At the end of this year I returned to Winton to prepare for the
elections to be held in May, 1896. I addressed a meeting at that town,
and received a vote of confidence. I commenced a tour of the district.
The season was very dry, and I had to send feed for my horses by Cobb's
coach to Boulia. I went over some of the same ground as in 1890, and
when travelling between Boulia and Springvale I saw the tracks made by
my buggy in the wet of that year. This shows the scarcity of travellers
in that country. At the election I was in a minority by three votes in
Winton, but the outside places returned me with a substantial majority.
Labour gained a few more seats at this election, and the verbosity one
had to listen to made an M.L.A.'s life, like a policeman's, not a happy
one.
Towards the end of the session the Minister for Railways laid the plans
and specifications of another section of the Hughenden to Winton railway
on the table of the House. Messrs. Kidston and Curtis, MM.L.A., led the
Central members in strong opposition to the proposal, but after a short
debate it was carried. This section when completed brought the line from
Watten to Manuka, or, as the station is now called, "Corfield."
The second sections of the railway from Hughenden to Winton were
constructed by the late Mr. G. C. Willcocks, and in a record time. He
had to carry ballast and water along the whole construction of 132 miles
from the Flinders River at Hughenden. His system was to plough and scoop
the bed for the permanent way. This being done, a temporary line was
laid down alongside, upon which trucks were run to carry on the advance
work, leaving permanent work to follow up. As a consequence he was two
months ahead of his time, and the line being available to carry traffic
on the unopened portion, the Government decided to give him a bonus to
hand the line over. Compared with present-day railway construction, as
regards expense in time and in money, the Winton line is a monument to
Mr. Willcock's ability and energy as a contractor, and to the relative
merits of contract and day labour.
In 1896, Sir Hugh Nelson had been appointed President of the Legislative
Council, and appeared in his Windsor uniform at the opening of
Parliament this year. Mr. W. H. Brown, the leader of the Labour Party,
who was sitting next to me in the Council Chamber, in a whisper loud
enough to be heard around, remarked:--"I am just thinking how many
ounces to the dish Sir Hugh Nelson would pan out if he were boiled
down." Sir Hugh gave dignity to his new position, which was the reward
of years of distinguished loyal and successful service to Queensland.
The Hon. T. J. Byrnes was now appointed to succeed Sir Hugh Nelson as
Premier, and shortly afterwards visited England. Mr. Byrnes' career and
successes were well known in that country, and these, aided by a frank,
charming manner, made his tour one of triumph. It was a blow to
Queensland that he did not long survive his return to the State.
Although Byrnes was not in Parliament when Macrossan was alive, yet
those who remembered the latter could not help comparing the two men. I
do not recollect having seen Macrossan smile even after a successful
speech. On the other hand, beyond a passing frown scarcely perceptible,
even in the bitterness of debate, I have not seen Byrnes otherwise than
smiling, but when one sat close to either and saw their eyes flashing
fire, one could realise the strength and sincerity of both.
It is possible that had Byrnes lived to take the field against
Federation, as it was thought he would, Queensland might not have
become one of the States, except under certain saving conditions. I was
present at the funeral ceremony in St. Stephen's Cathedral, and saw many
hardened politicians brushing tears off. It was felt that a great man
and a good man had passed away.
Mr. W. H. Browne, more familiarly known as "Billy" Browne, was a lovable
character. Firm in his belief that his principles were right and should
be maintained, but without being bitter to those who might differ from
him. His death was no doubt a temporary loss to the Labour Party, of
which Queensland could easily spare others more bigoted, but less
sincere.
Sir Samuel Griffith, after giving the best years of his life to
Queensland, had now retired to the Supreme Court Bench, and his absence
was a loss to Parliament.
