. 
 The last cake previous to this weighed 370 ounces, which was at 
 that time considered a wonder in its way. Since then a cake had 
 been exhibited by Mr. Bannerman, weighing 730 ounces 16 dwts.,
 
 MINING DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 73 
 
 the produce of forty-five tons of quartz from Messrs. Burrowes 
 and Co.'s claim on the South Victoria reef. 
 
 The sudden fancy of Melbourne capitalists to invest in mining 
 was the cause of great activity on Bendigo, and the springing into 
 existence of new companies on all sides. Within two or three 
 weeks 391 applications were lodged for leases, comprising an 
 area of 27,000 yards of quartz reefs and 2,280 acres of alluvial 
 uround.
 
 74 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Mining Development. — (Coniinued. ) 
 
 '■ Gold : gold ! gold ! gold ! 
 Bright and yellow, hard and cold." 
 
 —Hood. 
 
 i860 to 1870. — The Quartz Era — Sebastian — Rayvvood — Latham and 
 Watson's — Eaglehawk, Axe Creek and Kamarooka — Mining Machinery 
 — Mr. Henry Koch — Sandhurst Exhibition — Rich Cakes from Collmann 
 and Tacchi's, and Latham and Watson's^The Drainage of Reefs — Bullock 
 Creek — The Whipstick. 
 
 \iy-jp~/HE yield from the Bendigo field, from 185 1 to 1S60 in- 
 (^ i ^Ji, elusive, IS stated as 4,519,543 ounces, as against 4,806,477 
 ounces recorded for Ballarat. It has to be borne in 
 mind that a large quantity of gold was taken away 
 privately to Melbourne and the neighbouring colonies, 
 so that the yields from both Bendigo and Ballarat were in reality 
 much higher for the period mentioned. The most profitable 
 years on Bendigo were 1853, when the yield was 661,749 ounces, 
 and 1856, when it was 609,729 ounces. 
 
 In mentioning the yields of Bendigo and Ballarat it must be 
 remembered that the latter goldfield was assisted by Creswick 
 during the period referred to, and, in subsequent years, when the 
 yield in Ballarat fell off very much, the Creswick division "saved 
 the Ballarat district from an ignominious decadence beneath the 
 position of its ancient rival," to (juote the words of Afr. Withers, 
 the author of the Historv of Ballarat. 
 
 Among the most prolific reefs on the goldfield in 1862 were 
 the Catherine, Victoria, Hustler's, Shecpshead, Windmill Hill, 
 Pegleg, Long Gully, Kangaroo (iuUy, Iron's, Redan, Johnson's, 
 Private Escort, Star, and Napoleon. They continued to give out 
 steady returns, while new ones were being constantly opened.
 
 RICH YIELDS. 75 
 
 iiiany with excellent results. Notwithstanding this, the escort for 
 the month of June was lower than it had been for a very long 
 time. During that month a reef named the Exhibition Reef, near 
 the Big Hill, was opened, and occasioned some sensation by a 
 yield of about eighteen ounce.s to the ton, later crushings running 
 something lighter, about ten ounces to the ton. Soon afterwards the 
 Frenchman's Reef (near where Messrs. Eadie and M'lntyre, some 
 years before, had taken a large quantity of gold), which was being 
 worked by Mr. W. M'Ewen, gave out a quantity of splendid 
 stone. About the same time a surface reef of almost fabulous 
 richness was discovered on the north side of Scotchman's Gully, 
 Whipstick, by a German named BoUe ; it was named " The 
 Unfortunate Bolle's Reef." On the Victoria line of reef, the 
 Energetic Company raised stone which gave a cake weighing 
 706 ounces 5 dwts., from eighty tons of quartz. The Garden 
 Gully reef and others were also maintaining their character, 
 louring the month of December, 1862, two or three large lumps 
 of gold were turned up on Bendigo, one in Break-o' day Gully, 
 by a coloured man named Benjamin Wilson ; the stone weighed 
 243 ozs. 17 dwts., and when broken up and melted yielded 
 161 ozs. 13 dwts. The same man, not long before, found in 
 the same locality a nugget weighing forty-eight ounces. It was 
 found in an old hole, about twelve feet from the surface, and the 
 finder stated that until plenty of water had been used in the tub 
 and revealed the rich treasure he was unaware of his fortune. A 
 Chinaman also sold a nugget to Mr. A. Bannerman, View Point, 
 weighing 33 ozs. 11 dwts. As far as could be understood he got 
 it in some old puddling ground near Golden Square. We do not 
 mention these finds so much for their size as nuggets, but 
 because they were obtained from alluvial areas which had been 
 for years considered as worked out. 
 
 Several gold discoveries were made in June, 1863, resulting 
 in the opening of a new field in the Whipstick scrub, 
 about thirteen miles from Bendigo, on the Swan Hill Road, the 
 locality being more i)opularly known as the Seven-mile Hut. In 
 less than a fortnight between 2, coo and 3,000 persons were 
 encamped on what was afterwards known as the Sebastian 
 Diggings, in honour of the discoverer, who was a German. In 
 Sandhurst the gullies were the scene of renewed vigour, and in 
 shallow ground at Red Jacket Gully, a nugget weighing
 
 76 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 II lbs. I oz. was found, and realised upwards of ^500. Some 
 splendid specimens were obtained from the West of England 
 Company, Mr. Rae's Company, the Hustler's Reef, Latham 
 and Watson's, and the Adventure Company. 
 
 The Raywood Rush took place in November, 1863, and it was 
 not long before there were 2,000 persons on the scene. The 
 field yielded well, and as several of the gullies surrounding 
 Bendigo commenced to yield well also, an improvement in the 
 prospects of the district resulted. There were large and increas- 
 ing yields from the Hustler's, Clarence, and American reefs, and 
 the claim of IVIessrs. Latham and Watson. The opening up of 
 the Alexander Reef, at Lockwood, with its 200 ounces of gold 
 from a single ton of stone, and the rich diggings at Raywood, not 
 to overlook those of Sebastian, also showed that on what some 
 represented as a used-up goldfield, persevering industry and the 
 judicious use of capital could bring to light treasures practically 
 inexhaustible. 
 
 In March, 1864, the Bendigo goldfield was progressing steadily, 
 and had been doing so for some months previous to a notice- 
 able extent. The escorts were gradually on the increase, and 
 had risen from an average of 4,000 ounces weekly to over 5,000 
 ounces. This resulted from the splendid yields of many of the 
 old reefs, which, the more they were worked and the deeper they 
 were explored, were the more thickly studded with gold. A 
 number of new reefs had also been discovered, which promised 
 to equal in richness any of the old ones. Another reason for 
 the prosperity of Bendigo was found in the fact that during the 
 summer the alluvial miners had had, owing to heavy rains, a good 
 supply of water for mining purposes, thereby keeping them on the 
 goldfield, which in the previous summers they had to forsake for 
 a better watered district. The large yield of gold from Bendigo 
 during the summer months of 1863-4 incontestably proved that 
 with an abundant and constant supply of water, the goldfield 
 would assume its proper position as the leading goldfield in 
 Australia. In 1864, Bendigo, as a field for reefs, was considered 
 to have no equal in Australia, the yields from many of the reefing 
 companies being unsurpassed. As an instance it may be men- 
 tioned that the result of one week's crushing at Messrs. Latham 
 and Watson's claim, on the Hustler's reef, was a cake weighing 
 790 ounces, while another cake obtained the week previous
 
 KRESH DISCOVERIES. 77 
 
 weighed 314 ounces. The consequence of this success was an 
 increased activity in prospecting for new reefs, and a firm faith in 
 the ultimate success of companies which had been toiling for 
 some years m the expectation of striking the gold, as many of 
 those now reaping a golden harvest had also had to labour and wait. 
 General prospecting prevailed on the goldfield, and was likely to 
 continue ; many parties were searching for new alluvial ground 
 with every prospect of success. Around Bendigo there was a 
 large extent of country of an auriferous character that only wanted 
 steady exploration to develop great wealth. 
 
 At the beginning of 1865 the nttention of miners and of mining 
 speculators was being directed to quartz reefing by the discovery 
 of many new and rich reefs in various portions of the Bendigo 
 goldfield. A large extent of ground had been taken up, with 
 every prospect of the golden dreams of its owners being realised. 
 In the Eaglehawk district especially, great activity was shown in 
 reefing. In the ranges at the head of Kangaroo Flat, reefs 
 of unusual richness had been discovered, while in the Raywood 
 direction, and even at and beyond Axe Creek, the reefs were very 
 promising. Fresh discoveries were, indeed, being made in every 
 direction. In many cases, however, the want of machinery on 
 the ground prevented the mines being worked to advantage ; for 
 instance, at Kamarooka the quartz yielded an ounce to the ton, 
 but as it had to be carted some ten miles to be crushed, this v/as 
 a serious drawback. The system of stamper crushing was not 
 then all that could be desired, and an improvement in the 
 amalgamating process was wanted. 
 
 During February, 1865, mining operations were very much 
 retarded on account of the scarcity of water, crushing engines and 
 puddling mills having stopped working in every direction. All 
 this had the eft'ect of producing a falling off in the yield of gold. 
 On several of the lines of reef, however, splendid machinery was 
 being erected, of which the more prominent were the 
 Hustler's Reef Company's new plant, and the Catherine United 
 Company's extensive additions to their already fine mining 
 machinery, nearly finished. Much confidence was felt in the 
 future of the quartz reefs. 
 
 In April, 1865, Bendigo was suffering greatly in consequence of 
 the scarcity of water. (}reat numbers of puddling mills and crush- 
 ing machines stopped work, throwing between 2,000 and 3,000
 
 78 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 miners out of employment. On several portions of the field 
 splendid mining plants were erected. The latest was the machinery 
 erected by Mr. Henry Koch, of Long Gully. The engine was of 
 fifty horse-power, erected in a well-built house, eighty- 
 three feet long, by forty feet wide; the water for the boiler and for 
 washing was obtained from the Havelock engine near at hand, and 
 sufficed to work the forty-eight heads. In May the machinery of 
 the Catherine Reef Company, consisting of a battery with forty-four 
 head of stampers, and a powerful fifty horse-power engine, was 
 erected, and the new engine was christened by Mrs. Letheby, the 
 mayoress of Eaglehawk. The total cost of the new works was 
 ;;^4,ooo. In June, tenders were received for mining in Pall Mall, for 
 the three blocks of ground contained in the Pall Mall Reserve, and 
 out of fifteen or sixteen tenderers the following were accepted : — 
 For No. I Block, nearest View Point, W. D, C. Denovan ; 
 amount of tender, ^"6i ; No. 2, or Middle Block, Macfeeter, 
 ^38 ; No. 3 Block, nearest to Mundy Street continuation, Hunter, 
 ^Si. The yield of gold, however, enabled Messrs. Denovan, 
 Macfeeter and Hunter to do little more than pay wages. 
 
 A considerable degree of commotion was caused in July, 1866, 
 amongst a number of the mining companies, in consequence of 
 their cheques for payment of accounts and wages having been dis- 
 honoured at the banks. The course pursued by the banks was 
 justified to a certain extent, as some forty registered mining 
 companies, most of which had been formed within the previous 
 eighteen months, showed by their balance-sheets, that they owed, 
 in bank overdrafts chiefly, and outstanding accounts, about 
 ^25,000. All the mines were not in a depressed state, however, 
 the Comet, Johnson's Reef, New Chum, Energetic, Victoria Reef, 
 imd Advance companies showing good returns. 
 
 The exhibits of gold at the Sandhurst Exhibition, in September, 
 1866, were naturally the chief feature of it, and by the enormous 
 wealth which they represented, created considerable surprise 
 amongst the visitors from a distance. One company, the Advance, 
 on the Victoria Reef, exhibited a gilt pyramid, representing in its 
 size the total quantity of gold taken from the company's claim 
 since gold was first obtained, eighteen months previously. It 
 represented 10,640 ounces of gold, crushed from 7,600 tons of 
 quartz. The cost of getting this was ^£8,571, and the dividends 
 amounted to ^/^3 1,080.
 
 INCREASING RETURNS. 79 
 
 There had been a distinct revival in mining in the district, 
 many of the mines yielding splendid returns. The cake of gold 
 from the Advance Company during the month of September 
 amounted to 1,048 ounces from 692 tons of quartz. On the West 
 Victoria Reef, the Victoria Quartz Mining Company, a private 
 enterprise, also struck a very rich lode after years of persevering 
 labour. Further north, on the same line, Ballerstedt's claim was 
 yielding good returns, and the adjoining public company north, 
 the Victoria Gold Mines Company, had, after almost working 
 against hope, at last been rewarded by striking a reef over forty 
 feet wide, with gold all through it. The first crushing of ninety- 
 six tons yielded a cake of 204 ounces. The list of good yields 
 by no means stopped here, however, for excellent results were 
 being reported at the same time from Hustler's Reef, Comet, and 
 Alhambra Companies, Latham and Watson's, Betts and Co., on 
 the Perseverance Reef ; Walker and Co., on the Robert Burns 
 Reef; Brennan and Co., on the Windmill Hill Reef ; Johnson's 
 Reef Company, Collmann and Tacchi's claim on the American 
 Reef; New Chum Company, Koch and Hildebrandt's Tribute, 
 Bonati's claim, Menzies' claim ; and in Eaglehawk, the Catherine 
 Reef United, the Great Extended Eagle, and Lady Barkly ; at 
 Golden Square, the North Whip, and Hibernia Freehold ; at 
 Kangaroo Flat, the Break-o'-day Company ; at Sebastian, the 
 Frederick the Great Company ; near Lockwood, the Wallaby 
 Reef. This increase in the yields resulted in the erection 
 of a large quantity of new machinery on the various lines 
 of reef. For a period of six weeks, ending in October, the 
 returns from Latham and Watson's claim amounted to p^i 2,000 
 worth of gold, of which ^10,000 was profit. 
 
 A few figures regarding the public companies on the Bendigo 
 goldfield, in the year 1866, will be of interest. There were no 
 fewer than 139 registered companies, whose total number of 
 shares amounted to 2,687,687, representing a nominal value of 
 ^2,681,298. Steam machinery for winding, or crushing, or 
 draining, or all combined, was possessed by fifty of these com- 
 panies, while a large number of those of a private character also 
 owned similar machinery. 
 
 In the autumn of 1867, the yields from the quartz mines 
 maintained a good average ; one of the largest cakes of gold 
 produced in the district was obtained from quartz taken from
 
 80 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Collmann and Tacchi's claim — it weighed 1,336 ounces, and was 
 the produce of 192 tons of stone. The great event in mining in 
 July, 1867, was the discovery of an alluvial lead of gold at Myers' 
 Creek. It was something remarkable that, notwithstanding the 
 efforts of prospecting parties at various times, this lead should 
 have remained untouched for fifteen years. The yields from the 
 quartz reefs at the close of 1867 spoke hopefully for the district, for 
 not only were the old established mines maintaining excellent 
 yields, but some which had had a run of bad luck were again in 
 fortune's way, while in various parts of the district startling dis- 
 coveries were being made. The most important of these was the 
 opening up of reefing grounds at Marong, the richness of which 
 was shown by the returns from Wilson's claim — twenty loads of 
 stone yielding 188 ounces of gold. 
 
 Several subjects of interest in connection with mining were 
 agitated in July, the most noticeable of which was the proposal in 
 a Bill before Parliament to tax the mines. This met with 
 vigorous opposition both in JJendigo and Eaglehawk. On a 
 number of the lines of reef the question of drainage forced itself 
 on the attention of claimholders, and in several instances 
 meetings were held to make drainage arrangements. The subject 
 was one surrounded with difificulties, and, owing to the want of 
 drainage, a large portion of the richest reefs were unworked. 
 
 The question was early one of great importance to the 
 quartz miners of Bendigo, and, in 1868, was rapidly becoming 
 more so. At the beginning of that year, large areas of ground 
 were unworked, which might have been profitably worked, and 
 have given employment to numbers of miners, if an acceptable 
 drainage bye-law had been in existence. Another matter vitally 
 affecting the interests of the district was the question of water 
 supply. Mining enterprise had long been retarded on Bendigo 
 for want of an abundant supply of water, and the completion of 
 the Coliban Water Scheme was anxiously looked for. 
 
 An excellent proof of the prosperous state of the Bendigo gold- 
 field in the latter part of 1868 was found in the fact that during the 
 month of August the banks purchased 18,748 ozs. 10 dwts. 2 grs. 
 of gold, an increase over the previous month of 1,000 ounces. 
 Another evidence of the activity in mining was shown bv the 
 great increase in business in the A\'arden's Court. The largeness 
 of the gold returns was due in a considerable degree to new
 
 MINING DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 81 
 
 alluvial fields which had been opened up at Bullock Creek and 
 the Whipstick. At the beginning of the winter of 1869, the 
 times were prosperous on Bendigo, because the various lines of 
 reef were yielding gold richly. That they were doing so was in 
 a great measure owing to the success of the tribute system, which 
 had come generally into vogue. The degree of this success may 
 be estimated roughly by the official returns of the bank purchases 
 of gold, which, for the four weeks in April, amounted to 
 18,534 ozs. 7 dwts. 15 grs., or an average of 4,633 ozs. 11 dwts. 
 21 grs. per week. In the winter of 1869, a very large extent of 
 new ground had been taken up under lease on almost every line 
 of reef on Bendigo, and the rich finds obtained from many of the 
 new mines proved great inducements for the miners to proceed 
 vigorously with prospecting. The result was most beneficial to 
 the district, there being scarcely an unemployed miner to be 
 found in it.
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Mining Development. — (Contimied.) 
 
 " Hear ye not the hum 
 Of mighty workings ? " 
 
 — Keats 
 
 1870-91. — Large Yields from the Great Extended Hustler's — Rush to Bendigo 
 — Garden Gully Line and Perseverance Reef — Collmann and Tacchi's — 
 New Chum and Victoria — Monster Cakes from the Great Extended 
 Hustler's Tribute— Garden Gully United — United Devonshire — Johnson's 
 Reef — Frederick the Great Co. — Victoria Hill — Mr. George Lansell— 
 Mr. B. Lazarus — Mr. John Watson— Mr. J. Latham— Mr. J. B. Watson- 
 Hopes for the Future — Statistics — Gold Calls and Dividends. 
 
 ^5'W^^dW^E now come to a remarkable era in the history of 
 ^A'rl\ / ' iiiining development on Bendigo. The year 1S70 
 "^ylj^lj) had witnessed a marked improvement in the pros- 
 t^^l^^J pects of the district, and in 1S71 numbers of rich 
 discoveries were made siiriultaneously. Thousands 
 of people were attracted to the city, and the building trade was 
 greatly stimulated in consequence of the influx of population. 
 The share market presented an appearance never to be forgotten 
 by those who once witnessed it in those days of feverish excite- 
 ment. Thousands of people blocked the path and roadway 
 opposite the Exchange, and traffic was carried on under great 
 difficulties in the main thoroughfare. The speculation in stocks 
 and shares was extraordinary, fortunes being made and lost in a 
 few hours. From early morn till late at night people dealt in 
 shares, and went to bed to dream about them. The excitement 
 must have driven many persons mad, if their rash speculation did 
 not already indicate minds disordered. The end came at last. 
 Many emerged from this mining "boom" sadder and wiser, 
 while others, by means of it, raised themselves to positions of
 
 PROSPEROUS TIMES. 83 
 
 comparative affluence. It was, after al!, a period which we are 
 forced to look back upon with mixed feehngs. The unhealthy excite- 
 ment which prevailed while the mines maintained their rich yields, 
 and new discoveries were of daily occurrence, was not without 
 its lessons in after years, which brought with them cool reflection. 
 Those who figured in those stirring days would know what to 
 avoid if the district experienced a similar revival now in connec- 
 tion with the development of its reefs. But would they avoid the 
 errors of twenty years ago ? It is at least doubtful. 
 
 Our desire, however, is not to deal with the buying and selling 
 of scrip, of "potting," " rigging the market," or with the jobbers, 
 speculators, and promoters of bogus companies. It is to describe 
 the development of the field by those legitimate means which, in 
 the long run, most surely reflect credit upon the enterprise and 
 pluck of the genuine investor. 
 
 At the beginning of 1870 mining was iii a very prosperous state. 
 During the latter half of 1869 there had been a steady improve- 
 ment in the yields, and the total amount of gold purchased by 
 the banks in that year as the produce of the goldfield was 
 225,258 ounces. The official returns showed that the yield from 
 the quartz mines averaged io}4 dwts. of gold per ton, and from 
 the alluvial mines the average was 3^ dwts. One of the most 
 gratifying results of mining at the time was the large amount paid 
 in dividends. In one week it reached ;j^4,ooo, while the amount 
 of calls was decreasing. The tribute system found favour on 
 account of the general success which attended it, the usual run of 
 tribute paid being from ten to twenty per cent, on the gross yield 
 of gold. There was great excitement respecting the Hustler's 
 line of reef, owing to the striking in the Great Extended Hustler's 
 mine of an entirely new reef at the 500 and 450 feet levels, ninety- 
 five tons of which gave the splendid return of 632 J^ ounces of 
 gold. The shares of the company took a sudden jump in 
 consequence, in a fortnight's time from ten shillings to twenty- 
 seven shillings. The reef the company had hitherto been working 
 yielded one ounce of gold per ton. In the winter of 1870 it was 
 apparent that an era of prosperity had come upon Bendigo, which 
 had every appearance of a long continuance, and was the 
 legitimate result of pertinacious efforts in developing the quartz 
 reefs. The whole district was participating in this revival, and 
 population was centering on Bendigo. The influx of miners from
 
 84 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Ballarat, Castlemaine and Maryborough into the Bendigo dist-rict 
 was very considerable, and, in fact, greatly resembled an exodus 
 from those districts to Bendigo. The yields were steadily 
 increasing. 
 
 First there had been the discovery of the reef in the Extended 
 Hustler's, then the Garden Gully line and the Perseverance reef 
 came into notice ; then occurred the discovery of the largest 
 piece of gold ever found in quartz in the colony, in the Argus 
 mine — the specimen weighed twenty-four pounds, and more than 
 half of it was gold. In July, the Collmann and Tacchi Company 
 came upon their old golden reef at a depth of 650 feet, the 
 greatest depth at which a golden reef had ever been found in the 
 district. Within the preceding twelve months a great extent of 
 new ground had been taken up. 
 
 In June, 1871, the quartz reefs of Bendigo were just beginning 
 to realise the prophecies respecting them made many years before 
 — that they would become the mainstay of the goldfield, when the 
 alluvial mines were exhausted, and that not only would gold be 
 obtained near the surface, but at great depths. By some theorists 
 it was given out that by the time the miners got down 1,000 feet 
 the gold would be exhausted, but experience utterly condemned 
 the theory, for it was from the deep mines that the returns of gold 
 in 187 1 were astonishing the community, and filling the pockets 
 of shareholders with dividends, amounting, in May, to ;^3 1,300. 
 There appeared to be no end to the marvellous richness of the 
 Garden Gully line of reef, and the deeper the shafts were sunk, 
 fresh bodies of golden stone were met with at pretty regular 
 intervals. No fewer than five had been struck in Bell and 
 Watson's claim, and each reef had proved richer than the 
 preceding one. The greatest depth on the line at this time was 
 only about 350 feet, and the reef at that depth yielded six ounces 
 to the ton. On the Hustler's line of reef gold in abundance had 
 been got to 750 feet. The Pandora Company's mine, situated 
 between the Victory and Garden Gully companies, was expected 
 to eclipse all others, because it was a gully mine. Next in 
 importance, at this time, to the Garden Gully and Hustler's Reef, 
 was the New Chum or Victoria Reef. For some time previous 
 it had been exceedingly dull, but the finding of a gold reef in the 
 Old Chum gave a great impetus to the line, the fruits of which 
 were evident in the great price at which Lazarus' claim was sold.
 
 MONSTER CAKES FROM THE TRIBUTE COMPANY. 85 
 
 ^45,000. The Extended Hustler's Company was at this time 
 the premier company of the Bendigo district, whether regarded as 
 to price, the number of dividends, or the extent of the mine. A 
 short time previous they had come upon the rich reef which 
 yielded so magnificently at a depth of 500 feet, and were taking 
 it out to the north, and obtaining large returns. Since then the 
 value of the mine had increased from ^^5 6,000 to ^168,000 ; 
 this was due to the permanency of the prospect, each crosscut and 
 level serving to develop the riches of the mine. At a distance of 
 twelve feet from the 500 feet crosscut they cut the reef, and they 
 then drove 187 feet on it to the north, towards Latham and 
 Watson's. From this area came the great cakes which so 
 astonished the mining world. From the 6th January, 1870, to 
 the 6th January, 1871, this company crushed 13,998 tons, 
 which yielded 18,209 ounces, realising _;^ 7 1,540, and up to June, 
 1871, had declared ^63,700 in dividends. 
 
 The month of January, 1872, was an extraordinary one in 
 respect to the large cakes of gold produced, and the consequent 
 increase in the amount of dividends. The Great Extended 
 Hustler's Tribute Company had the renown of producing these 
 monster cakes, of which there were three, viz., — 2,399 ounces ; 
 3,002 ounces ; and 3,900 ounces, making a total of 9,301 ounces. 
 The yield of gold from this company, during November and 
 December, 187 1, was something unprecedented in Mctoria. 
 During that time they crashed 1,107 tons of stone for a yield of 
 1 1,087 ounces of gold, being an average of ten ounces to the ton, 
 out of which dividends to the amount of ^38,000 were paid. 
 
 The discoverer of Hustler's Reef is set down by all as an old 
 man named Hustler, who at one time owned the mine, now 
 known (in 1872) as Latham and Watson's. He was a one-armed 
 man, having been deprived of one arm by an accident. It is a 
 figure of this man that is to be seen on the Extended Hustler's 
 scrip; it was in the year 1854 that he discovered the Hustler's 
 Reef. At one time he was very wealthy — this was in the hey" 
 day of prosperity ; yet, with all, this poor old man died at last 
 without a shilling. 
 
 In February the mining market, which for some time had 
 been depressed, owing to the large number of ventures launched, 
 was beginning, under the influence of large dividends, to revive. 
 The dividends for January amounted to ^50,784, and for
 
 86 HISTORY OF P.ENDIGO. 
 
 February, ;^65,i68. Mining still continued to draw itself 
 slowly and steadily along without any of the wonderful excite- 
 ment that, but a few months previously, electrified the colony, 
 although results far surpassed those at the time of the rage. 
 The Hustler's line had been rather quiet, although the Hustler's 
 Tribute sent in nearly as good a yield as ever. It was a pity 
 that on this line there should only have been one company 
 on profitable gold at a time. First of all, the Hustler's 
 had splendid stone, and paid dividends ; then the Comet ; 
 then Latham and Watson's, afterwards the Extended Hustler's, 
 and, finally, the Extended Hustler's Tribute. On the Garden 
 Gully line there had been an astounding discovery of good 
 gold in several claims almost simultaneously, and hence the 
 excitement. 
 
 There was a lull in the mining world of Bendigo about the 
 middle of 1S73, because the yield of gold had fallen off. Never- 
 theless, a large amount of progressive work was gomg on all 
 over the goldfield. 
 
 In the latter part of 1S74 the mines of the district were 
 looking well — those on the southern portion of the Garden 
 Gully line had come to the front. The Garden Gully United 
 continued to send in good returns. The Great Extended 
 Hustler's still maintained the pride of place on the Hustler's 
 line ; the St. IMungo line was looking well, but the New Chum 
 line was quiet. 
 
 Several events transpired in 1875 o^ great interest to the 
 mining community. The Hustler's had sunk their main shaft 
 down below 1,000 feet, and were thus the first on Bendigo to 
 attain that depth. The idea of payable yields from such a 
 depth would have been laughed at years before, but Lazarus 
 No. I was obtaining fine yields from 700 and 800 feet, their 
 return during Christmas week in 1875 being 958 ounces from 
 318 loads. At the same time the Unity Company, from the 
 710 feet level, furnished a return of 1,030 ounces from fifty-six 
 loads. At lesser depths other companies had met with fine 
 reefs; the Londonderry, from the 370 feet level, crushed 173 
 loads for 1,090 ounces. The Garden Gully line had furnished 
 rich returns ; the Garden Gully Co., which paid ;j^47,584 in 
 dividends during the year, heading the list. The prospects on the 
 Hustler's, Garden Gully, and New Chum lines were such as to
 
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 THE GREAT EXTENDED HUSTLER'S. 87 
 
 lead to high hopes being entertained with regard to the prospects 
 of the mines in 1876. 
 
 The Great Extended Hustler's Company has experienced many 
 ups and downs. In 1870 its market value was ^14,000, but 
 this rose to ;^56o,oco in its most prosperous year, only to fall 
 again to ;^3,5oo, after the rich reef between 300 feet and 600 
 feet was worked out. A depth of nearly 2,000 feet was reached 
 before the company experienced a revival, and when, in 1887, 
 gold was struck at 1,860 feet, its market value again rose to 
 ;^i 78,500. The value has since declined again. From the reef 
 at 600 feet the company, on a called-up capital of only ^17,200, 
 paid ;^'363,ooo. Since the formation of the company, about 
 190,000 ounces of gold have been obtained. The Great Extended 
 Hustler's Tribute Company has also had a remarkable record. 
 We have already mentioned some of the large cakes produced in 
 1871 and 1872. From the 20th November, 187 1, to the 15th 
 Julyj 1872, eighteen cakes aggregated 48,032 ounces, and during 
 this period ^163,800 were paid in dividends. Altogether, up to 
 date, the Tribute Company has paid ^194,600 in dividends. 
 
 In addition to the Garden Gully Reef proper, sections of it to 
 the north, such as the Windmill, Johnson's, Eaglehawk, Anglo, 
 Specimen Hill, and Moon Reefs were, in the early days, noted for 
 fabulously rich yields. The Johnson's Reef Co. got on the 
 surface as much as 150 ounces to the ton, but a small claim, 
 Lindsay and Taylor's, yielded 700 ounces to the ton, while three 
 tons gave as much as 3,035 ounces. The Bobbie Burns was also 
 noted for rich yields, and the Cinderella Company founded 
 Mr. Lansell's fortune. At Windmill Hill, an old man named 
 Sullivan, and his sons, obtained half-a-ton of gold in three years ; 
 they crushed some stone which gave 500 ounces to the ton, and 
 the owners realised as much as ^16,000 in one month. The 
 Garden Gully Company was formed in 1865, and not meeting 
 with success, let the ground on tribute in 1868. The tributors 
 spent p/^i 2,666, and, in addition to paying 17^ per cent, tribute 
 to the company, realised ^220,875 in dividends. The original 
 company resumed possession in 1874, and continued thereafter to 
 pay fortnightly dividends for several years. The total amount of 
 gold raised by the company to March, 1891, is 326,300 ounces, 
 and ^865,600 have been declared in dividends, including 
 tributors' ^220,875.
 
 88 
 
 HISTORY OF EENDIGO. 
 
 In recent years the record of the United Devonshire mine was 
 the most sensational, it having paid ;^2 19,800 in dividends 
 during the continuance of the rich stone between the 400 feet 
 and the 600 feet levels. 
 
 The best idea of the wonderful resources of the district may be 
 obtained, however, from the following table : — 
 
 Company. 
 
 Dividends to 
 
 Called up 
 
 joth June, iRgi. 
 
 Capital. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 Garden Gully United 
 
 865,666 
 
 21,646 
 
 Great Extended Hustler's ... 
 
 621,900 
 
 62,900 
 
 United Devonshire 
 
 229,600 
 
 8,244 
 
 Great Extended Hustler's Tribute ... 
 
 194,600 
 
 30,100 
 
 North Johnson's ... 
 
 149,275 
 
 33,150 
 
 New Chum Consolidated 
 
 135,800 
 
 lS,200 
 
 New Chum and \'ictoria 
 
 112,777 
 
 16,625 
 
 Belmont and Saxhy 
 
 115.750 
 
 4,500 
 
 Victoria Consols ... 
 
 121,000 
 
 62,000 
 
 United Hustler's and Redan 
 
 115,892 
 
 19,736 
 
 Frederick the Great 
 
 IOI,GOO 
 
 7,150 
 
 Hercules and Energetic 
 
 84,625 
 
 6,750 
 
 Ellesmere No. i .,. 
 
 89,950 
 
 14,573 
 
 Lady Barkly 
 
 66,115 
 
 17,400 
 
 Lazarus No. I 
 
 97,312 
 
 19,125 
 
 New Chum United 
 
 66,374 
 
 7,375 
 
 North Old Chum ... 
 
 83,675 
 
 24,987 
 
 North Shenandoah 
 
 63,800 
 
 12,400 
 
 Rose of Denmark ... 
 
 63,000 
 
 4,800 
 
 Sadowa ... 
 
 64,800 
 
 14,000 
 
 South Devonshire... 
 
 32,670 
 
 3,900 
 
 South St. Mungo ... 
 
 60,750 
 
 10,875 
 
 St. Mungo 
 
 32,100 
 
 3,000 
 
 P^llenborough 
 
 76,800 
 
 23,10c 
 
 South Catheiine ... 
 
 17,083 
 
 7,550 
 
 Lazarus Company... 
 
 76,875 
 
 18,000 
 
 The above table does not include the record for private mines, 
 but an idea of their prolific character will be obtained from a 
 jierusal of the following and subsequent paragraphs. 
 
 On the New Chum and Victoria line the Victoria Hill was the 
 first place to become distinguished for its rich yields. Ballerstedt 
 and Son, Wittscheibe and Co., and Luffsman and Co. derived 
 large profits from the rich lodes in this hill, but Mr. George Lansell, 
 by his development of this portion, and, indeed, all parts of the 
 goldfield, has earned the distinction of "pioneer quartz reefer " 
 of the district; his shaft on the Victoria Hill, the " iSo," is
 
 MR. GEORGE LAXSELL, THE "QUARTZ KING." 89 
 
 2,640 feet deep, while the diamond drill has been pushed down 
 to the depth of 400 feet more. Mr. Lansell is supposed to have 
 discovered highly remunerative lodes at 700 feet and 1,860 feet, 
 but the enterprise he has exhibited in exploring to great depths 
 has been of inestimable value to the district. If Mr. Lansell has 
 reaped the fruits of his enterprise, it must be remembered that he 
 has never withheld his hand from the work of developing our 
 reefs, which he has continued through seasons of adversity as well 
 as prosperity. Hundreds of miners on the goldfield are kept at 
 work through his faith in its resources. His first successes were 
 in the Advance and Cinderella claims, each eighty yards in 
 extent. His fortunes were varied after this ; in one fortnight he 
 has been known to make ;!^i4,ooo profit, and, on the other hand, 
 he has dropped thousands of pounds each year for several years 
 in succession. His best ventures have been in the Garden Gully 
 United, and his purchase of Mr. Ballerstedt's estate, and, although 
 up to now, his deep sinking has been all outlay, he does not 
 despair in that direction. Mr. Lansell is of opinion that all our 
 side lines of reef are worthy of more attention than is at present 
 bestowed upon them, more especially as they will, if found profit- 
 able, be more easily worked. "While it will be much easier for the 
 employe at shallow depths, we may hope," says Mr. Lansell, 
 " that some clever man may introduce some better means of 
 ventilation for the miners, and then the depth will not be so much 
 objected to." 
 
 Reference may also be made to the late Mr. Barnet Lazarus, 
 the late Mr. John Watson, Mr. Latham, and the late Mr. J. B. 
 Watson, whose names are prominent in the history of the district's 
 development. 
 
