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1900
29 June 1900
Going Ahead.
The alterations and additions to Keegan and Casimir's coach building factory are approaching completion, and are much needed for the increasing business of the firm. The work is of the very best, and the material, as good as money can buy. The firm has just turned out a most elegant and substantial three-quarter, shaft sulky, to the order of Mr D'Arcy Lowe. The upholstering in leatherette, the varnishing and painting, are all of the highest class, and no better vehicle could be built1
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6 September 1900
A First-Class Prize.
The thanks of the Mudgee Agricultural Society are due to Messrs. Keegan and Casimir, the well known coachbuilders, of Perry street, for their handsome offer to the Society at last Saturday's meeting. This firm has donated a prize of a first-class pony sulky, valued at £18, as a prize at next year's show for the guessing competition. A vote of thanks was passed to the donors. If properly worked up, with such a tip-top prize to be won, fully £100 could be realised by the Society. This only means 2000 guesses. A special committee should be formed to look after this competition, and then it will most certainly be a success2
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1901
11 July 1901
A Big Development.
The firm of Keegan and Casimir, coachbuilders, of Perry-street, has made big strides since its foundation, a little over 12 months ago. The premises were greatly enlarged soon after work commenced, and vehicles have been sent to every part of the district, and have given every satisfaction. At the Mudgee show this year Keegan and Casimir took first prize in the class for sulkies, and it is worthy of note that the vehicle was not built specially for show, but was turned out in the ordinary way of trade for Mr. J. D. Young. The repair branch of business receives special attention, and a big stock of all classes of material is stored to insure speedy dispatch. The timber racks are full of stuff being well seasoned, and anyone who entrusts the smallest or the largest order to Keegan and Casimir, may rest assured that the work will be well and truly done, and only the best material employed3
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21 November 1901
The First to Come.
The first reminder of fast approaching Christmas comes to us from Keegan and Casimir, the well-known Perry-street coachbuilders, who sends us a very pretty and artistic almanac in the form of a shield4
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1902
29 May 1902
Keegan and Casimir's Guessing Competition.
The "guessing competition," advertised by Keegan and Casimir, coach-builders, of Perry-street, has been closed. Many of the public failed to see the joke, and the firm has been fairly inundated with letters naming the missing word, but unfortunately they all failed to send the entrance fee of £18. Competitors should read closely the advertisement, which appears for the last time in this issue5
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28 August 1902
For Sale.
We call attention to Messrs. Keegan and Casimir's advertisement announcing that they have a capital second hand sulky, village cart and double seated buggy for sale at very low prices6
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1903
9 April 1903
Report Satisfactory Business.
Messrs. Keegan and Casimir did satisfactory business on the show ground, selling the only two vehicles they exhibited. Since then they have taken orders for first-class sulkies from Mr. Stanley Rouse, of Guntawang, and Mr. G. Wurth, of Eurunderee. Mr. Keegan goes down to Sydney to-night, and will make a special selection of material7
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15 October 1903
Trade Good
In a recent trip round Mundooran, Cobbora and Leadville, Mr. Keegan, of the firm of Keegan and Casimir, coach builders of Perry-street, received a number of orders. The firm reports trade to be looking up well, and this week delivered a fine sulky to Mr. Tom King, and are just completing one to the order of Mr. W. G. Bell, of Melrose8
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1904
2 June 1904
Charge of Conspiracy.
Keegan and Casimir, coach builders, were called upon before a jury of their peers, to answer the following charges:
(1) That they wilfully conspired together to build and sell vehicles of a superior class to those built by other firms, and thus caused great pain of mind and loss to others in the trade.
(2) That they jointly and severally conspired to put a class of material into their work that other firms would not dream of doing at the same price.
(3) That they do, by some unknown art or devilish device, lure customers into their factory, and turn out new work and repairs at a price that threatens the financial ruin of other firms.
Undeniable evidence proved them guilty on every charge. The hardened defendants offered no defence, and expressed no sorrow. Judgment deferred. Meantime defendants will continue the same evil ways at their factory, Perry-street, Mudgee9
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8 December 1904
Messrs. Keegan and Casimir's Factory.
