Living in this Bush township afforded me an excellent opportunity of seeing the manner of life led by the people in the far-away districts. The houses were nearly all built of weatherboard or slabs, roofs of thatch or shingle, our own house and the two inns alone being built of brick. They were whitewashed outside and inside, and generally consisted of two front rooms and two skillion rooms at the back; halls were unknown, except in brick houses. The Crown commissioner’s cottage, with the doctor’s and clerk of petty sessions were all of the “Bush” type of architecture, not possessing any special beauty, though tolerably comfortable within. When the wife of our clerk of petty sessions made up her mind “to give a dance,” her husband demurred, “No room large enough.” “Oh, but, John, you and the black servant can soon put one up; and most likely some of our friends in the neighbourhood will assist; now the shearing is over, they have very little to do.” She was right; everybody was ready to assist. Thus a large room was soon added to the cottage, and many dances were held therein. In those days colonial girls were not particular about having waxed floors as they now are. Cinderella dances would have been scoffed at, as in the “Bush” people gladly ride thirty or forty miles for a dance, which always lasted until daylight. Then dresses changed for riding habits, breakfast, and a lovely ride home. Montefiores being surrounded by gold-fields, the sterner sex preponderated. The gold commissioners, in their uniforms, formed a lively contrast to the general civilian dress. In many instances costumes were worn that could not be considered quite en rÈgle, as travellers did not always carry dress suits in their valise. Gloves too often were not the best fitting; but these drawbacks mattered little when youth and health led the way. Ladies were better off, as white muslin and ribbons could always be purchased at the stores. We were rather troubled about shoes and gloves, having small hands and feet. I am almost afraid to state how many times our satin shoes were re-covered and our gloves cleaned. We could always fall back on mittens, being the two youngest ladies out in the district. It goes without saying such dances were very delightful, and we received numbers of bouquets. My brother did not look forward to these dissipations with the same anticipation of delight as we did. “Oh, those merry days when we were young!” How fresh they come back to my memory as I am writing this, with a white world of snow outside our windows! Where are those many dancers? So many, so many are “at rest.” A few only left, with children and grandchildren around them. Strange to say, though the oldest amongst us was under thirty, not half a dozen are living; most of them died in the prime of life. This will appear singular to people in England, where, judging from the obituary notices in the daily papers, greater average of life is attained. We sometimes saw the gold escort pass through the township, with the mounted troopers guarding the precious freight. Bushranging was not uncommon then, therefore we were ready to anticipate the escort being “stuck up.” What accounts of hairbreadth escapes from capture were related! On one occasion, after the capture of a gang of bushrangers, the owner of some stores was told by one of the gang how nearly his stores were to being “stuck up” and robbed by them. He asked the storekeeper, “Do you remember one evening, just as your store was closing, three men coming in to look at some saddles? Several were brought for us to choose from, and as you came in from the back store it was arranged that one of us should ask you to show us some straps that were hanging above your head. When you reached up to do so we were to pinion your arms, knowing when you were overpowered we should have little trouble with the others. While you were free we knew it would not be a safe game. Well, you did not do as we expected, but just passed through and entered the house; so our little game was put a stop to, as we suspected you had recognised us, and we made a hasty move, leaving the store, mounted, and rode off. It was hard lines, as we knew you had been buying gold heavily that week. We consoled ourselves, as we might be able to stick up the escort, and have your gold with the rest.” Accounts of bushrangers “sticking up” stations, travellers, and banks were very frequent, and it was very difficult to follow them to their haunts and hiding-places amongst the gullies and mountain gorges only known to themselves, as they were wonderful bushmen, and only by the aid of black trackers could they be followed. There was the greatest difficulty in cutting off their retreat. The Australian women in many instances displayed great courage and coolness when brought in contact with bushrangers. Mrs. K—— near Bathurst was much praised; she was a young and beautiful woman, and when their place was “stuck up” rode into town to obtain the money the bushrangers insisted upon receiving before they would release her husband and others. On another occasion, when they “stuck up” a station and secured all the men, they made the ladies of the family provide dinner, then play the piano, and dance with them; however, they did not maltreat the women, and behaved themselves tolerably well, considering the character of their visit.