 In the " fifties,'' Mr. Barnet Lazarus became a partner of jSIr. 
 George Gibbs, who was the owner of a claim on the Black Lead, 
 New Chum. The claim formed a portion of the present Lazarus 
 lease. The profit realised by the partners was very large, and it 
 was said to have been at the rate of ;!^2 2,000 per annum at one 
 time, and more than ^80,000 worth of gold was taken out of the 
 claim. Mr. Gibbs subsequently sold his interest, and Mr. Lazarus 
 became the sole proprietor. From about 1864 to 1880 he had 
 received upwards of ^136,000 net profits out of his mine, in 
 dividends, and by the sale of his interest. In 1870 Mr. 
 J.azarus sold half his interest in the claim for ^20,000, the
 
 90 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Lazarus Company, in 45,000 shares, being floated, and in 
 1 87 1 the Lazarus No. i Company was formed to work the 
 southern portion of the lease. In 1879 Mr. Lazarus sold out 
 nearly the whole of his remaining interest in the two companies 
 for ^40,000. 
 
 In 1854 Messrs. J. Latham and Hustler bought the well-known 
 quartz claim in Ironbark, since known as the Hustler's; Mr. John 
 Watson was given a share on account of his professional knowledge. 
 About the end of 1856 Hustler sold out, and Messrs. Latham and 
 Watson purchased a half-share in the adjoining claim, which 
 extended into the bed of the gully, belonging to Messrs. Sibley 
 and Putnam ; the latter sold out, but Mr. Sibley joined the firm, 
 and continued a member till i860. Messrs. Latham and Watson 
 continued to work the ground with great success, but subsequently 
 suffered severe losses by entering largely into coal mining at 
 Kilcunda. jNIr. Latham has, for many years, resided in 
 Melbourne. 
 
 Mr. J. B. A\'atson was amongst the earliest diggers on the 
 White Hills, once famous for their wonderful stores of the golden 
 treasure. He afterwards turned his attention to the Paddy's Gully 
 Reef, named after its discoverer, an Irishman, named Lomasney. 
 For a short time the mine yielded largely, some of the stone 
 returning as much as seventeen ounces to the ton. During the 
 first quartz mining excitement the prospects were so excellent 
 in this locality that an offer of ^20,000 in cash was made for 
 373 yards of the ground held by the Paddy's Gully Company, 
 who refused to sell under ^^24,000, and the negotiations ceased. 
 Mr. Watson's next venture, and the one that eventually made him 
 one of the wealthiest men in the colony, was on the Garden 
 Gully line of reef, where, about twenty years ago, he became 
 possessed of the Golden Fleece, the Kent, and the Central 
 (harden CiuUy claims, which adjoined each other. They were 
 amalgamated, and they are now represented in the present 
 Kentish mine, which was carried on by Mr. Watson up to 
 the tmie of his death. Between 1871 and 1880 the Kent 
 mine turned out prodigious qaantities of gold ; from one 
 reef alone Mr. Watson obtained the enormous yield of 
 thirteen tons of the precious metal, valued at nearly a million 
 and a-half sterhng. Mr. Watson also invested largely in several 
 of the mines of the district, and was enormously wealthy
 
 UiXEXI'LORED REEFS. 91 
 
 when he died, his Victorian property alone being valued at 
 ;^i, 000,000. 
 
 The figures which we give of the gold yield show that there has 
 been a falling off during a series of years, due not to exhaustion, 
 but to the necessarily slower process of extracting the gold from 
 the deep reefs. The Government Survey shows that there are no 
 fewer than 276 distinct quartz reefs in the district, and when it is 
 borne in mind that only a small proportion of these has been 
 subjected to anything like a thorough test, while many of 
 them have been neglected altogether, there is no reason to 
 assume that the auriferous deposits are rapidly becoming 
 exhausted. Capital is needed to develop these reefs, for there 
 must be preliminary work before a reward can be expected for 
 labour and money spent. The Frederick the Great Company 
 exemplifies the capabilities of an outside line, x^t the same time 
 what are termed the main lines of reef, viz., the Hustler's, Garden 
 Gully, and New Chum and Victoria still afford promising indica- 
 tions of large yields in the future. The Hustler's line is beino- 
 tested to the south by the Fortuna Hustler's mine in a way that 
 it has not been tested in this direction before. The New Chum 
 line also affords scope for the prospector in the same direction. 
 
 An instance of the nature of the mineral resources awaiting the 
 employment of capital is to be found in the history of the new 
 Red White and Blue mine, on the Sheepshead line of reef. The 
 surface reefs in the locality were very rich in the early days, but 
 for many years after the ground lay unworked. Then the present 
 company was formed, but after sinking the shaft some distance, 
 another lengthened period of abandonment followed. Subse- 
 quently new life was infused into the company, resulting in the 
 discovery of the runs of stone at present being operated upon. 
 The yields for a time proved poor, and the company was almost 
 on the point of collapse, when the stone became payable. The 
 company thereupon entered upon a career of prosperity, as shown 
 by the fact that within twelve months it has paid dividends 
 amounting to 9s. 3d. per share, or ;^2o,8i2 los. The result of 
 this success has been that companies are now working on the line 
 for several miles, and several of them have already obtained 
 encouraging prospects. 
 
 Remarkable work has been done on Bendigo in the develop- 
 ment of reefs, which may be judged from the fact that nineteen
 
 92 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 shafts had been sunk to a depth of over 2,000 feet in 
 March, 1891 : — 
 
 Mine. 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Mine. 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Lansell's " 180 " ... 
 
 2,640 
 
 t 
 
 i Shenandoah 
 
 2,120 
 
 North Old Chum 
 
 2,310 
 
 Watson's Kentish... 
 
 2,113 
 
 Victoria (Quartz 
 
 2,302 
 
 Lansell's " 222 " ... 
 
 2,105 
 
 Victory and Pandora 
 
 2,300 
 
 Garibaldi ... 
 
 2,104 
 
 New Chum and Victoria... 
 
 2,300 
 
 Great Extended Hustler's 
 
 2,040 
 
 Old Chum 
 
 2,200 
 
 I Garden Gully United 
 
 2,040 
 
 Victoria Consols ... 
 
 2,162 
 
 Eureka 
 
 2,001 
 
 Lazarus and Lazarus No. i 
 
 2,150 
 
 Carlisle 
 
 2,001 
 
 Ironbark ... 
 
 2,140 
 
 Great Central Victoria 
 
 2,000 
 
 New Chum Railway 
 
 2,131 
 
 
 
 Taking Bendigo and Eaglehawk, and comparing them with 
 Ballarat and Creswick, the total number of miners at work in the 
 two former, during the last quarter of 1890, was 3,888, and in 
 the two latter fields, 4,088. The value of all mining machinery 
 in Bendigo and Eaglehawk in the same j^eriod was ;^456,2o6, 
 and in Ballarat and Creswick ^257,(101. The following figures, 
 taken from the official report, represent the relative positions of the 
 various Government mining districts during the last quarter of 
 3890, in regard to the nature and value of machinery : — 
 
 
 Alluvial 
 
 Mining. 
 
 Quartz Mining. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Approximate 
 
 Mining District.s. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 value of 
 
 
 No. of 
 
 Horse 
 
 No. of 
 
 Horse 
 
 No. of 
 Stamp- 
 heads. 
 
 all Plants. 
 
 
 Engines. 
 
 Power. 
 
 Engines. 
 
 Power. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 .Sandhurst 
 
 5 
 
 80 
 
 316 
 
 6,873 
 
 1,328 
 
 483,241 
 
 Jiallarat 
 
 75 
 
 2,557 
 
 207 
 
 5-5IO 
 
 1,274 
 
 401,432 
 
 Castlemaine ... 
 
 15 
 
 557 
 
 135 
 
 3,307 
 
 991 
 
 233,7^1 
 
 IJeechworth .. 
 
 25 
 
 638 
 
 87 
 
 1,116 
 
 1,009 
 
 211,403 
 
 Maryborough 
 
 46 
 
 1,956 
 
 79 
 
 1,758 
 
 564 
 
 197,089 
 
 Gippsland 
 
 8 
 
 178 
 
 53 
 
 1,137 
 
 452 
 
 183,529 
 
 Ararat 
 
 15 
 
 335 
 
 38 
 
 1,151 
 
 333 
 
 138,697 
 
 There are ten divisions included in the Ballarat district, and five 
 in the Sandhurst district. The names of the former are, Central, 
 Southern, Buninyong, Smythesdale, Creswick, Clunes, Gordon, 
 Steiglitz, Blackwood, and Blue Mountain South and Ballan, and 
 the names of the latter are Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Kilmore, 
 Heathcote and Rushworth.
 
 GOLD CALLS AND DIVIDENDS. 
 
 93 
 
 In round numbers Bendigo has yielded sixty millions worth of 
 gold, but the following figures will give a better idea of the nature 
 and extent of the operations which have been carried on since 1851. 
 A record of the calls and dividends was not kept prior to 187 1. 
 In connection with the gold yield, it should be mentioned that 
 there is no record of the gold taken away privately by owners to 
 Melbourne and the other colonies, but the amount is estimated at 
 four million ounces : — 
 
 
 Gold Yield. 
 
 Calls. 
 
 Dividends. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Ounces. 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1S51 
 
 200,000 
 
 — 
 
 
 lSS2 
 
 475,557 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1S53 
 
 661,749 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1S54 
 
 429,983 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1855 
 
 451,588 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1S56 
 
 609,729 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1S57 
 
 492,43' 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1S58 
 
 447,712 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1S59 
 
 403,891 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 i860 
 
 346,603 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1861 
 
 298,442 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1862 
 
 231,514 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1863 
 
 199,010 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1864 
 
 192,617 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1865 
 
 180,961 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1866 
 
 212,804 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1867 
 
 221,552 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1 868 
 
 217,016 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1869 
 
 225,258 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1870 
 
 241,380 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1871 
 
 279,719 
 
 232,421 
 
 434,276 
 
 1872 
 
 360,300 
 
 360,300 
 
 683,140 
 
 1S73 
 
 329.447 
 
 234,066 
 
 628,066 
 
 1874 
 
 313,965 
 
 188,384 
 
 500,615 
 
 1S75 
 
 295,007 
 
 110,859 
 
 342,865 
 
 1876 
 
 275,208 
 
 104 007 
 
 404,695 
 
 1877 
 
 183,049 
 
 67,969 
 
 143,015 
 
 1878 
 
 168,990 
 
 61,182 
 
 204,325 
 
 1879 
 
 172,252 
 
 59,698 
 
 169,635 
 
 1880 
 
 172,629 
 
 83,793 
 
 214,552 
 
 1881 
 
 169,964 
 
 202,909 
 
 250,717 
 
 1882 
 
 202,269 
 
 208,260 
 
 333,472 
 
 1883 
 
 220,158 
 
 196,395 
 
 320,731 
 
 1884 
 
 219,160 
 
 154,697 
 
 318,048 
 
 1S85 
 
 216,772 
 
 131,530 
 
 286,366 
 
 1886 
 
 177,546 
 
 133,721 
 
 191,321 
 
 1887 
 
 163,010 
 
 131,794 
 
 134,920 
 
 18S8 
 
 174,581 
 
 172,055 
 
 178,799 
 
 1S89 
 
 148,703 
 
 137,489 
 
 "8,473 
 
 1890 
 
 155,091 
 
 111,142 
 
 149,381 
 
 The work performed by the iVIining Board should not be for- 
 gotten. It has rendered great service to the community by its
 
 94 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 watchfulness over the auriferous areas, and by preventing their 
 alienation. Of late years its powers have been restricted, and the 
 agitation which has advocated their abolition will probably result 
 in the delegation of the duties of the Prospecting and Mining 
 Boards to a new body established on a more practical basis. 
 
 The Mining Board members are Messrs. Sims (chairman), 
 Debney, Crawley, Blackham, Collmann, Berryman, Phillips, 
 Crocker, Cunningham, and Dolan. Mr. Brown, the Secretary, 
 holds the same position in connection with the Prospecting 
 Board, of which the following are members : — Messrs. Kirkwood, 
 Crawley, Walker, Colhnann, and Wilson. Mr. Kirkwood, the 
 chairman, is the most influential resident of Eaglehawk, and has 
 always taken a deep interest in mining and all local movements. 
 
 The following are the various mining officers connected with 
 the district :— Warden, Mr. G. W. F. Patterson ; District Mining 
 Registrar and Clerk of Warden's Courts at Bendigo and Eagle- 
 hawk, Mr. H. S. V. Busst ; Mining Surveyors, Messrs. A. F. 
 Walker and J. F. O'Dwyer ; Inspector of Mines and Machinery, 
 Mr. W. H. Grainger ; Inspector of Mining Leases, Mr. T. 
 W. Busst ; Warden's Clerk, Eaglehawk, Mr. J . C. Ryan.
 
 REPRESENTATION OF THE GOLDFIELDS. 95 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Political. 
 
 " The strength of the Government does not consist in anything zuithin itself, but in the 
 attachment of a nation, and the interest which the people feel in supporting it." 
 
 — Anon. 
 
 1855-77. — Representation of the Goldfields — Dr. Owens — Mr. R. Benson — 
 Mr. J. M. Grant — The Land Question — Mr. R. F. Howard — Mr. John 
 Henderson — Mr. Brodie — Mr. Carpenter — Mr. Grant's Career — Death of 
 Mr. Benson — Mr. J. F. Sullivan — Mr. W. D. C. Denovan — Mr. J. J. Casey 
 — Mr. William Hopkins — Mr. R. Strickland — Protection and Freetrade — 
 Mr, R. Burrowes— Mr. John Halfey — The Darling Grant — Mr. A. Mackay 
 — The Liberal Association — Mr. Thompson Moore— The Mines' Regulation 
 Act— Death of Mr. J. F. Sullivan. 
 
 S we have stated in a previous chapter, one of the 
 provisions of the new legislation in 1854, affecting 
 the goldfields, was that the various districts should be 
 represented by one member in the Legislative Council. 
 Early m 1855 Dr. Owens was nominated as a candidate 
 for the representation of the diggers, but as it was necessary for 
 him to be nominated in all the goldfields in turn, he abandoned 
 an undertaking in which he was so heavily handicapped. Of 
 course this did not cause satisfaction, and on the 24th February 
 the representation of the diggers was once more the subject of 
 a public meeting, and the treatment which Dr. Owens had 
 met with at the hands of the Government came in for severe 
 censure. A vote of confidence in Dr. Owens was carried, 
 and it was also resolved to request him to go to the other 
 diggings, for the purpose of being nominated as the diggers' 
 representative, subscriptions being taken up to defray his 
 expenses. Dr. Owens was thus enabled to comply with the
 
 9G HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 conditions, and took his seat in the old Nominee Council. 
 The diggers were not satisfied with the character of the 
 representation, however, and after further agitation. Parliament 
 at last decided that Bendigo should have the privilege of 
 electing two representatives to the Legislative Council. Among 
 those who took a prominent part in the movement for the repre- 
 sentation of the diggers, were Messrs. Wall, Edwards, Bouran, 
 McKenzie, Denovan, Alackay, Capt. Brown, Hulkes, Sullivan, 
 Howard, Hopkins, Andrews, Emmett, W. Brown and C. J. 
 Brown. 
 
 For the election, which was held in November, there were 
 three candidates, viz. : Messrs. R. Benson, J. M. Grant and 
 S. Jones. Mr. Benson was one of those who had started the 
 agitation which had caused the abolition of the license tax, 
 and the race of Commissioners. To him much was owing 
 for the reforms which had been carried out. Mr. Grant had 
 acted as solicitor for the Ballarat prisoners, and was the zealous, 
 disinterested and successful defender of the heroes of the 
 Eureka Stockade. He had previously gained an excellent 
 character as an advocate of the cause of freedom and progress 
 in Sydney. Mr. Jones was a well-known auctioneer. 
 
 Messrs. Benson and Grant were elected by a substantial majority. 
 
 In the following year there were numerous political storms, and 
 great changes were introduced into the Government of the colony. 
 Vote by ballot was instituted. Sir Charles Hotham died in 
 December, 1855, owing, it was stated, to the severe tension 
 upon his health by the troublous times through which the 
 colony was passing. In 1856 the new Constitution came into 
 operation, providing two branches of the Legislature. A general 
 election was held towards the close of the year. Sandhurst, with 
 2,232 voters, was allowed one member in the Assembly. 
 
 The candidates for Sandhurst Boroughs were Mr. J. M. Grant 
 and Mr. J. F. Sullivan, and the contest, which took place on 
 the loth October, 1856, resulted in the election of Mr. Grant. 
 
 The election for the Loddon, which included the districts 
 round Bendigo, was held subsequently, and Dr. Owens and 
 Mr. E. Syme, of the Age, were returned. 
 
 It was in June, 1857, that the land question began to engage 
 the attention of the country, and in no part of the colony was 
 the opposition to the Land Bill, then before the Assembly,
 
 THE LAND QUESTION. 97 
 
 more hearty and unanimous than on Bendigo. The history of 
 the period tells how the agitation led to the Land Convention 
 held in Melbourne, the eventual defeat of the obnoxious measure, 
 and the triumph of the people, many of whose leaders afterwards 
 found seats in Parliament. On the 22nd June, a public meeting 
 was held at the Shamrock Concert Hall, on the land question. 
 Resolutions were carried to the effect that the Lands Bill, 
 introduced by the Haines Government, was utterly opposed to the 
 best interests of the colony, as the retention of the lands by the 
 squatters — a mere fraction of the people— was against both justice 
 and equity, false in principle, injurious in practice, and calculated 
 to retard its social and commercial prosperity ; also, that no 
 Bill that did not recognise the right of the people to free access 
 to the land, free selection after survey, time for payment, and 
 a constant supply of at least two millions of acres, surveyed 
 and open for selection, would facilitate the settlement of the 
 population, or meet with the confidence of the country. A third 
 resolution affirmed the desirability of more equitable repre- 
 sentation. The meeting was presided over by Mr. J. F. Sullivan, 
 Chairman of the Municipality, and addressed by Messrs. Denovan, 
 Macartney, Knipe, C. Brown, McDougall, Gibbs, Burnside, Stow, 
 Mclntyre, Strickland, Wall, J. Brown, Mackay, Harrison, and 
 Harris. Signatures were taken for a monster petition, and 1080 
 names were attached to it in the course of the evening. The 
 meeting was one of the largest and most enthusiastic indoor 
 meetings held in Bendigo up to this time. Another public 
 demonstration was held on the 6th July to give expression to 
 the determined opposition of the people of Bendigo to the Bill. 
 The efifigy of Mr. Michie, one of the members of the Ministry, 
 was burnt during the evening. One of the outcomes of the 
 meeting was the formation of a Bendigo League, to secure the 
 objects desired in connection with the land question, and to deal 
 with such other matters as might arise. On the 13th July, 
 Messrs. G. E. Thomson and R. Benson were appointed, at a 
 public meeting of the Bendigo League, to represent the district 
 at the Land Convention to be held in Melbourne. 
 
 In August, 1859, the general election for the Legislative 
 Assembly excited considerable interest. Under the new electoral 
 Act, the Sandhurst Boroughs were to have two members. 
 Mr. Grant did not offer himself for Sandhurst, and Dr. Owens 
 
 E
 
 98 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 retired from the contest in Mandurang. The election resulted in 
 the return of Messrs. R. F. Howard and John Henderson for 
 Sandhurst, and Messrs. Brodie and Carpenter for Mandurang, 
 
 On the 22nd September, 1859, Mr. J. M. Grant was returned 
 as one of the members for Avoca, for which he held a seat until 
 his death in 1885, a period of 26 years. In noticing his dis- 
 tinguished career, we can hardly improve on the following tribute 
 to his memory, from the pen of the late Mr. Haverfield : — " The 
 name of James Macpherson Grant is one which is inseparably 
 linked with the political history of Victoria. In the early days, 
 when the digging population were intolerably harassed through 
 misgovernment and unwise legislation, Mr. Grant lent his voice 
 to the agitation carried on everywhere on the goldfielHs for 
 reforms. When that agitation, unproductive of the desired 
 results, culminated in the slaughter at the Eureka Stockade, a 
 number of persons, arrested as insurrectionists, were placed on 
 their trial in Melbourne ; and in connection with that gifted 
 barrister, Mr. B. C. Aspinall, and other legal gentlemen, 
 Mr. Grant successfully defended the prisoners. The determined 
 attitude of the diggers, the acquittal of the accused, and the 
 unmistakable expression of public sympathy in Melbourne and 
 elsewhere with the people of the goldfields, induced the 
 Government and the old Legislative Council to pay some heed 
 to the expostulations which had hitherto been vainly addressed 
 to them. If we look around, we see monuments everywhere 
 to the honour and memory of James Macpherson Grant. But 
 the chief of these is the settlement of the lands effected by 
 his able and energetic efforts. His Land Act of 1865 gave 
 vitality, in the iirst instance, to the agricultural interest, and 
 placed a large and industrious population permanently on the 
 soil previously occupied for purely i)astoral purposes. The Act 
 was far from being perfect ; and, indeed, he soon found that it 
 was not sufficiently comprehensive for his own purposes. The 
 manner, however, in which he managed to give elasticity to 
 the 42nd section, proved to the people that he was animated 
 by an earnest desire for the promotion of their welfare. The 
 wit that could conceive, and the courage that could carry out 
 the idea of extending a provision, intended solely for one 
 section of the colonists, to the whole population of the country, 
 were of no ordinary kind, and had not the procedure met with
 
 DEATH OF MR. BENSON. 99 
 
 the unqualified approval of the public, Mr. Grant would have 
 experienced a great deal more difficulty than he did in rendering 
 an explanation to Parliament. Under the 42nd section, a person 
 could take up twenty acres in the vicinity of a goldfield. By 
 the alteration made by Mr. Grant, one person could take out 
 eight licenses for twenty acres each, and the whole colony was 
 to be deemed a goldfield. The amended Act, introduced by 
 him in 1869, and passed by the Macpherson Government, 
 continued, up to the time of the passing of the Act of 1884, 
 to be the law of the land. Whether as a Minister or private 
 member, Mr. Grant for many years displayed a degree of ability 
 and zeal which rendered him a popular favourite ; and he has 
 established for himself a reputation to which justice must be 
 done by the historian. The death and burial of such a man 
 are events of national interest, and should awaken a grateful 
 remembrance of the benefits conferred by him upon the 
 country." 
 
 The death of Mr. Robert Benson, familiarly known as " Pump 
 Handle Benson," occurred on the nth June, i860. He arrived 
 in the colony in 1852, and was engaged in all the early political 
 movements. He was a zealous and efficient member of the 
 Reform League, whose efforts contributed so materially to secure 
 for the mining communities a share in the representation of the 
 country, and he was one of the members of the first Mining 
 Board. Prior to his death, financial embarrassments obliged 
 him to relinquish his property, and eventually led to his seeking 
 refuge in the hospital, where he died as stated on the nth June, 
 in his sixty-first year. A melancholy instance this of the neglect 
 shown by the people to one of their earliest representatives who 
 had done the State some service. 
 
 Owing to the resignation by Mr. Brodie of his seat in Parliament 
 for Mandurang on the 15th May, 1861, Mr. J. F. Sullivan was 
 elected for the vacancy without opposition. On the loth June, 
 Mr. Sullivan accepted the office of Commissioner of Trade and 
 Customs in the Heales Government, and was again returned 
 unopposed. This Government found it difficult to obtain a 
 working majority in the House, which was at sixes and sevens, 
 and applied for a dissolution, which was granted. The election 
 which followed resulted in the rejection of Messrs. Howard and 
 Henderson, the former by only ten votes, and the return of 
 
 e2
 
 100 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Messrs. Denovan and Casey. Mr. Denovan was far away at 
 the head of the poll. Mr. Casey was subsequently unseated 
 on the ground of personation by voters, and the seat was awarded 
 to Mr. Howard. For Mandurang, Mr. Sullivan and Dr. Owens 
 were returned. 
 
 Mr. John Henderson, who was member for Sandhurst from 
 1859 to 1S61, died in Melbourne in July of the following 
 year. He had for many years been associated with the 
 London Press, and latterly with the Press of Victoria. For 
 a considerable time he was Melbourne correspondent for the 
 Advei'iiser, and for a short time conducted the same journal. 
 His contributions under the nam de plume " Publicola," to 
 the Ballarat Times, were characterised by considerable vigour 
 and expression. 
 
 In July, 1862, Mr. W. D. C. Denovan res'gned his seat in 
 the Legislative Assembly, stating that, without independent 
 means, or a remunerative profession in Melbourne, a man 
 could not represent a country constituency in Parliament as 
 he would like to do. This was at a time when there was no 
 such thing as Payment of Members, and before Bendigo 
 and Melbourne were connected by rail. Mr. Denovan's 
 Parliamentary career was so brief that little can be said 
 concerning his legislative services. During his occupancy of 
 the seat, however, he had rendered material aid in the Water 
 Supply question, and was Chairman of a Select Committee 
 appointed to take evidence on the practicability of supplying 
 Castlemaine and Bendigo with water from the River Coliban. 
 The Committee recommended the survey of the proposed 
 route of the aqueduct, and Mr. Denovan subsequently secured 
 a vote of ^2,000 for the survey. The Coliban was not under- 
 taken, however, till Mr. Sullivan's advent to office. Mr. Denovan's 
 first claim to be recognised as a public man on Bendigo was won 
 in the early days, when, as one of the leaders of the anti-license 
 movement, and the agitation in favour of representation of the 
 goldfields in Parliament, he laboured heartily and energetically. 
 He was little more than a youth then, and though he may 
 have been chargeable with a few errors of judgment, his sincerity 
 in the cause he espoused was undoubted. A good proof of this 
 was his popularity, which was evident from the high position he 
 occupied on the poll when he stood for Parliament in i86r,
 
 DR. OWENS. 101 
 
 and again in 1S79, wlien the public made a singular demonstra- 
 tion in favour of his appointment as Town Clerk. Mr. Denovan 
 did not offer himself for Legislative honours again ; but he took 
 a keen interest in politics, and was one of the leading spirits for 
 many years in the Bendigo Liberal Association, an organisation 
 which possessed great weight in the district. He was connected 
 with the Press in Ballarat and Bendigo, and served for a brief 
 period as Councillor for Sutton Ward previous to his election 
 as Town Clerk, a position which he still occupies. 
 
 The vacant seat was contested by Mr. R. Strickland, and 
 Mr. David Moore of Melbourne. Mr. Strickland was elected 
 by 504 votes. 
 
 Mr. J. F. Sullivan having accepted office as ^[inister of Mines 
 in the McCuUoch Ministry, which succeeded that of Mr. O'Shan- 
 nassy in June, 1863, was returned unopposed for Mandurang 
 on the 8th July. In the same month Dr. Owens, Mr. Sullivan's 
 colleague in the representation of Mandurang, resigned, and 
 Mr. J. J. Casey was elected in his stead by a majority of 144 
 over Mr. Lewis Macpherson. 
 
 Dr. Owens did not re-enter public life. He died in Melbourne 
 on the 26th November, 1866, very suddenly; and thus passed 
 away a man whose name must for ever be associated with 
 Bendigo's early history. He was a member of the Royal College 
 of .Surgeons, and took his degree of J\L1). in 1841. The 
 Advertiser, in referring to the deceased gentleman, said : — 
 " His memory has a right to be borne in respectful remembrance 
 by everyone on this goldfield, and only less on every other. His 
 name will ever be inseparably connected with the great struggles 
 which terminated in the abolition of the gold license-fee and 
 the concession of Parliamentary representation to the goldfields. 
 They were few in number who took a leading part in effecting 
 the removal of the grievances of the goldfields, and they were 
 fewer still who combined resolution with moderation. Dr. Owens 
 was one of these, and it lent him an influence which was 
 productive of the best results. He was no frothy demagogue or 
 reckless firebrand, but an earnest, thoughtful agitator, influenced 
 by a serious sense of responsibility, and always anxious to take 
 the most moderate way of compassing an object. In Parliament 
 he attained a fair measure of success. He sat there under great 
 disadvantages, his political views were diametrically opposite to
 
 102 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 those of the majority of the Assembly, and his private circum- 
 stances deprived him of some of that prestige which surrounds 
 a man of ample means ; but his fidelity to his party and his 
 constituents was unassailable, no slight thing to say of a man 
 exposed to so much temptation." 
 
 Mr. William Hopkins was another gentleman who displayed 
 much activity with regard to public questions. He was upright 
 and honest, and a worthy old friend of civil and religious 
 liberty. In his time he rendered excellent service to the cause 
 of political reform on the goldfield. Under his familiar title, 
 "Old Constitution," he will be remembered by many old 
 Bendigonians. 
 
 At the general election in the latter end of 1864, while 
 Mr. Howard was again in the field, Mr. Strickland announced 
 that his own business required all his attention. During his career 
 as a legislator, he had gained general respect by his political 
 honesty and attention to his public duties. The advent in Bendigo 
 of several advocates of Protection had resulted in the splitting up 
 of the Bendigo Liberal Association. Mr, John Halfey presented 
 himself as a candidate — a comparatively unknown man so far 
 as Sandhurst was concerned, — and the Protectionists pinned their 
 faith to Halfey and Macarthy, the latter of whom was better known 
 locally than his companion in arms. The other new candidate 
 was Mr. Thomas MTlwraith, now Sir Thomas M'llwraith, 
 lately Premier of Queensland. The other section of the Bendigo 
 Liberal Association resolved to support Mr. Howard and 
 Mr. M'llwraith. The election took place on the 3rd November, 
 and resulted in the return of Messrs. Howard and Halfey. 
 Messrs. Casey and Sullivan, the retiring members for Mandurang, 
 were returned unopposed. 
 
 In January, 1865, a meeting of the burgesses was held for 
 the purpose of protesting against the proposed new Protective 
 tariff, but the Protectionists were strong, and carried the meeting 
 against its promoters. 
 
 Towards the close of 1865 there was a serious crisis in 
 politics, owing to the Legislative Council laying aside the 
 Appropriation and Customs Bills, because they were tacked 
 together. The consequence of this action was a conflict between 
 the two Houses, which lasted some time, and aroused strong 
 feeling in the country. The Protectionists who were represented
 
 MR. R. F. HOWARD. lU3 
 
 in the Ministry (McCuUoch's), whose views were embodied in 
 the Customs Bill, had obtained the victory at the general election, 
 but there was a strong Opposition party, who were backed up by 
 the fact that the Legislative Council was within its rights in 
 rejecting Bills sent up to it in such an unconstitutional manner. 
 Public meetings were held in Bendigo, at which the course of 
 the Ministry was approved. Those who supported the Govern- 
 ment considered that, although it may have acted unconsti- 
 lutionally, the Council was not justified in inflicting great injury 
 on the country by throwing out the Appropriation Bill. 
 
 The beginning of iS66 found the country in the throes of a 
 general election, this having been the upshot of the deadlock 
 between the two branches of the Legislature. The Mandurang 
 election was the first decided locally, the two sitting members, 
 Messrs. Sullivan (Minister of Mines) and Casey, being opposed 
 by Mr. M'Intyre, the Mayor of Sandhurst. The odds against the 
 latter were such as it was almost impossible to contend against 
 successfully, but his defeat was more signal than was anticipated. 
 For the Sandhurst electorate, the retiring members, Messrs. 
 Halfey and Howard, were again candidates, Mr. Robert 
 Burrowes also coming forward. Messrs. Halfey and Burrowes 
 were the Ministerial candidates, and the election resulted in their 
 return and Mr. Howard's rejection. 
 
 Mr. R. F. Howard, whose defeat was in a great measure owing 
 to his opposition to the principle of Protection, had represented 
 Sandhurst for seven years, having been returned in 1859. He 
 brought under the notice of Parliament the way in which the 
 mining communities were weighted with special taxation, and with 
 the assistance of Mr. Brodie and other goldfield members, 
 obtained a reduction of lease rents, and also a reduction of the 
 duty on gold, which was finally taken off altogether. Mr. Howard, 
 in conjunction with Mr. Vincent Pyke, brought in a Bill for the 
 establishment of a Mint in Victoria, the ultimate effect of which 
 was, as anticipated, to secure for gold the uniform price of ;^3 17s. 
 per ounce. Mr. Howard also took action in obtaining Insolvent 
 Courts for the country centres, and the Bill for creating local 
 Insolvency Courts was passed on the recommendation of a Select 
 Committee, of which he was Chairman. Previously, the only 
 Insolvent Court in the colony was at Melbourne, and the incon- 
 venience to residents of the country can be imagined. When the
 
 104 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Water Supply question was engaging public attention, he was 
 appointed a member of the Select Committee of the Assembly for 
 the purpose of taking evidence on the feasibility of the Coliban 
 Scheme. Mr. Howard and Mr. Brodie were also instrumental in 
 obtaining a grant of ^10,000 for prospecting purposes, having 
 been the first to bring before the House the desirability of 
 prospecting being encouraged. 
 
 The Bendigo Gas Company's Bill was carried through Parlia- 
 ment by Mr. Howard. He opposed payment of members, 
 protection, and the present system of education, which, however, 
 was not established till some years later. He was a fearless and 
 outspoken member, giving an honest expression of his opinions, 
 regardless of the effect they had on his hearers. He expressed 
 himself with blunt straightforwardness, and never could be 
 accused of trimming his sails to catch a favourable breeze. Mr. 
 Howard is now the actuary of the Sandhurst Savings Bank, a 
 position which he has held for many years. 
 
 The result of the general elections in 1866, which gave a great 
 majority for the Ministry, did not facilitate a settlement of the 
 dispute between the two Houses, but it was eventually settled at a 
 joint conference. The close of the deadlock was followed by the 
 recall of Governor Darling by the Home Government. 
 
 In March, 1867, Mr. J. F. Sullivan was sworn in as Commis- 
 sioner of Railways in the M'CuUoch Government, from which 
 he had retired in the previous year ; he was returned un- 
 opposed. 
 
 The election in February, 1868, turned upon the Darling Grant 
 question, a vote of ^20,000 to Governor Darling, who had been 
 recalled by the Imperial Government, and the right of the 
 Government to put the grant in the Appropriation Bill. A 
 conflict had resulted between the two branches of Legislature 
 over this subject, and an appeal to the country resulted. The 
 Sandhurst candidates were the two members, Messrs. Burrowes 
 and Halfey, and Mr. Mackay. Messrs. Burrowes and Mackay 
 came forward in the Ministerial interest, and the result of the 
 election was their return, and the rejection of Mr. Halfey. 
 
 For Mandurang, Messrs. Casey and Sullivan were returned 
 without opposition. The Darling Grant question continued 
 unsettled for some time, and there were two changes of Ministry 
 within a few months. On the construction of the second
 
 THE LIBERAL ASSOCL\TION. 105 
 
 M'Culloch Ministry, in July, Messrs. Casey and Sullivan were 
 included as ]\[inisters of Justice, and Mines. 
 
 The anniversary celebration of the Bendigo Liberal Asso- 
 ciation, in February, 1870, was one of the greatest political 
 demonstrations that ever took place on Bendigo. There was first 
 a banquet at the Rifles' Orderly Room, and then a public meeting 
 at the Lyceum Theatre, which was filled, the dress circle being 
 chiefly occupied by ladies. Speeches were delivered by the 
 following gentlemen : — -Mr. James Moore (who presided), Messrs. 
 M'Culloch, Casey, G. V. Smith, Rolfe, Vale, Higinbotham, 
 Sullivan, Burrowes, Mackay, James, Grant, Cope, and Burrt, 
 M's.L.A., and Messrs. Denovan, Connelly, Clark, Yeo, and 
 Strickland. Such a list furnished a perfect feast of eloquence, 
 sufiicient even to satisfy a very gourmand of rhetoric. 
 
