Old Melbourne Memories: Second Edition, RevisedBoldrewood, Rolf
History
Old Melbourne Memories: Second Edition, Revised
Boldrewood, Rolf
Frontier and pioneer life -- Australia -- Melbourne (Vic.); Victoria -- Description and travel; Victoria -- Social life and customs
The original cattle had been neglected, it would appear. Among them was
a large proportion of bullocks which declined with fiendish obstinacy
to fatten. They would do anything but go off to the butcher. They
oppressed the rest of the herd, showed a bad example, and paid nothing.
They were what are known by the stock-riders as "ragers" or
"pig-meaters." Fierce of aspect, and active as buffaloes, they appear
with regularity at each muster, but are never permitted the chance of
road-adventure with any buyer of fat cattle. The price offered for them
is generally so small that in many instances the owner ceases to form
plans for their conversion into cash, and, if easy-going, permits them
to eat grass and demoralise the herd indefinitely. The run was now
worked with fair results for a year or two, but it soon became apparent
that it was not likely to return the same sort of dividends which were
so satisfactory each year at Terenallum. This probably tended towards
discussion between the partners. However that might have been, a
division of the runs took place. Mr. Lang retained Lyne, with the herd
of cattle depastured thereon, while Mr. Elms removed to that portion of
the area which lay nearer to the town of Hamilton. Upon this he built a
new homestead, and proceeded to convert it into a sheep station.
Mr. Lang had visited England more than once during the partnership, and
so loosened his hold upon matters colonial. It has generally happened,
within my experience at least, that a squatter who permitted himself to
behold "the kingdoms of the earth, and the glory of them," rarely
settled down into a contented colonist upon returning to Australia. So
Mr. Lang put Lyne into the market. It was sold to Captain Stanley Carr,
a retired military officer, who had passed years at a German court, and
held property in Silesia. There, it seems, he had acquired a taste for
high-class merinoes. He had been tempted to visit Australia, probably as
a larger field for investment, bringing with him some good sheep of the
type then prevailing, and fashionable in the country of his adoption.
These were sent to Lyne, where they were only moderately praised by the
sheepholders of the district, being acknowledged to be fine as to
quality of fleece, but considered small and delicate of frame.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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