A young man (who was a terrible boaster) was placed in a very ludicrous position. He had been boasting in public of his courage, often saying what he would do if those fellows the bushrangers dared to attack him. “I always carry arms and my revolver handy when travelling, always remembering that at any moment I may be called upon to ‘stand’ and throw up my arms.” “Would you fire at them?” “Of course I would, if there were a dozen of them.” This occurred in the billiard-room of an hotel in one of the towns in the western district. A few weeks after this boastful young Englishman was riding along a lonely bush road at about 10 A.M. when suddenly the word “Stand” electrified him, and in an instant a man seized his bridle; but, curious to relate, the revolver was not brought into requisition, and it is questionable whether he had presence of mind to think of it. He was mounted on a valuable horse lately purchased; this, with his watch, revolver, and a few pounds, were worth taking. His captor told him to “get off the horse, as he wanted it,” then led him away from the road, covering him with his own revolver; then said, “Give me your coat and hat; you can have mine instead.” When he had got all that was worth having, the bushranger coolly said, “I am old enough to be your father, so take my advice. Never boast what you will do until you’ve tried it. You see that one man is more than a match for you, no need for a dozen. Now sit upon that stump while I ‘bail you up’” (which he very quickly did, with some rope he took from the “swag” he carried). “Mind you sit here quietly until sunset; then you can make as much noise as you like. I have some one to let me know if you move. Now remember, if you play any tricks,” and then placed his revolver too close to the young man’s ear to be pleasant. The poor fellow remained there all day long, becoming more and more enraged at his ignominious position, thinking of the cool, impudent rascal, and determining to get away to give an alarm if possible. While trying to free himself he heard a rustle near, and a piece of wood thrown at him, to warn him that he was being watched. At last he fell asleep, and was awakened by a voice calling out, “Why, mate, what’s up?” and saw two rough-looking men by his side. They soon released him when he told them his story, and found they were two station hands returning home from the town. They had left the road to light a fire for their tea, which was soon made, and the hungry, weary young fellow declared that “quart pot tea” and damper were enjoyed by him with greater relish than the best meal he had ever sat down to. He said as little as possible about his captor, and described him very incorrectly, as he was not without some misgivings that it might be a trap of the bushranger. He sat with them till the sun set, and then started for the town, thanking them for releasing him, and the tea. It was a lesson not to be forgotten, and he always in after years told the story whenever he heard “new chums” saying what they would do if this or that were to happen to them.

It is to be regretted that too many young men, when they go out from England, have an idea their mission is to teach colonials, and to show feelings of contempt for them; but this mistake has been lessened considerably of late years, since communication with the mother country has become more frequent and rapid, and the false ideas or impressions of colonial people are being dispelled. For all this, only a few weeks since I read an article in a daily paper teeming with false notions and very unfair remarks upon the colonies and colonials. Even at this present time young men leave England thinking “they can teach the Australians a thing or two,” and when they find how mistaken they have been, return disgusted with their want of success, besides lacking the moral courage to acknowledge they have met their equals, and in many instances their superiors; so in the worst spirit possible set about to malign them. This class of traveller is well known, and their accounts are certainly unreliable. Such men are unfitted for the life of a new colony, or perhaps for any country. There is great want of good taste and common sense, which has been instrumental in producing a far from friendly feeling in the Australian youths; and is it to be wondered at when such unfounded remarks are made on all that is dear to them? Is there not very much that the Australian may well be proud of, and may we not commend them for a spice of “blow”? It should be borne in mind that these colonies have reached their present position in a century only, and the majority of colonists would not disgrace any society in England.