Messrs. Keegan and Casimir report excellent business at their Perry-street coach factory. There is a good deal of new work in hand, and the repair branches are kept very busy. Last week, Mr. M. Shannon, of Biamble station, took away a very fine buggy built to his order with silky oak panelling, and best leather trimmings. It is a splendid vehicle, well calculated to uphold the firm's reputation10
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1905
13 July 1905
Business Good.
Businessmen in Mudgee are certainly beginning to feel the benefits of the improved weather conditions. Messrs. Keegan and Casimir, coach builders, of Perry-street, state that this is the busiest winter they had since the business was established. Among vehicles being built is a lady's drop front phaeton of special design, to the order of Mr. J. R. Atkinson, and a four-wheeled van for Mr. J. Curran, cordial manufacturer, Mud gee. This establishment has a great name for sulkies, and several are being built. There is one ready for Mr. James Nott, of the Talbragar, one for Mr. Walsh, of Budgee, and another for Miss Harris, of Budgee. Mr. Keegan recently took a trip to Sydney to make a selection of a big lot of material, and he brought back with him a one man trotting sulky of excellent design, which is likely to take on here. The repair branches of the shop are kept fully employed, and in fact business hums11
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1906
12 April 1906
A Mudgee Firm Complimented.
"The Australian Hardware and Machinery Journal" compliments Messrs. Keegan and Casimir upon the advertisement they publish in the "Guardian" in the following terms: - "In our April issue we publish a very smart advertisement of yours we noticed in the Mudgee 'Guardian,' and would like to say that any time you are bringing out anything very smart of this character we should like to see a copy of the 'Guardian' with, the advertisement in it." Which further goes to prove that the essence of advertising is originality12
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1909
9 September 1909
NEW VEHICLES.
The firm of Keegan and Casimir. coachbuilders, Perry Street, turned out two very neat sulkies this week - one to the order of Mr. J. Naughton, Gulgong. This sulky had a varnished bent shaft, with natty spotted silky oak wings, circular dash and spindle seat. The seat rails were nickel plated, as was the driving rail. Fitted with the famous felt pad axle, oil lamps, and neatly trimmed with a pretty wine color leather. The other was a pony sulky built for Miss Madge Watt, of Ulinda, to suit a 12-hands pony. It was a very neat little trap painted a dark red and trimmed in leather. Both vehicles reflect credit on the builders for their workmanship and finish13
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1912
11 March 1912
A Smash-Up,
And Its Sequel, Claim for Repairs.
At the Mudgee Police Court, on Friday, Keegan and Casimir claimed from Henry Searle the sum of £8 3 6 for repairs to a sociable.
Mr. Davidson appeared for plaintiff and Mr. C. D. Meares for defendant, who pleaded not indebted.
Alfred Ernest Casimir a member of the firm of Keegan and Casimir, coachbuilders, stated that the repairs to the sociable were ordered by Searle, who gave instructions to send down to Robinson for the vehicle. The conversation between the defendant and himself took place in the shop, when the former asked him to fix the trap up, and the boys had told them that the vehicle had turned over going down a hill, and asked him to effect the repairs but not to make it too hot. No one else spoke to him (plaintiff) about the repairs. Searle came to the shop a couple of weeks afterwards and had a look at the trap.
To the P.M.: The vehicle was sent back to Mr. Robinson when finished, who said he expected the people who hired it to pay for the repairs. Other repairs were effected to the vehicle but the bill for them was rendered to Robinson He saw Mr. Charlie Pack, who asked him what the repairs would cost, and give him an account similar to that sent to Searle, but he returned it the next morning, and said, "We are not prepared to pay this amount," and he (plaintiff) replied, "Alright. I'll have to see Searle about it." The amount is still due.
To Mr. Meares: Robinson had sent the vehicle to get certain repairs done to it before the accident took place. He knew that the trap belonged to Robinson. The Salvation Army people hired it, when the accident took place. It was about October 19 that Searle came to him. Searle had been in the habit of going to the shop on Friday to see Evans and get documents signed. The account for the repairs was first sent to Pack. When the repairs were finished, young Jim Keegan took it to Robinson. He sent the account to Pack when the work was finished, and afterwards to Searle, which was about a month ago. He understood that Searle was acting on behalf of the Army or party who hired the vehicle. He repaired Searle's own trap in January, but never said anything to him about paying for the sociable.