 In April, 1870, ]Mr. Angus Mackay accepted office as Minister 
 of Mines, in the third M'Culloch Ministry, and thus, for the first 
 time, Sandhurst was represented in the Government of the day. 
 The people of Bendigo were not slow to appreciate the 
 advantages of having a Minister of the Crown as a representative, 
 and in the unanimous desire to have the Coliban Water Scheme 
 pushed on towards completion, no opposition was shown to Mr. 
 Mackay's re-election. That gentleman joined the Government 
 with the avowed intention of advancing the Coliban works, and in 
 this had the assurance of Mr. M'Culloch that the Government 
 would lend every assistance. 
 
 At the general elections in 187 1, Mr. Sullivan retired from the 
 contest for Mandurang, and his seat was secured by Mr. Thomp- 
 son Moore. For Sandhurst, Messrs. Mackay and Burrowes were 
 re-elected. 
 
 In June, 1872, upon the formation of the Francis Government, 
 Mr. Mackay accepted office as Minister of Mines, and Mr. Casey 
 as Minister of ]>ands. Mr. Casey was returned unopposed for 
 Mandurang, but ]Mr. ^Lackay met with opposition in Sandhurst, 
 where Mr. Garsed came forward as a supporter of the Duffy 
 Government, which had been displaced. Mr. Mackay's first 
 meeting at the Town Hall was long remembered as one of the 
 most disorderly ever held in Bendigo ; it remained for the 
 miners at Long Gully, which was his stronghold, to give him the 
 hearing that Sandhurst refused, and at this meeting the policy of 
 the Government with regard to the Education question was
 
 106 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 indicated. He stated that he had joined the Ministry on condi- 
 tion that Mr. Francis and his colleagues would he willing to 
 support a measure for education, on the lines of an Education 
 Bill framed by Mr. Wrixon and himself, when members of the 
 M'Culloch Ministry two years before. The election took place 
 on the 26th June, and resulted in the return of Mr. Mackay, by 
 a majority of 905 votes over Mr. Garsed. 
 
 Mining accidents had been very plentiful on Bendigo from the 
 time of the early rush, and the numerous accidents on the gold- 
 fields generally had prompted the Government of the day to 
 take steps to lessen, by means of legislation, the liability to 
 accidents in the mines. It was in 1873 that Mr. Angus Mackay, 
 Minister of Mines, had the Regulation of Mines' Act passed 
 through Parliament, and its provisions came into operation on 
 I St January, 1874. This Act met with the strong opposition of 
 mining managers and others, who have since come to regard it as 
 one of the best — if not the best — pieces of mining legislation 
 ever passed in this country. It had the effect of reducing 
 accidents by fifty per cent. 
 
 At the election in 1874, Messrs. Mackay and Burrowes were 
 again returned for Sandhurst, and Messrs Casey and Moore for 
 Mandurang. At the same time, Mr. Sullivan was elected for 
 CoUingwood. 
 
 Owing to the illnesi of Mr. J. G. Francis, the Premier, and his 
 retirement from Parliament, there was a reconstruction of the 
 Ministry in July, 1874. Mr. Angus Mackay retained the olifices 
 of Mines and Public Instruction. 
 
 Mr. James Forrester Sullivan died on 3rd February, 1876, at 
 the age of sixty. He was a native of Ireland, and proceeded at 
 an early age to America, where he fought in the Mexican War, 
 having joined the Louisiana Volunteers, in which force he held 
 the rank of lieutenant. Subsequently he came to Australia, and 
 arrived on Bendigo in 1853. Mr. Sullivan was the prime mover 
 in the establishment of the Bendigo municipality in 1855. 
 Together with Messrs. T. J. Connelly and R. Burrowes, he 
 started the first fire brigade in Bendigo, in 1855 ; he was the 
 first president of the committee of the Benevolent Asylum, in the 
 foundation of which he took a very energetic part. He was also 
 one of the prime movers in the formation of the Mechanics' 
 Institute, in 1854, and in 1856 he was elected president. He
 
 DEATH OF MR. J. F. SULLIVAN. 
 
 107 
 
 was amongst those who assisted in the establishment of the 
 Bendigo Hospital — in fact, there was no movement during his 
 residence in Bendigo, which had for its object the advancement 
 of the place and the welfare of the public, in which he was not 
 concerned. ''As a public man (said the Advertiser of the 
 4th February, 1876), he possessed qualities which are invaluable, 
 especially in young communities, and, as a politician, he made a 
 mark of which he might well have been proud. He was a forcible 
 and fluent speaker, and always commanded attention and respect, 
 whether on platform or in Parliament. In private life he ever 
 exhibited a generous, genial, and amiable disposition. A kinder 
 or more benevolent man it would have been impossible to meet 
 with anywhere. Yet, with all his kindness and almost womanly 
 softness of character in his communion with friends, and in his 
 dealings towards the unfortunate and suffering, he possessed 
 withal a brave heart, and was endowed with even iron nerves. It 
 was not in him to flinch when faced by dangers or diflSculties. 
 He was, indeed, a gentleman and a soldier, every inch of him."
 
 108 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Political. — (Continued.) 
 
 "We are obliged to act so far as our power reacheth, towards the good of the whole 
 community." 
 
 —SiL'i/t. 
 
 1877-1891.— The .M'Culloch Ministry— The nth May, 1877— Mr. R. Clark 
 —Mr. J. M'Intyre— Mr. H. R. Williams— Dr. Quick— Mr. Fisher— Mr. 
 H. M'CoU — Reform of the Constitution — Upper tlouse Elections — Mr. C. 
 Yeo— Death of Mr. Robert Clark— Death of Mr. Hugh M'Coll— Mr. J. M. 
 Highett— Mr. J. H. M'Coll— Mr. J. T. Brown— Mr. A. S. Bailes— Death 
 of Mr. Angus Mackay — Mr. D. C. Sterry — The Veteran Representative, 
 Mr. R. Burrowes — Upper House Elections. 
 
 W^N 1877, the M'Culloch Ministry was in power. Though in a 
 p. majority in Parliament, it was in a minority in the country, 
 n j as the general election in May proved. This condition of 
 ^^ things was due to the harsh treatment of the Berry Ministry 
 of 1875, ^vhich was bundled out of office before it had had a 
 chance of showing its worth. The " stonewall " and " iron hand " 
 followed. 
 
 An Electoral Bill had been carried, increasing the number of 
 members from seventy-eight to eighty-six, and Sandhurst, which 
 formerly had two members, was to have three. The members, 
 Messrs. Mackay and Burrowes, had opposed Mr. Berry's policy 
 of obstruction, and they were again in the field. Mr. John 
 M'Intyre, who had previously been unsuccessful in his efforts to 
 gain a seat, came forward on the indei^endent ticket. Mr. Robert 
 Clark, the very popular member for Barkly Ward in the City 
 Council, had been diligently canvassing, and came forward as a 
 supporter of the " stonewall " party, Messrs. Blackham and Gray 
 also announcing themselves as followers of Mr. Berry. The 
 election took place on the nth INIay, and resulted in the return
 
 RESIGNATION OF THE M'CULLOCH MINISTRY. 109 
 
 of Messrs. Clark, M'Intyre and Blackham, and the rejection of 
 Messrs. Mackay and Burrowes, the former by only eighty-eight 
 votes. There was also an additional seat for Mandurang, and 
 Mr. H. R. Williams, an out-and-out Berryite, was returned along 
 with Messrs. Casey and Thompson Moore. 
 
 The resignation of the M'CuUoch Ministry, who mustered, all 
 told, twenty-six followers out of eighty-six in the new House, took 
 place before Parliament met, and the second Berry Ministry 
 assumed office. Not long after the Sandhurst election it was 
 discovered that Mr. Blackham, by a singular omission on his 
 part, was disqualified from taking his seat. It was declared 
 vacant, and at an election in July, Mr. Mackay was returned by 
 207 votes over Mr. Blackham, as the colleague of Messrs. Clark 
 and MTntyre. With his large majority, it was generally thought 
 that Mr. Berry would retain office without any difficulty during 
 the whole period of Parliament, but although he did actually do 
 so, the great majority had dwindled away to such an extent that 
 parties were very evenly divided at the close of the Session of 1879. 
 This had been brought about by Black Wednesday, the Embassy 
 to England, and numerous other acts of the Government. The 
 desire for Reform of the Constitution was shared in by all parties, 
 but the proposals of Mr. Berry did not meet with general favour, 
 and when the critical division was taken, the Ministry, though in a 
 majority of two, failed to secure an actual majority of the House. 
 An appeal to the country followed in February, 1880. Mr. Berry, 
 Mr. Longmore, and Sir Bryan O'Loghlen visited Bendigo, 
 and were accorded a great reception, which convinced them 
 that the Sandhurst representatives, who were all members of the 
 Opposition, would be rejected. Mr. Clark (who had crossed the 
 floor to the Oi)position side) Mr. M'Intyre, and Mr. Mackay were 
 the gentlemen thus doomed to political extinction. The latter 
 having become managing director of the Sydney Daily Telegrapji, 
 did not offer himself for re-election, but there were six candidates 
 for the seat. The Oppositionists were Messrs. Clark, M'Intyre 
 and Burrowes, and the Ministerialists Messrs. Blackham, Sterry, 
 and ^Vhitc. The election was fiercely contested, and resulted in the 
 three Oppositionists, Messrs. Clark, Burrowes, and M'Intyre, carry- 
 ing the three seats. In Mandurang the candidates were Messrs. 
 Thompson Moore, H. R. Williams (who had left the Berry party), 
 and Casey, Opposition Candidates, and Messrs. Fisher, Forshaw,
 
 1 10 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 and M'CoU, Ministerial candidates. One of the results was the 
 unexpected rejection of Mr. Casey, who had represented Mandu- 
 rang since 1862. Messrs. T. Moore, H. R. Williams, and J. 
 Fisher were returned. 
 
 Mr. Casey had represented Mandurang for eighteen years, and 
 during that time had filled important positions in several Govern- 
 ments. He was specially successful in administering the Lands 
 Department; on his motion the Victorian Hansard wdiS established. 
 Mr. Casey was one of the earliest advocates of the abolition of 
 State aid to religion and denominational education. He 
 warmly supported Federation, and in his public utterances urged 
 as a preliminary to Political Federation, that the Colonies should 
 be invited to concur in reciprocal legislation upon such questions 
 as Extradition, Insolvency, Probate and Administration, Marriage, 
 Naturalisation, Transfer of Lands, Patents and Copyrights, etc. 
 As Law Officer he initiated the system of appointing magistrates 
 to districts instead of the whole Colony, and effected changes in 
 connection with the jurisdiction of the County Courts. While 
 Minister of Lands he re-organised the Department of Lands, and 
 re-constituted the Survey Branch. As a barrister, Mr. Casey 
 enjoyed a good practice, and shortly after his retirement from 
 politics was appointed a Judge of the County Court. He was the 
 author of Casey's Justices' Manual, a text-book which has been in 
 extensive use among the magistracy. In 1878 he visited Paris as 
 President of the Victorian Commission. 
 
 The general election of February, 1880, was followed by the 
 resignation of the Berry Ministry, and the formation of the 
 Service Ministry. Mr. Robert Clark was offered the portfolio of 
 Minister of Mines, which he accepted, and coming before the 
 electors, was returned without opposition. Mr. Service was no 
 more successful with his Reform Scheme than Mr. Berry, and 
 another appeal to the constituencies was made in July, 1880, 
 after the shortest Parliament on record. Messrs. Clark, Burrowes 
 and M'Intyre offered themselves in the Ministerial interest, and 
 the only Opposition candidates were Messrs. Quick and White. 
 Mr. M'Intyre's seat was secured by Mr. Quick. 
 
 Mr. M'Intyre was a prominent public man on Bendigo long 
 before he entered Parliament. Although not an active member 
 of the " Red Ribbon " organisation in the early days, when the 
 License Tax was the bete noir of the diggers, he was a strong
 
 MR. J. M'INTYRE. Ill 
 
 sympathiser. He was a prominent mover in connection with ilie 
 land question, and a determined advocate for " unlocking the 
 lands."' He was elected as a member of the Mining Court in 
 1857, and strenuously opposed the arbitrary powers of the gold- 
 field commissioners. He was one of the first members of the 
 Mining Board, and as Chairman of that body, took a prominent 
 part in framing the first code of mining bye-laws. When Mr. 
 Ireland proposed an amendment of the Mining Statute, advocat- 
 ing provisions distasteful to the mining community, Mr. M'Intyre 
 actively opposed it. He was a member of the Borough Council 
 for many years, and occupied the position of mayor six years in 
 succession. In 1876 he was one of the honorary Commissioners 
 for Victoria at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, and fulfilled 
 the duties of that position with energy and ability. While he 
 represented Sandhurst he opposed the reform proposals of the Berry 
 Ministry, and after his election for Maldon he was one of the 
 most consistent opponents of the late Coalition Government. 
 Mr. M'Intyre has been an excellent representative of the Maldon 
 constituency. Since his connection with it he brought about an 
 early completion of the railway, and succeeded in connecting the 
 district with the CWiban Scheme of water supply, which had 
 previously been considered impossible. He has also lent very 
 material aid in developing the resources of the district, and 
 through his instrumentality a considerable amount of foreign 
 capital has been invested in the local mines. Mr. M'Intyre has 
 always been very out-spoken, occasionally, perhaps, a little too 
 impulsive, but the candour with which he has expressed himself 
 with regard to the administration of public affairs at critical 
 periods in the colony's history, has secured for him many 
 friends. 
 
 For Mandurang, in July, 1880, the retiring members were 
 Messrs. Moore, Williams, and Fisher. Mr. Moore had remained 
 true to his colours, and came forward as a Ministerialist ; Mr. 
 Williams had returned penitently to Mr. Berry's allegiance, and, 
 with Mr. Fisher, who was returned as a supporter of Mr. Berry, 
 and Mr. Hugh M'Coll, ran together on the Opposition ticket. 
 Mr. Moore had, for his fellow candidates, Messrs. Highett and 
 Tupper ; the result was that Mr. Moore's seat was secured by 
 Mr. M'Coll, and the three Ministerialists were rejected. The 
 Service Ministry was defeated, and Mr. Berry, in constructing his
 
 11*2 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Government, rewarded Mr. Williams for returning to his fold by 
 offering him the position of Minister of Mines, an appointment, 
 by the way, which did not please the party. On presenting 
 himself for re-election, Mr. Williams was opposed by Mr. 
 Thompson Moore, but was returned. 
 
 The Berry Ministry held office for one year, being succeeded by 
 the O'Loghlen Administration. In August, 1881, Mr. Burrowes 
 accepted the position of Minister of Mines, and was returned 
 without opposition. Under the new Constitution (a Reform Bill 
 having been carried in 1S81), the Provinces for the Upper House 
 were re-adjusted, Bendigo becoming a part of the Northern 
 Province. An opportunity offered in November, 1882, for the 
 return of a local man to the Upper Chamber, and Mr. Sterry was 
 elected by 1,986 votes, as against 1,826 recorded for Mr. W. I 
 Winter. Two years later, in 1884, the latter was returned 
 unopposed for the seat rendered vacant by the death of Sir 
 W. H. F. Mitchell. 
 
 The political world assumed a quiescent state after the settle- 
 ment of the Reform trouble, and the O'Loghlen Ministry, with its 
 " Peace, Progress, and Prosperity " motto, undoubtedly had much 
 to do with the restoration of public confidence. The term of 
 Parliament was not up till July, 1883, but by a coup^ in the shape 
 of a dissolution in February, the Government hoped to secure a 
 majority at the polls. The old Service and Berry parties 
 coalesced however, and the result was the overthrow of the 
 Ministry, Sir Bryan O'Loghlen being among the defeated. For 
 Sandhurst, the three members experienced no difficulty in 
 securing their seats, the unsuccessful aspirants being Messrs. 
 R. White and C. Perry. 
 
 The Mandurang election resulted in the defeat of Messrs. 
 Williams and Fisher, and the return of Messrs. T. Moore, 
 H. M'Coll, and C. Yeo. The general elections were followed by 
 the formation of the Service-Berry Coalition Government. 
 
 Mr. Robert Clark, who had for some time been in bad health, 
 died in April, 1883, after a long and painful illness. Mr. Clark 
 came to Bendigo in i860, and with the exception of two 
 periods, which he spent in New Zealand, he was connected with 
 Bendigo till his death. During his earlier years in the district he 
 worked as a miner, and his acfjuaintance with the hardships which 
 were associated with the miner's occupation led him to seek the
 
 MESSRS. ROBERT CLARK AND HUGH M'COLL. 113 
 
 assistance of Mr. Alorris Collmann, Mr. W. G. Blackhani, Mr. A. 
 Mackay, and other gentlemen, in an effort to have the hours of 
 the miners hmited to eight. Mr. Clark carried on the agitation 
 not only on Bendigo, but also in Stawell, Clunes, Ballarat, Black- 
 wood, and other places, and his exertions in the cause were 
 gratefully remembered for years by the miners in those localities. 
 After some years the movement resulted successfully, and in the 
 Regulation of Mines Act, the eight hours' was legalised. Mr. Clark 
 subsequently assisted in having the eight hours' boon extended to 
 engine-drivers and railway employes. ^Mr. Clark paid great 
 attention to local wants, and it was, no doubt, owing in a great 
 measure to this feature of his membership that he became so 
 popular. Self taught, to a great extent, he could not be described 
 as a learned man, but he had a good practical education, a keen 
 perception of the wants of his fellow men, and an activity and 
 energy which rendered success tolerably certain in whatever he 
 attempted. As a speaker he was earnest, impressive and fluent, 
 and generally gained a patient hearing. As a Minister of the 
 Crown his term of ofifice was too short — just five months — to 
 afford a proper test of his efficiency, but there is no doubt that he 
 possessed many qualities to fit him for the position. He always 
 manifested a warm interest in the miners, and in addition to the 
 active part he took in the eight hours' question, he was the fore- 
 most figure on the side of the miners when the proposal was made 
 in T879, to reduce their wages. 
 
 A desire was expressed that Mr. Angus Mackay, who had 
 formerly represented Sandhurst, should be invited to come 
 forward for the seat rendered vacant by Mr. Clark's death, and 
 that gentleman resigned his position in Sydney, and consented to 
 do so. He was opposed by Mr. H. R. Williams, who had been 
 rejected by Mandurang in February. Mr. Mackay won by a 
 majority of 527. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Hugh M'Coll, two years later, in April, 
 1S85, Mr. Williams made another unsuccessful attempt to gain a 
 seat for Mandurang, Mr. Highett being returned. Mr. M'Coll, 
 who was sixty-seven years of age when he died, will be best 
 remembered for the active part he took in all water supply 
 movements. He was chiefly known for his enthusiasm and 
 persistency in advocating a grand system of water conservation 
 and distribution for the northern plains. He acted as Secretary
 
 114 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 to the Coliban Scheme Committee for several years, and his zeal 
 and energy largely contributed to the success of the movement 
 for carrying out the Coliban Scheme of water supply for the three 
 important goldfields of Bendigo, Castlemaine, and Maldon, and 
 the adjacent districts. He then turned his attention to the great 
 national question of supplying the north and north-west districts 
 with water, and he laboured in this cause with a zeal, energy, and 
 perseverance that nothing could exhaust. Many of the papers he 
 drew up on the subject displayed an amount of ability and 
 research for which he has not received due credit. Indeed, his 
 action with reference to the Grand Canal Scheme, for the irriga- 
 tion of the northern plains, was very much misunderstood, and it 
 is only in recent years that his efforts have been appreciated as 
 they deserved to be. He exhausted his own means in the 
 necessary surveys and examination of the country, and his 
 enthusiasm and evident sincerity brought him a considerable 
 amount of support. It was generally acknowledged that it was 
 Mr. M'CoU who first directed the attention of colonists to the 
 importance of irrigating the northern districts in a systematic 
 way, and the whole colony has since learned the lesson taught by 
 him, that by water conservation and irrigation in the dry country 
 districts, the wealth and stability of the colony are materially 
 increased. 
 
 At the general election in March, 1886, the old members were 
 again candidates, though Mr. Mackay's failing health rendered it 
 doubtful whether he would offer himself. The teetotal party ran 
 two candidates, with the only result, however, of securing the 
 defeat of Mr. Mackay and the return of Mr. Bailes, which might 
 have been foreseen easily at the time. Dr. Quick and Mr. 
 Burrowes were also returned. 
 
 For Mandurang two of the members lost their seats, viz., 
 Messrs. Moore and Yeo, who were displaced by Messrs. J. H. 
 M'Coll (son of the late Hugh M'Coll) and J. T. Brown. Mr. 
 M'Coll polled more votes than were recorded at any election for 
 the Assembly before or since, namely, 3,623. 
 
 Mr. Thompson Moore may yet find one of the electorates into 
 which Mandurang was sub-divided anxious to obtain his services 
 as a representative. During his career as a member for Mandu- 
 rang he showed himself most attentive to the requirements of all 
 parts of it. This is saying a great deal, for the constituency was
 
 DEATH OF MR. ANGUS MACKAY. 115 
 
 one of the largest and most unwieldy in the colony. Mr. Moore 
 was as popular in Parliament as he was in his constituency, and 
 while he did not claim to possess any of the attributes of a 
 statesman, he was at all times a very influential member. 
 
 Four months later (in July, 1886), Mr. .A.ngus Mackay 
 breathed his last after a long illness. He was almost a native of 
 Sydney, having arrived there when two years of age, and he came 
 to Bendigo in 1853. Mr. Mackay left a record which is certainly 
 unequalled by that of any other representative Sandhurst has 
 had, with the exception, perhaps, of Mr. J. M. Grant, whose 
 claim to distinction was won, properly speaking, when member 
 for Avoca. Mr. Mackay's efforts in connection with water 
 supply alone were sufficient to give him a high place in the 
 affections of the people. But he displayed his great ability in 
 the discussion of various questions in Parliament, and was 
 early considered a prominent figure in debate. He took a 
 deep interest in the educational problem, and, with Mr. Wrixon, 
 framed the first Education Bill, the leading principles of which 
 were adopted in the Act of 1872, passed by the Francis 
 Government, of which Mr. Mackay was a member. Although 
 Mr. Mackay was one of the foremost men in this educational 
 reform, Melbourne Press writers have always been inclined 
 to deprive him of the credit to which he was entitled. It 
 was this and other slights put upon him in later years by 
 the Melbourne Press, which led Mr. J. B. Patterson to remark 
 at a public gathering at Castlemaine, on the night of his death, 
 " that he was only reiterating a frequently expressed regret 
 when he said that Mr. Mackay's worth and ability had not 
 been recognised to the extent they should have been by the 
 Legislature and the people of Victoria. A more upright and 
 honourable man never stood on the public platform in Victoria." 
 This is a high tribute coming from an opponent in politics. 
 When his death was referred to in Parliament, several members 
 spoke in the highest terms concerning his services to the 
 country, and Mr. McLellan said that " having held the position 
 of Minister of Mines, he (Mr. McLellan) was in a position 
 to judge of the capabilities of the deceased gentleman, and 
 he could say that the goldfields of Victoria were more in- 
 debted to the late Angus Mackay than to any other man who 
 had ever held a seat in the Assembly. The only intelligible
 
 116 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 legislation in connection with the goldfields was passed at the 
 instance of that gentleman, and this, together with the regu- 
 lations he framed in connection with the Mining Department, 
 and the many things he did with regard to the water supply 
 of the colony, would cause him to be remembered by future 
 generations." It is almost needless to say that Mr. McLellan 
 referred more particularly to Mr. Mackay's Regulation of 
 Mines Act. A few figures will show what this Act has 
 accomplished. We have no figures before us to make an 
 accurate comparison with the years previous to 1874, when 
 the Act came into operation, but we find that while ninety out 
 of 46,512 miners were killed in 1874, the first year of the 
 operation of the Act, the number killed in 1888 was thirty-six 
 out of 25,142 miners. The difference is more marked in relation 
 to the number injured, for whereas the number in 1874 was 
 245, in 1888 it was only seventy-six. But if we take the statistics 
 of accidents in quartz mines only, we find that the decrease of 
 the rate of accident is much greater. In 1874 between three 
 and four out of every 1,000 miners met their deaths in quartz 
 mines, and in 188S the rate had decreased to less than two 
 out of every 1,000. In 1874 over ten out of every 1,000 
 miners met with injury in quartz mines, and in 18SS the number 
 per thousand was less than four. Figures which prove that 
 the rate of accidents has been reduced one half in fifteen years 
 during the operation of a measure to prevent mining accidents, 
 speak eloquently in favour of the immense good it has effected. 
 As a Minister, Mr. Mackay earned much distinction. In addition 
 to his legislation as Minister of Mines, he presided over the 
 Education Department with marked ability ; the general opinion 
 being that the Department was never in a better state_of organi- 
 sation than when he was at the head. Mr. Mackay was a man 
 of considerable literary ability. His early training had been for 
 the Presbyterian Church, and he had as a youth earned distinction 
 as a scholar. We cannot conclude this notice better than by 
 quoting the following tribute by " Timotheus," the political 
 writer in the Argns : — "The miners would be ungrateful if 
 they did not respect his memor), for he pushed through the 
 mining accidents' legislation which has reduced the former 
 death-rate one-half — has decreased to that extent the number 
 of cripjjles, orphans and widows. A legislator has not often
 
 DR. QUICK. 117 
 
 the chance of so directly lessening the sum of human misery. 
 ' He is the most useful member of the Cabinet of all,' said 
 a deceased Premier of the deceased politician. ' We are 
 always ready with a reply when our measures are challenged, 
 for Mackay has criticised every point before.' It was natural, 
 therefore, that Mr. Mackay should drift into the critics' corner 
 
 during the Coalition period Mr. Mackay never 
 
 intrigued for office — was never suspected of so doing — never 
 took up a cause except on its merits — never forfeited a 
 friendship — and did work which will endure. And when all 
 that can be said with truth, it points to a record rare 
 in politics." 
 
 The people of Bendigo erected a handsome monument to 
 Mr. Mackay's memory. 
 
 The Service-Berry Coalition was continued under the leader- 
 ship of Messrs. Gillies and Deakin, and one of the chief 
 acts of the Parliament of 1886-9 ^^s the passage of an 
 Electoral Bill by which Mandurang and Sandhurst were split 
 up. Sandhurst proper was given two members instead of 
 three ; Sandhurst South, one ; Eaglehawk, one ; Mandurang, 
 one ; and Gunbower, one. Dr. Quick and Messrs. Burrowes 
 and Bailes chose Sandhurst, leaving South Sandhurst to new 
 men. Messrs. McCoU and J. T. Brown contested Gunbower, 
 and Mr. Highett came forward for Mandurang. 
 
 For Sandhurst Messrs. Burrowes and Bailes were returned, 
 and Dr. Quick rejected. Mr. D. C. Sterry, who had resigned 
 his seat in the Upper House, was elected for South Sandhurst ; 
 Mr. H. R. Williams for Eaglehawk by eighteen votes over 
 Mr. Kirkwood ; Mr. McCoU for Gunbower ; and Mr. Highett 
 for Mandurang. 
 
 Dr. Quick's retirement from public life was brought about 
 by one of those unaccountable fits which occasionally come 
 over constituencies. He had steadily won for himself a high 
 position as a Parliamentary debater, and his rejection was a 
 distinct loss to the House. Dr. Quick, before entering 
 Parliament, had a career on the Press, having been connected 
 successively with the Bendigo Evenifig Nezvs, Independctit and 
 Advertiser, and subsequently with the Melbourne Age. From 
 1874 to 1878 he attended lectures at the University, and was 
 called to the Bar in the latter year. He was elected for
 
 118' HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Sandhurst as a supporter of Mr. Berry's Reform Scheme, 
 and on the defeat of that Government in 1881 he sat in 
 opposition to the O'Loghlen Government. He was also 
 a critic of the Service-Berry Government during most of its 
 term of office, but was offered a portfoUo in the Gillies- 
 Deakin Government in 1886. He decHned the offer, however, 
 (which many people considered a mistake on his part), and sat 
 in Opposition during the next three years. In 1882 Dr. Quick 
 had the degree of Doctor of Laws conferred upon him. He 
 has always taken a keen interest in the land question, .and 
 wrote a book, entitled, History of the Land Tenure in Victoria. 
 During his connection with the Assembly he assisted in 
 perfecting the mining legislation of the period, and with 
 Mr. Bailes, introduced a Bill defining the hours of work in 
 mines. Dr. Quick introduced the first Bill for the dis- 
 franchisement of Chinese voters, and agitated until the Govern- 
 ment of the day brought in a Chinese Poll Tax Bill. He 
 brought in and passed a Bill permitting persons, charged 
 with offences against the Regulation of Mines Act, to give 
 evidence on their own behalf; and passed and got incorporated 
 in the Judicature Act a clause providing for an appeal to the 
 Full Court on questions of law in all criminal cases, a measure 
 of legal reform which is now being agitated for in England. 
 Since his rejection by the electors of Sandhurst he has devoted 
 himself assiduously to the practice of his profession, and as a 
 barrister, now enjoys an established reputation. 
 
 Mr. Burrowes has represented Sandhurst in Parliament since 
 1866, with the exception of a brief interval from 1877 to 1880. 
 He had manifested his interest in public affairs some years 
 previously, however, and in November, 1855, proposed 
 Mr. Robert Benson as a suitable candidate for Parliament. 
 He also served for a period as a Councillor before entering 
 Parliament, and was Chairman of the Municipality in 1862. 
 Mr. Burrowes did not obtain a place in any Ministry till 1881, 
 when he became Minister of Mines in the O'Loghlen Govern- 
 ment. He had, however, been frequently consulted with 
 regard to the legislation proposed by those Ministries of 
 which Mr. Mackay was a member, and due regard was paid 
 to his opinions, especially in connection with the framing of 
 mining enactments. When in office as Minister of Mines, he
 
 THE VETERAN REPRESENTATIVE, MR. R. BURROWES. 119 
 
 was in a position to obtain definite action on the part of 
 the Minister of Public \Vorks in regard to the erection of 
 the new Government offices in Bendigo, which had been 
 promised years before. It was also chiefly through his instru- 
 mentality at this time that the City Council was enabled to 
 obtain a Crown grant for the Bath Corner property. Amongst 
 other legislation carried by Mr. Burrowes while in office, was 
 the Act extending the Eight Hours' principle to engine-drivers 
 employed on mines. This was a great boon to the engine- 
 drivers, whose long hours were a continual menace to the 
 safety of the miners. Mr. Burrowes also introduced the 
 Residence Areas Act, which gave the power to the miner to 
 sell, let, mortgage, or bequeath to his heirs, his quarter-acre 
 allotment. As this was legislation for which the mining popu- 
 lation had been anxious for years, his services in the matter 
 were much appreciated. Another measure which was passed 
 during Mr. Burrowes's tenure of office was the Act validating 
 sales and forfeiture of shares. Mr. Burrowes was a successful 
 administrator. He held the balance even between mine-owners 
 and miners, and possessed the confidence of both parties. 
 While extending due consideration to mining enterprise, he 
 showed neither fear nor favour in administering the regulations 
 which control mining. In proof of Mr. Burrowes' faithful 
 services to the electors of Bendigo, there can be no better 
 testimony than the long continued confidence of the public. 
 Out of eleven elections he has only lost one, and in 1889 he 
 received the active support of many who were not born when 
 he first entered Parliament. Mr. Burrowes has gained the 
 reputation of being one of the best informed men in the 
 colony on Parliamentary practice, and in the House is con- 
 fidently looked to for a solution of knotty points in connection 
 with the forms and usages of Parliament. When his time 
 comes to quit the political arena, he will do so with an un- 
 blemished record, and both within and without Parliament, a 
 high reputation for uprightness and integrity. 
 
 Mr. Bailes has won popularity as a representative in a great 
 measure by his attention to local wants. He has also devoted 
 himself to the work of ameliorating the lot of the working 
 miner, and among other things may be mentioned his amendment 
 of the Regulation of Mines Act, by which the hours of labour
 
 120 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 in mines have been more clearly defined. In this he had the 
 assistance of Dr. Quick. The " Bailes-Munro " compromise, by 
 which the passage of the Amending Licensing Bill of 1887 was 
 secured, must also be associated with Mr. Bailes' Parliamentary 
 career. It consisted of a series of amendments which secured 
 advantageous terms for the proprietors of smaller hotels. Since 
 the passage of this Act, Mr. Bailes has submitted an Amending 
 Bill giving power to the owner and licensee of a public-house to 
 surrender the license and receive compensation as if the license 
 were taken away by a Local Option vote. It will probably pass 
 this session. Another measure of local interest was the Residence 
 Areas' Amendment Act introduced by Mr. Bailes. It was 
 divided into two parts, one giving residence area holders upon 
 leases the power to purchase their areas to a limited depth, the 
 other enabling them to pay for their areas by instalments extend- 
 ing over ten years. The latter provision was agreed to, and Mr. 
 Bailes was endeavouring, at the time of writing to pass the former 
 into law also. Mr. Bailes has tried unsuccessfully to legislate 
 with regard to the tribute question. He has figured prominently 
 in connection with such matters as the ventilation of mines, 
 extension of water supply, forest conservation, and, having 
 summoned a caucus of mining members, was the first to suggest 
 the appointment of a Gold Mining Commission, which was after- 
 wards given effect to by the Gillies-Deakin Government. 
 
 As a member of the Legislative Council, Mr. Sterry took 
 a prominent part in passing the Mining on Private Property Bill. 
 He also introduced and passed useful amendments in the Local 
 Government Act, and passed a Bill for the better protection of 
 game. He acted on the Lunacy Commission in 1887. Since his 
 election to the Assembly he introduced, in conjunction with 
 Mr. Williams, an Amending Mining on Private Property Bill, and 
 in conjunction with Mr. Bailes, amending Bills on the subjects of 
 Residence Areas and Licensing, also a Bill to extend and 
 encourage the sale of colonial wines. Mr. Sterry has been an 
 active local member, and in addition to his services as municipal 
 councillor and legislator, he has been a staunch supporter of the 
 mining industry, and of the Bendigo Agricultural and Horti- 
 cultural Society, of which he has been president for several years. 
 
 Mr. J. H. McColl has been an active member, and while 
 closely watching the requirements of his constituency, he has
 
 UPPER HOUSE ELECTIONS. 121 
 
 devoted himself to a study of the irrigation question. In this, 
 he manifests his desire to follow in the footsteps of his father, 
 through whose zeal and enthusiasm the question is so prominent 
 to-day. 
 
 During the session of 1890, Mr. H. R. Williams passed an 
 Amendment of the Mining on Private Property Act, granting 
 facilities to Companies to mine under private allotments at a 
 depth of not less than 400 feet from the surface, without being 
 liable for other than surface damages. Since this measure came 
 into operation, extensive use has been made of its provisions. 
 