Most members judged Griffith as being cold and distant, but personally,
I have much to thank him for. I found him kind and sociable when
approached, and at no time did he assume a patronising manner when doing
a favour. Those who knew him intimately told me they found him to be the
same. Looking at him from the opposite side, he seemed to be always on
the alert to find his opponent tripping. I have known him, when he did
so, to generously aid in putting them right, and apparently because he
felt it to be his duty to do so. He was different to his great opponent
McIlwraith, both in character and mental construction. McIlwraith was by
nature impatient and irritable. Griffith, on the contrary, was very
patient, and maintained a great control of his temper. This enabled him
to frequently have his views adopted when they might not be, if too
strongly forced. Had advantage been taken of opportunities, Griffith
might have been a wealthy man. But to his honour, and to that of
Queensland Parliaments, from the first even to the present, this State
has been singularly free from what has been brought to light in other
States.
The artesian bore at Winton was now completed by the Intercolonial Deep
Boring Company. The bore has a depth of 4,010 feet, and a flow of
720,000 gallons of water per day, the temperature being 182 degs.
Fahrenheit. It had many vicissitudes during its eight years' sinking.
Two other companies went into liquidation in carrying out the work.
In 1898, I induced the Government to grant a loan of £2,500 to
reticulate the town with water from the bore. As far as I can remember
this session was uneventful in a political sense.
The bad health of my partner, Mr. Campbell, made it necessary that I
should return to active business. I informed my constituents that at the
end of this session, which would be the last of that Parliament, I
intended to retire from politics.
Following Mr. Campbell's death, Mr. T. J. O'Rourke became my partner,
and is so still.
I feel it would be out of place to express my personal opinion of Mr.
O'Rourke. It is enough to say that he who can stand up against the
criticisms, and hold the goodwill of western men of all sorts and
conditions, needs no expression of opinion or feeling from me.
Although the Bush Brotherhood was founded by the Church of England at a
period later than that at which I decided should end these
reminiscences, it may not be out of place to allude to the good work of
the Brethren, and the success of their endeavours to promote the
spiritual and oftentimes the material welfare of the west. The members
lived a life of hardship and self-abnegation, which was appreciated by
people of all and of no religious beliefs.
One of its most notable members was the Reverend Hulton-Sams--known as
the Fighting Parson--and who was the winner of many friendly fights. He
travelled the west visiting stations and shearing sheds with his Bible
and prayer-book on one handle of his bike, and a set of boxing gloves on
the other, and after preaching an impressive extempore sermon,
concluding the service, would invariably say, "Now, boys, we will have a
little recreation!" and invite his hearers to put on the gloves. He was
not always the winner, however. His manly virtues, the sincerity of his
life, and the beauty of his character, made him one of the best loved
amongst western men. On his return to England, after the war broke out,
he enlisted, and received a commission as a Lieutenant in the "Duke of
Cornwall's Light Infantry." He went with his regiment to France, and was
instantaneously killed by a shell when seeking water for his wounded
comrades. He died, as he lived, a Christian hero, and nothing better can
be said of any man.
The following account of his death, received by his sister, Lady
Wiseman, was published in the London _Evening News_:--
The Adjutant of a battalion of the D.C.L.I., said:--"He died a glorious
death--that of a British officer and gentleman, commanding a company in
an important position, and sticking it where many others might have
failed. We were hanging on to the edge of a wood, and the Germans were
trying to shell us out of it. That night the Germans attacked us
again--bombs and liquid fire. C. Company stuck to it, and through all
the terrific shelling they never flinched, although they lost heavily.
"They were there at 10 a.m., and I crawled to and talked to your brother
several times. He was magnificent and very cheerful. His last words to
me were, 'Well, old boy, this is a bit thick, but we'll see it through,
never fear.' His company sergeant-major told me that at about 10 a.m.
your brother crawled away to see if he could get any water for the men,
many of whom were wounded and very thirsty.
"He was hit by a piece of shell in the thigh and side, and killed
instantly. He died doing a thing which makes us feel proud to have
known him. He was a fine officer, a fine friend, and was worshipped by
his men."
I was but one of a large number of members who, during 1888, entered the
House for the first time. To one who had not had the inclination, even
if one had the time, previous to this, for politics, everything in and
around the House was novel and interesting, but it was difficult to
understand why members should in the Chamber be so bitterly hostile to
each other and yet as friendly outside. There were, of course,
exceptions as regards the latter, but I soon learned that a good deal of
what was being said and done was more or less theatrical. Sincerity was
to a great extent at a discount, and later years of experience in
politics confirmed my impressions that the whole was a game to induce
the people to think that their friend was Codlin, and not Short. And the
farce is continued to the present time, only more so, and with the same
success.
