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1892
28 May 1892
28 May 1892
Visit of his Excellency the Governor to Mudgee.
Last week we published particulars of the very enthusiastic welcome which his Excellency the Governor and Lady Jersey received at Mudgee on the 17th. instant and on the following day. The town was gay with arches, bunting and other signs of loyal rejoicing. We now present our readers with some views of Mudgee, and a record of the proceedings connected with the vice-regal visit subsequent to Wednesday, the 18th.
MUDGEE, May 19. This morning the Governor and Lady Jersey and suite paid a visit to the English Church, being shown over by Archdeacon Bentzen. The Roman Catholic Church and the Convent School were also inspected, the visitors being received by Dean O'Donovan. The children in the Convent School presented an address of welcome, and the girls sang very nicely, a children' s party song. At noon the vice-regal party, accompanied by Mr. Kidd and Mr. Cox, M.L.C., were driven by Mr. V. J. Dowling in a four-in-hand to the Mudgee Superior Public School, where they were received by the local school board, comprising Messrs. Davidson, Cassin, Kellett and Meares, and the Public school inspector for the district, Mr. J. P. Rooney. Messrs. Wall, Jones, Sharpe, Darnley, Bavister, and Houghton, Ms.L.A., and the Mayor of Mudgee (Mr. Sherry) were also present. The boys' division of the school was first visited. The boys, under the leadership of the headmaster, Mr. A. D. Frazer, sang the National Anthem, after which one of the senior boys, John Graham, read an address of welcome on behalf of the pupils and teachers.
His Excellency, on behalf of Lady Jersey and himself, acknowledged the compliment that had been paid him.
The girls' department, under the charge of Miss B. Buchanan, was then visited. The girls sang a children's chorus very prettily, and the Countess of Jersey was presented by a little girl named Nellie Thomas, on behalf of her playmates, with a basket of beautiful flowers, consisting of roses, violets, and maidenhair. The infants' department under the charge of Mrs. Shaw, was also inspected, and the children sang a charming little action song. Subsequently the children were all assembled in the playground, where they were addressed by Lady Jersey. In the course of her address she remarked that when she was a little girl the first thing she was taught was to do as she was told, and not to ask the reason why. That was the first lesson to be learnt by those who looked forward to doing something useful and great in the world: but though they were told to obey without question, there was no reason why they should not think why they had to do this, and that all the greatest discoveries had been made by those who had wanted to know the reason why, and in the same way she thought boys and girls might sometimes ask the reason why they came to school to learn so many things. Perhaps the first reason was that they might learn to be successful in life. That did not necessarily mean that they were to be something different from their fathers and mothers before them, but simply that whatever they undertook to do, whether ploughing m the fields or keeping the house clean, or bringing up a large family, they should be able to do it in the best possible manner, and what they learned at school would help them to do that. A second reason for going to school was that they might learn things which would make their lives more pleasant and happy, such as music and singing and reading good books, which would teach about all the beautiful things God had put in the world to make them happy. A third advantage of going to school was that it enabled them to help others, and by that means to become themselves, more loving, good-tempered, and happy. These three reasons for going to school would be enough for one day, so she would conclude by hoping that both now and in future years they might be prosperous, happy, and helpful. (Cheers.) At the request of Lady Jersey the children were granted a holiday for the rest of the week. After hearty cheers had been given for the Governor, the Countess of Jersey, the Queen, and the visitors, the vice-regal party drove away to the hospital, over which they were shown by Dr. Nickoll. After a short chat with the patients, the Governor, Lady Jersey, and suite were driven to the show, where about an hour was spent in making a further inspection of the stock and other departments.
In the afternoon his Excellency, Lady Jersey, and party were driven by Mr. V. J. Dowling in his four-in-hand up Oakfield road to Melrose, Mr. Bell's property, across the Cudgegong River, returning by the Broombee road to Mr. Cox's residence, Burrundulla House. The Governor has been presented by Mr. F. Carpenter with one of the exhibits at the show, a very fine round of beef weighing about 40lb., as a sample of what Mudgee can produce. His Excellency is taking it with him to Sydney. It may be mentioned that at the Public school the Governor was introduced to another old aboriginal known as King Finch. It seems that Tommy, to whom the Governor was introduced on the previous day, is only governor of Mudgee, whereas Finch is king of the district. The old man was made happy by the receipt of some tribute money from Lord Jersey.
At half-past 7 this evening a public banquet was given to the Governor and Lady Jersey in the Mudgee Town Hall. About 90 of the leading residents in the district were present, a novel feature being the presence of a large number of ladies. The Mayor of Mudgee, Mr. Sherry, presided. On his right were Lord Jersey, Mrs. G. H. Cox, the Hon. J. Kidd, Mrs. A. H. Cox, and Mr. R. Rouse, while on his left were Lady Jersey, Hon. G. H. Cox, Mrs. R. Rouse, and Captain Leigh. The members of Parliament at present in the district were also in attendance. After the toast of "The Queen," proposed by the chairman, had been duly honoured, and the National Anthem sung.
Mr. R. Rouse, in appropriate remarks, proposed the toast of "His Excellency and Lady Jersey."
The toast was drunk enthusiastically, with three cheers and musical honours, and three extra cheers for Lady Jersey.