 During recent years considerable interest has been taken in 
 elections for the Northern Province in the Upper House. In March, 
 1886, Mr. Francis Robertson died, and Mr. W. P. Simpson was 
 elected by 2,371 votes against 2,098 recorded for Mr. Simon Fraser. 
 In September, 1888, Mr. Simpson was opposed by Mr. Halfey 
 and Mr. Macintosh, but was returned by an overwhelming 
 majority, polling 2,692 against 1,388 for Mr. Halfey, and 
 1,318 for Mr. Macintosh. In 1889, the seat resigned by 
 Mr. Sterry was secured by Mr. J. H. Abbott without the 
 trouble of a contest. On the resignation of Mr. Simpson in 
 the same year, Mr. lUingworth was elected by 2,521 against 
 2,458 recorded for Mr. Jacob Cohn, and in September, a new 
 seat created for the Province was obtained by Mr. G. Simmie, 
 who polled 3,101 against 2,734 recorded for Mr. J. Sternberg. 
 In 1890 Mr. W. I. Winter-Irving was re-elected unopposed, 
 and in x\.pril, 1891, on the resignation of Mr. Illingworth, 
 Mr. Sternberg was returned without the worry of a contest. 
 
 Of the Northern Province members, Mr. J. H. Abbott has been 
 most identified with Bendigo, having arrived in 1852. He has 
 proved himself a sterling citizen, and has been connected with 
 almost every local movement of importance. xAs stated in our 
 seventh chapter, he was the originator of the Hospital Sunday 
 movement, not only in Bendigo, but in Australia, a fact which is 
 certainly entitled to be placed on record. His connection with 
 municipal and other institutions is dealt with in other chapters.
 
 122 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Municipal. 
 
 " For forms of government let fools contest ; 
 Whate'er is best ailminister'd is best." 
 
 —Pope. 
 
 1856-91 — The Sandhurst Municipality — The Sludge Question— Sandhurst a 
 Borough — Mr. M'Intyrethe Pirst Mayor — The Four Towns' Bill— Sandhurst 
 Divided into Wards — The Market Site — -The Town Hall — Sandhurst a City 
 — Cr. Joseph's Loan — Statistics — List of Mayors and Councillors. — The 
 Eaglehawk Municipality — Proclaimed a Borough — The Town Hall — Mayors 
 and Councillors — The Huntly, Marong, and Strathfieldsaye Shire Councils 
 — Raywood Borough. 
 
 :E have seen how the pubHc spirit of the goldfield 
 residents successfully secured their emancipation 
 from an oppressive form of government, and their 
 [^TC^I^^J participation in the representative system of legisla- 
 tion. Such achievements were only the results of 
 a patient and persevering energy, which was not to be turned 
 aside from its course by the numerous obstacles in its path. But 
 the leaders of the movement which had secured so much were 
 not content with what they had done. They did not rest from 
 their labours after the foundation of representation had been 
 laid. There was a home to be built up, and a community to be 
 established. The Ciovernment surveyor had planned the streets, 
 but they had yet to be formed. Thus, after having secured 
 representation in the Parliament of the country by the return of 
 Messrs. (irant and Benson to the Council in November, 1855, 
 the residents of the goldfield turned their attention to the 
 question of local government. Messrs. J. F. Sullivan, E. N. 
 Emmett, J. Harney, S. Jones, Captain Bell, Simons, and 
 Haycock composed the first Municipal Council elected on
 
 THE SANDHURST MUNICIPALITY. 123 
 
 the iith January, 1856. Mr. Emmett was the first chairman. 
 A building was purchased for the place of meeting at 
 Charing Cross, alongside the weighbridge. It was composed of 
 weatherboard, and consisted of two rooms, having previously 
 been owned by iVIr. G. W. Haycock. The assessment of the 
 township numbered 1532 properties, and showed a total ratable 
 value of ;^99,o2i, exclusive of numerous tenements on Crown 
 lands, occupied as dwellings under a miner's right. On the 4th 
 of April a 6d. rate was struck. One of the first works performed 
 by the Council was the filling up of holes in Market Square, and 
 from the first half-yearly statement we learn that the removal of 
 stumps and filling up of holes in the streets, and the making of 
 roads and channels, were the chief works carried out by the 
 Council at this period. 
 
 The Municipal cattle yards were opened on the 17th of June, 
 1861, Mr. A. M. Lloyd being appointed inspector. Many 
 improvements have been effected in recent years at the cattle 
 yards. The abattoirs, constructed according to the latest and 
 most improved design, are very complete in character, and the 
 arrangements at the yards generally have been perfected in a 
 manner in keeping with the importance of Bendigo as the centre of 
 Northern Victoria. Mr. Lloyd has continued to hold the position 
 of inspector since 1861, and has discharged his duties with 
 satisfaction to the Council and citizens. During the year 1890 
 the following live stock passed through the Bendigo market : — 
 33,555 cattle, 239,016 sheep, 22,206 pigs, and 1193 horses. 
 
 In the absence of any regulations for maintaining the sludge 
 channels — which had been constructed and maintained with 
 ;^40oo obtained from the Government by the Council — to save 
 ' the town and low auriferous lands from destruction, the Council 
 were obliged to undertake a constant heavy weekly expenditure 
 in drainage works. 
 
 In 1862 Quarry Hill, Ironbark, and Long Gully were annexed 
 to the municipality. On the first October, 1863, the Municipal 
 Amendment Act came into operation, whereby the Sandhurst and 
 Eaglehawk Municipalities were proclaimed boroughs. On that 
 day Mr. MTntyre, the chairman, took his seat on the bench as 
 the first Mayor of Sandhurst. 
 
 The project of the Borough Council to obtain an Act of 
 Incorporation for Sandhurst similar to that which governs the
 
 124 HISTORY OF BENDIOO. 
 
 municipal affairs of Melbourne and Geelong — the Four Towns 
 Bill — was initiated in October, 1864, and appeared likely to be 
 carried out successfully. The strong opposition of the ratepayers, 
 for whom Mr. Richard Andrews was the chief spokesman, led to 
 the Bill being withdrawn at its second reading in Parliament. 
 
 The Darling, Sutton, and Barkly Wards were created in 1867, 
 the various councillors selecting the wards they desired to 
 represent. 
 
 A proposal by the Council to borrow the sum of ^11,000 for 
 public works, and to expend more money on the Town Hall, 
 provoked considerable opposition, and on the 24th September, 
 1868, there was a very unanimous and enthusiastic meeting at 
 the Town Hall to condemn the proposal. Those who spoke 
 against it were Mr. Richard Andrews, Mr. J. H. Abbott, and 
 Mr. Dickason; and those in its favour, Mr. Emmett and Mr. 
 MTntyre. The feeling against the loan was accentuated by 
 hundreds of the signatures of the ratepayers being obtained 
 protesting against it. 
 
 The Government Gazette of Friday, 21st July, 187 1, contained 
 the proclamation of Sandhurst as a city, according to the provisions 
 of the Borough Statute. To attain this distinction it was 
 necessary for the Borough revenue for the preceding year to be 
 ;,^2o,ooo. The Councillors at the time were Crs. Boyd (Mayor), 
 Burrowes, and Macdougall for Sutton Ward ; Crs. Aspinall, 
 Moran, and Vahland for Barkly Ward ; and Crs. Garsed, 
 M'Intyre, and Holmes for Darling Ward. 
 
 On the death of Mr. G. A. Fletcher, Town Clerk, in 1876, 
 Mr. D. Macdougall was appointed to the vacancy. The latter 
 held ofifice till his death in August, 1879, when he was succeeded 
 by Mr. W. D. C. Denovan. 
 
 In August, 1883, a vote of the ratepayers was taken on the 
 loan for ;^~2 5,000 proposed by Cr. Joseph for the completion of 
 urgent works in the city. The loan had been agreed to by the 
 Council, and the sanction of the ratepayers was next required. 
 There were 4641 votes on the roll. To stay action one-third of 
 this number was required, viz., 1547- The number of votes 
 recorded against the loan was only 314. The ratepayers were 
 therefore greatly in favour of the loan, and the Council 
 subsequently took the necessary steps to have it floated. Among 
 the works carried out by the loan money may be mentioned the
 
 CHAIRMEN AND MAYORS. 
 
 125 
 
 completion of the Town Hall, which the citizens now so justly 
 regard with pride. The action of the City Council in regard to 
 water supply is dealt with in the next chapter. 
 
 The following is a list of the various Chairmen and Alayors who 
 have held office since the establishment of the municipality in 
 1 85 6. The municipality became a borough in 1863, so that the 
 chairmen became mayors in that year. 
 
 Jan. 
 
 1856 ... 
 
 ... E. N. Emmett 
 
 Nov 
 
 1873... 
 
 ... G. Aspinail 
 
 ,, 
 
 IS57 ... 
 
 ... J. F. Sullivan 
 
 ,, 
 
 1S74 - 
 
 ... J. A.Woodward 
 
 ,, 
 
 1858 ... 
 
 ... W. V. Simons 
 
 Aug 
 
 1875 -. 
 
 ... R. Clark 
 
 ,, 
 
 1859 .. 
 
 ... W. V. Simons 
 
 ,, 
 
 1876 ... 
 
 ... H. Ilattam 
 
 >> 
 
 i860 ... 
 
 ... J. EI. Abbott 
 
 Dec. 
 
 1876 ... 
 
 ... E. Neill 
 
 ,, 
 
 I86I ... 
 
 ... J. J. Casey 
 
 Aug. 
 
 1877... 
 
 ... A. Bayne 
 
 Sep 
 
 I86I ... 
 
 ... R. Strickland 
 
 ,, 
 
 1S78 ... 
 
 ... D. C. Sterry 
 
 Jan. 
 
 1862 ... 
 
 R. Burrowes 
 
 )i 
 
 1S79 .. 
 
 ... J. A. Woodward 
 
 >> 
 
 1863 ... 
 
 ... J. M'lntyre 
 
 ,, 
 
 1880 ... 
 
 ... P. Hayes 
 
 Oct. 
 
 1863 ... 
 
 ... J. M'Intyre 
 
 ,, 
 
 1881 ... 
 
 ... W. G. Jackson 
 
 Nov 
 
 . 1864... 
 
 ... J. M'Intyre 
 
 >> 
 
 1882 ... 
 
 ... A. Harkness 
 
 >) 
 
 1865 ... 
 
 ... J. M'Intyre 
 
 )> 
 
 1883 ... 
 
 ... A. Bailes 
 
 j> 
 
 1866 ... 
 
 ... J. M'Intyre 
 
 ,, 
 
 1884 ... 
 
 ... J. Delbridge 
 
 ,, 
 
 1867 . . 
 
 ... J. M'Intyre 
 
 ,. 
 
 1885 ... 
 
 ... S. H. M'Gowan 
 
 Apr 
 
 1868 ... 
 
 ... J. Holmes 
 
 ,, 
 
 1886 ... 
 
 ... P. Hayes 
 
 Nov 
 
 1868... 
 
 ... J. Holmes 
 
 ,, 
 
 1887 ... 
 
 ... T. J. Connelly 
 
 5» 
 
 1869 ... 
 
 ... G. Aspinail 
 
 ,, 
 
 1888 ... 
 
 ... T. Cohn 
 
 5> 
 
 1870 ... 
 
 ... J. Boyd 
 
 ,, 
 
 18S9 ... 
 
 ... J. P. Carolin 
 
 JJ 
 
 I87I ... 
 
 ... D. Macdougall 
 
 ,, 
 
 1890 ... 
 
 ... J. R. Hoskins 
 
 «> 
 
 1872 ... 
 
 ... D. Macdougall 
 
 ,, 
 
 1891 ... 
 
 ... J. H. Abbott 
 
 The following is a list of the various members of the Council 
 since 1856. The first seven comprised the first Council : — 
 E. N. Emmett, 1856 to 1857 ; J. F. Sullivan, 1856 to 1859 ; J. 
 Harney, 1856 to 1858; S. Jones, 1856; Captain Bell, 1856 to 
 1857 ; W. V. Simons, 1856 to i860 ; (i. AV. Haycock, 1856 ; 
 Harris, 1856 to i860 ; W. H. Neale, 1856 to 1859 ; M'Dougall, 
 185710 1858; Cahill, 1857 to i860; J. H. Abbott, 1858 to 
 1861, and 1888 to 1891 ; Burnside, 1858 to 1859 ; J- M'Intyre, 
 1S59 to i860, and 1862 to 1871 ; R. Strickland, 1859 to 1862 ; 
 Carpenter, 1859; R. Burrowes, i860 to 1863. 1865 to 1871, 
 and 1879 to 1881 ; Symonds, i860 to 1862 ; E. O'Keefe, i860 
 to 1867 ; J. Boyd, i860 to 1862, and 1863 to 1872 ; J. J. Casey, 
 i860 to 1863; Macartney, 1861 to 1863; H. Jackson, 1862 to 
 1865; J. Holdsworth, 1862 to 1863, and 1867 to 1869; J. 
 Holmes, 1863 to 1881 ; J. Moore, 1863 to 1867 ; Truelove, 1863
 
 126 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 to 1865 ; J. Cohn, 1864 to 1867, and 1887 to 1890 ; Elliott, 
 1864 to 1866 ; Inglis, 1865 to 1867 ; G. Aspinall, 1866 
 to t88o; J. Latham, 1867 to 1870; E. Garsed, 1867 to 1873; 
 D. MacDougall, 1867 to 1876; M. Moran, 1869 to 1872; 
 W. C. Vahland, 1870 to 1873; J. Buckley, 1871 to 1879; 
 Allingham, 1871 to 1874; R. Clark, 1872 to 1883; H. 
 Hattam, 1872 to 1876; E. Neill, 1873 to 1878; A. Bayne, 1873 
 to 1879, and 1879 to 1886; J. A. Woodward, 1874 to 1880; 
 D. C. Sterry, 1876 to 1888; W. D. C. Denovan, 1877 to 1879 ; 
 P. Hayes, 1878 to 1891 ; W. G. Jackson, 1879 to 1884 ; A. 
 Bailes, 1880 to 1891 ; A. Harkness, 1880 to 1891 ; A. Joseph, 
 1881 to 1887; J. Delbridge, 1881 to 1885 ; S. H. M'Gowan, 
 1583 to 1887; T. J. Connelly, 1885 to 1888; J. G. Weddell, 
 1885 to 18S8; J. P. Carohn, 1886 to 1891 ; R. O'Neill, 1887 to 
 1891 ; J. R. Hoskins, 1888 to 1891 ; G. Pallett, 1888 to 1891 ; 
 P. Ellis, 1890 to 1891 ; C. Roeder, 1891 ; D. B. Lazarus, 1891. 
 The present City Councillors are Messrs. Abbott, Bailes, Carolin, 
 Harkness, Hoskins, Roeder, Ellis, O'Neill and Lazarus. 
 
 The annual value of ratable property in Bendigo city in 1856 
 was ;^9o,647. In the year 1874 it amounted to ^207,474, but in 
 1881 had fallen to ;^i64,49i, and in 1S88 to ;^i62,922. In 
 1891 the value had risen to ;^i67,o23. The rate struck in 1856 
 was 6d. per ;£. Since i860 it has varied from is. to is. 6d., 
 with occasional special rates of 3d. In 1893, owing to the 
 expiration of the Bath Corner lease, the Council will have the 
 advantage accruing from the possession of that property, equal in 
 point of revenue to a 3d. rate. 
 
 Besides the Tov/n Clerk, Mr. Denovan, the principal officers of 
 the Council are Messrs. G. Minto, City Surveyor ; W. Honeybone, 
 Receiver of Revenue • O. Hopper, Rate Collector and Valuator ; 
 and G. Pownall, Assistant Town Clerk. 
 
 The movement for the constitution of Eaglehawk into a separate 
 Municipality took place in 1862. The election of Councillors 
 was held on the 5th September, with the result that Messrs. J. 
 T. Caldwell, J, Hodgson, R. Grieve, Charles Letheby, J. 
 Dowding, James Lester, and James Mouat were returned. On 
 the 9th September Mr. Mouat was elected Chairman of the 
 Municipality. Mr. J. T. Caldwell was Chairman in the following 
 year when it was proclaimed a Borough, and was thus the first 
 Mayor of Eaglehawk.
 
 CENTRAL STATE SCHOOL.
 
 o 
 
 
 
 BENDIGO CITY. FROM THE SCHOOL OF MINES. LOOKING SOUTH-WEST. 
 
 o
 
 THE EAGLEHAWK COUNCIL. 
 
 127 
 
 The Town Hall was built in 1864 at a cost of ;!^i,6oo. 
 
 Mr. H. E. Tolhurst, Town Clerk of Eaglehawk, accepted 
 the position of City Surveyor in CoUingwood at the latter 
 end of 1883, and on the 17th December he was entertained 
 at a banquet at the Town Hall, Eaglehawk, the leading 
 residents of the borough being present. Mr. Tolhurst had 
 been connected with the Borough Council almost from the 
 beginning, and most of the more prominent buildings and 
 works of the borough bore the impress of his skill and 
 knowledge as an architect and building surveyor. He has 
 maintained his prestige in the metropolis. Since Mr. Tolhurst's 
 departure, the position of Town Clerk has been held by 
 Mr. Wood and Mr. Spreull, and at present Mr. W. Cook, 
 formerly a Councillor, discharges the duties of Town Clerk. 
 
 The area of Eaglehawk is 3,640 acres; population, 7,195; 
 number of dwellings, 1,750 ; estimated annual value of ratable 
 property, ^31,898 ; and the revenue, ^5,034. 
 
 The following are the Chairmen and Mayors of Eaglehawk 
 from the foundation of the municipality to the present tmie : — 
 
 .Sept. 1862 .. 
 April 1863 .. 
 Sept. 1863 .. 
 Nov. 1864 .. 
 
 „ 1865 .. 
 
 ,, 1S66 .. 
 
 ,, 1867 .. 
 April 1868 . 
 Nov. 1868 .. 
 
 ,, 1869 .. 
 
 ,, 1870.. 
 
 „ 1871 .. 
 
 ,, 1872 .. 
 
 „ 1873- 
 Aug. 1874 •• 
 
 „ 1875 •• 
 
 Jas. Mouat 1 Au 
 
 g. 1S76 ... 
 
 j. T. Caldwell 
 
 , 1877 ••• 
 
 J. T. Caldwell 
 
 , 1878 ... 
 
 C. Letheby 
 
 , 1879 ■•• 
 
 C. Letheby 
 
 , 1880 ... 
 
 C. Letheby 
 
 , i88i ... 
 
 C. Letheby 1 , 
 
 , 1882 ... 
 
 J. W. Williams 
 
 , 1883 ... 
 
 J. W. Williams 
 
 , 1884 ... 
 
 J. T. Caldwell 
 
 , 1885 ... 
 
 J. T. Caldwell 
 
 . 1886 .. 
 
 H. Trumble , 
 
 , 1887 ... 
 
 H. Trumble , 
 
 , 1888 .. 
 
 H. Kirk wood , 
 
 , 1889 ... 
 
 H. Kirkwood , 
 
 , 1890 .. 
 
 H. Kirkwood , 
 
 , 1891 ... 
 
 }. Harris 
 H. Kirkwood 
 H. Trumble 
 G. Willan 
 J. Mouat 
 J. J. Hall 
 W. Kneebone 
 G. Loudon 
 J. Green 
 H. Kirkwood 
 G. Willan 
 
 E. McCormick 
 
 F. Clark 
 J. Mouat 
 
 W. Kneebone 
 \\'. James 
 
 The following is a list of the various Councillors since 1862. 
 The first seven comprised the first Council: — Caldwell, 1862 
 to 1865, 1868 to 1871 ; Hodgson, 1862 to 1866; Grieve, 1862 
 to 1864; Letheby, 1862 to 1868; Dowding, 1862 to 1863; 
 Lester, 1862 to 1865, 1866 to 1867, 1868 to 1870, and 1876 
 to 1879; Mouat, 1862 to 1863, 1874 to 1877, 1878 to 1890;
 
 128 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Esler, 1863 ; Hopkins, 1863 to 1865 ; Blair, 1863 to 1864 ; 
 Avery, 1864 to 1867, 1868 to 1873 ; Thorn, 1864 to 1867 ; 
 Taylor, 1864 to 1865, 1867 to 1870; McCormick, 1864 to 
 1868, 1869 to 1873, 1886 to 1889; Simpson, 1865 to 1866; 
 Staley, 1865 to 1868; Cook, 1865 to 1867, 1881 to iSSi ; 
 J. W. Williams, 1865 to 1866, 1867 to 1876; C. J. Newton, 
 i866 to 1867, 1868 to 1869; Babbage, 1866; Johnson, 1866 
 to 1868; Hegarty, 1867 to 1869; Hagger, 1867 to 1872, 1873 
 to 1874; Bailey, 1867 to 1869; Richards, 1869 to 1878; 
 Trumble, 1869 to 1875, 1876 to 1880; Christian, 1870 to 1871 ; 
 Clark, 1870 to 1876, 1883 to 1891 ; Pearson, 1871 to 1874; 
 Thomas, 1871 to 18/4; Kirkwood, 1872 to 1891 ; Barrel), 1873 
 to 1876 ; J. Harris, 1874 to 1877 ; H. R. Williams, 1874 to 
 1877; Hall, 1875 to 18S7 ; Green, 1876 to 1879, 1883 to 1886, 
 1887 to 1891 ; Willan, 1877 to 1890 ; Kneebone, 1877 to 1S91 ; 
 Fardy, 1877 to 1880; Loudon, 1879 to 1891 • O. Harris, 1879 
 to 18S3; Schroeder, 1880 to 1883; Sutton, 1880; James, 1888 
 to 1891 ; Leggo, 1889 to 1891 ; J. Highmore, 1890 to 1891 ; 
 J. C. M'Kee, 1891. The present Borough Councillors are 
 Messrs. M'Cormick, James, Kirkwood, Green, Kneebone, 
 Loudon, Leggo, Highmore and Dr. M'Kee. 
 
 The Marong, Strathfieldsaye and Huntly Councils did not 
 exist in the years preceding 1863, that is, as Councils. They 
 were known as Road Boards in the years 1861, 1862 and 1863. 
 The first meeting in connection with the formation of the 
 Campaspe Road Board, as the Huntly Council was formerly 
 known, was held in November, i860; but it was not until 
 April, 1861, that the first Board was elected. The District 
 Road Board was proclaimed on the loth March, 1861. The 
 election was held in April, the first members being Messrs. 
 J. J. Casey (Chairman), J. Dowker, J. Carmody, J. O'Dvvyer, 
 H. Hall, F. Fearn and W. Floyd. 
 
 In December, 1865, Mr. James Warren was appointed Clerk 
 to the Board J>ro tern., and in April following he was elected 
 Clerk, Valuer and Rate Collector. He held the position till 
 December, 1881, when he was appointed Town Clerk of 
 Hawthorn. Mr. Warren was an old resident of Bendigo, 
 having arrived in 1853, when quite a young man. He was 
 one of the first members of the Marong Road Board, which 
 afterwards became the Marong Shire Council, and for three
 
 SHIRE OF HUNTLY. 129 
 
 years he was Chairman of the Board. He was esteemed very 
 highly throughout the whole of the Bendigo district. He was 
 succeeded by his brother, Mr. Edward Warren, who was elected 
 on the 22nd December, 1881. 
 
 The area of the Huntly Shire is 327 square miles ; the estimated 
 population, 3,403 ; the number of dwellings, 850 ; and the total 
 annual value of ratable property, ;,^3o,2oi. The rate in the 
 Huntly Shire has been one shilling in the -^i each year, except 
 in the first year of its existence, when it was sixpence only. 
 
 The following is a list of the various Presidents of the Huntly 
 Council: — 1861, J.J. Casey; 1862, O'Dwyer; 1863, 1864, 1865, 
 1867 and 1876, Slade ; 1866 and 1874, Clay; 1868, Nolan; 
 
 1869, Matchett ; 1870, E. O'Keefe ; 1871, Simpson; 1872, 
 1876, 1878, 1880 and 1887, Tootell ; 1873, 1885 and i886, 
 A. O'Keefe; 1875, Hellier ; 1S78, Nicholas; 1879, Cattlin ; 
 1 88 1 and 1888, Henigan ; 1882 and 1890, Trewick ; 1883, 
 Goyne ; 188,4, Codey ; 1889, Kerr ; 1891, M'Connachie. 
 
 The first meeting in connection with the Marong District 
 Road Board was held in July, 1861, and the following 
 composed the first Board which was elected subsequently : — 
 Messrs. Jas. Warren (Chairman), W. Tupper, F. Otway, 
 W. Bassett, A. Nichols, J. J. Stammers, W. Gunn, D. Edwards 
 and J. Charlesworth. The Board became a Shire Council 
 in 1864. 
 
 The area of the Shire is 560 square miles ; the population, 
 7,347; the number of dwellings, 1,784; and the estimated 
 annual value of ratable property, ;^62,28i. 
 
 The following gentlemen have occupied the President's chair : — 
 1861 and 1862, James Warren; 1863 and 1871, Glover; 1864, 
 1865, 1866 and 1867, Yeo ; 1868, Rogers; 1869, T. Moore; 
 
 1870, 1874 and 1883, Tupper; 1872 and 1873, Horwood ; 1875, 
 Ackerman ; 1876, HouUston ; 1877 and 1888, Langdon ; 1879, 
 Palmer; 1880, Sutherland; 1881 and 1882, Sterry; 1884, 
 Burke; 1885, McLay ; 1886, McCartin ; 1887, Dellar ; 1888, 
 Hart; 1889, Glen; 1890, Illingworth. 
 
 The first meeting in connection with the Strathfieldsaye Road 
 District was held in September, 1861. The following were the 
 members in the first year : — Messrs. Teague (Chairman), Harris, 
 Brennan, Black, Payne, Somerville, Campion, Cook, Crawford, 
 Farquharson and Ritchie. 
 
 F
 
 130 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Strathfieldsaye became a Shire in 1866. Mr. Joseph Bell 
 was then Secretary, a position which he held for fourteen 
 years. That position is now held by Mr. M. Brennan, who 
 has for many years discharged his duties to the satisfaction of 
 the Council and ratepayers. 
 
 The area of Strathfieldsaye is 229 square miles ; its population, 
 3,328; the number of dwellings, 910; and the estimated 
 annual value of ratable property, ;^2o,5ii. 
 
 The following gentlemen have occupied the President's chair: — 
 1861, Teague; 1862, 1863 and 1864, Cook; 1866, 1867, 1868 
 and i86g, Sibley; 1870, 1872 and 1873, ^I- Brennan; 1871, 
 Heine; 1874, Sawers ; 1875, Colvin ; 1876 and 1885, Patterson; 
 1877, Rundell ; 1878 and 1884, O'Rourke ; 1879 ^"^ 1887, 
 Craike; 1880, Veitch ; 1881, Bruhn ; 1882, Schilling; 1883, 
 C. Brennan ; 1886, Read ; 1888, Young; 1889, Condon ; 1890, 
 Burke; 1891, R. H. Abbott. 
 
 The Borough of Raywood was proclaimed in 1865. Its area 
 is 5,760 acres, and its population 470; the number of rate- 
 payers on the roll, 167 ; the annual value of ratable pro- 
 perty, ;;^2,i9o; and the revenue ;^437. Raywood has a 
 Money-order and Telegraph Olifice and Savings Bank, and 
 several excellent hotels. There are State-schools at Raywood 
 and Neilborough, and among public buildings are the Con- 
 gregational, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Wesleyan 
 Churches, the Town Hall, Courthouse, Mechanic's Institute 
 (with a library of 600 volumes). The town is supplied with 
 water from the Coliban, and the district is principally of a 
 mining, pastoral and agricultural character. Mr. J. F. Willoughby 
 has been Town Clerk of Raywood since 1878. 
 
 The following is a list of the various Mayors who have held 
 office from the beginning: — 1865, E. N. Emmett; 1866, T. Tatchell, 
 1867, J. P. Nolan; 1868, J. Radcliffe ; 1869, J. Radcliffe ; 1870, 
 ^V. McKay; 1871, W. McKay; 1872, W. McKay; 1873, W. 
 McKay ; 1874, W. McKay ; 1875, T. Draper; 1876, J. P. Teague ; 
 1877, J. Mason ; 1878, T. Draper ; 1879, W. Sullivan ; 1880, J. P. 
 Teague ; 1881, A. C. Wilson, who resigned after a few months, and 
 was succeeded by W. Sullivan ; 1882, W. Gunn ; 1883, T. Draper ; 
 1884, W. Gunn; 1885, R. S. Harvey; 1886, C. McNeill ; T887, 
 A. McKay; 1888, J. P. Bock; 1889, W. Gunn; 1S90, 
 C. E. Hyde.
 
 SCARCITY OF WATER. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Water Supply. 
 
 " I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys ; I will make 
 the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." 
 
 Isaiah, xli., 18. 
 
 1851-91.— Scarcity of Water— Early Water Supply Movements— Mr. E. N. 
 Emmett — Bendigo Waterworks Company — The Coliban Scheme — Mr. J. 
 F. Sullivan's Connection With It — Mr. A. Mackay's Efforts to Complete 
 It — The Crusoe Reservoir — Opposition of the Council to the Coliban 
 Scheme — Mr. Mackay's Efforts Crowned With Success — Completion of the 
 Coliban Scheme, in 1877. 
 
 'N the early days of the goldfield it was a very difficult matter 
 to obtain water, and in the summer months very many of the 
 inhabitants were compelled to quit the scene for localities 
 ^ which were more favoured. Not only were the inhabitants 
 without enough water for their ordinary domestic wants, 
 but the operations of the diggers were greatly retarded by reason 
 of the dearth. This state of things continued for a considerable 
 time, and although during the winter there was usually an 
 abundance of the precious element, the summer months were 
 sure to be noted for its scarcity. This was the most serious 
 drawback in connection with the goldfield during its early history. 
 The people, for years, depended upon the water-carts, which 
 brought the water from long distances. This caused high charges, 
 but did not prevent the possibility of the inconvenience which 
 resulted from a scarcity, for the system was a very slender one 
 upon which to rest the expectations of several thousand people. 
 There were tanks, of course, but not a great many, and in parts of 
 the town wells had been placed for the benefit of the public. 
 But it had long been recognised that, without a permanent and 
 plentiful water supply, Bendigo could never hope to become a 
 
 f2
 
 132 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 great and thriving city, and so, at the earliest stages of their 
 existence, the newspapers made the subject a stock question, and 
 day after day reminded their readers of the urgent necessity for 
 taking the subject in hand. 
 
 An effort was made, in 1854, to estabh'sh a Water Supply 
 Scheme. This was undertaken by Messrs. G. W. Haycock (one 
 of the first members of the Municipal Council), L. Macpherson, 
 A. M. Lloyd, R. R. Haverfield, T. J. Connelly, and others, who 
 obtained the services of a surveyor, who surveyed the country 
 from the junction of the Coliban and Campaspe Rivers to 
 Bendigo. This met the fate of many other good schemes, and 
 fell through owing to lack of monetary support. 
 
 The first real effort was that made by Mr, E. N. Emmett, 
 whose name is familiar as a household word to old Bendigonians. 
 It was on the i6th January, 1855, that a meeting was held at the 
 Criterion Hotel, to decide upon the best means of supplying 
 Bendigo with water. A provisional committee, consisting of the 
 following, was appointed : — Messrs. Panton, Wilkinson, Larrit, 
 Dr. Backhaus, Benson, Emmett, Bowling, Vallentine, Haycock, 
 Burrall, Bernal, Wallach, MThail, Dr. O'Brien, Captain Bell, 
 Captain Brown and R. R. Haverfield, secretary. What the result 
 of this Committee's labours were, there is nothing to show, but 
 we find that the question of water supply was taken up with 
 much earnestness in 1857. On the 20th October, in that year, a 
 meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held, at which a 
 memorial was drawn up for presentation to the Governor, on the 
 subject of water supply for the Bendigo district, for gold-washing 
 and domestic service. 
 
 Subsequently Mr. E. N. Emmett devoted very much time and 
 trouble to the subject, and on the 9th April, 1858, a public 
 meeting was held at the Criterion Hotel, Melbourne, for the 
 purpose of hearing a statement by Mr. E. N. Emmett of the 
 arrangements entered into by him with the municipality of 
 Sandhurst, with a view of carrying out the important object of sup- 
 plying the Bendigo gold dist'-ict and the township of Sandhurst 
 with water. The proposal was to construct a reservoir at Golden 
 Square, with a storage capacity of 180,000,000 gallons, or a twelve 
 months' supply, at the rate of half-a-million of gallons per day. 
 It was proposed to form a Company, incorporated by Act 
 of Parliament, with a capital of ,-^60,000, in 12,000 shares of ^^5
 
 MR. emmett's scheme. 133 
 
 each. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Bendigo 
 Waterworks Company, with the following gentlemen as a pro- 
 visional committee, with power to add to their number : — Mr. 
 Emmett, Mr. W. Clarke, jun., and Mr. Bland. 
 
 On the nth August, the Bendigo Waterworks Company 
 was successfully started. A site of twenty-one acres at 
 Golden Square had been obtained from the Government 
 for the construction of a reservoir which, it was estimated, 
 would store 86,259,000 gallons of water. This was near 
 the present site of Fawns' Brewery. In addition to this, 
 however (according to the Mining Jour7ial of December, 
 1858), as it had been ascertained that this basin contained 
 several mineral springs which would render the water unfit 
 for human consumption, seven other reservoirs were con- 
 templated along the line of the water-shed, with a gross storage of 
 225,118,000 gallons. In August, 1859, the Waterworks Company 
 had made great progress with their principal reservoir at Golden 
 Square, and at the No. 7 reservoir, near the Big Hill Ranges ; 
 but on the 22nd May, i860, there was a partial suspension 
 of the works of the Company. The Big Hill (No. 7 reservoir) 
 however, was pushed on towards completion, the work at the 
 reservoir at Golden Square being discontinued. The Bendigo 
 Waterworks Company, which promised so much, ceased 
 operations entirely some time afterwards, and the question of 
 a permanent supply of water remained unsolved, no definite 
 steps being taken by the Government to give the district what 
 would be one of the mainsprings of its prosperity. At the 
 next meeting of shareholders, the Company performed an act 
 which amounted to nothing more or less than a repudiation of the 
 claims of the projector, Mr. E. N. Emmett. A motion was 
 carried to the effect that the consideration of his claims be 
 deferred till that day six months. At the beginning of 1S61 the 
 two Grassy Flat reservoirs were in course of construction. 
 The sum of ;^5o,ooo had been voted by the Government, in the 
 previous year, for water supply to the goldfields, and the amount 
 spent upon these reservoirs represented a fair proportion of the 
 vote. It was expected that the storage water at Grassy Flat 
 would relieve the wants of Epsom and Huntly, but not that they 
 would be of much benefit to the diggings about Bendigo. In 
 June, 1861, the Bendigo Waterworks Company had succeeded in
 
 lo4 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 convincing the people that they intended to bring water into 
 Bendigo from the Big Hill reservoir, the main service pipes being 
 tried in Pall Mall, and throwing a jet of water sufficiently high to 
 supersede the use of engines in those thoroughfares where the 
 pipes were laid on. It was expected that there would shortly be 
 a permanent supply of water. In 1861 a Select Committee was 
 appointed by the Legislative Assembly to consider the feasibility 
 of the Coliban Scheme. The Committee, of which the repre- 
 sentatives for Sandhurst — Messrs. Howard and Denovan — were 
 members (the latter being Chairman), brought up a report 
 recommending the Scheme, which the Assembly adopted, and to 
 which the Mining Department undertook to give effect. Mr. J. 
 F, Sullivan, then Minister of Mines, undertook the initiation of 
 this gigantic work, when the Minister of Public Works positively 
 refused to have anything to do with it, on the ground that it 
 would cost five times the amount which was set down m the 
 specifications. But Mr. Sullivan knew that much depended upon 
 the starting of the work, and that when once in progress 
 successive Governments would be certain to carry it out to its 
 completion. 
 