In answer to Mr. Davidson, the plaintiff said between the time he sent the accounts to Pack and Searle the latter came to him and said he didn't think they ought to pay that amount, also that he never told him (plaintiff) to get the trap.
James Keegan, a member of the firm of Keegan and Casimir, stated that he heard defendant say in the factory. "Do the trap up, but don't make it too hot."
To Mr. Meares: "Will swear that Searle made use of the words, "Do the trap up, but don't make it too hot." That was a fortnight after the trap came there. He would not swear that defendant used the words, "We'll all have to contribute something."
James Keegan, jun., stated that he was present when Searle came to the shop, and afterwards went with Bowen to get the trap. Searle came in on another occasion, and said he thought he shouldn't pay for all the hood. In answer to Mr. Meares, witness said he took it that the Army were going to make a collection for the job. It was after October 19 that the hood of the sociable came in from Gulgong. He had frequently seen Searle come to the shop to see Evans.
William Bowen, jun., stated that he heard the conversation between Casimir and Searle re getting the vehicle done up as cheaply as possible.
This was the case for the plaintiff.
Henry Searle (defendant) stated that he was a boot salesman at Loneragan's, Ltd., and was also a member of the Salvation Army, a party of whom went to Gulgong in October. He went out in his own vehicle, but denied having hired the sociable the party went in. He was in no way responsible for the hiring of it, and never gave any order for having it repaired, nor was he authorised by the Army to do so. He positively had nothing to do with it. He saw the trap while in the course of repair. Mr. Evans took him in and showed it to him. Later on he saw Casimir, and said to him, "We want to make the job as light as possible, and expected all hands to throw in something for Robinson, owner of the trap." That was all that took place. He got a bill about a week before receiving the summons, and posted it back. Nothing was said by anyone that they looked to me for payment. The bill was posted back again.
In answer to Mr. Davidson, the plaintiff said that he was not at the place when the accident occurred, but was about two miles further back on the road. He heard Casimir say that he (defendant) came to the shop on a specific occasion on a bike, but he never said anything to the former about sending for the trap, or to repair it: that was untrue. He never took any action with regard to making any arrangements for offering the firm £5 - in fact, he practically took no part whatever in it. Charlie Pack hired the vehicle.
To the P.M.: Pack never instructed him to get the trap from Robinson.
Charles Pack, employed at Kellett and Sons' establishment, stated he remembered in October last the Salvation Army going to Gulgong. There were about 20 of them, and some journeyed there in their own vehicles, while others went in the sociable hired from Robinson. He went to Robinson and arranged for the hire of the trap for £1, but Searle had nothing whatever to do with it. There was an accident to the trap on the road to Gulgong, and afterwards he drove it home to Robinson's stables in Mudgee. He knew prior, to the accident that the trap had to go to Keegan and Casimir's whether it was damaged or not. He never told Searle to go to that firm about the trap. Searle was in no way responsible. He (witness) got an account for £8/5/6, but he did not ask Keegan and Casimir to send the bill to him, and he returned it personally to Casimir. He dealt only with Robinson about the trap, and told Casimir the bill was no good to him. Robinson paid for his share of the repairs of the trap. He was prepared to pay Robinson a certain amount for repairs.
In answer to Mr. Davidson, witness said that Searle never made himself responsible, and if he ordered the work to be done, it was a very foolish thing to do. Witness disputed the full amount of the bill, as there was a certain amount of breakage, including a new hood, which he would not be responsible for.
He made all arrangements with Robinson re the payment for certain repairs.
After argument by Mr. Davidson and Mr. Meares for their respective clients, the P.M. said there had been most stupid arrangements made, which could well have been avoided. He gave a verdict for defendant Searle.
Mr. Davidson then applied for a non-suit, which was refused, the PM. remarking that it was too late for that.
Mr. Meares, on behalf of defendant, applied for expenses. He said that Searle had been called away from Sydney, where he was on a month's holiday, to attend there that day.
The P.M. allowed £1 expenses14
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