re carrying our loading had been caught in a flooded
creek, and the goods damaged. I immediately started for Wongalee Creek,
about 25 miles the other side of Hughenden, or 170 miles from Winton. I
found on my arrival the ground in the vicinity covered with drapery,
boots, ironmongery, besides nearly empty salt bags, etc., etc., put out
to dry. It appeared these teams had crossed the creek and camped on the
flat below the bank. A heavy thunderstorm had fallen up the creek during
the night and brought the water down a banker, submerging the waggons,
and destroying about L1,000 worth of goods. We had no redress against
the carrier, the accident, or incident, being considered an act of
Providence. The merchants assisted us by renewing our bills for four
months longer.

In the same year, we ordered a large consignment of goods from
Townsville. It was a dry year, and the teams carrying them were stuck at
Hughenden.

In those days the Government had not made the water tanks on the road
between Hughenden and Winton, and on the high, open downs country
permanent natural water was not obtainable only at long distances.
Hearing of the teams being stuck up, we immediately wired a duplicate
order to Rockhampton. The latter goods were despatched by rail to
Bogantungan (the then terminus of the central line), and loaded on
teams. The drought conditions, although not so pronounced as in the
Hughenden district, also existed in the Central. These teams were also
blocked.

In about six months after the first order was given, the whole 14 teams
with the Rockhampton and Townsville goods arrived on the same day at
Winton, and I was called upon to pay L2,000 cash down for carriage
alone; while our summer goods arrived in the middle of winter.

Fortunately we were able to meet our liabilities.

In 1882, we had a visit--and the first--from a clergyman of any
denomination.

He asked me if there was a place in which he could hold service on
Sunday. I told him that the only place was the billiard-room at the
hotel. I prepared it for the ceremony by draping a blue blanket over the
table, and I put a red one opposite over the cue rack, thinking it might
help him to put a little fire into his discourse. When all was ready, I
obtained the bullock bell from the kitchen. The Chinaman cook, who was a
sporting character, said:--"Wha for, nother raffle, all ri, put me down
one pund." He refused, however, to give the money when he learnt it was
for