The Governor, who, on rising to reply, was received with loud and continued cheers, said Mudgee was well known for possessing a brand of particular excellence, namely, wool, and Lady Jersey and he felt from the kind reception given to that toast, and the kind manner in which they had been received, that they must also add to its credit another brand, and that was kindness and hospitality. His friend (Mr. Rouse) felt that he was placing on him a very heavy burden when asking him to respond also for Lady Jersey, but he could assure them that in one sense there was no difficulty in responding to a toast so kindly proposed and so heartily received. It had given both Lady Jersey and himself the greatest possible pleasure to come to Mudgee and have an opportunity of making the acquaintance of the people and seeing what a splendid district it was. They had been fortunate enough to come at the very moment when the sun had dispelled the clouds, and everything was bright and gay. The people of Mudgee might, therefore, be quite sure that they would carry away with them very brightest recollections of their visit to that district. There could be no more pleasant duty for a Governor than the chance of paying visits to different parts of the country. By doing so he was enabled to realise what the resources of the country really were far better than if he were to confine himself to reading articles or books. He was able also, to see what the result of the actions of the State had been, and he could also understand what the real character of the people was. Looking as he had done during the last few days from the hospitable verandah of Burrundullah, he had seen stretched before his eyes a most beautiful picture of fertile lands. These lands were once a swamp, and of no use to man. Now they ministered to almost all the wants of man. But that picture had not been painted without great sacrifices on the part of some people, who had exercised great energy and real character. (Hear, hear.) These lands showed what could be done when men were determined, and they helped to teach the people that they could have quite as happy homes, though quieter ones, in the country as under the glaring gaslights of a great city, and he thought they urged statesmen to take carefully into consideration how far it was possible for them by wise means to do what they could to get more people on the land. ("Hear, hear." and cheers.) In alluding to the results of the action of the Government he had, of course, to speak with a certain degree of reticence, but there was no doubt that when they came to many towns in New South Wales such as Mudgee, they saw that the action of the Government in the past had been really conducted on wise and prudent principles. No doubt mistakes had been made here and there, but they had to look at the broad results, and he thought the broad results showed that in the past the Government had acted wisely. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps a critic might say there was at present rather too much tendency to rush for Government aid on all occasions - (hear, hear) - and that that might have a tendency to check that individual effort and local energy which, after all, ought to be amongst the leading features of the country. But he believed it was possible and probable that in the not distant future some change would be made in that respect. They might depend upon it, there could be nothing better for the country than that its inhabitants should be widely interested in the government of that country. (Applause.)
Mr. MILLETT, Mayor of Cudgegong, proposed the toast to the Ministry, to which Mr. Kidd replied.
The toast of "The Parliament," was eloquently proposed by Mr. D. Cassin, and was responded to by the Hon. G. H. Cox. on behalf of the Upper House. Mr. Wall and others responded on behalf of the Assembly. His Excellency proposed the toast of "Success to the Mudgee Agricultural Society." Mr. Cox returned thanks, and in doing so briefly sketched the history of the society. The toast of "Lady Jersey and the ladies of the Colony" was proposed by Mr. V. J. Dowling and responded to, on behalf of the ladies by Captain Leigh.
Regarding the portraits which appear in connection with the Governor's reception at Mudgee they are of the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sherry. Mr. Sherry was born in Dorsetshire, England, and at an early age went to the Channel Islands. About 10 years ago he married Miss Wakeham, a Devonshire lady, one who has been from that time a kind helpmate in every sense of the term. The gold yields of the West attracted Mr. Sherry Mudgeewards about 32 years ago, and after several trials of the diggings, he settled down to trade in the town and formed the establishment now known as Sherry and Nelthorpe drapers. This is the second year which Mr. Sherry has filled the Mayoral chair of Mudgee. He has been 14 years an alderman, and has done much service in promoting the welfare of the Mudgee district.
One of the principal exhibitors at the show was Mr. James Lonergan, who established stores in town as far back as the year 1873. The business gradually grew, and to such an extent that four years ago Mr. Lonergan covered 75ft. by 100ft. of land fronting Church-street with stores the cost of which was over £4000, and even these are not now spacious enough for the requirements of the trade. The stock kept in hand averages in value about £20,000, and 19 hands are employed. Business extends to Coonabarabran, Cassilis, Coolah, and Mundooran. Our special reason for mentioning these facts is that Mr. Lonergan devotes more than ordinary attention to the distribution of Australian products and manufactures. He does a large trade with Lithgow pottery wares, some of which he regards as far superior in quality to imported articles of the kind. Again, finding that he had to spend about £50 per week in purchasing colonial made boots, about three years ago he determined to start a boot factory in Mudgee. He obtained the necessary machines, and started with four bootmakers. This branch of the business proved so satisfactory that he now employs 17 hands and manufactures more than £60 worth of boots every week. He has a Blake sole-sewing machine of the latest pattern, which cost £116. In all the machinery used is worth about £400. Much of the leather used is locally made. The goods turned out, as instanced by exhibits at the show, are of excellent, useful qualities. Men's, children's, and women's wear are regularly made, and command fair remunerative prices.
Mr. Lonergan deals very extensively in farm produce, and placed a couple of very attractive trophies at the show.
There is another large boot factory in Mudgee of which we have pleasing reports. These industries, taken with the iron foundries, the exhibits of which won prizes at the show, prove that inland Australia is making at least some progress with manufactures. Mr. Lonergan, although a manufacturer, does not consider protection in the shape of duties essential to the promotion of this colony's welfare2
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