It seems to me that the end of my Parliamentary life might be the end of
my reminiscences. The opening of railway communication with Winton
brought new conditions into our lives. The days of pioneering,
bullock-driving, the trips by Cobb and Co., which were not always trips
of comfort or of pleasure, were things of the past. In place of the
crack of the whip and the rumble of the coach were heard the whistle and
snorting of the engine. We were now within civilisation, so far as
convenience might go, but whether we were morally and socially better or
worse is a very open question. The great distances, the open plains, and
the loneliness and monotony which is generally characteristic of the
western country, even in these days of comparative closer settlement,
have formed the western character. It is a character hard, shrewd, and
impatient in good times, but strangely patient and resourceful in times
of floods, drought, or difficulty. Invariably maintaining a certain
reserve, yet hospitable and generous towards strangers, and ready to
give help without question where needed, the western-born man and woman
carries a dignity and presence easily recognised, and a friend who
visited the west after many years, remarks:--"I say, you have a grand
stamp of man and woman growing up in the west, but you are not giving
them encouragement to live in and develop their country as you should
do."
The man of the west deserves much praise, but what might be said of its
women. I have seen these following the waggon, or living in domiciles
which, even at best, would be a shame to cities. Yet very rarely
otherwise than patient, cheerful and hospitable, loving help-mates and
mothers. "God bless them," I say.
I cannot help thinking that politics are the bane of the west. It is
singularly free from religious rancour or animosity. The religious
belief of the other man, or if he has any at all, concerns no one. So
long as a clergyman does not hold that playing cricket or football on
Sunday is wrong, even if he is not popular, he is at all times
respected.
I remember a Roman Catholic priest (Father Fagan) speaking at a dinner
of welcome, remark:--"A brother minister had asked him what good these
social gatherings did?" He replied:--"They did a great deal of good, and
he went so far as to say that one such gathering was worth twenty
sermons. They were simply putting in practice the virtues preached from
the pulpit of hospitality, charity and gratitude."
It is my sincere hope that such kindliness and charity might continue to
the end of time.
"FAREWELL."
WATER DIVINING:
A POSTSCRIPT.
"There are more things in Heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our
philosophy." Thus wrote Shakespeare, and as the centuries roll by, and
the marvels of invention and scientific research are unfolded, this
truth of the immortal bard becomes the more and more evident to thinking
people of all nations.
The faculty or attributes of water divining--that is, ability to locate
water running in natural channels beneath the surface--is one which of
late years has received great attention in Queensland.
In this material and matter-of-fact age it is difficult to place belief
in anything savouring of the occult--anything which cannot be explained
by recognised natural laws, or which is not readily understood.
For this reason, and notwithstanding indisputable evidence of the
genuineness of the claims put forward by water diviners, many people
regard them all as a huge joke, and laugh outright at the credulity of
their patrons. Certainly it is true that the faculty is claimed by many,
but possessed by few. After all, however mystifying it may be to the
ordinary mind, hard facts cannot be ignored, and proof positive has
repeatedly been adduced of the good work done by men possessing this
marvellous faculty.
In Queensland alone, many western landholders--shrewd, hard-headed,
business men--have reason to be thankful that they secured the services
of a genuine and expert diviner, whose "magic wand" quickly disclosed
the whereabouts of sub-artesian water. Thus, it has happened as a result
of the diviner's visit that a bore is driven, and presently by means of
a wind-mill, or oil pump, a sparkling stream is brought from the vast
caverns which have held it prisoner, turning the oft-times dreary waste
into a smiling, life-giving oasis.
In my opinion, what constitutes the faculty of divination is an inherent
quality that cannot be acquired. Some people describe it as a sixth
sense, while Dr. Grasset, a French authority, believes that the ability
to find underground streams proves the existence of a faculty belonging
to a class of psychological feelings forming what he calls "psychisme
inferieur," the study of which is just beginning to attract the
attention of the scientific world.