 The Coliban Water Scheme excited some attention during 
 
 February, 1864. A conference of the heads of public bodies of 
 
 the various districts interested in carrying it out, was held at the 
 
 Town Hall on the 15th, another conference having been held 
 
 previously in Castlemaine. Bendigo was represented by the 
 
 Mayor, Mr. J- M'Intyre (in the chair) ; Mr. Letheby (Mayor of 
 
 Eaglehawk), and Mr. Smith, of the Mining Board. Mr. Casey 
 
 was also present. A lengthy report was brought up and adopted, 
 
 and a deputation, representing the districts concerned, waited on 
 
 the Government and stated that the combined revenues would 
 
 amount to ;^ 100, 000. A promise was made that the Coliban 
 
 Scheme would be one of the first undertaken by the Government. 
 
 The prolonged dry weather, early in 1865, made water very 
 
 scarce in Eaglehawk, and it had to be carted from Bendigo for 
 
 domestic use. The charge, per load, to Sailors' Ciully, was eight 
 
 shillings. The question of water supply became a very serious 
 
 consideration, and the delay of the Government in connection 
 
 with the Coliban was strongly condemned. The following 
 
 committee was appointed to agitate the question until the object 
 
 sought for was attained : — -The members of the Borough Council
 
 MR. SULLIVAN AND THE COLIBAN SCHEME. 135 
 
 and Mining Board, and Messrs. G. Vallentine, T. J. Connelly, 
 A. Bayne, J. T. Saunders, W. D. C Denovan, A. Mackay, G. A. 
 Fletcher, J. Ryan, J. Hosking, J. Britten, J. Holdsworth, Dr. 
 Wall, H. Koch, R. Strickland, J- Robinson, J. Burnside, J. White, 
 R. Carr, J. Millin, J. Latham, H. M'Coll and M. Leeds. 
 Mr. M'CoU was subsequently appointed Secretary to the Com- 
 mittee. Public meetings were held, and these were followed up 
 by one of the most influential deputations that had ever waited 
 on the Government, to ascertain what its intentions were with 
 regard to the question. The deputation succeeded in obtaining 
 a promise that until the question was settled Parliament should 
 not be prorogued, and further, that if a larger sum than 
 ;^5oo,ooo, which it was intended to raise for water supply, were 
 needed, an application would be made to Parliament. 
 
 In July, 1866, several changes occurred in the Ministry, one of 
 them being the resignation by Mr. J. F. Sullivan of the position 
 of Minister of Mines. Mr. Sullivan had carried through Parlia- 
 ment the Coliban Water Scheme, and it was unfortunate that he 
 should have retired from office at a time when his services might 
 have been of most advantage to the Bendigo district in having 
 that scheme pushed on to completion. As it was, the work 
 flagged, and its completion seemed very problematical till the 
 advent to office, four years later, of Mr. Mackay, who was not 
 at this time in Parliament. 
 
 There was no scarcity of water at the close of 1866, and no 
 fear of any. However, to ensure the district against future 
 droughts, the Government was going on with the Coliban 
 Scheme and the subsidiary works in connection with it. 
 Amongst these was the Spring Gully reservoir, the formation of 
 which had been pushed forward with commendable alacrity since 
 the letting of the contract. This reservoir was calculated to hold 
 200,000,000 gallons of water, and was expected to supply the 
 Bendigo Valley, White Hills, Epsom, Pottery Flat, Huntly, and 
 Goornong. 
 
 On Mr. Mackay's acceptance of office as Minister of Mines in 
 the M'Culloch Government of 1870. it was expected an earnest 
 effort would be made to complete the scheme, and he was 
 returned to Parliament without opposition. At this time, the 
 question of water supply was quite the question of the day. and 
 both the Sandhurst and Eaglehawk Councils were again bestirring
 
 136 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 themselves to urge on the Government the necessity for com- 
 pleting the works. Mr. Mackay was out of office in July, 187 1, 
 and the City Council decided on making arrangements for 
 the purchase of the Bendigo Water Works. A Bill was brought 
 into Parliament to enable the Council to borrow money, on 
 debentures guaranteed by the Government, sufficient to purchase 
 the Company's Works — the amount to be paid being about 
 ^^40,000. The Council expected, by this means, to be 
 able to supply the town with water independent of the 
 Coliban Scheme, which seemed as far off completion as 
 ever. In February, 1872, the City Council, having purchased 
 the Bendigo Water Works, decided to negotiate a loan of 
 ;^ioo,ooo, for the purpose of carrying out the local scheme. 
 The money was to be borrowed for ten years, and the Council 
 offered six per cent, per annum interest, payable half-yearly. 
 Mr. Brady, late engineer-in-chief to the Queensland Government, 
 selected the site at Robinson Crusoe Gully for a new reservoir, 
 the proposed storage capacity of which was as follows : — Capacity 
 for storage, 338,000,000 of gallons; area of water surface, eighty- 
 six acres ; area of reserve, 138 acres ; greatest length of reservoir, 
 924 yards; greatest breadth, 880 yards; length of dam, 760 
 yards ; greatest height, forty-eight feet ; top width of dam, twelve 
 feet ; inner slope, three to one ; outer slope, two to one ; inner 
 slope to be covered with broken stone ; two by-washes, each 100 
 feet wide; earthwork in dam, 271,000 cubic yards; height of 
 water level above Pall Mall, 240 feet ; level of outlet of syphon, 
 204 feet ; length of eighteen-inch main, six miles ; intended daily 
 supply, 1,000,000 gallons. In July, the tender of Messrs. 
 Fishbourne and Morton, of Ballarat, was accepted at ;!^2o,376 
 15s. lod. 
 
 The ceremony of inaugurating the works took place on the 17th 
 August, 1872, at the site in Crusoe, in the presence of a goodly 
 company of ladies and gentlemen from Bendigo and the neigh- 
 bouring country. The ceremony was performed by the Mayoress 
 (Mrs. Macdougall). 
 
 After this the City Council took up a position of strong 
 antagonism to the Coliban Scheme, and Mr. Mackay's efforts to 
 ensure its completion were to a great extent nullified by this 
 vexatious action of the City Fathers. He already had to 
 encounter the opposition of a section of the Press, and had to
 
 THE CRUSOE RESERVOIR. 137 
 
 fight a battle with his colleagues in the Ministry in addition ; and 
 with a man differently constituted, the Council's antagonism 
 might have proved the last straw. The City Council decided, by 
 a majority of five to two, to protest against the completion of the 
 Bendigo section of the Coliban Scheme. In November, public 
 meetings were held throughout the Bendigo district, protesting 
 against this action of the City Council. The result was that the 
 Council backed down from the position it had taken up, the 
 Mayor (Councillor Macdougall), who had been one of the leading 
 spirits in protesting against the completion of the Works, being 
 the proposer of the resolution that the protest be withdrawn. 
 
 The Crusoe reservoir was completed on the 24th April, 1873. 
 The embankment, which contains 271,000 cubic yards of earth- 
 work, is larger than the Malmsbury embankment, and nearly as 
 large as that of the Yan Yean, which is the greatest in the 
 colony. The syphon is a clever piece of workmanship — it is 
 taken through the hill, and the pipes are jointed together and 
 built in brickwork. The pipes are eighteen inches in diameter, 
 and, altogether, the column is about 1,600 feet in length, and 
 holds, when full, 6,00c gallons of water. It may be filled or 
 emptied by means of a man-hole, which is fixed at the highest 
 point of the column, where it runs horizontally for a short 
 distance, and the supply of water is regulated by two splendid 
 valves, which are situated at the outer end of the line of pipes, 
 and they are enclosed in a brick building. They are drawn up 
 or lowered by a screw ; to this is attached a wheel, which can be 
 worked with the utmost facility. Messrs. Fishbourne, Morton 
 and Kennedy were the contractors who carried out the reservoir. 
 The total amount of contract for the embankment was ^22,000, 
 but this was not half the cost of the whole work. On the 23rd 
 April, the Mayor and most of the members of the Council visited 
 the reservoir to recognise the fact of its completion, and after 
 inspecting the works, accompanied by Mr. Brady, the engineer in 
 charge, the company proceeded to the valve room, and the 
 Mayor, in presence of the Water Committee, opened the two 
 valves — first the fire valve, and then the supply valve — both of 
 which were found to work satisfactorily, the pressure of water 
 being magnificent. It was proposed by the Council to extend the 
 service mains all over Bendigo upon the introduction of water 
 into the city. It was proved that, by actual survey, the reservoir
 
 138 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 occupies a sufficient elevation to force the water to the highest 
 point within the boundaries of the city, it being over thirty feet 
 above View Street. Mr. Brady considered the watershed of the 
 Crusoe reservoir one of the best and most extensive in Bendigo, 
 including many square miles of clean, grassy, hilly ranges, com- 
 prising the whole of the Bendigo Waterworks' Reserve, extending 
 to the head of Sheepwash, and embracing part of the drainage of 
 the eastern belt of the Mount Alexander Ranges. 
 
 The month of July, 1873, saw the close of a long and 
 protracted series of negotiations between the Government and the 
 City Council for the sale of the Bendigo Waterworks' property, 
 and it was generally conceded to be a very satisfactory termina- 
 tion and solution of a difficulty which had been the cause of 
 many controversies. The Council was entitled to this amount of 
 credit and congratulation— that from the time it purchased the 
 Works from the Company, very few complaints had been made of 
 its administration and management of the somewhat extensive 
 affairs of the Works ; in addition to this, the Council had 
 displayed considerable energy, to say nothing of enterprise, in 
 inaugurating a local scheme of water supply, in the carrying out 
 of which it succeeded in making substantial progress from the 
 commencement of its possession till the conclusion of the sale. 
 A reservoir — the largest in this part of the country — had been 
 completed at a cost of;^25,ooo. The settling ponds were in 
 an advanced stage towards completion, and they were to cost 
 ^12,000. ;^24,ooo worth of cast iron eighteen-inch pipes had 
 been imported from England, and were in course of delivery, and 
 a contract for laying them to Bendigo had been let, while another 
 contract had been let for the supply of service pipes. The 
 negotiations were closed on Saturday, 29th June, 1873. The 
 auditors appointed by the Government showed that the total 
 value of the property, with its improvements and liabilities, was 
 ;;/!^io6,2o8, and, with ^40,000 advanced already to the Council, 
 on account, and the ^60,000 worth of debentures issued, and 
 taken over by the Government, there was a sum of ;^6,2o8 
 owing to the Council, which sum was handed over, by cheque, on 
 the I St July. 
 
 When Mr. Mackay joined the Francis Government, in 1872, 
 there was a distinct understanding between him and his colleagues 
 that the Coliban Water Scheme should be carried out in its
 
 MR. MACKAY AND THE COLIBAN SCHEME. 139 
 
 integrity, in fact, but for that gentleman's desires in regard to 
 water supply and national education, he would not have become 
 a member of the Cabinet at all. 
 
 Prior to Mr. Mackay's acceptance of office, operations in 
 connection with the Coliban had been stopped, in consequence 
 of the failure of several important works, and the want of con- 
 fidence felt by successive Governments in the engineers. When 
 Mr. Mackay was first in office, he placed on record a memo- 
 randum to the effect that the services of a first-class engineer 
 should be obtained. The Ministry of 1870-71 went out before 
 the suggestion could be carried out, but Mr. Mackay's successor, 
 Mr. M'Lellan adopted it, and Mr. Gordon arrived from India in 
 1872. Up to June, 1872, Mr. Gordon had been employed 
 almost exclusively in the survey and re-survey of the line of 
 channel. The works were then, after twelve months' exposure to 
 all sorts of weather in an unfinished state, in a condition 
 demanding the expenditure of much money and a vast amount of 
 labour, to restore them even to the condition in which they were 
 when they had been temporarily abandoned. The Malmsbury 
 dam had failed — ^the outlet works leaked — and one of Mr. 
 Gordon's first acts was to put these in a state of thorough repair. 
 He afterwards cleared out and completed the channel to Castle- 
 maine, and by the year 1874 the Department had to construct the 
 channel in the Bendigo district for a distance of only about fifteen 
 miles between Bendigo and Castlemaine. After the local works 
 were taken over by the Government, and before 1874, the Crusoe 
 reservoir and its settling ponds were completed, and the pipes had 
 been laid nearly to Eaglehawk. By the purchase of the Bendigo 
 Waterworks, the Government had been put in a position to 
 complete the scheme, and to carry the Coliban water to the 
 districts outside the city. Mr. Mackay was in office on this 
 occasion for three years (1872 to 1875), and the progress made 
 during that time was very great. The expenditure on the 
 scheme amounted to between ;^2oo,ooo and ^300,000. But 
 few people have a conception of the vastness of the works, the 
 miles of excavation, the bridges, the culverts, the flumes, the 
 cuttings through rock, and the tunnels driven through granite. 
 Of these there are five, most of them taken through hills com- 
 posed of solid granite. Much money had been wasted on the 
 works in previous years by incompetence and mismanagement.
 
 140 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 It is interesting, in view of the complaint that the works do not 
 pay interest on the outlay, to quote from a speech delivered by 
 Mr. ^lackay, at the general election of 1874. After referring to 
 the prospect of its early completion, Mr. Mackay said, " Even the 
 Treasurer, Mr. Langton, who had long been sceptical, had been 
 almost brought round to the opinion that the Coliban Water 
 Scheme would be reproductive, and pay interest — not the interest, 
 be it understood, upon the money actually expended and wasted, 
 but interest upon a fair valuation." 
 
 We now come to the completion of the Coliban scheme, 
 and the opening of the valves, which allowed the water to flow 
 towards Bendigo and Castlemaine. It was a small party that 
 participated in that event, and Mr. Mackay, then out of office, 
 was the most prominent figure. It was a proud moment to 
 him — and well it might be — when he and Mrs. J. B. Henderson 
 together opened the valve. This was on the 19th November, 
 1877, and on the 25th of the same month the water was running 
 into the Crusoe Reservoir. Mrs. Henderson was the wife of 
 the engineer under whose supervision the Bendigo section of 
 the channel had been for several years. Mr. Henderson felt 
 that the honour of putting the finishing touch upon this great 
 work, belonged to Mr. Mackay, and his omission to inform 
 the Department and allow Major Smith, the then Minister, to 
 turn the water on, was remembered against him. Two months 
 afterwards he appeared amongst the Black Wednesday victims. 
 But Mr. Henderson was not a loser, for he now holds the 
 position of Chief Hydraulic Engineer to the Queensland 
 Government, in which he has earned honourable distinction. 
 Mr. Henderson was a very old Bendigonian, having arrived 
 in Bendigo in 1851. He worked as a digger on Bendigo Flat, 
 and was one of the first, if not the first, to dig in the famous 
 Back Creek. 
 
 In our necessarily brief review of the events which led up 
 to the notable occasion just referred to, we have endeavoured 
 to "give honour where honour is due." We have mentioned 
 the services rendered by various gentlemen in connection with 
 the movement ; but it seems to us only right before closing to 
 give the names of those who rendered special aid. Besides 
 Messrs. James Forrester Sullivan and Angus Mackay, who bore 
 the brunt of the battle, we must mention Messrs. R. Burrowes,
 
 COMPLETION OF THE COLIBAN SCHEME. 
 
 141 
 
 J. J. Casey, W. D. C. Denovan, R. F. Howard, R. Strickland, 
 Thompson Moore, Captain Smith, Dr. McAdam, Messrs. Farrell, 
 Smith and Patterson, who, as Members of Parliament and private 
 citizens, did good work, and also Messrs. Saunders, Urquhart, 
 C. Mackenzie, A. Bayne, Colonel Bull, Messrs. R. Andrews, 
 J. Mclntyre, Hugh McColl (who acted as Secretary to the 
 movement), L. MacLachlan, G. Vallentine, G. A. Fletcher, 
 Cohn Bros., D. Macdougall, J. Holmes, Bissill, J. H. Abbott, 
 John Stewart, J. Woodward, G. Aspinall, R. Clark, H. Hattam, 
 fas. Moore, J. E. Wall, W. Gunn, J. Holdsworth, W. Heffernan, 
 J. Crowley, A. Bannerman, W. Shiress, R. Carr, M. Moran, 
 T. Buick, C. Ross, and many others. Mr. Shiress was an analytical 
 chemist who enjoyed a high reputation. 
 
 Since 1877, the waters of the Coliban have been placed within 
 reach of the residents of a large district to the north and west 
 of Bendigo, and the service in the city itself has been 
 improved by the laying down of larger mains, which were 
 necessitated by the increased consumption of the water for 
 raining and domestic purposes, and the scarcity of water on 
 the high levels during the summer months. In securing these 
 improvements and extensions, the Members of Parliament for 
 the city and district, and the members of the city, Eaglehawk 
 and Shire Councils have borne an equal share of the work.
 
 142 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Journalism. 
 
 "The liberty of the Press is the true measure of the liberty of the people." 
 
 — lileyciet: 
 
 1853-91. — The First Newspapers — Journalists in the Past — Mr. R. R. Haver- 
 field — Mr. R. Andrews — Mr. G. E. Thomson. 
 
 ^HE first newspaper established in connection with the 
 goldfields was the Diggers' Advocate, which was pub- 
 hshed in Melbourne. Messrs. J. H. Abbott and G. E. 
 Thomson were connected with this journal, first 
 issued in the early part of November, 1853. The 
 first paper printed and published on Bendigo, or, indeed, on any 
 of the goldfields of the colony, was the Bendigo Advertiser, the 
 first number of which was issued on the 9th December, 1553, by 
 Messrs. R. R. Haverfield and A. M. Lloyd. The Advertiser and 
 the Advocate were both diminutive productions at first, but only a 
 few weeks elapsed before they came out in enlarged form. The 
 Bendigo Times was started early in 1854, by Messrs. Cook and 
 Sherbon, but neither it nor the Advocate had a long career. In 
 May, 1855, the Advertiser became the property of Messrs. 
 Mackay, Casey and Henderson, trading as Mackay and Co. Mr. 
 Henderson was not long connected with the firm, and, in 1867, 
 Mr. Casey's share was purchased by Mr. David Stuart. The 
 latter, who was a much respected citizen, died in 1874. The 
 paper is now carried on by the sons of the late Mr. A. Mackay. 
 The Advertiser has been published as a daily paper since April, 
 1856. In this year the Courier of the Mines was started by a 
 co-operative company of compositors, iJut it only lived for a few 
 months. The Mercury rose from the ashes of the Courier, and 
 lasted till i860, in which year two other short-lived journals
 
 THE RIVAL EDITORS. 148 
 
 first appeared, namely, the Mining Jourtial and the Bee. In 
 1 86 1, i\\Q Evening News, published by Mr. J. M. Harcourt, was 
 first issued, and on the ist January, 1862, the Independent, nOw 
 published by Mr. J. G. Edwards, first saw the light of day. The 
 Evening Star, published in later years, was destined to give light 
 for a brief space of time, and was eventually incorporated with the 
 Neivs. In August, 1891, the Neit-s became the property of 
 Messrs. Cramer, Brennan and Co., and is now issued as the 
 Evening Exchange. In the years 1853 and 1854, there were 
 several notable Press writers, who also played no small part in the 
 movement for the enfranchisement of the diggers and the redress 
 of their grievances. In this movement signal service was rendered 
 by Mr. G. E. Thomson, connected with the Advocate, Mr. R. R. 
 Haverfield, who edited the Advertiser, Mr. Angus Mackay, the 
 local correspondent of the Argus, and Mr. Edmund Harrison, 
 local correspondent of the Herald. Mr. Haverfield, at a subse- 
 quent stage, edited the Courier of the Mines, and when the 
 Mercury was established, Mr. Richard Andrews became its editor 
 at the same time that Mr. Haverfield was editing the Advertiser. 
 The accommodation provided in those days was not of the best 
 description, and Mr. Andrews and Mr. Haverfield, for weeks 
 together, wrote their articles for the rival papers, in the same 
 room, at the same table, dipping their pens in the same ink bottle. 
 At the time there was a fierce newspaper warfare, and ever 
 and anon, as the two editors, thinking how they should word 
 some extra deadly thrusts, looked up, their eyes met. Mr. 
 Haverfield and Mr. Andrews were often in the street together 
 in the daytime, and people who were surprised to see them so 
 friendly, would, no doubt, have devoted much of their time to 
 thought, had they seen the same two at night, concocting those 
 venomous articles. Mr. Haverfield was frequently absent from 
 Bendigo after this, at one time for many years. The editing of 
 the Advertiser was chiefly undertaken by Mr. Mackay, until, in 
 1868, he entered the political arena. Mr. Edmund Harrison, 
 after severing his connection with the Herald, was connected 
 with the Advertiser, and, with Mr. J. B. Thompson, did a large 
 share of editorial work. Amongst editors of the Independent may 
 be mentioned Mr. J. M. Lynch and Mr. E. Banks, and of the 
 Evening News, Mr. W. D. C. Denovan. Amongst hosts of others 
 connected with the Press in the earlier days in other capacities
 
 144 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 than that of editorial writing were Mr. S. W. Viney, Mr. 
 John Glen, Mr. Charles M'Kenzie, Mr. Harry Collier, Mr. 
 Richardson Rae, Mr. C. H. Collier (now deceased), and Mr. 
 Robert Mackie (now deceased), who were engaged in literary 
 work. Amongst those engaged in mechanical work were Messrs. 
 Neligan, John Hechle, B. Farjeon (now a celebrated novelist), 
 R. B. Slobom, J. Anderson, Maurice Moran, T. Wilton, Augustus 
 Mackay and T. Hellier, and in the commercial branch of news- 
 paper work were Messrs. VV. G. Blackham, E. C. Sanger, J. J. 
 Casey, George Skene, James Henderson, Joseph Henderson, and, 
 later on, Mr. J. Adams. Several of the above-mentioned are 
 still in Bendigo, engaged on the Press, or in business on 
 their own account. The career of Mr. Angus Mackay has 
 been dealt with in our chapter on politics on Bendigo. Three 
 others, whose names we have mentioned in connection with 
 journalism, Mr. Richard Andrews, Mr. G. E. Thomson, and Mr. 
 R. R. Haverfield, died in February, 1887 ; January, 1889 ; and 
 April, 1889, respectively. 
 
 Mr. Richard Andrew.s, w^ho reached the ripe old age of 
 seventy-three before he died, was one of the best known of old 
 Bendigonians. He was a digger in the earlier days, subsequently 
 a bank manager, one of the first newspaper editors, and for very 
 many years acted as Secretary to the Gas Company. The 
 Bendigo Bank, with which Mr. Andrews was connected, was 
 established by Dr. Hugh Smith and Mr. E. N. Emmett, and 
 stood near the present site of the Bank of Victoria — it was a 
 weatherboard building, with a floor of clay. The counter was 
 composed of rough pine boards, and the furniture of the building 
 consisted of scales and weights, a small iron safe, a couple of 
 stretchers, and a few other necessaries. Above each of the 
 stretchers was an old gun and a pair of ancient pistols. On the 
 sale of the Bank to the Bank of \' ictoria, Mr. Andrews went to 
 work again gold digging at the Whipstick. Subsequently he had 
 a varied newspaper experience, being manager and editor of the 
 Mercury in 1858. The office of the paper was in Williamson 
 Street, and amongst the shareholders were Messrs. Sullivan, 
 M'Intyre and W. Bannerman. Mr. Andrews' literary attainments 
 were of a very high order, and his writing was forcible and ornate. 
 Before coming to Australia he had filled high positions in the 
 Mercantile Marine service, and was the master of several foreign
 
 MR. G. E. THOMSON. 145 
 
 languages. He was second to no one in the district in his know- 
 ledge of English literature. He took part in various public 
 movements, and conducted the successful opposition to the 
 ^11, GOO loan proposed by the Council in 1868, with conspicuous 
 ability. He was Secretary to the Bendigo Gas Company from 
 1858 till shortly before his death. He was the founder of the 
 Old Bendigonians' Society, and suggested its motto, Aspice, 
 Respice, Prospice. Mr. Andrews was an author and a poet, and 
 one of his latest efforts were lines to Her Majesty the Queen, on 
 her birthday, 24th May, 1882. Mr. Andrews was in failing 
 health for some time before his death, and nearly all the old 
 vitality which distinguished him in earlier years had left him. 
 During those later years of his life, probably very few but his 
 associates of former days knew him to be the scholar and the 
 gentleman he was, and that, on the 22nd February, 1887, 
 Bendigo lost one of its foremost men, by the death of Richard 
 Andrews. 
 
 Mr. George Edward Thomson came to Bendigo in 1853, 
 just before the agitations on the goldfield had reached a height. 
 The movement in 1853 is well described in an article by 
 Mr. Thomson himself, entitled. Leaves Frotn the Diary of an 
 Old Bendigonia7i. Mr. Thomson spoke with authority, for he 
 was the leader of this movement on Bendigo in 1853. He 
 was a fluent and powerful speaker, and possessed the tact and 
 foresight so necessary in a trusted general. We have already 
 had occasion in earlier chapters to refer to Mr. Thomson's 
 connection with the anti-licensing movement, and it is not 
 necessary to enter into details here. Mr. Thomson was absent 
 from Bendigo during the movement for the total abolition of 
 the license tax, which culminated in the Eureka Stockade riots. 
 His name does not figure prominently in subsequent movements, 
 until the land question came into prominence in 1857. In July 
 of that year he and Mr. Benson were appointed the Bendigo 
 delegates to the Land Convention held in Melbourne. 
 Mr. Thomson had always held liberal views on the land 
 question, and some years before he had been successful in 
 his efforts to convert into agricultural lands for the people, the 
 pastoral land monopolised in the squatting interest by Mr. 
 Hector Norman Simpson. After periods of residence in Stawell 
 and Castlemaine, he returned to Bendigo in 1875, and became
 
 146 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 a partner of Mr. J. T. Saunders, the solicitor. Upon the death 
 ot the latter, he assumed sole control of the business, which he 
 held till his death. 
 
 Mr. Robert Ross Haverfield arrived in Sydney in 1838, and 
 subsequently came to Victoria, where he was engaged in 
 bringing mobs of cattle from Jingellac, above Albury, to 
 Melbourne, for the firm of Verner, Welch and Holloway. He 
 did similar work for Mr. Lachlan McKinnon, of Messrs. Wilson 
 and McKinnon, of the Argus, and in 1847 went into partnership 
 with Mr. Joseph Jardine, when he became acquainted with Lakes 
 Tyrrell and Hindmarsh, and the Mallee. He did a good deal 
 of exploring work until 1851, when he came to Bendigo. He 
 had seen Bendigo previous to this, however ; and in our first 
 chapter we quoted his description of the Bendigo Valley before 
 It was disfigured by the operations of the diggers. 
 
 As editor of the Advertiser, Mr. Haverfield did much to secure 
 for the digging population the rights and privileges of free men. 
 He fearlessly denounced the ofticial incapacity and tyranny of 
 the early days of the goldfields, which were almost unendurable, 
 but owing to his wise counsels and other influences, there was 
 no outbreak among the diggers of Bendigo. Mr. Haverfield 
 was the first to point out the wealth to be obtained by deep 
 sinking on the reefs, and before his death he had satisfactory 
 proof afforded him that his views were not those of a dreamer, as 
 they were pronounced to be at the time he promulgated them. 
 For some years after Mr. Haverfield established the Advertiser, 
 and his first connection with it as editor, he was engaged in a 
 good deal of exploring work. He was the first to cross from 
 Menindie on the Darling to Booligal on the Lachlan, the 
 intervening country being wholly unoccupied and waterless, and 
 also examined for Captain Cadell and Mr. Hugh Jamieson, of 
 Mildura, on the Lower Murray, the Barrier and Grey Ranges. 
 Amongst other adventurous feats of exploration was his 
 journey across from the Barrier Ranges to the far north 
 stations of South Australia. He was acquainted with Burke 
 and Wills, and acted as Secretary to the Royal Commission of 
 inquiry into the causes of their death. From 1870 till his decease, 
 Mr. Haverfield was continuously engaged as editor of the 
 Advertiser, discharging his duties with rare ability and constancy. 
 He did a good deal of literary work outside of his ordinary
 
 MR. ROBERT ROSS HAVERFIELD. 147 
 
 duties, and wrote several poems and a number of tales and 
 sketches. He contributed to several periodicals at various 
 times, and in 1884 delivered a course of lectures on his early 
 experiences in the colony and on Bendigo. 
 
 Mr. Haverfield was held in affectionate esteem by all who knew 
 him. His was a kind and generous nature, and though he had 
 occasionally to hit hard in his editorials, he never used his position 
 to gratify any private grudge. Almost from the earliest days, Mr. 
 Haverfield dealt with all questions affecting the welfare of Bendigo 
 with force and ability. From day to day he made his influence 
 felt in the material growth and social progress of the district. 
 A man who labours thus for much more than a quarter of a 
 century, must leave some record of his work ; and the impress 
 of Mr. Haverfield's pen will be found in the history of every 
 local institution, and in every progressive development of the 
 colony itself. 
 
 In Eaglehawk the Leader was carried on for several years 
 by Messrs. Gillingham Bros., and resuscitated for a brief space 
 by Messrs. Strode and Laidler. Subsequently the Standard was 
 issued for a year or two, but is now defunct. 
 
 In addition to those who have been specially mentioned in 
 connection with Bendigo journalism, many of the most prominent 
 ^Melbourne Pressmen graduated on the Bendigo newspaper staffs, 
 and Mr. G. A. Gibbs, Secretary of the Metropolitan Board of 
 Works, was originally a Bendigo newspaper reporter. 
 
 The present correspondent of the Argus is Mr. C. M. Flues. 
 Prominent as mining reporters for that journal in the past were 
 Mr. D. Moorhead and the late Mr. J. N. Macartney. The latter 
 published a useful book entitled The Bendigo Goldfields" Register, 
 and about nine years ago, Sandhurst As it PVas, and As it Is.
 
 148 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 Public Institutions, Etc. 
 
 " In records that defy the tooth of time." 
 
 — Pope. 
 
 Bendigo Hospital — Benevolent Asylum — Mechanics' Institutes — -School of 
 Mines — The Go%'ernment Offices — Town Hall — Art Gallery. 
 
 ^HE Bendigo Hospital was established in 1853. In May 
 of that year the medical men, who were unequal 
 to the task by themselves, summoned to their aid the 
 clergy and prominent residents. A canvass for sub- 
 scriptions was organised, and ;z^646 obtained, the 
 greater part of which was contributed by the storekeepers, and 
 only a fifth part by the diggers. In aid of the funds, the 
 (iovernment contributed ^500 out of the revenue, and ^400 of 
 the sum amassed from fines and fees at the police office. The 
 result of these eff^orts was that a slab and weatherboard building 
 was erected on a site between Barnard and Mackenzie Streets, 
 and the spot is yet known by old residents as Hospital Hill. The 
 first meeting was held in October, 1853, and the first board of 
 management consisted of the following gentlemen : — Rev. J. 
 (iregory, Rev. Dr. Backhaus, Rev. Mr. Raston, Rev. M. Butler, 
 Rev. Mr. Searle, Mr. L. M'Lachlan, P.M., Dr. M'Crea, Dr. 
 Tierney, Dr. Barnett, Dr. Roche, Dr. Jones, Dr. Smith, Dr. Wall, 
 Mr. Emmett, Mr. Eraser, Mr. Burrall, Mr. Garsed, Mr. Edhouse, 
 Mr. Snowden ; the honorary treasurer, Mr. John Wilkinson, gold 
 commissioner ; R. O'Connor, honorary secretary, and Wollaston, 
 assistant honorary secretary. 
 
 After the erection of the building, which cost ;^i,o78 5s., Dr. 
 Edward Hunt was appointed resident medical officer. The 
 Hospital was opened in November, the first patient being
 
 THE BENDIGO HOSPITAL. 149 
 
 admitted on the i6th. From that date to the 31st December, 
 nineteen were admitted, and, during the following year, 1854, 
 there were 148 cases admitted; during 1855, 130 cases; and 
 during 1856, 170 cases. 
 
 In September, 1858, the foundation stone of the new Hospital 
 was laid by Sir John O'Shanassy. It was completed by the close 
 of the year, and in January, 1859. the patients were removed 
 from the old building to the new. The admissions in 1858 were 
 285 ; the number discharged, cured, or relieved, 212 ; deaths, 72 ; 
 the number remaining at the close being thirty-six. The 
 Bowen wing, named after Lady Bowen, who laid the foundation 
 stone, was erected in 1873. The present resident surgeon of the 
 Hospital IS Dr. A. Colquhoun, who has given great satisfaction 
 for several years. Various improvements have been carried out 
 in connection with the institution from year to year, and the 
 grounds are tastefully laid out. Next to the ISIelbourne Hospital, 
 the institution accommodates a larger number of patients and 
 gives a greater amount of out-door relief than any hospital in the 
 colony, and on this account has a strong claim for more con- 
 sideration at the hands of the Government than it has received in 
 the past. The institution is also one of the best and most 
 economically managed in the colony. During the year ending 
 on the 30th June, 1891, the number of in-door patients treated 
 was 1,271. Of these, 1,170 were admitted, while loi remained 
 from the previous year ; 105 died. The daily average number of 
 in-patients was io9'2. 1,208 persons were treated as out-door 
 patients on 5,548 occasions. The total sum to the credit of the 
 endowment fund was ;^7,2 39, two-thirds of which was donated 
 by Mr. George Lansell. Private contributions during the year 
 amounted to ^^1,029, and the Government grant to ;!^4,75o. 
 The following have been the principal office-bearers of the 
 Hospital since it was founded : — Presidents — Messrs. D. 
 M'Dougall (five times), J. Burnside (twice), J. M'Intyre (three 
 times), J. H. Inglis, D. Macdougall, A. Bayne, J. B. Loridan, 
 D. Stuart, A. Thunder, J. Cooper, P. Hayes (twice), J. H. 
 Abbott (twice), M. Cohn, H. Trumble, J. Buckley, J. Stewart, 
 G. F. Hunter (twice), W. G. Jackson (three times), K. Van 
 Damme (three times), A. Joseph (twice), and J. R. Hoskins. 
 Treasurer — Messrs. J. Wilkinson, W. Bannerman (twelve years), 
 J. Stewart (ten years), R. F. Howard (four years), K. Van
 
 150 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Damme (four years), and S. H. M'Gowan, (six years). Hon. 
 Secretary — Messrs. R. O'Connor, A. Reeve, E. Garsed, A. 
 Langston, J. M'Intyre, C. Caldwell, D. Macdougall, J. W. Towns- 
 end, A. Reeve, A. E. Moore, J. A. ^Voodward, and A. Thunder. 
 Resident Surgeon — Drs. E. Hunt (two years), J. Stuart (three 
 years). J. Barlas, H. L. Atkinson (two years), P. H. MacGillivray 
 (eleven years), E. Hinchcliff (six years), J. H. Poland, and A. 
 Colquhoun (eleven years). 
 
