ions had been issued for a reception, at which Captain St. John,
the aide-de-camp, called out the names of the guests as they arrived.
Presently, he called out "Mr. Smith!" In response, one of those present
walked towards the Governor, saying, "I don't think your two-year-old
filly will win the Stakes this year," and went on talking racing
matters. The captain relieved the situation by informing him that there
were refreshments in the other room. When all the guests were assembled,
Sir Henry Parkes, the then Premier, asked Captain St. John, how that
man, pointing to Mr. Smith, came to be there, and said, "Do you know
that he is one of the greatest scamps in Sydney," and added, "For God's
sake get him out of here, or there'll be a scene." Captain St. John said
he only knew that his name was Smith, but acting on Sir Henry's advice,
he approached him, stating that he had by mistake received the
invitation intended for another Mr. Smith. The man retaliated by saying
in a loud voice, "Oh, ah, very well; I've had two whiskeys and a soda,
which comes to eighteen-pence. Here is half-a-crown; you may keep the
change yourself."

In 1875, I loaded my two teams for a new diggings which had broken out
about 40 miles S.W. of Cooktown. The township had been called Byerstown,
after Johnny Byers, who had established a business there. Mr. Byers,
many years after was appointed Government Land Agent at Hughenden, and
subsequently Land Commissioner there. He is now stock and station agent,
doing good business in that town.

Finding carrying paid well, I purchased another waggon, and by breaking
in more steers, established my third team. These I now loaded for
Edwardstown. This was the popular name for the main township, about 40
miles up the Palmer River from Palmerville. It was officially known as
Maytown, but the diggers would not recognise the latter name. To reach
this place we had some very rough country to negotiate by a new road
opened from the Laura, over what was called the Conglomerate. Although
not as good as the road _via_ Palmerville, it was much shorter. On
returning to Cooktown I loaded my three teams for Blacksoil, where
there was a store kept by Sam Burns, who, I understand, is still in that
locality.

The wet season set in much earlier this year, and caught us in the
flooded country beyond the Normanby River, but by double banking the
teams, and working in the rain, we reached an anthill flat which was so
boggy that it