Perhaps I should explain that, as a rule, a forked twig, the extremities
of which are held loosely in each hand, is used to locate sub-artesian
water, and in this connection its movements, so far as is known, can
only be affected by natural running streams. The rod, or twig, does not
work if carried over water passing through drains, culverts, and such
like. My explanation of the movements of the rod is that they are caused
by electro-magnetism, the diviner being perhaps highly charged with
electricity. The water has absorbed the electricity of the adjacent
bodies in the earth, the currents coming to the surface enters the
air--ether--and the currents entering his body, he being a
non-conductor, agitates him. Most people are conductors, consequently
the current passes through them, and they do not feel it. The electric
twig in the hands of the diviner forms a part of the connection between
the body and the water, and by a law of nature, these two bodies must
either attract or repel each other. If the experimenter is a person
with a small amount of the electric fluid in his nature, that is
negatively charged, the water being positive will draw down or attract
the twig, hence the downward movement. If on the other hand, he is
surcharged with electricity, or positive, the positive electricity of
the water will repel the other, and the twig will bend upwards. The
movements of the twig may thus be accounted for, but, comparatively, so
little is known or understood of the marvellous influences and workings
of electricity that it is impossible to be dogmatic on the question.
[Illustration: SIR HUGH NELSON AT WINTON BORE. 1895.]
The forks of the twig should be held lightly between the second and
third fingers of the hands, pressing the thumbs on the side of the twig
with just sufficient force to give the ends a slightly-outward
direction. If a person possesses the faculty, and water flows anywhere
beneath him, the twig will turn round on its ends between his fingers.
In my own case, should I hold the twig tightly over a natural
underground stream, it will bend under and round in an endeavour to
follow out the movement I have just mentioned. It will, perhaps, be
interesting to know that now I only use the twig for the purpose of
indicating the presence of streams. The faculty is so sensitive in my
hands that I can detect water if I am 20 yards away. I have found by
careful observation and study that I can far more effectively decide
upon the actual bore site by the indications which my hands give.
Holding them downwards, open, and with the palms facing, I have found
that as I approach the strongest, and therefore the most suitable, point
in the stream for boring, they are thrust forcibly apart and upwards by
the same power, apparently, that acts upon the twig. I found this out in
a peculiar manner. After marking a site with the twig, I happened to
place my hands together, and to my surprise they came up, and I could
not keep them together.
I must say it was only by accident that I discovered my possession of
this faculty. About 1906, a water diviner visited the Winton district,
and one day several friends and myself went with him in his quest for
water. He explained his methods to the party, and naturally we all
provided ourselves with twigs.
After living so many years in the dry, western country, I was, of
course, very interested in the experiment, and closely following
directions was astonished after walking about for some time to find my
rod revolving slowly. Members of the party near at hand were equally
astonished, and called loudly to the others to "come and look at
Corfield's twig." They, thinking it was due to the twig alone, soon
ruined it, but I felt that I was possessed of some power, which
previously I did not know I possessed, as I knew I was not turning the
stick myself. For about twelve months after that I closely studied every
phase of the phenomenon, and during that time I discovered good water
for many residents in the district.
In 1907, an opportunity came to me to employ my faculty for the benefit
of pastoralists and the State generally.
Mr. R. C. Ramsay, of Oondooroo Station, invited me to ascertain if good
water was obtainable in a dry belt of that country, and in this I was
entirely successful.
It is an interesting fact that I do not require to leave a vehicle by
which I may be travelling in order to carry out my search for water.
Whilst seated in a train, or motor car, travelling at the rate of 30 or
40 miles an hour, I have by means of the rod located streams. If it were
not that the currents were in the air, as I have previously referred to,
I should be insulated by the India-rubber tyres of the motor.
Reverting for the moment to the extent to which the faculty may be
exercised, a diviner is able to fix the breadth of these streams, the
position where their current is strongest, and to give a fairly
approximate estimate of what their supply may be. Without doubt water
can be found by an expert at great depths from the surface (the greatest
depth water was got in any of my sites, that I know of, is 950 feet at
Sandy Creek, eight miles west of Birkhead, where it flowed over the
casing). If the water is stagnant the divining rod is silent. I do not
profess to be able to tell if it is salt or fresh, although books on
divining say this may be ascertained by placing salt in the hands.