 A meeting of the promoters of the Benevolent Asylum was 
 held on the 19th October, 1857. Messrs. Harris, Mackay and 
 MacPherson were elected trustees ; Mr. J. F. Sullivan, president ; 
 Messrs. J. J. Casey and F. C. Standish, vice-presidents ; Mr. 
 Vallentine, treasurer ; Mr. J. D. O'Keefe, hon. secretary, and the 
 following gentlemen as a committee of management : — Messrs. 
 Peerman, Mackay, Abbott, N. Harker, W. Bannerman, Gibson, 
 Skinner, Macord, O'Loughlin, Grove, H. Jackson, Ganley, Car- 
 penter, Gunn, Ballerstedt, jun., Strickland, Burnside, Swift, 
 Elliott, Ronald, J. Skene, Symonds, J. W. Dunbar, and Dr. 
 Callan. No start had then been made with the erection of the 
 building, but the Government had made the necessary grant of 
 land, viz., fifteen acres. 
 
 The building which now stands on this site has cost, from first 
 to last, over ^20,000. It is of the Ionic order of architecture, 
 and contains beds for nearly 200 inmates. The building was 
 inaugurated in March, i860, the opening speech being delivered 
 by Mr. Sullivan. During the year ending on the 30th June, 1891, 
 the number of persons relieved indoor by the Asylum and Lying- 
 in-Hospital WdS 387, viz., 285 males, fifty-seven females, twenty- 
 three lying-in patients, and twenty-two infants. At the end of the 
 period there were remaining in the institution 181 males and 
 twenty-nine females; total, 210. The out-door relief granted to 
 the poor of the district amounted to ^'2,359. The number of 
 distributions to heads of families was 15,312, and the daily 
 average of persons relieved, 345 adults and 155 children. The 
 amount to credit of endowment fund was ^12,771. Private 
 contributions during the year amounted to ;^5o9, and the 
 (Government grant to ^4,850. Mr. J. S. M'llroy is the 
 superintendent, and Mrs. W. Dorman, matron. The following 
 have been the principal office-bearers of the Asylum since it was 
 founded : — President — Messrs. J. F. Sullivan (five times), M.
 
 mechanics' institute. 151 
 
 Samuel (twice), G. J. Pitman, J. Burnside (three times), G. 
 Aspinall (four times), P. Hayes, A. Bayne, W. Header, W. 
 Steane (twice), M. O'Brien, J. Quin, W. Hemming, J. Ellison 
 (five times), S. Herman (twice), G. Pallett (twice), E. W. Kirby 
 (three times). Treasurer — Messrs. G. Vallentine (three years), 
 J. Hasker (four years), J. C. M'Causland, J. Souttar, J. N. Jones 
 (four years), A. Williamson (seven years), M. Tolmie (four years), 
 H. N. Stewart, and Dr. James Boyd (ten years). Hon. Secretary 
 — Messrs. D. J. O'Keefe, J. Souttar, J. Boyd, J. Burnside (nine 
 years), and H. Birch (thirteen years). Mr. and Mrs. Dorman 
 were appointed superintendent and matron respectively, in 1858. 
 Mr. Dorman, who died in 1885, was succeeded by Mr. J. S. 
 M'llroy, but Mrs. Dorman remained in charge of the female 
 branch of the institution. 
 
 In addition to the work performed by the Hospital and 
 Asylum, the Eaglehawk Ladies' Benevolent Society, St. Vincent 
 de Paul's Society, and the Dorcas Society, enquire into and 
 relieve many cases of distress in the district. The management of 
 these Societies is almost exclusively in the hands of ladies, and 
 in their labours they receive the well-merited support of the 
 public. 
 
 The Mechanics' Institute was established in June, 1854, the 
 first committee being composed of the following gentlemen, 
 viz. : — Captain Berkeley (president), Messrs. Gibbs, Garnett, 
 Benson, Liddell, Panton, Lysaght, Lynch, Reynell, Burall, 
 Garsed, Frazer, Skinner, Fenton, Walker, Littleton, Dr. Tierney, 
 Dr. Roche, Dr. Allison, Dr. Smith, the Revs. Dr. Backhaus, 
 Raston, Butler, J. H. Gregory (secretary), and Mr. Vallentine 
 (treasurer). The Institute was not opened till the 5th August, 
 1856, when the inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Owens, 
 M.L.C. In 1862 the Committee undertook a number of im- 
 provements. The Institution at this time consisted of about 
 400 members. Its attractiveness had, a short time previously, 
 been materially strengthened by the very valuable geological 
 collection of the late Dr. Hutchinson, which, together with the 
 handsome gift of a similar description sent from England by Mr. 
 J. A. Panton, and other contributions of natural curiosities, 
 already formed a museum of interest to the student and savant. 
 The foundation stone of the new Institute was laid on the 
 2ist July, 1864, in the presence of a large audience. The
 
 152 HISTORY OF EENDIGO. 
 
 ceremony was performed by Mr. F. C. Standish, the highest 
 dignitary in the Brotherhood of Masons in the colony. Many 
 improvements and additions have since been made to the 
 building, the most recent of which is the new library, octagon- 
 shaped, all of which have tended to make the Institute not only 
 one of the finest buildings in the district, but one of the best 
 institutions of its kind in the colonies. The library contains 
 15,000 volumes, and in the reading-rooms may be found a 
 splendid assortment of colonial and foreign newspapers and 
 periodicals. Mr. Sanger is the present secretary. The following 
 gentlemen have occupied the President's chair in connection with 
 the Mechanics' Institute : — Captain Berkeley, Messrs. J. F. Sullivan 
 (twice), A. Reeve, J. H. O'Loughlin (twice), E. Garsed (three 
 times), G. Vallentine, Dr. Atkinson, Messrs. J. Burnside, A. 
 Mackay, D. Macdougall, A. Bayne (four times), A. E. Moore, 
 C. Ross (twice), R. Clark, P. Hayes, J. T. Moffitt, I. E. Dyason, 
 J. Anderson, J. Hosking, E. Hinchcliff, G. Young, T. J. Connelly, 
 I). G. Coope, C. Cohen, J. G. Oliphant, Dr. H. Boyd, Messrs. 
 T. Scott, J. B. Young, Rev. J. Garlick. Mr. Marshall was the 
 first Secretary, his various successors being Messrs. Grimley, 
 Phillips, Smyth, Coburn, D. T. Rogers, and Sanger. Mr. R. 
 Whiteside is the present Treasurer. 
 
 On the 1 8th May, 1868, a public meeting was held at the 
 Town Hall, Eaglehawk, for the purpose of taking steps to 
 establish a Free Public Library in the Borough. The meeting 
 was presided over by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Williams), and the 
 following committee was formed to take the initiatory steps : — 
 Messrs. Hornbuckle, Cook, Fester, Caldwell, Eyre, J- Hay, W. 
 Murdock, Dogherty and Froggatt, with Mr. Ellis as honorary 
 secretary. The Library now contains 2000 volumes. Besides this 
 Institute and the Sandhurst Mechanics', there are also the Long 
 Gully Mechanics', the Golden Square Working Men's Club, the 
 California Gully Mechanics' Institute (opened in 1883), and the 
 Temperance Free l>ibrary. 
 
 The movement for the establishment of a School of Mines on 
 Bendigo was originated in 1871 by the Committee of the 
 Mechanics' Institute, on the motion of Mr. Joseph Anderson, the 
 vice-president. On the 8th March, 187 1, the president of the 
 Mechanics' Institute, Mr. Charles Ross, and Messrs. Burrowes, 
 Kennedy, Steane, Garsed, Craig and Blanch were appointed a
 
 THE SCHOOL OF IMINES. 153 
 
 sub-committee, to consider and report on the best way of estab- 
 lishing the School, and, on the i8th December, the tender of Mr. 
 George Adams, for alterations and additions to the building, 
 including those portions of the Institute since used by the School, 
 was accepted, the amount being ^1,275. During the time that 
 these preparations were being made, a School of Design had been 
 established, and subsequently incorporated with the School of 
 Mines. On the 6th May, 1872, a scheme of management for the 
 proposed School of Mines, which was the basis of the present 
 constitution, was drawn up and adopted, and, on 3rd June, it was 
 approved of by the Government, and a grant of ;^5oo forwarded. 
 On the same date the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute 
 decided that the specimens belonging to the Institute should be 
 transferred to the room intended for the School of Mines 
 museum. The first meeting of the General Council was held on 
 the nth December, 1872, when the first Administrative Council 
 was elected. The members chosen were : — President, Mr. A. 
 Mackay ; vice-president, His Honor Judge Dunne ; treasurer, 
 Mr. A. Bayne ; members of Council, Dr. MacGillivray, and 
 Messrs. J. M'Intyre, S. G. Cole, C. Ross, J. A. Woodward and 
 G. R. B. Steane. The School was opened on the 21st April, 
 1873. During the next three years, the School continued to 
 make steady progress, additional teachers being appointed from 
 time to time. Laboratories were built and fitted with appliances, 
 and, although the period was one of great depression in mining 
 generally, and particularly on Bendigo, the work went steadily on, 
 and the usefulness of the School was appreciated. Since Mr. Mica 
 Smith, who was the first lecturer on metallurgy and assaying, and 
 registrar, the following gentlemen have been Directors of the 
 School, viz. : — Messrs. Pitman, Brough Smyth and J. B. L. 
 Mackay. Since Mr. Mackay's appointment, Mr. D. Moorhead 
 has been registrar, and at the beginning of the present year, 
 1 89 1, the directorship was abolished, and Mr. Mackay 
 appointed as lecturer. The teaching staff" for the year 1891 is as 
 follows : — Lecturer on geology, mineralogy, botany and zoology, 
 Mr. J. B. L. Mackay ; lecturer on chemistry and metallurgy, Mr. 
 A. Hamann ; mathematics, mechanics, surveying, and mine 
 management, vacant ; mechanical and architectural drawing, 
 practical geometry, machine and building construction, Mr. W. 
 H. E. Nicolai, C.E. ; general drawing, painting and design, Mr,
 
 154 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 H. Fegan ; model drawing from life, Mr. C. G. Darvall ; 
 metal working, carpentry and turning, Mr, E. Moore ; French, 
 German and Latin, Mr. J. A. Markert ; telegraphy, Mr. G. 
 H. Matear ; shorthand, Mr. M. J. Moran ; elocution, Mr. 
 J. E. Lupton. Some seven or eight years ago new class- 
 rooms were erected, and in 1890 it was found necessary to make 
 further additions. The new premises, which adjoin the 
 Mechanics' Institute, are surmounted by a tower, and include a 
 splendid lecture hall, in addition to several class-rooms. In 1889, 
 761 pupils were attending the School, and of that number 311 
 received instruction in scientific mining ; 308 in art subjects ; 
 thirty-one in industrial subjects ; and in in extra subjects, 
 making a total of 761, as against 628 in 1888. Of the first 
 Administrative Council, Dr. McGillivray and Mr. A. Bayne are 
 still active members, both having occupied the President's chair 
 in several consecutive years. In addition to others already 
 mentioned, Mr. Robert Carr, who has always been prominently 
 identified with the mining industry, Messrs. R.Williams, C. Roeder, 
 John Robshaw, J. H. Abbott, R. Jackson, C. Cohen, W. C. 
 Vahland, J. Cohn, J. Delbridge, R. J. Liddell, the Rev. J. Garlick, 
 and Drs. Quick, H. Boyd, and O. Penfold have taken a warm 
 interest in the institution. 
 
 The foundation stone of the Public Buildings was laid in 1883 
 by Sir Henry Loch, who, in his speech on the occasion, said it 
 was a curious coincidence that about thirty years ago he was 
 standing on the very same ground on which he was laying the 
 memorial stone, when he was the guest of Mr. Wright, gold com- 
 missioner. Great changes had taken place since that day, when 
 that ground, now known as Rosalind Park, was known as the camp 
 enclosure of old Bendigo. 
 
 The Public Buildings, which include the Post and Telegraph 
 and other Government Offices, were opened in 1887, having 
 occupied some five years in erection. The building has a 
 frontage of 155 feet to Pall Mall, and a depth of 100 feet, and the 
 tower is 142 feet high. The offices are described as the hand- 
 somest and most complete in the colony ; the clock is furnished 
 with Winchester chimes. The building cost ^50,000, and a 
 commencement has been made with the erection of Law Courts 
 adjoining, which will be after the same design as the Public 
 Offices.
 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 J 
 
 QQ 
 D 
 
 Oh 
 
 Q 
 Z 
 
 h 
 
 O
 
 THE ART GALLERY. 155 
 
 The Town Hall has been referred to in our chapter on 
 Municipal Government. It is a very fine building ; the general 
 design is in the style of the Italian Renaissance, and three of the 
 corners are surmounted by towers — one 120 feet high. The 
 large hall is very tastefully decorated. The entire cost of the 
 Town Hall has been ^30,000. 
 
 The most recent addition to our Public Institutions is the Fine 
 Art Gallery, opened by Lord Hopetoun in October, 1890. The 
 building contains a truly magnificent collection of paintings, by 
 British and Colonial artists. The principal of these are, " Too 
 Late,'' the "Horse Fair," "Ulysses and Diomed capturing the 
 horses of Rhesus, King of Thrace," "The Last Watch," and 
 "Forgiven." The last-named was presented by Mr. W. I. Winter- 
 Irving, who has also been the generous donor of a piece of 
 Italian statuary and other fine works of art. Among other 
 gentlemen who have taken a warm interest in the establishment 
 of the Gallery may be mentioned Mr. Jacob Cohn, Mr. J, W. 
 Rymer, Mr. W. Davis, Mr. E. W. Kirby, and the late Mr. ^^^ 
 Rae. In addition to the aid of numerous citizens, the 
 Government has assisted the Institution by handsome grants. In 
 January, 1891, the Gallery contained 112 oil-paintings.
 
 156 • HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Public Institutions, Etc. — (Continued. ) 
 
 " To be truly and really independent, is to support ourselves by our own exertions. 
 
 — Porter. 
 
 Agricultural Society — Gas Company — .Scholastic — Fire Brigades — Masonic 
 and other Halls — Banks — The Medical and Legal Professions — 
 Judges, Magistrates, Clerks and Coroners — The Miners' Association, 
 Australian Natives', and Friendly Societies Generally — Building Societies 
 — The Volunteers, Cavalry, and Militia. 
 
 ^N the 15th February, 1859, a preliminary meeting was 
 held for the formation of the Bendigo Agricultural and 
 Horticultural Society, and in April the first annual 
 general meeting of the Society took place at the 
 Shamrock Hotel, Mr. J. F. Sullivan being in the 
 chair. The following Office-bearers were elected : — President, 
 Dr. Rowe ; Vice-presidents, ]\Iessrs. Ganley and Mouat ; 
 Treasurer, Mr. Harney ; Secretary, Mr. Townsend ; Committee, 
 Messrs. Kerr, Sullivan, Campbell, Rayment, Gay, Hocking, 
 Bladier, Coghill, Carr, Smith, Burne, Mathieson, Mclntyre, 
 J. Williams, Kilgour, Warren, Heffernan, Jackson, Deehan, 
 Holmes, Masden, Sorley, Robins, and Matthews. The first 
 Agricultural and Horticultural Exhibition under the auspices 
 of the local Society was held on the 19th March, 1863, in a 
 temporary building erected in the Reserve. Since then, annual 
 shows have been held by the Society, and the best evidence 
 of the progress it has made is to be found in the fact that 
 the shows of late years have been the most successful, from 
 every point of view, held under its auspices. Much of the 
 success of the Society is due to the interest taken in it by 
 the indefatigable Secretarj', Mr. H. M. Marks. The Show 
 
 \
 
 THE GAS COMPANY. 157 
 
 Grounds have been greatly improved of late years, and not 
 only contain excellent facilities for the exhibition of i)roduce 
 and live stock, but also for trials of hunters, and other equestrian 
 exercises. There is also a Bendigo Vine and Fruit Growers' 
 Association, and an Eaglehawk Horticultural Society. Though 
 as yet practically in its infancy, the latter promises to become 
 a very popular organization. 
 
 The Bendigo Gas Company was established in July, 1859, 
 the following gentlemen being the first Directors : — Messrs. 
 J. F. Sullivan, H. Jackson, J. J. Casey, N. Harker, R. Burrowes 
 and G. Brodie. On the 31st March, i860, the first supply 
 of gas was tested at the mains at View Point, High Street 
 and Hargreaves Street, the light being described as of great 
 brilliancy, and in April the leading business establishments 
 were lighted by gas for the first time. The supply was produced 
 by means of six retorts and one small holder. The coal had 
 to be carted all the way from Melbourne, and the price of 
 gas was consequently very high — forty-five shillings per 1000 
 cubic feet. The first year's consumption amounted to only 
 2,500,000 cubic feet. In 1863 the price was reduced to 
 thirty-five shillings, and in 1864 to thirty shillings. In 1866 
 the Company extended its mains to Long Gully, California 
 Gully and Eaglehawk. Further reductions m price were made 
 in 1867, 1870, 1873 S"d 1877, the price in the last-mentioned 
 year being twelve shillings and sixpence. In 1888 the price 
 was reduced to eight shillings and fourpence. The consumption 
 of gas during the year 1890 amounted to 38,500,000 cubic 
 feet. The working plant has been ' kept fairly abreast of the 
 times, the Directors taking advantage of the various improve- 
 ments in the manufacture and purification of gas perfected by 
 various gas engineers. Over forty miles of gas mains have been 
 laid ; 2,000 meters are in use ; and there are four large holders. 
 The Gas Company has been a profitable concern, and for a 
 long series of years has paid dividends regularly to the share- 
 holders, ranging in late years from 12 per cent, to 18 per cent. 
 The shares were quoted at ^to 2s. 6d. previous to the payment 
 of the last dividend. 
 
 The Corporate High School was opened on the iSth January, 
 1870. It was established under the auspices of the Borough 
 Council. The headmaster was Mr. John S. Moir, M.A., who
 
 158 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 had been the Vice-principal of the Scotch College. On the 
 death of Mr. Moir in 1876, Mr. John Slack became headmaster. 
 He was succeeded over five years ago by Mr. J. G. Oliphant 
 the present principal, under whose management the school has 
 maintained a good reputation. Among other educational 
 institutions in the district, besides the various State-schools, are 
 St. Andrew's College (Mr. G. H. Freeman, head teacher) ; 
 Sandhurst (irammar School (Mr. A. J. Pearce) ; Girton College, 
 (Mrs. Aherne) ; St. Kilian's Catholic School; St. Aloysius' 
 Convent School : the Kindergarten ; Preparatory Grammar 
 School ; and several others. There are ten State-schools in 
 the Bendigo district, the principal being that in Rosalind Park, 
 which IS a training school under the control of Mr. A. Cook. 
 The other schools in the district are under the control 
 of the following head teachers : — Messrs. J. Rogers, J. J. Burston, 
 
 B. J. Burston, W. H. Powell, P. Robin, Webb, Henry, M. G. 
 O'Brien and Reddin. The total number of pupils on the roll 
 for these ten schools is 7,113, and the average attendance 3,899. 
 At the twenty-one private schools there are 1,571 pupils. The 
 Bendigo Board of Advice consists of Messrs. J. Delbridge 
 (Chairman), R. J. Liddell, C. Houston, F. Boffey, W. Bradshaw, 
 
 C. Perry and J. Hemming (correspondent). At the three 
 State-schools in Eaglehawk there are 1,990 pupils on the rolls, 
 and the average attendance is 1,308. 285 pupils attend private 
 schools. In the surrounding districts there are something like 
 forty schools, the principal being that at Kangaroo Flat. 
 
 On the 25th April, 1855, the Sandhurst Fire Brigade, the first 
 brigade on Bendigo, was established, the offices being held as 
 follows : — Manager, Mr. J. F. Sullivan ; Treasurer, Mr. Wolfe ; 
 Trustees, Messrs. Uunn and Lewis ; Secretary, Mr. O'Keefe ; 
 Committee, Messrs. Duncan, Jackson, Boone, Jacobs and 
 K. Burrowes. This brigade was afterwards called the No. i. 
 
 The City Fire Brigade was established in full working order on 
 the i8th November, 1872. It then numbered forty working 
 members, and the officers were Mr. T. J. Connelly, Superintendent; 
 Mr. Alex. Mackay, Captain; and Mr. Payne, Lieutenant. 
 
 The Temperance Fire Brigade was formed of members 
 belonging to the temperance societies. The brigade numbered 
 thirty-eight members, officered as follows : — Mr. George Adams, 
 Superintendent ; Mr. Peter Finn, Captain ; Mr. Jas. Quin,
 
 FIRE BRIGADES — MASONIC — THE BANKS. 1 .")9 
 
 Lieutenant ; Mr. W. G. Blackham, Hon. .Secretary : and 
 Mr. W. McMeikan, Hon. Treasurer. 
 
 Other brigades are the Golden Square, Long Gully and 
 Eaglehawk, while there are several contingents of the above 
 in suburban localities. The Fire Brigades of the district are 
 under the control of the Country Fire Board. 
 
 The foundation-stone of the old Masonic Hall, in Myers Street, 
 was laid in January, 1856, by Bro. J- C Duncan. The Golden 
 Lodge had been established in September, 1854. The founda- 
 tion of the present hall was laid in June, 1873, by Bro. J. 
 Mclntyre, P.M. The hall, which cost ^12,000, was opened 
 in October following. It is of the Corinthian order of 
 architecture, has a frontage of 100 feet, with six pillars thirty- 
 eight feet high, supporting the entablature and pediment, the 
 whole producing a noble effect. It is prettily decorated in the 
 interior, and the large hall has been very popular as a place for 
 entertainments. T^atterly. a stage, with all the accessories of a 
 well-appointed theatre, has been added. The Masonic order 
 is well represented in Bendigo, there being three lodges : the 
 Golden and Corinthian, Zenith, and Eaglehawk. Other halls are 
 the Oddfellows', Temperance, St. Kilians' and St. James'. 
 
 The banks in Bendigo are the Victoria, New South Wales, 
 .Australasia, Colonial, National, Commercial, Union, London 
 Chartered, and Savings. Those in Eaglehawk are the Victoria, 
 New South Wales, and Savings. On the 30th June, 1891, 
 there were at the Bendigo office of the Savings Bank, 11,946 
 depositors, with ^256,803 at their credit, and at the Eaglehawk 
 branch, there were 1,853 depositors with ;^34,o75 at their credit. 
 The banks are all handsome and substantial structures. 
 
 Of the various bank managers who have held office in Bendigo 
 from time to time, those most identified with the district are 
 Messrs. Vallentine, Bannerman, A. and D. Williamson, Meudell, 
 Stirling, Tolmie, Davis, T. Ellison, Howard, Reade, Fairclough, 
 Reid, Hemphill, Gibson and Bailey. Reference has already been 
 made to the old Bendigo Bank, which was purchased by the Bank 
 of Victoria in 1854. Mr. Vallentine was the manager of the latter, 
 and associated with him were Messrs. J. F. Skinner, H. Smith, 
 W. Meudell, and A. Williamson, the latter being gold buyer. 
 
 The medical profession has always been well represented in 
 Bendigo. Amongst those of former years may be mentioned
 
 160 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Doctors Barnett, Allison, McCrea, Betham, Caudle, Cruikshank, 
 Hoyle, Hunt, Hutchinson, Maschin, Owens, Pounds, Roche, 
 H. Smith, Stuart, Stillwell, Tierney, Baumgartner, Tattersall 
 and Maciver. In the present day we have Doctors Atkinson, 
 J. Boyd, H. Boyd, J. D. Boyd, J. Eadie, sen., J. Eadie, jun., 
 J. M. Eadie (Health Officer), Gaffney, Hinchcliff, MacGillivray, 
 McKee, Thorn, Penfold and Colquhoun, while the Chinese are 
 represented by Mr. J. Lamsey. 
 
 Of the members of the legal profession connected with Bendigo 
 from time to time in the past may be mentioned Messrs. Lysaght, 
 J. A. C. Helm, O'Loughlin, J. J. Casey, Hornbuckle, Martley, 
 R. Strickland, barristers ; and Messrs. W. Brown, J. M. Minter, 
 J. P. Motteram, Cutten, McCormick, Rymer, J. Ellison, G. E. 
 Thomson, H. Wrixon, J. E. Mclntyre and Hobday, solicitors. 
 
 The bar is represented now by Dr. Quick and Mr. J. B. Roberts, 
 and the other branch of the profession by Messrs. Connelly, 
 Tatchell, Cohen, Crabbe, Kirby, Jones, Macoboy, Kennedy, 
 Rymer, G. Watson and Hyett. In this connection it may be 
 mentioned that Judge Macoboy, who died in 1872, and Judge 
 Dunne, who died in 1877, were judges of the County Court for 
 the district. Amongst Clerks of Courts there have been Messrs. 
 Saunders, Maynard and Collins ; and among Assistant Clerks, 
 Messrs. Greene, A. Daly, McAnulty and Dixon. Mr. F. R. Ellis 
 occupied the position of Clerk of Petty Sessions for Eaglehawk, 
 Rayw^ood and Huntly for a great number of years. After 
 Mr. Lachlan McLachlan, as Police Magistrate, have succeeded 
 in order, Messrs. Cogdon, Webster, Campbell, Strickland, Wyatt, 
 Nicholson and Patterson ; and previous to the coronial duties 
 being entrusted to the magistrates, the coroners for the district 
 were successively Dr. Roche, Dr. Pounds, and Mr. Strickland, 
 who each held office for many years. Mr. Strickland was 
 extremely popular. He was always very fond of a joke, even 
 in the presence of the usually restraining influence of judicial 
 surroundings. It is related of him that once, when he was 
 engaged in copying out the verdict of a jury at an inquest, the 
 question of paying jurors cropped up. It was just after the 
 election in July, 1880, and one juror, after mentioning that 
 Mr. Mclntyre had promised to bring the question before 
 Parliament, expressed the opinion that they had acted unwisely 
 in rejecting Mclntyre for an inexperienced man like Quick. 
 
 1
 
 THE miners' association. 161 
 
 Silence ! " said Mr. Strickland, " we are here to deal with the 
 dead, not the Quick.'' "Then Berry them," was the ejaculation 
 of the juror ; and as Mr. Strickland bent more intently over 
 his notes, he was heard to remark, sotto voce, " That man will 
 be of Service to his country yet." The present Police Superin- 
 tendent is Mr. J. W. Ryall. His predecessor was Mr. H. S. 
 Palmer, now of Ballarat. 
 
 The Bendio;o Miners' Association was established in 1874, 
 but did not display much activity till 1879, when, under the 
 presidency of Mr. R. Clark, M.P., it aided in resisting the 
 attempt to reduce the miners' wages. In 1882 it was reconsti- 
 tuted as a branch of the A.M. A. of Australasia. The Association, 
 now contains over 2,000 members, and possesses between ^3,000 
 and ^4,000 in funds. The following gentlemen have occupied 
 the President's chair : — May, 1882, Mr. J.Sneddon; February, 1883, 
 Mr. J. Sneddon; February, 1884, Mr. H. G. Williams ; February, 
 1885, Mr. P. S. Williams; February, 1886, Mr. J. P. Dunstan ; 
 February, 1887, Mr. J. McKenzie ; February, 1888, Mr. J. 
 McKenzie ; February, 1889, Mr. G. Cocking; February, 1890,. 
 Mr. D. Fleming; February, 1891, Mr. J. Sheppard. 
 
 In 1890 Mr. J. B. Watson, son of the late millionaire, made 
 the liberal offer oi /\,\^o per annum for ten years to the Miners'" 
 Association, for the establishment of a Benevolent Fund, on 
 condition that the Association raised a similar amount. This 
 generous proposal was taken up heartily by the Association. 
 
 As considerable interest is taken in the A.N.x\., we may 
 mention that the position of President has been occupied 
 by the following gentlemen: — Elected in 1874, J. P. Woods; 
 1875, M. J. CahiU; 1876, M. J. Cahill ; 1877, M. Wright, 
 and E. W. Smith ; 1878, M. J. Cahill, and J. P. Carolin ; 1879, 
 J. P. Carolin, and H. Summers ; 1880, M. J. Cahill ; 1881, M. J. 
 Cahill, J. P. Carolin, and J. Donnelly; 1882, W. H. Bradley; 
 1884, G. G. McColl, and M. J. Cahill; 1885, J. Stevens, and 
 T. J. Connelly; 1886, T. J. Connelly, and J. B. Young; 1887, 
 J. B. Young, and W. Beebe ; 1888, W. Beebe, and J. B. Young ; 
 1889, W. F. Noonan, and J. E. Buchan ; 1890, J. E. Buchan, 
 and J. B. Roberts; 1891, J. B. Roberts. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to deal with the history of the various 
 Friendly Societies in the district. The following official records 
 will give an idea of the position held by each of them. Although 
 
 G
 
 162 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 not up to date, the figures are the most recent obtainable for 
 purposes of comparison : — 
 
 Local Friendly Societies. 
 
 Society and Branch. 
 
 G.U.O.O.F.— 
 Star of Eaglehawk 
 Sandhurst 
 Pride of Bendigo 
 U.A.O. Druids— 
 Quartzopolis 
 Caractacus 
 Ancient Order Foresters — 
 Queen of Forest 
 Pride of Forest ... 
 Happy \'alley ... 
 Bendigo 
 Banner of Hope 
 Slierwood 
 King of the Forest 
 Alexandra 
 Victoria 
 
 Pride of Marong 
 Independent Order Oddfellows — 
 
 Sandhurst 
 Independent Order Rechabites — 
 Star of Bendigo ... 
 Refuge 
 Cobden 
 Olive Branch 
 Laurel... 
 Sutton... 
 Sons of Temperance — 
 Royal Diadem ... 
 Hope of .Sandhurst 
 Princess Beatrice 
 Lady Loch 
 St. Andrew (S.C-)— 
 
 Bendigo 
 H.A.C.B. Society— 
 
 St. Kilian's 
 M.U.I.O.O.F.- 
 Bendigo 
 
 Gold Miner.s' Pride 
 James Roe 
 Strangers' Refuge 
 Heart of Friendship 
 Albert... 
 Sir Henry Barkly 
 Catherine 
 Darling 
 .Australian Natives' Association — 
 Sandhurst 
 Neangar 
 
 
 -a 
 
 
 P5 M 
 
 
 j: 
 
 c 
 
 y 00 
 
 Where Situated. 
 
 .~ 
 
 fa 
 
 s*r 
 
 
 j2 
 
 
 *— 
 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 =-0 
 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 
 Eaglehawk ... 
 
 1866 
 
 590 
 
 19=5 
 
 City 
 
 1868 
 
 397 
 
 98 
 
 City 
 
 1871 
 
 377 
 
 69 
 
 City ... 
 
 1872 
 
 6S3 
 
 204 
 
 Eaglehawk ... 
 
 1873 
 
 71 
 
 51 
 
 City 
 
 1861 
 
 1478 
 
 163 
 
 Golden Square 
 
 1861 
 
 49S 
 
 137 
 
 Eaglehawk ... 
 
 1861 
 
 lOlI 
 
 169 
 
 Ciiy... 
 
 1861 
 
 2710 
 
 182 
 
 Kangaroo Flat 
 
 1862 
 
 359 
 
 36 
 
 Huntly 
 
 1862 
 
 116 
 
 41 
 
 Long Gully ... 
 
 1862 
 
 1082 
 
 148 
 
 City... 
 
 1862 
 
 83 
 
 37 
 
 California Gully 
 
 1863 
 
 836 
 
 143 
 
 Marong 
 
 1871 
 
 319 
 
 15 
 
 City 
 
 1871 
 
 547 
 
 222 
 
 City 
 
 1861 
 
 7881 
 
 251 
 
 Eaglehawk ... 
 
 1863 
 
 452 
 
 93 
 
 California Gully 
 
 1865 
 
 277 
 
 118 
 
 Kangaroo Flat 
 
 1865 
 
 371 
 
 81 
 
 City... 
 
 1870 
 
 426 
 
 149 
 
 Long Gully .. 
 
 1871 
 
 185 
 
 64 
 
 City 
 
 1868 
 
 471 
 
 45 
 
 City 
 
 1870 
 
 246 
 
 168 
 
 Eaglehawk ... 
 
 1885 
 
 36 
 
 26 
 
 Golden Square 
 
 1885 
 
 41 
 
 34 
 
 City 
 
 1870 
 
 935 
 
 94 
 
 City 
 
 1868 
 
 1472 
 
 242 
 
 City 
 
 1854 
 
 3472 
 
 333 
 
 Golden .Square 
 
 i>^54 
 
 136 
 
 166 
 
 City 
 
 1856 
 
 987 
 
 273 
 
 Kangaroo Flat 
 
 1S56 
 
 850 
 
 102 
 
 City... 
 
 1859 
 
 2626 
 
 312 
 
 Long (Jully ... 
 
 1859 
 
 1731 
 
 366 
 
 Huntly 
 
 1S61 
 
 910 
 
 86 
 
 ICaglehawk ... 
 
 1S62 
 
 3928 
 
 399 
 
 California Gully 
 
 1S65 
 
 255 
 
 162 
 
 City 
 
 1874 
 
 2343 
 
 624 
 
 Eaglehawk ... 
 
 1885 
 
 617 
 
 176
 
 FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. 163 
 
 The Bendigo United Friendly Societies' Medical Institute 
 and Dispensary was established in 1872, and the average 
 number of members connected with it in 1891 was 2,708. 
 The Society possesses a splendid building, and its finances 
 are in a flourishing condition. Mr. N. Johns is the President, 
 which position has been filled in previous years by Messrs. 
 J. S. Black, W. Leggett, E. Holton, H. G. Williams, S. H. 
 McGowan, S. Herman, J. Anderson, T. O'Callaghan, G. H. 
 Hobson, R. G. Johnston, F. G. Buckell, and C. Houston. 
 The present Secretary is Mr. T. Pook, who has occupied that 
 position since 1884, and much of the Society's success is due 
 to his efforts. His predecessors were Messrs. J. A. Niemann, 
 W. B. Chamney, J. Watson, and S. H. McGowan. The medical 
 officers are Drs. James and John M. Eadie ; and the dispenser 
 and assistant, Mr. R. S. Sargeant and Mr. C. Campbell. 
 
 There are in Bendigo three Building Societies, viz. : — 
 Bendigo Mutual Permanent, established 1865, Mr. R. W. Brown, 
 Secretary ; Commercial Permanent, Mr. W. J. Creeth, Secretary ; 
 and Sandhurst Mutual Permanent, Mr. H. Y. North, Manager. 
 The Trustees and Executors' Agency Company, of which 
 Mr. W. Davis is Chairman, and Mr. J. Neeson, Manager 
 was only established recently, but is growing greatly in public 
 favour. 
 
