To all my readers and to the people who contribute and to Family and Friends. my thanks for your participation this year. All the very best for the Holiday Season to you and to yours. I look forward with pleasure to more adventures and mysteries shared with you in 2010.
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The Moreton Bay Courier
Saturday 24 February 1849
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3708791
Don’t forget to follow the link to the online NLA newspapers with the stories behind these extracts !
THE SUPERINTENDENT. – Serious fears have been entertained for some days for the safety of his Honor the Superintendent, who is on a journey to Portland, via Cape Otway and it was expected would have reached his destination upwards of a week ago. Happily these fears have been dispelled by intelligence from Portland, announcing his Honor’s safe arrival there, his detention being accounted for by his having got lost in the bush, and undergone Considerable hardships before he succeeded in extricating himself. A private letter received from Portland yesterday mentions that among the disasters which befel his Honor, was his being overtaken by a bush-fire, which raged so fiercely that it was only by taking refuge up to his neck in the sea that his Honor was enabled to escape the ravages of the devouring element. His Honor is expected to arrive in Melbourne tomorrow evening, his return being anxiously looked for in consequence of the recent golden discovery.-Melbourne Argus, Feb. 6.
THE LANE BELOW THE FLATS. Originally a poem by WILFRED NATHAN published in the BULLETIN in the early 20th Century and set to music by members of PASPALUM in 2007. Another wee entry into the 20th Century but charming nonetheless.
The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal
Saturday 10 February 1838
The Journal called the fires ” NATIVE FIRES” and described them as ‘ very destructive’. In Feb 1838, Mr Bourne’s house near the Guildford Road next to the Pine-Apple Inn was destroyed as were two other houses.
“These bush-fires are .extremely dangerous, and require the greatest caution in clearing away the bush near the premises.”
___________________________
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article689726
The Maitland Mercury, and Hunter River General Advertiser
Saturday 8 May 1847
JERRY’S PLAINS.
The weather is still dry, and slight frosts have set in, so as to preclude the hope of an autumn-growth of grass this season. The pasturage, plentiful as it is, will consequently be subject to complete destruction by fire. Great care should be taken against the contact of this destructive element, which, otherwise, will he sure to devour the winter resources of our cattle, and leave us in a worse condition than that of last year. The kindling of a single bush-fire a month hence will spread destruction far and wide. It is to be hoped, therefore, that precautions will be taken against so great an evil during the first months of winter, and until the gradual thinning of the grass shall leave the danger of an extensive firing less imminent and certain.
May 6th, 1847.
_________________________
The Perth Gazette, and Independent Journal of Politics and News
Saturday 10 February 1849
EXTRACT FROM
Annual Reports of the Protectors of
Aborigines.
Perth, January 9, 1848.
The feed for stock has been destroyed to a great extent this season by bush-fires, which is attributable chiefly to the unusual abundance and luxuriance of the grass, consequent on the protracted rains of last year. The fire was thus spread from farm to farm unchecked. It is to be regretted that the feed which, under present circumstances, was of such essential consequence to the settlers for the support of their flocks, should have been thus consumed : but however careless the natives may be in the use of fire in their various pursuits, there appears to be no intention to injure the settler.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2549859
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser
Thursday 1 February 1838
The Roads.
The state of the roads throughout the various districts of the interior forms a never-failing topic of complaint among the settlers and of comment in the public Journals. These complaints are not confined to any one district of the territory. In the neighbourhood of Windsor, for example, the roads are said to be nearly impassable, not altogether from the state of disrepair into which they have been allowed to fall, but also from the state of the bridges, which, in many places, have been burnt down by bushfires, and thus allowed to remain without any attempt being made to repair them. The road from Campbelltown to Menangle Ford, has to our knowledge for the last three years been allowed to remain without any attempt to repair it, several of the bridges being altogether impassable, and none of the others passable even in broad day-light without danger to life or limbs.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article640558
The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal
Saturday 6 February 1836
The bush-fires around the town of Perth, within the past week, have threatened some danger. Lieut Armstrong promptly hastened with a detachment of the Military to render every assistance in extinguishing the lames, and succeeded in getting the fire under during the day. At night, however, it broke out again, when their, efforts were renewed, and, we must say, with a degree of alacrity and willingness which entitle them to our consideration. Lieut. King attended on the second occasion. We observed but few civilians so active as we could have wished ; we hope this arose from a persuasion that there was little danger, and not from a want of disposition to assist. It has been suggested, indeed we believe it was remarked by us at some period last year, during the prevalence of the bush fires, which it is almost impossible to guard against, that it would be advisable to clear a road all round the town. To do this immediately and effectually, we would call upon all the inhabitants, either by the crown labour or by supplying a substitute, to come to work with a willing hand. It would soon be done, and the aid of the Military, no doubt, could be obtained, by a representation. being made to the proper authorities. It requires but the exertion of one individual to put this in a train to be accomplished ;we hope some influential gentleman will step forward to effect it.
A MIDSUMMER NOON IN THE AUSTRALIAN FOREST.
NOT a sound disturbs the air,
There is quiet everywhere;
Over plains and over woods
What a mighty stillness broods!
All the birds and insects keep
Where the coolest shadows sleep;
Even the busy ants are found
Resting in their pebbled mound;
Even the locust clingeth now
Silent to the barky bough:
Over hills and over plains
Quiet, vast and slumbrous, reigns.
Only there’s a drowsy humming
From yon warm lagoon slow coming:
’Tis the dragon-hornet—see!
All bedaubed resplendently,
Yellow on a tawny ground—
Each rich spot nor square nor round,
Rudely heart-shaped, as it were
The blurred and hasty impress there
Of a vermeil-crusted seal
Dusted o’er with golden meal.
Only there’s a droning where
Yon bright beetle shines in air,
Tacks it in its gleaming flight
With a slanting beam of light,
Rising in the sunshine higher,
Till its shards flame out like fire.
Every other thing is still,
Save the ever-wakeful rill,
Whose cool murmur only throws
Cooler comfort round repose;
Or some ripple in the sea
Of leafy boughs, where, lazily,
Tired summer, in her bower
Turning with the noontide hour,
Heaves a slumbrous breath ere she
Once more slumbers peacefully.
O ’tis easeful here to lie
Hidden from noon’s scorching eye,
In the grassy cool recess
Musing thus of quietness.
THANKS TO NINGLUN AND HARPUR.
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