Before giving the particulars of my water sites, I would explain that I
was under the impression that I could not feel water at a greater depth
than 300 feet.
I was engaged by the Gregory Rabbit Board to mark a site on very high
country on Llanrheidol Station. I found a good stream not far from one
picked by another diviner, and I guaranteed that water would be struck
at 300 feet. A well was put down to that depth, but no water obtained.
On the strength of my guarantee the sinking of the well was abandoned.
Later, I was engaged to mark sites on Vindex Station, and it was mainly
due to the perseverance of Mr. W. H. Keene, the manager, that water was
tapped over 300 feet. He sunk on one to 500 feet, the water rising to
within 152 feet from the surface. It was tested by being pumped for six
hours, but the 20,000 gallons per day could not be reduced. Water was
obtained at all my sites on Vindex. These results proved that my 300
feet depth was wrong.
I then contracted to test for water on the Nottingham blocks, which are
situated on very high downs country between Hughenden and Winton, at the
heads of the Landsborough, Flinders, and Diamantina Rivers. My previous
experience led me to believe that about 600 feet was my limit, and bores
were put down to over that depth and abandoned without water. Eventually
the owners selected a site, and put down an artesian bore, striking a
flow at about 2,000 feet. I felt sorry they did not sink on one of my
sites to prove exactly how deep I could feel underground water.
Another failure was at Vuna selection. The site was on a continuation of
the high downs adjoining the Nottingham blocks. The bore was put down
over 500 feet at a spot which another diviner had endorsed as being a
good site. This and another one were also abandoned without water.
At Glendower, near Prairie, on the Hughenden railway line, I selected a
site guaranteeing water if there would be at 300 feet, near a site which
had been put down 700 feet without water. The latter had been marked
haphazard, and I could not detect any indication of a stream. My site at
300 feet was also a failure. At this depth the bore was abandoned.
A controversy was started in Charters Towers over a paragraph in the
_Northern Miner_, as follows:--"The Dalrymple Shire Council's well on
Victoria Downs road, at the _head_ of the 10-mile creek, on the spot
picked by Mr. George O'Sullivan, was sunk to a depth of 38 feet, and at
that depth water became so heavy that sinking conditions had to be
discontinued. The water rises to within 18 feet of the surface. This
site was stated to be barren of water by Mr. Corfield." The above
requires an explanation from me, which I now give.
I was camped at Bletchington Park, where I had been marking sites for
Messrs. Symes Brothers, who had just completed one I had previously
marked within 100 yards of their homestead. They struck a supply of
15,000 gallons per day, at a depth of 70 feet. In the morning it was
arranged that Mr. J. Symes should drive me into Charters Towers, and
when on the road, asked me if I would mind looking at Sullivan's site at
the 10-mile creek. He said he did not know exactly where it was
situated. When we reached the creek we saw some trees stripped of bark
close to the crossing indicating the spot, as we thought, but I could
find no sign of water there. I did not go to the _head_ of the creek,
where I afterwards learnt the site was. Hence the statement that I had
declared the site barren of water.
I have previously stated that water has been struck on my site in this
country at a depth of 950 feet, and I feel certain that in all these
instances, if boring had been continued, water would have been struck at
a payable depth.
I will now relate some of my experiences of the efficacy of the divining
rod.
It is my custom to use a compass to define the course of the underground
stream, which I leave on paper with the manager or owner to show in
which direction the stream is running.
I was engaged by Messrs. Philp, Forsyth and Munro to mark sites for tube
bores on their property at Thylungra Station. After marking several
sites on the station, when passing through Brisbane later, on my way to
Cowley Station on the same errand, I interviewed Messrs. Philp and
Forsyth, who told me there had been a well sunk on my site and no water
obtained, but that the contractor had sunk a three-inch bore, where my
peg was, and had obtained good water for his camp use. I may state here
that where water is unobtainable close to the workings, this was a usual
occurrence. As the three partners were about to visit the station, I
asked them to discontinue working, and I would meet them there at a
certain date. This I did, and found in their presence that the well had
been put down two feet outside the breadth of the stream in the opposite
direction to which it was running. I advocated a new well being sunk in
the proper place, but they preferred driving in the direction to which I
had placed the peg. Such action may prove a partial failure, as they
might not strike the strong stream. I have not heard the result of their
decision, but it is certain that my directions of the course of the
stream have not been followed. Either Sir Robert Philp or Messrs.