 In connection with public buildings on Bendigo, it should be 
 mentioned that the firm of Messrs. Vahland and Getschmann, 
 of which Mr. W. C. Vahland is the surviving partner, has 
 performed the architectural work for the most of them. As 
 instances, the new Town Hall, the Hospital, additions to the 
 Asylum, the Forest Street Wesleyan Church, the Congregational 
 Church, the Royal Princess' Theatre, and the Masonic Hall 
 may be enumerated. Other architects in the past were Mr. Love, 
 who designed the Asylum, and St. Paul's Church ; Mr. Fletcher, who 
 designed the original Town Hall ; Messrs. H. E. Tolhurst, A. L. 
 Smith, Burgoyne, Duncan, Brady, and Turnbull. In addition 
 to Mr. Vahland, in the present day are Messrs. J. Bain, Beebe 
 and Son, and Mauermann. As builders in the past, the most pro- 
 minent were Messrs. G. Pallett, senior, and junior; Adams, Cowper, 
 Murphy, Albert, Hassell, Berchill, T. Saunders, Hyett, M'Lean, 
 and Coombs Bros. ; while in the present day there are Messrs. 
 N. Longstaff, T. Pattinson, Z. Button, G. H. Button, B. Button, 
 
 g2
 
 164: HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 J. F. Pinnell, D. H. Bosselmann, G. Sweeney, W. Johns, 
 W. H. Johns, Reeves and Sons, T. Dunton, H. Vallence, 
 A. Kennedy, T. Singleton, C. Millward and Son, Galbraith, 
 I. Taylor, and Jenkins. Messrs. Adams and Pallett built the 
 original Town Hall, the Railway Station, and many business 
 establishments ; and Mr. G. Pallett, junior, was the contractor 
 for the construction of the greater part of Lake Weeroona. 
 Mr. J. Cowper built the Bowen Wing of the Hospital, the 
 Corn Exchange, the Wesleyan Church, Forest Street, the 
 Masonic Hall, the Theatre, and Charing Cross bridge. Mr. 
 Z. Button built the latest additions to the Town Hall, and 
 the additions to the Asylum. Mr. Bosselmann and Mr. Sweeney 
 built the School of Mines, and Mr. Bosselmann built St. Kilian's 
 Hall. The Charing Cross Fountain was built by Mr. T. Saunders, 
 Mr. P. Finn doing the polishing work. 
 
 The first auctioneers on Bendigo were Messrs. L. MacPherson 
 and Co., Brocklebank and Co , Neale and Emmett, Pritchard and 
 Co., S. Jones and Co., J. Jamieson, Maughan, and Barclay. Mr, 
 MacPherson died in 1867, but his name still lives in MacPherson, 
 Sternberg and Co. There are also in the present day, Messrs. 
 O'Neill and Co., Marks and Co., Andrew and Co., J. J. Hayes 
 and Co., Watson and Co., Hobson and Co., Walker and Co., 
 Buscombe, Moore and Co., Dyer and Co., Putnam and Jackson, 
 Grattan and Stamp, Bentley, and Barlow. 
 
 University degrees have been secured by several Bendigo boys, 
 and one Bendigo girl. Mr. Justice Hodges, Dr. Quick, Dr. 
 ]\I'Inerny, Mr. A. G. M'Intyre, Mr. J. S. Meagher, and Mr. J. B. 
 Roberts may be mentioned as l^arristers ; Drs. J. Eadie, J. W. 
 Florance, (t. T. Howard, W. R. Boyd, H. A. Deravin, J. H. J. 
 Crowley, T. H. Boyd, H. Friedman, R. W. Lewers, R. G. 
 Vickery, J. F. Bartley (all of the Melbourne University), J. D. 
 Boyd, J. M. Eadie, S. Brierly, A. Lazarus, T. R. Harney, A. W. 
 Powell, and Van Damme, as medicos ; while Miss Annie Rohs 
 and the Revs. D. A. Cameron and W. Eraser secured the degree 
 of M.A., and Mr. S. L. Balmer that of B.A. Messrs. J. H. 
 Horwood, E. J. Horwood, J. Sarvaas, and A. H. Merrin have 
 become civil engineers. Messrs. J. E. M'Intyre, T. J. Connelly, 
 F. J. Macoboy, H. W. C. Simpson, C. L. Smith, F. D. Jones, 
 (;. D. Watson, T. N. AVoodward, A. J. O'Dwyer, E. B. Hyett, 
 and P. B. P. Rymer, solicitors, are also sons of Bendigo.
 
 THE VOLUNTEERS, CAVALRY, AND MILITLV. 165 
 
 The Bendigo Volunteer Rifle Corps was established in i860, 
 and continued in existlence until the disbandment of the Victorian 
 Volunteer forces at the close of 1883. At the last j.'arade there 
 were three members, Captain Anderson, Lieutenant Cahill, and 
 Staff-Sergeant Fly, who joined the corps at its inception. They 
 had consequently served for above twenty-three years, the three 
 of them having received medals for long and effective service. 
 During its life-time the Bendigo corps had seven commanding 
 ofificers, viz., Captain Anderson, Jas. Skene, Brewer, Lysaght, 
 J. H. Taylor, and Majors G. P. Joseph and W. G. Blackham. 
 There were three Surgeons, Drs. Betham, Stuart, and Hinchcliff. 
 The Bendigo Rifles not only enjoyed a high reputation amongst 
 the Volunteer forces of the colony for general efficiency, but also 
 achieved great success as marksmen, gaining very many creditable 
 victories in rifle contests. One of these was against the famous 
 Robin Hood Company of Nottingham Rifles in tlie year 1864, 
 the scores being: Bendigo, 1,458; and Robin Hood, 1,259. 
 The Bendigo Cavalry troop was established in rS6i, and in 
 the following year became known as the Sandhurst Troop of 
 Prince of Wales' Victorian Volunteer Light Horse. Captain 
 Bastard, the first in command, was succeeded by Captain Julius 
 Cohn. In 1865 Captain Robert Moorhead assumed command, 
 which he retained till 1875, when he was promoted to the rank 
 of ALijor, Lieutenant Sibley succeeding him as Captain. In 
 1878 Lieutenant Henderson was promoted to the rank of 
 Captain, and accepted the command of the troojx On his 
 retirement in 1880, Captain Sibley resumed command, which 
 he held till the disbandment of the troop in February, 18S4. 
 
 Under the Militia system which came into vogue in 1884, the 
 Sandhurst Detachment of the 4th Battalion, or as it is now 
 called, the Bendigo Battalion ot the 4th Victorian Regiment 
 has a strength of upwards of 200. It has been under the 
 command of Major Blackham, Major Palliser, Captain Rogers 
 and Captain (now ]\Iajor) Robin. The strength of the Bendigo 
 Detachment of Cavalry in 1S91, was seventy-one. Major Kirby 
 was the commanding officer, but during his absence from the 
 colony in 18S9, the troop was under the temporary command 
 of Lieutenant G. G. McCoU. The local cadets, known as the 
 First Battalion of the Victorian Cadets, are over 200 strong, and 
 are commanded by Captain Campbell.
 
 166 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Churches. 
 
 ' A Christian is God Almighty's gentleman." 
 
 — Hare. 
 
 Early Efforts in the Cause of Religion — The Various Denominations. 
 
 'T can be well understood that when the discovery of gold on 
 Bendigo first attracted a population, very little attention 
 was given to public worship. There were no Churches, 
 and even when representatives of the Roman Catholic, 
 Church of England, Wesleyan and Presbyterian Churches 
 made their appearance, public worship was conducted either in 
 the open air or in tents. The late Dr. Backhaus was the first 
 clergyman who set foot on Bendigo, and he conducted mass in a 
 tent, with the greater part of the congregation outside in the open 
 air. He preached his sermon from a stump outside the tent, 
 Wesleyan local preachers had been on Bendigo even before Dr. 
 Backhaus. and their services were held in the open air and in 
 tents. Towards the end of 1S52 a building was erected for 
 public worship on the ground of the present schoolhouse, Golden 
 Square. The Church of England too, was early in the field, and 
 the Anglican service was also conducted under similar disadvan- 
 tages. Although the Presbyterians held religious services prior to 
 1854, it was not till that year that Dr. Nish arrived on Bendigo. 
 He describes how public worship had to be carried on for two 
 months, in an old smithy constructed of slabs, with a calico roof. 
 The seats consisted of rough pieces of wood, driven two feet into 
 the ground to keep them steady, with coarse slabs nailed on the 
 top of them, with no backs. 
 
 All Saints' Church of England dates from 1852, but the present 
 building was erected five years later. The first clergyman was
 
 CHURCH OF ENGLAND — PRESBYTERIAN. 107 
 
 the Rev. J. H. Gregory, who was succeeded in 1855 by the Rev. 
 J. D. Brennan ; in 1857 by the Rev. Stone : in i860 by the Rev. 
 W. R. Croxton ; and in 1883 by the Rev. J. Garlick. The 
 School and the Parsonage, which were erected in later years, are 
 fine structures. Services were held at Long Gully in 1856, but 
 St. Matthew's Church was not built till 1883. Services have been 
 held at Golden Square regularly since i860. The present 
 building was erected in 1881, and the present incumbent is the 
 Rev. Mr. Buchanan. There are two Chinese Mission Churches 
 within the parish of All Saints'. St. Mary's Church of England, 
 at Kangaroo Flat, was opened in 1862 ; the Rev. J- Frewin 
 assumed charge in 1884. In 1891 he was succeeded by the Rev. 
 H. Mitchell. The first service at White Hills was held by the 
 Rev. J. H. Gregory, in 1853 ; the Rev. H. J. Mitchell was in 
 •charge for some time previous to 1891. Services were held in the 
 Eaglehawk district in 1855 by the Rev. J. D. Brennan, who was 
 'Succeeded in 1865 by the Rev. A. Brazier; in 1868 by the 
 Rev. G. W. Watson ; in 1869 by the Rev. J. Carlisle; and in 1882 
 by the Rev. R. \V. Cooke. The Rev. S. B. Scott is the present 
 incumbent. St. Paul's Church. Bendigo, was built in 1868, the 
 tower for the peal of bells being added in 1872, and the Parsonage 
 in 1885. The Ven. Archdeacon MacCullagh has been in charge 
 since 1869, and is held in high estimation by all classes of the 
 community. The Rev. J. M'T. Evans is curate. 
 
 Until August, 1854, when the Rev. J. Nish arrived, the Pres- 
 byterians were without a regular minister. The present Church 
 was built in 1859, the Manse having been erected previously. 
 The congregation retained the services of their minister during 
 a period of over thirty-five years, and within that time Mr. Nish, 
 who became a Doctor of Divinity in 1880, rendered great 
 service, not only to the Church in Victoria, but to the Church in 
 Australia as a whole. His high talents secured for him recognition 
 as one of the leading lights of the Victorian Presbyterian 
 Assembly, and peculiarly fitted him to be chiefly instrumental in 
 bringing about the federation of the Presbyterian Churches ot 
 Australia. This signal service was recognised by his unanimous 
 election by all the Presbyteries of the several colonies, as the 
 first moderator of the Federal Assembly, the highest honour ever 
 accorded to any Australian Presbyterian clergyman. He resigned 
 in 1890, and was succeeded by the Rev. A. S. C. James. The
 
 168 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Eaglehawk Church was the first offshoot from St. Andrew's, the 
 Church being opened in i860. The Rev. R. Henderson was the 
 first clergyman. He was succeeded in 1862 by the Rev. J. L. 
 Abernethy ; in 1869 by the Rev. W. M. White ; in 1873 by the 
 Rev. J. B. Reid ; and in 1877 by the Rev. R. Lewers. The next 
 offshoot from St. Andrew's was St. John's, now known as the 
 West Sandhurst Church. It was at first under the charge of the 
 Rev. R. Lewers, but a split in the congregation occurring, the 
 Rev. T. E. Ick became the minister for one section, and the 
 Rev. W. C. MacDonald for the other. Since then the two 
 sections became re-united under the Rev. J. H. Potter. The third 
 offshoot from St. Andrew's was the Golden Square Church, which 
 was established in 1873. The Rev. A. W. Sinclair was the first 
 clergyman, and was succeeded by the Revs. A. Stoker, G. M. 
 Connor and J. M'Laren. 
 
 Dr. Backhaus, who was the pioneer clergyman of the Roman 
 Catholic Church on Bendigo, arrived in March, 1852. Services 
 were first held in High Street, but subsequently in a tent near the 
 site of the present pro-Cathedral. St. Kilian's Church, which was 
 demolished three or four years ago, was erected in 1857. During 
 Dr. Backhaus' absence from Bendigo (from 1863 to 1868) the 
 Rev. Father O'Dwyer and Dean Hayes had charge of St. Kilian's. 
 In 1872, Dr. Backhaus was created a Dean, and remained in full 
 charge of the district till 1875, when the northern part of Victoria 
 was formed into a Diocese, and Dr. Crane appointed Bishop. 
 Dr. Backhaus was appointed Vicar-General, a position which he 
 held till 18S0, when Dr. Reville succeeded him. In 1876 the 
 Convent was established. In 1882 Dr. Crane went to Europe to 
 obtain treatment for his eyesight, which was failing. During his 
 absence Dr. Reville was appointed Coadjutor Bishop. Dr. Crane 
 returned to Bendigo in 1886, without having received any relief, 
 his eyesight having, in the meantime, failed completely. During 
 Dr. Crane's connection with the district, a very fine residence for 
 Bishop and clergy has been erected, and many enlargements and 
 improvements effected at the Convent. Dr. Backhaus died in 
 September, 1882. During his residence on Bendigo he took a 
 warm interest in local affairs, and was one of the foremost amongst 
 the founders of the local Hospital. He was ever to the front in 
 good works, and tended the sick i)oor with a woman's tenderness 
 and a physician's skill. At his death he left nearly ;^i 00,000 to
 
 METHODIST — CONGREGATIONAL. 109 
 
 St. Kilian's Church, under conditions which preclude its being 
 touched till 1903. 
 
 Methodism found an early root in Bendigo, the pioneer local 
 preacher being James Jeffrey, who arrived in the district early in 
 1852. Messrs. Symons and Chapman were the first Methodist 
 ministers engaged at Forest Creek, and both preached occasion- 
 ally on Bendigo, the former conducting the first services at 
 Eaglehawk, Long Gully and Golden Gully. Services were first 
 held on Bendigo proper on Commissioners' Flat, in 1852, in the 
 open air. The first stone building used by the Wesleyans was 
 erected in Forest Street, in 1857. Two years later a similar 
 building was erected at Golden Square, and, in 1863, the Eagle- 
 hawk Wesleyan Church was built. These buildings have all given 
 place to new and more substantial Churches since, while many 
 have also been erected in new districts. Of the ministers who 
 have from time to time led the Methodist cause in the district, the 
 following may be mentioned . — The Revs. T. Raston, J. Dare 
 Dubourg, Atkin, J. Bickford, G. Daniel, T. James, W. Hill, W 
 P. Wells, W. L. Blamires, Millard, H. Bath, W. H. Fitchett, E 
 S. Bickford, J. Waterhouse, R. C. Flockhart, S. T. Withington 
 W. Williams, J. Harcourt, S. Williams, E. W. Nye, P. R. C 
 Usher, J. H. Ingham, A. Powell, J. S. Greer, J. Cowperthwaite 
 J. P. M'Cann, E. C. De Garis, A. Lelean, Scholes, Bridgewood 
 and J. W. Tuckfield. 
 
 The first Congregational minister on Bendigo was the Rev. 
 ]Mark Butler, who came to the district in 1853. Public worship 
 was conducted in a building in Market Square, but, in 185S, the 
 Church in Forest Street was opened. Alterations and additions 
 were made to this building in subsequent years, and the congrega- 
 tion recently completed a new and handsome structure. The 
 Rev. M. Butler was succeeded by the Revs. W. R. Fletcher, W. 
 R. Lewis, W. Allen, J. King, S. L Green and R. K. Mackay. 
 
 Welsh Churches existed in Eaglehawk since 1866, and at 
 present the Congregationalist section of the original body still 
 exists, although, to have their pulpit filled, the members have to 
 rely upon English lay preachers and occasional visits from Welsh 
 ministers in other districts. 
 
 The German Church was established in 1856, Pastor Goethe, 
 of Melbourne, officiating occasionally. Pastor Gericke conducted 
 the services for a short time, and Pastor Burkhard officiated from
 
 170 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 the beginning of 1858. Pastor Munzel accepted a call in 1862, 
 and the Church was built in 1865 — during his connection with the 
 congregation. Pastor Herlitz officiated occasionally in 1868 and 
 1869, but Pastor Leypoldt assumed charge in the latter year. 
 His popularity is attested to by the fact that he has been suc- 
 cessful in keeping the congregation so well together, and has 
 maintained his connection with it for twenty-two years. 
 
 The Baptist Church dates from 1854, having been established 
 at Epsom, chiefly by the instrumentality of Mr. Edward C Jones. 
 In 1858 Bendigo became the headquarters of the Church in the 
 Bendigo district, and the building in Hargreaves Street has since 
 been added to as occasion required. The first settled minister 
 was the Rev. E. Henderson ; the next the Rev. W. R. Wade, 
 then the Rev. C. Smith, the Rev. T. Taylor, the Rev. F. Hibberd, 
 the Rev. G. W. Ciillings, the Rev. J. Gregson, the Rev. T. Porter, 
 the Rev. W. C. Tayler and the Rev. E. Welch. 
 
 The Jewish residents assembled for public worship as early as 
 1854, but the present Synagogue was not erected till 1872. The 
 undermentioned clergymen have officiated as Rabbis from time to 
 time, but there have been several intervals during which Readers 
 have conducted the services : — The Revs. Friedman, Stone, 
 Isidore Myers and Goldstein. Mr. Myers will be remembered 
 outside of his own congregation for his generous sympathy with 
 all charitable movements and his elocutionary entertainments. 
 
 Other Churches in the district, with their present pastors, are 
 as follows : — 
 
 Bible Christian Churches at Bendigo, Long Gully, Sheepwash, 
 California Gully, St. Mungo, Emu Creek and Eaglehawk, Rev. F. 
 Lockwood ; M'Kenzie Street Church, Rev. W. Hicks. 
 
 United Methodist Churches : Calvin Street, Ironbark and 
 Golden Gully, Rev. H. Wallace. 
 
 Church of Christ (no settled minister). 
 
 Primitive Methodist Churches : Rowan Street, Wade Street, 
 Buckley Street, Rev. H. B. Barber ; Eaglehawk and Sebastian, 
 Rev. A. Madsen. 
 
 The Salvation Army commenced operations in Bendigo in 1883. 
 They possess extensive barracks in Bendigo and Eaglehawk, and 
 the leader in the district is " Captain " Carisbrook.
 
 OUT-DOOR SPORTS 171 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Amusements. 
 
 " Pleasures, or wrong or rightly understood, 
 Our greatest evil, or our greatest good." 
 
 —Pope. 
 
 Out-door Sports— The Drama. 
 
 ^ROM the earliest times Bendigo has been noted for its 
 partiality for field sports. Horse-racing came into 
 fashion as soon as the community began to be settled, 
 and sports of the ordinary kind were also arranged at 
 holiday seasons by various Societies, the Caledonian 
 games retaining a great hold on the public through a long 
 series of years. The Hibernian sports have grown in favour 
 as the interest in the Caledonian games has waned. In more 
 recent years we have had the Eight Hours', Citizens', and 
 Miners' Sports. Of English games, cricket came into fashion 
 in the early fifties, long before any attention was given to 
 football. The district has been famous for its cricketers— 
 H. F. Boyle and W. Midwinter — who learned their cricket on 
 Bendigo, having achieved distinction not only in Australia, but 
 in England — the home of the game. The district has also been 
 represented at different times in Victorian representati\e teams 
 by other local players. Of late years, although the excellent 
 cricketing standard has been well maintained, and the Bendigo 
 United Cricket Eleven is only inferior to the leading teams of 
 the metropolis, cricket has had to give place to football in popular 
 favour. Though the local players are not at present pre-eminent 
 amongst country footballers, and while they are scarcely expert 
 enough to compete with success against metropolitan twenties, 
 the local matches are, as a rule, close and interesting. Rowing
 
 172 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 is also a popular pastime with the youth of the district, and 
 though Lake Weeroona is small, it has been the scene of some 
 interesting contests. The local men have achieved some 
 creditable victories against metropolitan oarsmen on the Salt- 
 water and Yarra Rivers. 
 
 The Bendigo Jockey Club (established 1S54), has an excellent 
 course at Epsom, with a commodious Stand, a well-kept lawn 
 and fernery, a carriage reserve, and all the accessories of a well- 
 appointed racecourse. Mr. John Hemming is the present Secretary, 
 a position which was held for many years by Mr. W. P. Neal, one 
 of the Club's fathers. 
 
 The Bendigo United Cricket Club was established in 1S61, and 
 other leading cricket clubs are the North Bendigo, Eaglehawk, 
 Kangaroo Fiat, and Golden Square. 
 
 In football, the leading clubs are the Sandhurst, Bendigo, 
 Eaglehawk, North Sandhurst, and North Bendigo; and the rowing 
 clubs are the Sandhurst, Bendigo, and Eaglehawk. The Sand- 
 hurst and Eaglehawk bowling clubs possess well-kept greens ; 
 and among other athletic institutions may be mentioned the 
 hunt, coursing, tennis, gun, and bicycling clubs. 
 
 The first theatre on Bendigo was the Royal, which was opened 
 in January, 1854, by Mr. J. Carncross, The Lady of Lyotish&xn^ 
 performed on the occasion. The Royal was on the site of the 
 Shamrock. At about the same time concerts were held at the 
 Casino, a tent on the site of the Lyceum. In April, 1854, the 
 Royal Victoria Theatre was opened near the site of the present 
 Town Hall, Mr. C. H. Rignold being proprietor. It was here 
 that Mr. Charles Thatcher scored his early successes as a local 
 topical songster, and his popularity led to Mr. J. R. Greville, 
 the popular comedian of later years, singing original local songs 
 also, at the Royal. Mrs. Wooldridge and Miss ^Vernham 
 appeared at the Royal. Later on in 1854, the Princess' Theatre 
 was opened at the Criterion Hotel, and in September was 
 patronised by Sir Charles and Lady Hotham. Coleman's 
 Criterion Theatre was opened in 1856. A tier of boxes elevated 
 twelve feet above the pit, ran round the house, and the 
 proscenium opening was twenty-five feet wide. Concerts were 
 also held nightly at the Shamrock Concert Hall, which was 
 under the management of Messrs. Heffernan and Crowley. In 
 April, 1856, when Lola Montes was playing at the Criterion,
 
 THE LYCEUM AND ROYAL PRINCESS' THEATRES. 173 
 
 it was Struck by lightning, and that actress, after cahiiing the 
 fears of the audience, said it was the first time she had played 
 the part of '' The Little Devil "' to real thunder and lightning. 
 Mr. G. V. Brooke appeared at this theatre in May, 1856, in 
 Shakespearian and other characters, this being the first of several 
 visits paid by him to Bendigo. The Criterion was afterwards 
 known as the Haymarket. 
 
 The Lyceum Theatre, known to theatre-goers of later years, 
 was erected in i860; but a smaller building on the same site 
 had been known as the Lyceum previously. At the same time 
 the Shamrock Concert Hall was enlarged and transformed into 
 a theatre. For many years the Lyceum was the principal place 
 of amusement. It was 115 feet in length, over fifty feet in width, 
 and nearly forty feet high, with pit, stalls, and dress circle 
 capable of accommodating nearly 2,000 persons. The stage 
 was fifty-five feet in depth. It was closed as a place of 
 amusement in 1872. The following noted actors and actresses 
 who appeared at the Lyceum at one time or another, and were 
 dead when the theatre was closed, may be mentioned : — 
 G. V. Brooke (who was drowned in the " London,") Sir William 
 Don (who died at Hobart), Robert Heir, Rogers, Professor 
 Parker, Fred. Young, Rosalie Durand, Avonia Jones, Emily 
 Neville, Charles Vincent, James Simmons, Walter Montgomery 
 (who committed suicide in London), Charles Kean, Harriet 
 Gordon, Paul Maxey, Chute, the comedian, the Marsh Troupe 
 ''some of whom are dead). Noble, W. Drew, and Kate Warde. 
 In 1873 St. James' Hall was built by Mr. W. Heffernan, at a 
 cost of ;^5,ooo. The Hall is 100 feet long, forty feet broad, 
 thirty feet high, and accommodates 1,500 people. It was opened 
 on the 8th April, when t!ie Philharmonic Society gave a grand 
 rendition of Handel's oratorio, " Judas Maccabeus." 
 
 In August, 1874, the Royal Princess' Theatre was opened by the 
 performance of The Grand Duchess. The new building cost 
 _;^i 2,000, and was built to accommodate 2,000 persons. The 
 theatre is 130 feet long by eighty-eight feet wide, and forty-eight 
 feet high from floor to ceiling. The stage is fifty-six feet long by 
 fifty-six feet broad. There are a dress circle, gallery, pit, and stalls, 
 and the accommodation for scenery and scene-painting is very 
 complete. The following artists have appeared at the Princess" 
 from time to time : — Madame Anna Bishop, Eleanor Carey,
 
 174 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Alice May, Madame de Murska, Madame Ristori, Emilie 
 Melville, Beaumont, Scott-Siddons, Mrs. Mary Gladstone, 
 Madlle. Alice Charbonnet, the pianiste, J. C. Williamson, 
 Maggie Moore, Carlotta Tasca, Ketten, the musician, Louise 
 Pomeroy, Madame Boema, Wilhelmj, the violinist, Grattan 
 Riggs, Dewhurst, HoUoway, Essie Jenyns, Annis Montague, 
 Turner, George Coppin, Jennie Lee, W. E. Sheridan, Dampier, 
 Nellie Stewart, J. F. Sheridan, Marie de Grey, Genevieve Ward, 
 W. H. Vernon, the Majeronis. Phil Day, J. R. Greville, George 
 Leitch, Madame Melba, vocalist, Frank Thornton, Herr Koehler, 
 the pianist, George Rignold, Locke Richardson, Amy Sherwin, 
 G. C. Miln, Charles Warner, J. L. Toole, and Madame Patey, 
 the vocalist. Miss Rossow, who appeared with Madame Patey, 
 is a native of the district. Amongst lecturers who have appeared 
 at the theatre may be mentioned the Revs. Charles Clark, Joseph 
 Cook, Major Dane, Messrs. C. E. Jones, Sheridan, Henry George, 
 and Miss Von Finkelstein. 
 
 The Masonic Theatre was opened in April, 1890. The north 
 wall of the Masonic Hall had been removed and a proscenium 
 formed, together with a stage forty-five feet deep by thirty-two 
 feet wide, fitted with all the necessities of a first-class theatre. 
 
 Bendigo has always been rich in amateurs, arid even long 
 before the appearance of Messrs. John Mclntyre and Angus 
 Mackay in Rob Ro}\ various dramas had been successfully 
 produced by amateurs of the district, amongst others being 
 Messrs. F. C. Standish, J. A. C. Helm, and W. Brown. 
 Rob Roy was played altogether on eleven occasions : nine 
 times at the Lyceum and twice at the Princess'. Mrs. ]_)uncan 
 scored a decided success as Helen McGregor. \\\ 1878, 
 Hamlet was produced in splendid style, Mr. W. J. Dillon 
 playing the title role in a masterly manner. In later years 
 Harry Marks, whose father had been good in comedy, proved 
 himself a comedian of a high order; while in 1889 and 1890, 
 the Liedertafel and La Mascotte Society were remarkably suc- 
 cessful in opera, producing Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, Le 
 Cloches de Corneville, Maritana, and Tambour Major. The 
 Liedertafel, which has been by far the most successful of 
 several musical societies established on Bendigo, was originated 
 in 1884 by Mr. A. T. Crook, the present popular conductor. 
 Mr. William Brown, the well-known solicitor, now practising in
 
 MUSICAL. 
 
 175 
 
 Melbourne, took an active part, along with his brother, Mr. T. 
 Brown, in the inauguration of the Liedertafel. Mr. W. Brown 
 always took a warm interest in matters musical, and for many 
 years was one of the most prominent singers in the district. 
 Contemporary with him in the sixties were Mrs. Betham and 
 Mrs. Ellis, and in the seventies, Mrs. A. E. B. Casey. Messrs. 
 M. and F. Macoboy are among the leading members of the 
 Liedertafel, and the former is its president. In addition 
 to many excellent vocalists, Bendigo has produced an admirable 
 elocutionist in Miss Hemming, who on the occasion of her 
 appearance at the theatre in 1890 astonished her audience 
 by the ability she displayed. It should be mentioned that 
 the Pickwick Club and the S.E.S. (Sandhurst Ethiopian Serenaders) 
 have given numerous performances in aid of charitable objects. 
 Bendigo has been noted for its bands of music. For many 
 years Hallas' City Band was pre-eminent among the bands of 
 the colonies, and in later years we have had such excellent 
 hands as Monaghan's, Northcott's, and Butler's, the principal 
 in the present day being the City Band. 
 
 Our reference to amusements would not be complete without 
 mention of tl:e MacMahon Brothers, of Bendigo, who, by their 
 enterprise, have earned the distinction in the colonies of being 
 second only to the well-known firm of Messrs. Williamson and 
 Garner. The MacMahons are Bendigo natives.
 
 176 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Agriculture and Viticulture. 
 
 " Yet, nursed with skill, what dazzling fruits appear." 
 
 Agriculture — Ensilage — Statistics —Live Stock — Fruit and Vine Growing — 
 The Wine Industry. 
 
 'i^t^j^ENDIGO is the centre of a large agricultural district, 
 M'^M which should yield richly as the supply of water becomes 
 !) ii^JJ E^^^^^^j ^'"^d better regulated by the various water trusts. 
 Tij^-^r During the year ending ist March, 1890, the gross 
 produce of wheat in the County of Bendigo was 867,758 
 bushels from 61,319 acres under tillage; of oats, 524,179 bushels 
 from 17,529 acres; of barley (malting), 24,358 bushels from 
 1,023 ^cres ; of barley (other), 20,330 bushels from 953 acres; 
 of maize, 20 bushels from 2 acres; of rye, 104 bushels from 11 
 acres; of pease and beans, 285 bushels from 17 acres; of root 
 crops (exclusive of those in market or kitchen gardens), 129 tons 
 from 32 acres ; of hay, 49,764 tons from 33,702 acres; of grapes, 
 23,880 cwt. from 1,056 acres of vines. There were 164 acres of 
 market gardens, 1,807 acres of gardens and orchards, and 30,018 
 acres of land in fallow. During the year ending March ist, 1890, 
 there were 13 ensilage farms in Marong, producing 1,383 tons of 
 ensilage, and 5 in Strathfieldsaye, from which were produced 76 
 tons. The following figures relating to the value of agricultural 
 implements and machinery and improvements on farms are for 
 the same year : — 
 
 
 Agricultural Imple- 
 
 Improvements on 
 
 
 ment 
 
 s and Machinery. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 Bendigo (City) 
 
 
 1,086 
 
 16,825 
 
 Marong ... 
 
 
 94,213 
 
 267,267 
 
 Huntly ... 
 
 
 25.527 
 
 117,891 
 
 Strathfieldsaye 
 
 
 17,123 
 
 110,051
 
 FRUIT GROWING. 177 
 
 During the year ending ist March, 1890, there were 988 horses 
 in Bendigo, 202 in Eaglehawk, 6,754in Marong, 2,151 in Huntly, 
 and 5,375 in Strathfieldsaye ; 8ri milch cows in Bendigo, 71 in 
 Eaglehawk, 4,748 in Marong, 2,072 in Huntl}', and 2,745 in 
 Strathfieldsaye ; 187 other cattle in Bendigo, 8,665 in Marong, 
 5,764 in Huntly, and 5,006 in Strathfieldsaye ; 144 sheep in 
 Bendigo, 166,998 in Marong, 46,617 in Huntly, and 11,491 in 
 Strathfieldsaye; 950 pigs in Bendigo, 406 in Eaglehawk, 2,036 
 in Marong, 1,320 in Huntly, and 936 in Strathfieldsaye. 
 
 " Turn we 
 To vigorous soils, and ciimes of fair extent ; 
 Where, by the potent sun elated high, 
 The vineyard swells refulgent to the day." 
 
 The district surrounding Bendigo is noted for its fruit, the 
 descriptions chiefly grown being grapes, apples, apricots, plums, 
 peaches, pears, lemons and strawberries. While it is expected 
 that there will be a great future for the fruit industry, the wine 
 industry is confidently regarded as the eventual mainstay of the 
 district. The cultivation of the grape is confined principally to 
 the Shires of Strathfieldsaye, Marong and Huntly. During the 
 year ending ist of March, 1890, there were 658 acres of vines in 
 Strathfieldsaye, from which 5,069 cwt. of grapes were gathered 
 iind not made into wine, and 9,723 cwt. of grapes were gathered 
 and made into wine. The wine produced amounted to 60,979 
 gallons. There were 137 acres of vines in Marong, from which 
 1,560 cwt. of grapes were gathered and not made into wine, and 
 1,569 cwt. were gathered and made into wine, of which there 
 were produced 10,210 gallons. There were 177 acres in Huntly, 
 from which 2,242 cwt. of grapes were gathered and not made into 
 wine, and 2,596 cwt. were gathered and made into wine and 
 brandy. The wine produced amounted to 16,751 gallons, and 
 the brandy manufactured to 40 gallons. The total figures for 
 these three districts were therefore 972 acres of vines, 8,871 cwt, 
 of grapes gathered and not made into wine, and 13,888 cwt. of 
 grapes gathered and made into wine, 87,940 gallons of wine 
 produced, and 40 gallons of brandy manufactured. 
 
 The suitability of the Bendigo district for the cultivation of the 
 grape was recognised early in the fifties, and in 1864 the v-ines of 
 the district were admired and sought after by judges of admitted
 
 17*8 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 authority. There were numerous vineyards on the Emu, Axe, 
 Sheepwash. and Bullock Creeks, and at Epsom, Huntly, Lock- 
 wood, Adelaide Vale, Yarraberb, and other localities, which have 
 since become famous for their wines. Messrs. Panton and 
 Otway were amongst the first and most successful vignerons of 
 the district, their vineyards being situated at Epsom and Huntly. 
 The industry has progressed greatly since they started, and there 
 are many vignerons in and around Bendigo whose wines have 
 everywhere gained a high reputation. Mr. F. de Castella, expert 
 to the Board of Viticulture, contributed the following general 
 remarks to the journal of the Board not long ago : — 
 
 The climate of the Bendigo district is warm, but not excessively so, and 
 is intermediate between that o.*" the Yarra Valley and Rutherglen ; it is, 
 therefore, capable of producing lighter wines than the latter place, although, 
 as a rule, the wines produced are not of a very light description. Some 
 that I tasted were excellent, and were remarkable for their bouquet and 
 freedom from what is known in France as gout de tcrroir ; they are 
 mellow, round, and possess good keeping qualities. The kinds grown are 
 chiefly the Red Hermitage, Carbinet, Sauvignon, Burgundy, Mataro, 
 Grenache, Dolcetto, and one or two others, though to a limited extent, 
 for red wines ; whilst for white, the principal varieties are Riesling, Chasselas, 
 Pedro Ximenes, Madeira, \'erdeilho, Gouais, White Hermitage, Frontignac, 
 and many table varieties. Although the white vai-ieties are, as a rule, 
 suitable, this is not entirely the case with the red, the Shiraz or Red 
 Hermitage meeting, in my opinion, with an undue amount of favour, and 
 such varieties as the Mataro, Carignane, Dolcetto, etc., being more or 
 less neglected. Were the latter cultivated to a greater extent, the resulting 
 wines would be lighter and better suited for the European market. 
 
