lone to hold meetings at the different
stations. At Elderslie one was held at the woolshed, where I had a bale
of wool as the platform. At Vindex, the meeting was held in the
blacksmith's shop, I standing on the anvil block of wood, and so on.

Finally, when the nomination day came round, I was the only candidate.
So I was returned unopposed.

During the Easter holidays in April, 1888, a cricket match, Country _v._
Town, was held at Vindex Station. At any rate, this was the name under
which invitations were given by the Rileys, Chirnsides, Ramsays and
Bostocks to the townspeople of Winton, as an expression of the goodwill
and friendship which then existed among all classes throughout the
district.

Vindex was noted for its hospitality at all times, but it now excelled
itself.

A lot of school-boys could not have enjoyed themselves more than did the
many grey heads among the company. Woe betide any one, host or guest,
who shirked, or did not join in the fun. A visitor from town tried to do
so by fixing a nice quiet camp far away from the hurly burly. His
actions were observed by the postmaster, who put his bull dog in the
visitor's bed, instructing the animal not to allow any one into it. When
the visitor who shirked, tried to retire for the night the bull dog
tackled him, tore his pyjamas off, and left him as a subject for much
raillery.

One visitor who had arrived from Rockhampton the previous day, was found
wandering in the vicinity of the big dam, where he said he was enjoying
the salt ozone.

The country won the match easily, but I think they took advantage of the
town.

This will be understood from the fact that a dozen bottles of whisky,
and a two-gallon jar of the same medicine were brought on the ground for
refreshments. The town went into bat first, and by the time their
innings was finished, so were the refreshments.

CHAPTER XIII.

When returning from the Court House with my L20 deposit after the
nomination, I was way-laid by Sergeant Murray, of the police, who in
oily sentences of congratulation suggested that I should give half of
the money towards the erection of a Roman Catholic church, then about to
be built. I succumbed to his flattery, although my own clergyman was
daily expected, and my name was coupled with Father Plormel, the
resident priest, on a piece of paper, and inserted in a hole in one of
the blocks underneath the building. The church has been enlarged since,
and I heard