Forsyth or Munro could corroborate the above statements.
The Dalrymple Shire Council obtained my services to inspect a well which
had been sunk at Oakey Creek, distant about 15 miles from Charters
Towers, which they told me would only water twelve horses and then the
supply gave out. I found the well was on the edge of a strong stream,
the outer edge of which ran through the centre of the well, consequently
the rod would not work at the outer edge of the well. I marked the site
for a new one about six yards farther in. The members of the Council
decided to put down a circular cement well. They tapped the water under
40 feet and obtained an inexhaustible supply. When I received the letter
enclosing my fee, it contained a vote of thanks from the committee for
the good work done. No better place could be chosen for a demonstration
of the efficacy of the divining rod.
Later, the Directors of the Carrington United Mine invited me to visit
their well at Lion's town, about 30 miles from Charters Towers, which
had become dry. I found this well was not on any stream, but that a
drive had been put in to drain the soakage from a sandy creek, which was
in close proximity, and the season being a dry one, this had also failed
to give any soakage. I crossed this creek, and found a stream 13 yards
wide, which I marked. Being located on a flat, I had the idea that
probably there might be more water further over. My surmise was right,
for on investigation I found another stream 14 yards wide, but running
in the direction as if it would join the other. This proved correct, the
whole width of the two streams measuring 27 yards. I told the manager,
who was present, I could get him a good site at a spot most suitable to
himself. The site was marked in the centre of the 27 yards.
Miners were put on to work night and day, as about 100 men had been
thrown out of employment owing to the failure of the water supply. Water
was struck at 30 feet, which rose seven feet in the shaft in ten
minutes. The sinking was continued to 40 feet, the water rising to
within ten feet of the surface. When one considers the well was six feet
square, the supply can be imagined.
Unknown to the man who was pumping the water to the mill, I later
visited the site and enquired if the water could be reduced in the
shaft. He replied:--"I have kept the pump going night and day, but
cannot lessen the supply." I then asked him if I might lift the slabs
which were covering the well. I did so with his permission, and saw the
water flowing in a steady stream across it. This satisfied me as to the
supply.
At Avon Downs Station, near Clermont, a large well had been sunk near a
creek, with a diminishing supply of water. On investigation, I found the
well had been sunk on the edge of an underground stream. I advised a
drive to be put in towards the centre of the stream (which I marked).
Mr. Sutherland (the Inspector for the Australian Estates at that time)
informed me later that my advice had been carried out, and they had
obtained very satisfactory results.
At Gindie State Farm, I was accompanied by Mr. Hamlyn (the Public
Service Improvement Engineer) to mark sites for the Department of
Agriculture. Mr. Jarrott, the manager, took us to a dry well sunk to a
depth of 80 feet. I could not feel any indication of water there, but a
few hundred yards away, on rising ground, I located two streams crossing
each other, and by the assistance of pegs, marked a site in the centre
of the two streams. Some months afterwards I met the manager in Emerald,
who said:--"Mr. Corfield, when you were marking that site at Gindie
State Farm, where the two streams crossed each other, the engineer and
myself were laughingly criticising your action, but never more will I
doubt your ability to find water." The Secretary of Agriculture later
informed me by letter that the top stream only yielded a small supply,
but the second stream, struck at 165 feet, augmented the supply that it
could not be lowered by the pump more than 35 feet, and that the
estimated yield of both streams was 10,000 gallons per day.
In 1907, I marked several sites in the vicinity of Winton, and between
then and 1911, I travelled by coach and train, but principally by buggy,
an approximate distance of 20,000 miles, marking sites at different
stations, ranging from Charleville in the south-west, to Granada in the
north-west, in the back blocks of this State, besides locating water on
several stations on and near the eastern coast, and was successful in
locating water to the satisfaction of those interested.