 In our necessarily brief reference to the vine-growing industry, 
 it is not possible to do justice to all the growers ; but dealing 
 shortly with the chief among them, beginning with Strathfieldsaye, 
 we may say that Bruhn's vineyard, at Emu Creek, has been one 
 of the best known in past years. It is thirty-five acres in extent, 
 and Mr. Bruhn has done an extensive trade with other districts, 
 and England and (iermany for many years. He thoroughly 
 understands the business, having been brought up to it in his 
 native country, and with an extensive cellarage, and excellent 
 appliances, has every opportunity to establish a very large trade- 
 in the future. Mr. Bruhn has carried off a great number of 
 prizes at various exhibitions. Mr. A. W. Fox has also been 
 a large prize-taker for the excellence of his wines. His vineyard 
 is situated on the Emu Creek, and consists of over 70 acres, the
 
 THE WINE INDUSTRY. 17fl 
 
 greater part of which is planted. Mr. J. T. Deravin, of the 
 Sheepwash, has 14 acres under vines, and 3 under other fruits. 
 He has never exhibited for prizes. The principal wines produced 
 by Mr. Deravin are Hermitage, Claret, Pedro-Ximenes, Verdeilho, 
 Reisling, and Chasselas. He believes that " vine growing will 
 yet become the chief factor of Victorian wealth, and that the 
 wines of Bendigo will take the leading place in the markets of the 
 world." Mr. W. Greiffenhagen has 45 acres under vines on Axe 
 Creek. Mr. de Castella says that the excellent wines he tasted in 
 Mr. Greiffenhagen's large and convenient cellars would convince 
 anyone of the capabilities of the district. Some of the wines, 
 being old, had developed remarkable bouquet. It should be 
 mentioned that Mr. Greiffenhagen's cellars have been described 
 as the finest in the Southern Hemisphere. Mr. Greiffenhagen 
 has received numerous prizes, and his orchard is also noted for 
 its produce of fruit. Mr. T. Craike's vineyard and orchard are 
 situated on the Axe Creek, and consist of about 65 acres. He 
 also owns about 600 acres of uncultivated land. The vineyard 
 and orchard occupy one of the best sites on the creek, as a natural 
 stone weir just below it dams back the water for a considerable 
 distance. This enables Mr. Craike to utilise pumping machinery 
 very advantageously. Mr. Craike thinks well of the Red 
 Hermitage, from which he produces some excellent wine. Much 
 care is taken of the vineyard, and the admirable quality of Mr. 
 Craike's wines has been attributed by Mr. de Castella to the 
 generous system of pruning which he has adopted. Mr. Craike's 
 orchard is one of the best in the district. He had a magnificent 
 crop of apples during the season 1890-1, and took a leading part 
 in the movement to export this fruit for sale on the IvOndon 
 markets. Mr. M. Rundell, who has a vineyard and orchard of 
 ten acres in the Strathfieldsaye district, has much faith in the 
 future of the industry. He intends to put additional land under 
 vines during the ensuing year. Mr. Rundell produces several 
 varieties of table grapes, such as Black Prince, St. Peter, Muscat 
 of Alexander, Morastel, Raisin de Dame, Malaga, and Sweet 
 Water, and of wine grapes grows Hermitage, Reisling, Chasselas, 
 and Mataro, the first-mentioned being the best. Mr. F. Grosse, 
 of the Tooronga Vineyard, Emu Creek, has 35 acres under vines. 
 The varieties of wine grapes grown are the White Reisling, 
 Verdeilho, Grenache, Tokay, and ^ladeira, and of the Red
 
 180 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Hermitage, Carbinet, Sauvignon, and Red Grenache. The chief 
 wines grown are blends named Hock, Chablis, and Claret ; 
 the unblended wines are Reisling, Verdeilho, Hermitage, and 
 Carbinet. Mr. Grosse has been an extensive prize-taker at 
 international and intercolonial exhibitions. He regards the 
 industry as in its infancy, but believes that it will yet become one 
 of the chief sources of income to the colony. The cultivated 
 land in Mr. A. Mannis's vineyard covers over 40 acres on the 
 Axe Creek. Various kinds of vines have been planted, the 
 principal varieties being the Waltham Cross, Chasselas, Frontignac, 
 Hermitage, Verdeilho, Reisling, and Dolcetto. Mr. l)e Castella 
 has expressed the opinion that the last-mentioned variety is 
 not cultivated so much in the Bendigo district as it ought 
 to be. Mr. Mannis's vineyard shows what may be done by the 
 energy and attention of one man and his family of grown up sons 
 and daughters. Amongst other vignerons in Strathfieldsaye may 
 be mentioned Messrs. Read, Brennan, Pohl, Burne, Lowndes, 
 and Mrs. Kronk and Mrs. Meyer. Peterson's Johannisberg 
 Vineyard consists of over 30 acres. Mr. de Castella states that 
 when he visited this vineyard he tasted some fine wines, of a 
 strong description, made from Pedro Ximenes and other grapes. 
 In Bendigo there are Mr. Kahland's cellars, scrupulously clean 
 and neat, containing most excellent wines. Mr. Kahland has no 
 vineyard of his own, but is to be credited with great judgment 
 in the selection of the fruit which he purchases from vinegrowers 
 in the district. The cellars are situated in King Street, on the 
 site of a puddler's claim, which was taken up by Mr. Kahland, 
 sen., nearly 30 years ago. 
 
 Mr. C. J. Busst, of Huntly, has fifteen acres under vines. 
 Hermitage, Pedro Ximenes, White Hermitage (wine grapes), and 
 Champion Muscat, Waltham Cross, Red and Black Prince, 
 Muscatels, Black St. Peter, Raisin de Dames, etc. He has two 
 acres under peaches and apricots, and one acre under apples, 
 pears and plums. The wines produced are Hermitage and 
 Pedro Ximenes. Mr. Busst considers that the valley at Huntly 
 where it widens out is splendidly adapted for the cultivation 
 of the vine and peach and apricot. Mr. A. Ruedin, of Huntly, 
 has thirty-two acres, including young vines, besides ten acres 
 under other fruit. The chief kinds of wine produced are 
 Hermitage, Carbinet, Mataro, Burgundy, Verdeilho, Reisling,
 
 THE WEEROONA APIARY. 
 
 181 
 
 Pedro Ximenes, Frontignac and Muscat. He is of opinion that 
 the industry is likely to have a great future. He goes on to 
 say : — " The quality of our wines cannot be surpassed. I do not 
 say we can make a French or German wine, and I think it would 
 be folly to try. But let our wines go to the market after they are 
 properly matured, as Australian wines, and I am convinced they 
 will be appreciated as much as wines of other countries." 
 Messrs. Delbridge Brothers, of Epsom, also speak hopefully of the 
 future of the wine industry. They have been very successful in 
 producing table grapes. Mr. W. Scheufifle has a vineyard of twelve 
 acres, in which he grows various kinds of grapes, including Shiraz 
 and Frontignac. In Lock wood are Messrs. F. Meyer and Wallis 
 and others, in Woodstock, Mr. Bassett and others, and at Newbridge 
 Mr. Summers and others, all of whom have been successful in 
 the cultivation of the grape. The Board of Viticulture has had 
 850 acres at Emu Creek reserved for the purpose of a Viticultural 
 College, and has also secured the reservation of Soo acres at 
 Huntly, suitable for an experimental station. 
 
 Two shipments of Bendigo apples were sent to London in 1891, 
 and the success of the experiment was such as to lead the local 
 fruit i)roducers to entertain the idea of repeating it on a larger 
 scale in future seasons. 
 
 The Weeroona Apiary at Strathfieldsaye, established by Mr. J. 
 G. Edwards, but now carried on by Mr. M. G. Salmon, produces 
 7,500 lbs. of honey every year. Li addition, Mr. Salmon proposes 
 to cultivate the grape and other fruits on an extensive scale.
 
 182 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 " With clink of hammers, closing rivets up." 
 
 —Cibber. 
 
 Local Industries— The Pottery — The Rolling Stock Works — The Foundries 
 — Various Manufactories — Statistics — "The Forest City" — Sandhurst's 
 Health-giving Climate — The Future Outlook. 
 
 ^Wc^te^pE have now completed our record of the rise and 
 .jll^wll: progress of the district and its various institutions, 
 (C|vMyp and of the development of its resources. Amongst 
 ["^^Sfe^j other industries may be mentioned specially the 
 Bendigo Pottery Works, which give employment 
 to a large staff, and turn out some excellent crockeryware, 
 earthenware, fancyware, piping, etc. They are situated at 
 Epsom, where clay, suitable for the purposes of manufacture, 
 may be obtained in abundance. Mr. G. D. Guthrie, who 
 established the pottery in 1858, commenced with two boys ; 
 but it was not till the railway was built that the industry 
 assumed respectable dimensions. In 1866 he opened a depot 
 in Melbourne for acid bottles, and all kinds of brown stone- 
 ware. The trade has grown steadily, as the country has been 
 opened up, and as population has increased. In 1874 he 
 added steam jiower, and has now three engines, the largest 
 of thirty-five horse-power, and the smallest of eight. He 
 produces Majolica, Pjarbotine, Sevres, and other ornamental art 
 pottery, and finds a ready market. Some years ago his business 
 was taken over by a company, and more recently Mr. Guthrie 
 went to the Old Country, visited some of the leading potteries, 
 and brought back with him many labour-saving appliances.
 
 THE BENDIGO ROLLING STOCK WORKS. l^'-> 
 
 His manufactures now range from the humblest flower- pot to 
 the finest ornamental art pottery. He has been signally suc- 
 cessful in the manufacture of Bristol ware, the body of the 
 ware, and the glaze equalling the best home makes. I'he 
 works cover about two and a-half acres ; there are eleven kilns, 
 which are burnt every week ; there is a railway siding with 
 rails up to the warehouse door. There is abundance of clay 
 in the neighbourhood suitable for a base, other clays being 
 brought from elsewhere, such as china clay from Lai Lai. About 
 one hundred hands are employed, and over ;^4oo are paid 
 every fortnight for wages and fuel. 
 
 The Bendigo Rolling Stock Works, which give employment 
 to between 200 and 300 hands, and pay ^25,000 in wages 
 annually, have completed several large orders for rolling stock 
 for the Victorian Railways. The works are situated at the 
 corner of AVilliamson and Myers Streets, and also have a 
 frontage to Bull Street. The machinery and appliances are 
 of an elaborate description, and thoroughly up to date, enabling 
 the Company to construct every requisite in the first and 
 second-class carriages, excepting the wheels and springs, the 
 latter being supplied. The plant is capable of turning out 
 ;^ioo,ooo worth of rolling-stock, of the highest class, per annum, 
 besides about ;^io,ooo worth of private vehicles, such as 
 buggies, waggonettes, and other light business and pleasure 
 carriages. The power used in the factory consists of one 
 seventy-five horse-power engine for railway work, and one 
 fifteen horse-power engine for buggy work. Mr. Peter Ellis 
 is now sole proprietor of the business. He has had a long 
 and varied experience in mechanical engineering, notably 
 railway stock and equipment, for which he holds high and 
 valuable credentials. Carriages, m all stages of erection, may 
 be seen at any time by a visitor to the works, which comprise 
 one of the most prominent industrial establishments in the 
 district. 
 
 The various foundries on Bendigo have not only supplied 
 the machinery required locally on the mines, but have also*" 
 received numerous and extensive orders from other goldfields 
 in this and the adjoining colonies. 
 
 Messrs. Horwood and Son's foundry was established as 
 far back as 1856 ; and no other foundry in Victoria has
 
 184 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 been so long under one management. The firm has always 
 enjoyed a high reputation for the character of the work it 
 has turned out. The plant is of a first-class description, 
 more particularly the boiler-making, plate bending, and punching 
 and shearing machinery. 
 
 Messrs. Harkness and Co.'s Victoria Foundry, Golden Square, 
 was commenced in a small way in 1858 by four practical 
 workmen, Messrs. Irving, Espie, Braddish and Arundel. The 
 firm prospered, but several changes occurred in the manage- 
 ment, until in 1870 it consisted of Messrs. Ruddock and 
 Harkness. Subsequently Messrs. R. Allingham and R. Lisle 
 succeeded Mr. Ruddock in the firm, but they retired in 1881 
 and 1886, leaving Mr. Harkness sole proprietor. The latter 
 entered into several government contracts for the supply of 
 rolling-stock, one of which amounted to ^24,000, and has been 
 engaged in recent years chiefly in the manufacture of winding and 
 pumping engines, air-compressing machinery, and quartz-crushing 
 batteries. The firm claims to have made the largest air- 
 compressing plant in the district and one upon which it is now 
 engaged, to the order of Mr. George Lansell, will be the 
 largest in Australia. Mr. Harkness has been successful in 
 competing for work in Victoria and the other colonies, and 
 it will be readily understood that the plant of his establish- 
 ment is of a superior character. Mr. Harkness employs from 
 sixty to seventy hands, and distributes about ^7,000 per annum 
 in wages. 
 
 Messrs. Roberts and Sons started business as general smiths 
 with one forge in 1861. They subsequently removed to Wills 
 Street, where they are now in a position to manufacture any 
 machinery required for mining in the colonies, such as winding, 
 pumping, crushmg, rock-boring machinery and boilers. They 
 have made some of the largest winding machinery on Bendigo, 
 and during the past twelve months have supplied and fixed at 
 Broken Hill South three pairs of direct-acting winding engines, 
 one duplex air-compressor, three air-receivers, four Cornish and 
 '■Lancashire boilers, and two double-cylinder 8-inch air winches, 
 and two sets of pumping workings. Other Broken Hill orders 
 which they completed were one 18-inch cylinder winding and 
 pumping engine with pumps and boiler, and several pump 
 workings, while they also forwarded three air-compressors to
 
 U3 
 
 5 
 
 [-H 
 
 z 
 
 o 
 
 ^ a 
 UJ § 
 
 o 
 
 w
 
 VARIOUS MANUFACTORIES. 185 
 
 Waukaringa, South Australia. In 1S91 they had in hand a large 
 contract for the Laanecoorie Weir, to the order of Mr. A. 
 O'Keefe. They have made and fixed on that weir the largest 
 outlet valves made in the colony. Messrs. Roberts and Sons 
 employ from seventy to eighty hands, and hope soon to increase 
 that number. 
 
 The Central Foundry has been in existence for many years,, 
 and does a large trade. The proprietors are Messrs. Swalling, 
 Lake, Briggs, and Leaney. Messrs. Carter and Brown, whose 
 works are situated in Creek Street, make a specialty of ornamental 
 castings for verandahs, balconies, and railings generally. Previous- 
 to the establishment of this branch of industry, local builders were 
 obliged to send to Melbourne for the castings described. The 
 firm also manufactures all classes of agricultural castings. 
 Mr. Taylor Horsfield started business in Long Gully in 1883, 
 and owing to the increase of trade was obliged in 1S89 to erect 
 a new building, containing improved appliances. He employs 
 eleven hands, and like the other iron-founders, turns out a large 
 quantity of machinery for distant goldfields, his specialty being 
 rock-borers. The Eaglehawk Foundry, of which Mr. Bousfield is 
 the proprietor, was started in December, 1890, and is practically 
 in its infancy. 
 
 Other industrial establishments in Bendigo are implement 
 factories, brick and tile works, powder and fuse factories, flour- 
 mills, bone-mills, brush manufactories, wire-work establishments,. 
 stone-i)olishing works, boot factories, eucalyptus works, six 
 breweries (producing 895,440 gallons of ale per year), and 
 cordial manufactories. The brewers are, Cohn's Brewery Com- 
 pany, W. Bruce and Sons, Hunter, Johnson and Illingworth, 
 J. Fawns, J. Steward, and Pritchard and Chamberlain. Outside of 
 Bendigo, Edwards and Deeble's Pyrites Works, Abbott's tannery 
 at the Sheepwash, and Burke's Woodstock Dairy and Butter 
 and Cheese Factory, are worthy of special mention. Messrs. 
 Abbott and Co.'s tannery is principally engaged in preparing mill- 
 belting, harness, and shoe leather, and turns out six hundred 
 finished sides per week, and in addition to supplying the wants of 
 Bendigo and neighbouring districts, exports several thousand sides- 
 annually to London. The appliances are of the most modern 
 character, and waste products are all profitably utilised. The 
 tannery is under the management of Mr. R. H. S. Abbott, and its.
 
 186 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 success sufficiently indicates his ability. There is a warehouse 
 in the city in connection with the tannery, while at the boot 
 factory at Messrs. J. H. Abbott and Co.'s retail establish- 
 ment there are upwards of eighty hands employed. The 
 principal coachbuilders, after the Rolling Stock Works, are 
 those of Messrs. Scholten and Marsh, and Donnellan and 
 Sheehan, and Mr. R. Hogan, of M'Crae Street, and E. Flood, 
 Hargreaves Street, are the chief manufacturers of drays and 
 waggons. There is great room in Bendigo for fruit-preserving 
 industries. Mention must also be made of Days asphalte 
 works, the quality of the material composing the majority of 
 the footpaths in the city being superior to anything of the kind 
 in the colony. 
 
 Of manufactories, works, quarries, etc. (exclusive of those 
 connected with mines), there were in Bendigo during the year 
 ending March ist, 1890, 149 altogether, of which forty were 
 worked by steam, three by horse-power, twelve by gas, one by 
 water, and ninety-three by manual labour. The total horse- 
 power employed was 555 ; the number of hands, 1,652 males 
 and 462 females. The approximate value of machinery and 
 plant was ^156,841 ; of the lands, ;^io8,946 ; and of the 
 buildings, ;^i57,588. Summarising the manufactories, etc., in 
 Eaglehawk, Marong, and Strathfieldsaye, the total was forty- 
 four, thirty-three being worked by steam, one by horse- 
 power, and ten by manual labour. The total horse-power 
 was 431, the hands numbered 313 males, and four females ; 
 the approximate value of machinery and plant, ^36,180; of 
 lands, ^4,020; and of buildings and improvements, £2^,']']^. 
 [Statistics of mining plant and machinery will be found in 
 Chapter XL] 
 
 Bendigo is noted for the beauty of its streets, by reason of 
 the long avenues of trees. Out of 120 miles of streets in the 
 city, ninety miles are planted with elms, oaks, firs, and gums, 
 and Bendigo has earned the name of the " Forest City," by 
 reason of their luxurious growth. How well it deserves the 
 name will be understood by a glance at our extended views of 
 the city and Pall Mall, where many of the buildings are obscured 
 by the dense foliage. The street trees are under the care of 
 Mr. Roper, a most efficient officer. The city is also rich in 
 reserves, Rosalind Park, an area of sixty-six acres, situated in
 
 THE FUTURE OUTLOOK. 1>^7 
 
 the heart of the city, being the chief. This reserve is very 
 tastefully laid out, and includes within its borders a magnificent 
 fernery covering four acres — a really enchanting retreat. It has 
 been described by competent authorities in the neighbouring 
 colonies as the finest fernery in Australia. Mr. Lyons is the 
 curator. The reserve round Lake Weeroona is also well laid 
 out, while out of the city are the Botanical Oardens, covering 
 an area of thirty-six acres, and containing a " Zoo." All these 
 reserves are under the control of Mr. S. G. Gadd. Eaglehawk, 
 too, has its Canterbury Park, Lake Reserve, Fernery, and Con- 
 servatory, upon which the Council expends a considerable sum 
 annually. Mr. J. S. Smith is the curator. At Back Creek is 
 Knight's nursery, which is a remarkable proof of what can be 
 done in the way of cultivating the abandoned alluvial diggings. 
 Mr. Knight, who is an enthusiastic and indefatigable botanist, 
 does a large trade with the metropolis. Mr. J. P. Carolin also 
 has great faith in the old diggings, and has devoted much 
 attention to the cultivation of several acres in the Bendigo Valley 
 near White Hills. 
 
 Although Bendigo summers are certainly warm, the heat, 
 being dry in character, is not nearly so enervating as the 
 moist heat to be met with in districts nearer the coast. This 
 dry atmosphere renders the district extremely popular with 
 people afflicted with throat and chest diseases, and many persons 
 have found residence on the goldfield effective in warding off 
 threatened attacks of consumption. 
 
 Bendigo, in 1891, possesses a decided appearance of stabilit}-. 
 With its large area of only partially-explored auriferous terri- 
 tory, and its numerous undeveloped reefs, there is every 
 reason to expect that it will, for many years to come, 
 retain its reputation for gold production. Apart from 
 this, however, is the fact that the Bendigo station is the 
 converging point of many railway lines, which tap districts 
 rich in the productiveness of their soil. With the effective 
 aid of irrigation, many hitherto arid districts will, in time, 
 " blossom like the rose," and as the centre of a large 
 agricultural district, stretching northward to the Murray, 
 Bendigo should continue to hold its own in the future as 
 the chief centre of population in the northern half of the 
 colony of Victoria.
 
 188 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 Many of the pioneers whose deeds have been recorded in these 
 pages, and many others who have rendered signal service in 
 a quieter way, have passed out of the world, leaving bright records 
 of their lives of usefulness. Some are still amongst us, active and 
 honoured citizens. The work of the pioneers is almost finished — 
 their rest is well earned — and in the natural order of events their 
 places are being taken by the younger generation, who desire to 
 emulate, in a generous way, the achievements which enshrine 
 j-heir fathers' memories.
 
 ADDENDUM. 
 
 In chapter seventeenth the Long Gully, Eaglehawk, and Cali- 
 fornia Gully Mechanics' Institutes, and the Golden Square Working 
 Men's Club were mentioned. At the time of writing Mr. Horsfield 
 is president, Mr. J. A. Hall, treasurer, and Mr. \V. Wilson, 
 secretary, of the Long Gully Mechanics' Institute, and Mr. 
 W. L. Williams, president, and Mr. J. S. Abbott, librarian, of 
 the Eaglehawk Institute. When the Golden Square Working 
 Men's Club was established in 1S83, those most identified 
 with it were the president, the Rev. H. J. Howell, the 
 treasurer, Mr. G. S. Bisset, the secretary, Mr. J. F. Hogan, 
 and Messrs. W. H. Weir, T. Jones, R. Jones, J. Bisset, W. 
 Bradshaw, Le Franz, Keefe, Aubrey, R. Rowe, E. AVilliams, 
 A. G. James, LI. W\ James, Hewitt, Johns, O'Neil, Beeson, 
 Webb, and Hope. At present Mr. A. G. James is president, 
 Mr. T. S. Montgomery, secretary, and INIr. J. L. Allingham, 
 treasurer. When the California Gully Mechanics' Institute was 
 established in 1883, ]\Ir. M. Thomas was elected [)resident, 
 Mr. M. J. Fardy, secretary, and Messrs. J. Veale, L. Fardy, 
 J. Cameron, J. Taylor, T. T. Roper, and J. Job, trustees. 
 Mr. M. J. Fardy is now the president, Mr. Veale, treasurer, and 
 Mr. Ebbott, secretary.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 REPRESENTATION OF BENDIGO 
 
 ELECTIONS. 
 
 N PARLIAMENT. 
 
 OLD NOMINEE COUNCIL. 
 
 1854, Dr. Owens represented the IJendigo diggers. 
 
 OLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 
 
 i6th November, 1S55. 
 
 BENDIGO.— Two Seats. 
 
 R. Benson ... ... ... ... 606 
 
 J. M. Grant 550 
 
 S. Jones ... ... ... ... 379 
 
 [Under the New Constitution.] 
 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. 
 
 IOTH OCTOfiER, 1856. 
 ONE SEAT. 
 
 J. M. Grant . 
 J. F. Sullivan 
 
 26TH August, 1859. 
 
 TWO SEATS. 
 
 R. F. Howard 
 John Henderson 
 "E. N. Emmett 
 R. Benson 
 Dowley 
 Grant 
 
 IOTH August, i 
 
 TWO SEATS. 
 
 W. D. C. Denovan 
 J. J. Casey 
 
 R. F. Howard 
 
 Carpenter 
 
 Henderson 
 
 Mr. Howard peti 
 the return of Mr. Casey and secured 
 the seat. 
 
 SANDHURST. 
 
 692 
 415 
 
 625 
 
 525 
 
 518 
 
 174 
 
 60 
 
 1557 
 
 "51 
 
 1142 
 
 238 
 
 22 
 
 tioned against 
 
 Mr. Denovan resigned his 
 in July, 1862, and an election 
 place on the 30th August — 
 
 R. Strickland... 
 
 D. Moore 
 
 3RU November, 1S64. 
 
 TWO SEATS. 
 
 R. F. Howard 
 
 J. Halfey 
 
 — Macarthy ... 
 
 T. Mcllwraith 
 
 January, 1866. 
 
 TWO SEAl'S. 
 
 J. Halfey 
 
 R. Burrowes ... 
 R. F. Howard 
 
 February, 1S68. 
 
 TWO SEATS. 
 
 R. Burrowes ... ... ... mi 
 
 A. Mackay ... ... ... 1067 
 
 J. Halfey 799 
 
 seat 
 took 
 
 1258 
 754 
 
 lOII 
 
 971 
 906 
 S20 
 
 1253 
 1226 
 108 1
 
 192 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 S AN D H U RST. — Continued. 
 
 June, 1870. 
 
 On Mr. Mackay accepting office 
 as Minister of Mines he was re- 
 turned unopposed. 
 
 March, 1871, 
 two seats. 
 
 A. Mackay 
 R. Burrowes .. 
 J. Mclntyre .. 
 A. E. Moore .. 
 H. McColl .. 
 
 iiSi 
 
 1172 
 
 837 
 
 255 
 
 124 
 
 June, 1872. 
 
 On Mr. Mackay accepting office 
 as Minister of Mines — 
 
 A. Mackay 1409 
 
 E. Garsed 504 
 
 April, 1874. 
 two seats. 
 
 R. Burrowes ... ... ... 2174 
 
 A. Mackay 2161 
 
 J. Mclntyre 2105 
 
 May, 1877, 
 three seats. 
 
 R. Clark 2662 
 
 J. Mclntyre 2520 
 
 W. G. Blackham 2215 
 
 A. Mackay 2128 
 
 R. Burrowes 1S12 
 
 J. Gray 1572 
 
 July, 1S77. 
 
 On Mr. Blackham being unseated 
 
 A. Mackay 1872 
 
 W. G. Blackham 1665 
 
 J- Gray 543 
 
 February, 18S0. 
 
 THREE SEATS. 
 
 R. Clark 2921 
 
 R. Burrowes ... ... ... 2392 
 
 J. Mclntvre 2329 
 
 D. C. Sterry 223S 
 
 W. G. Blackham 2181 
 
 R. White 181S 
 
 March, 1880. 
 
 On Mr. Clark accepting office as 
 Minister of Mines he was returned 
 unopposed. 
 
 July, 
 
 18S0. 
 
 
 THREE 
 
 SEATS. 
 
 
 R. Clark 
 
 
 ... 2488 
 
 R. Burrowes ... 
 
 
 ... 2319 
 
 J. Quick 
 
 
 ... 2288 
 
 R.White 
 
 
 ... 2238 
 
 J. Mclntyre ... 
 
 
 ... 22II 
 
 August, 1881. 
 
 On Mr. Burrowes accepting office 
 as Minister of Mines he was re- 
 turned unopposed. 
 
 February, 1883, 
 three seats. 
 
 R. Burrowes 
 R. Clark 
 J. Quick 
 R. White 
 C. Perry 
 
 2735 
 2703 
 2334 
 1359 
 1209 
 
 May, 18S3. 
 On the death of Mr. Clark— 
 
 A. Mackay ... 
 H. R. Williams 
 
 March, 1S86. 
 
 THREE SEATS. 
 
 J. Quick 
 A, .S. Bailes 
 R. Burrowes 
 A. .Mackay 
 A. Ilarkness 
 J.J.Hall 
 
 March, 1889. 
 two seats. 
 
 R. liurrowes 
 A. Bailes 
 J. Quick 
 J. P. Carolin 
 
 234S 
 
 1821 
 
 2976 
 2095 
 2021 
 1864 
 1420 
 776 
 
 , 191a 
 , 1909 
 . 1566 
 •J.825. 
 
 SOUTH S.\NDHURST. 
 
 ONE SEAT. 
 
 March, 1889. 
 
 D. C. Sterry 
 
 R. O'Neill 
 
 967 
 640
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 193 
 
 OLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 
 THE LOUDON DISTRICT. 
 
 OCTOliER, 1856. —TWO SEATS. 
 
 Dr. Owens and Mr. E. Syme returned. 
 
 [Under the \e\v Constitution.] 
 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. 
 
 MANDURANG. 
 
 August, 1859. 
 two seats. 
 
 Rrodie... 
 Cirpenter 
 Ganley 
 Owens 
 
 765 
 689 
 
 77 
 
 May, 1 86 1. 
 On Mr. Brodie resigning his seat 
 Mr. Sullivan was returned without 
 opposition, and on accepting office 
 as Minister of Trade and Customs 
 in the following month he was again 
 returned unopposed. 
 
 August, 1861. 
 TWO seats. 
 T- F. Sullivan... 
 
 Dr. Owens 
 
 Panton 
 Carpenter 
 
 1240 
 
 1030 
 
 804 
 
 639 
 
 July, 1863. 
 On Mr. Sullivan accepting office 
 as Minister of Mines he was returned 
 unopposed. 
 
 Jui,Y, 1863. 
 On the resignation of Dr. Owens 
 
 J.J.Casey S84 
 
 L. MacPherson ... ... 740 
 
 November, 1864. 
 Messrs. Sullivan and Casey re- 
 turned unopposed. 
 
 January, 1866. 
 TWO seats. 
 
 J.F.Sullivan 1760 
 
 J. J. Casey 1637 
 
 J. Mclntyre 933 
 
 February, 1867. 
 On Mr. Sullivan accepting office 
 as Minister of Railways he was re- 
 turned unopposed. 
 
 Fehruary, 1868. 
 
 Messrs. Sullivan and Casey re- 
 turned unopposed, and on accepting 
 office as Ministers of Mines and 
 Justice respectively, again returned 
 unopposed. 
 
 February, 1871. 
 TWO seats. 
 
 J. J. Casey 
 T. Moore 
 W. Gunn 
 C. Veo... 
 
 1622 
 
 1047 
 
 803 
 
 755 
 
 June, 1872. 
 
 On accepting office as Minister 
 of Lands Mr. Casey was returned 
 unopposed. 
 
 Ai'RiL, 1S74. 
 
 TWO seats. 
 
 J. J. Casey 
 T. Moore 
 W. Gunn 
 
 May, 1877. 
 three se.ats. 
 
 J. J. Casey 
 
 H. R. Williams 
 
 T. Moore 
 
 W. Tupper 
 
 A. E. Moore ... 
 
 February, i88c 
 three seats. 
 
 T.Moore 
 
 H. R. Williams 
 
 J. Fi.sher 
 
 J.J. Casey ... 
 
 Foishaw 
 
 H. M'Coll ... 
 
 1999 
 
 1731 
 
 1044 
 
 3254 
 2631 
 
 2413 
 2127 
 1468 
 
 . 2468 
 
 . 2422 
 
 • 2193 
 
 • 2135 
 . 2014 
 . 1741 
 
 H
 
 194 
 
 HISTORY OF BENDIGO. 
 
 MANDURANG.— C^«/2«7W. 
 
 July, i 
 
 880. 
 
 
 May, 1885. 
 
 
 THREE SEATS. 
 
 
 
 
 J. iMsher 
 
 
 • 2919 
 
 On the death of Mr. II. 
 
 M'Coll- 
 
 H. R. Williams 
 
 
 2887 
 
 
 
 H. M'CoU ... 
 
 
 2694 
 
 J. M. Highett 
 
 ... 2281 
 
 T. Moore 
 
 
 2602 
 
 H. R.Williams 
 
 •• 1547 
 
 J. M. Ilighett... 
 
 
 2476 
 
 
 
 Tupper 
 
 
 2399 
 
 March, 1886. 
 
 
 AUCUST, 
 
 1880. 
 
 
 
 
 On Mr. Williams 
 
 accepting 
 
 office 
 
 THREE SEATS. 
 
 
 as Minister of Mines 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Williams 
 
 
 2957 
 
 J. H. M'Coll 
 
 ... 3623 
 
 Moore... 
 
 
 2696 
 
 J. T. r.rown 
 
 ••• 2754 
 
 
 
 T. M. Highett 
 
 ... 2465 
 
 February 
 
 1883. 
 
 
 T. Moore 
 
 ■•• 2399 
 
 THREE SEATS. 
 
 
 C. Yeo 
 
 ... 1690 
 
 T. Moore 
 
 
 2697 
 
 
 
 H. M'Coll ... 
 
 
 2203 
 
 March, 1889. 
 
 
 C. Yeo 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 H. R. Williams 
 
 
 1727 
 
 ONE seat. 
 
 
 J.J.Hall 
 
 
 1323 
 
 
 
 J. Fisher 
 
 
 1319 
 
 J. M. Highett 
 
 ... 448 
 
 J. T. Brown ... 
 
 
 1057 
 
 T. Moore 
 
 ••• 439 
 
 Williamson 
 
 
 968 
 
 J. Coutts 
 
 ... 396 
 
 Crichton 
 
 
 209 1 
 
 Sutherland 
 
 ... 67 
 
 EAGLEHAWK. 
 March, 1889. — one seat. 
 
 H. R. Williams 
 
 H. Kirkwood ... 
 
 GUNBOWER. 
 
 March, 18S9. — one seat. 
 
 J. H. M'Coll 
 
 J. T. Brown 
 
 946 
 928 
 
 957 
 845
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 195 
 
 RAINFALL. 
 
 Prominent instances of heavy rainfall in Bendigo during the 
 last twenty-six years. The period in each instance is twenty-four 
 hours. 
 
 PERIOD. 
 
 6lh June, 1863 
 
 31st December, 1863 
 
 i6ih October, 1S69 
 
 7th February, 1871 
 
 23rd P'ebruary, 187 1 
 
 24th Novenil)er, 1 87 1 
 
 loth October, 1875 
 
 13th February, 1877 
 
 i6th March, 1878 ... 
 
 23rd April, 1882 ... 
 
 27th and 28th November, 1882 
 
 
 INCHES. 
 
 
 2*12 
 
 
 3-5 
 
 
 2-35 
 
 
 3-22 
 
 
 2-42 
 
 
 2-04 
 
 
 3-II 
 
 
 3-II 
 
 
 .. 3-67 
 
 
 3-12 
 
 1882 .'.'.' 
 
 2-6r 
 
 Below will be found a table showing the annual rainfall in 
 Bendigo since the year 1861. It will be seen that while we 
 have had no year to equal 1870 in rainfall, the driest years were 
 1881 and 1888. 
 
 PERIOD. 
 
 INCHES. 
 
 PERIOD. 
 
 INCHES 
 
 1862 
 
 22-28 
 
 1877 
 
 19-69 
 
 1863 
 
 25-56 
 
 1878 
 
 18-92 
 
 1864 
 
 28-20 
 
 1879 
 
 16-32 
 
 1865 
 
 I4'S9 
 
 1880 
 
 22-37 
 
 1866 
 
 17-37 
 
 1881 
 
 12-90 
 
 1867 
 
 27-03 
 
 1882 
 
 21-62 
 
 1868 
 
 19-62 
 
 1883 
 
 21-78 
 
 1S69 
 
 16-99 
 
 1884 
 
 21-80 
 
 1870 
 
 36-61 
 
 1885 
 
 20-l6 
 
 1871 
 
 28-12 
 
 1886 
 
 21-39 
 
 1872 
 
 25-17 
 
 1887 
 
 26-25 
 
 1873 
 
 26-36 
 
 1 888 
 
 12-38 
 
 1S74 
 
 20- 50 
 
 1889 
 
 28-32 
 
 1875 
 
 22-04 
 
 1890 
 
 25-10 
 
 1876 
 
 17-82 
 

 
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