On a site marked by me at Mayne Junction, the Railway Department
obtained water at a reasonable depth, but the water on being analysed
was found to be unfit for locomotives, or for washing the carriages,
consequently it was abandoned.
I also found a stream within two miles of Nundah railway station, which,
on a well being sunk, tapped the water at 30 feet. It rose 18 feet in
the shaft. This water is supposed to be of a highly medicinal character,
beautifully soft and palatable to drink.
I also marked a few sites in New South Wales, and some at Birrallee
Station, out from Bowen.
All this time I enjoyed perfect health, but in 1911 I began to get very
stiff in the legs, especially about the hips. Thinking it was
rheumatism, I went to the Innot hot springs, near Herberton. These baths
gave me no relief, so I went to Sydney to consult Sir Alexander
McCormack, who prescribed electrical treatment and hot air. This I tried
for four months without any good results.
I then went to Rotorua, in New Zealand, consulting the doctor there, who
prescribed all the baths which are so efficacious in removing
rheumatism. The doctor, hearing of my having practised water divining so
long, diagnosed my case as neuritis, brought on by constant use of my
nerve energy in following that profession.
From this time I desisted from my occupation, and only used my powers to
give a demonstration occasionally.
I have tried since the Muckadilla bore water on several occasions, but
could obtain no improvement.
An amusing incident occurred to me when marking sites on a cattle
station in the north-west of Queensland.
I was being driven in a buggy drawn by a spanking pair of horses which
the driver, who was the manager of the station, could well handle.
The manager was a very smart young fellow, a splendid rider, and in
every way qualified to manage such a property, and bore a high
reputation for considering the interests of his employers before
anything else.
He was driving me through some ridgy country where the grass in the
gullies was very long and rank. I had located a good stream of water,
and was describing its direction by the aid of the compass.
My companion asked if I could follow it, explaining there was a flat
half-a-mile farther on which would be a better place for the site. I
replied that I could do so, but asked him to drive along the outer edge
of the stream, so that I could detect if it curved away on that side. We
also zig-zagged inwards, so that I might be certain it was still going
in the right direction.
Presently we came to a gully, which was covered with grass, and to all
appearance very shallow. On reaching it the horses jumped across it,
pulling the front wheel of the buggy into a deep hole. The back of the
buggy, caused by the hind wheels lifting, caught me between the
shoulders. I turned a somersault, and was thrown head first over the
wheels, with my head on the bank, and my legs hanging over the hole.
Having the rod in both hands, I was unable to break the fall. I yelled
out, "For God's sake, keep the wheels from going over my head." The
sudden jerk had also sent the driver over the splashboard, but like a
good horseman, he steadied himself with the reins and landed on his
feet. I then heard him say, "My God! I've killed him, and he hasn't
marked the site yet." Thinking of his employer's interest prevented him
giving me sympathy.
When I found I was not hurt, and that I could rise without his
assistance, I could not but enjoy the situation, although the wheel went
over the rim of my hat whilst it was on my head.
I eventually marked the site on the plain, but have not heard the result
of the boring.
Printed by
H. Pole & Co. Limited,
Elizabeth Street, Brisbane.
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| Transcriber's Note: |
| |
|The following typographical errors have been corrected: |
| |
|Page 10: A period was added after the sentence ending with "in an |
|open yard." |
|Page 35: "eZaland" changed to "Zealand" (returning to |
|New Zealand) |
|Page 53: "myall" changed to "Myall" (he saw a lot of Myall) |
|Page 59: "blackboy" changed to "black boy" (Knowing I had no black |
|boy) |
|Page 73: "lfting" changed to "lifting" (On lifting his head) |
|Page 107: Apostrophe added before "Frisco" ('Frisco was _en-fete_) |
|Page 111: "evining" changed to "evening" (At dark one evening) |
|Page 125: "povisions" changed to "provisions" (strong piece of rope, |
|provisions) |
|Page 129: A period was added after the sentence ending with "the |
|House passed the bill." |
|Page 130: "sesssion" changed to "session" (during the session) |
|Page 139: "he" changed to "the" (the temperature) |
| |
|All other spelling and punctuation inconsistencies have been retained.|
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+