Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/70

Rh chamber was neatly fitted up, and decidedly the most comfortable room in the house, there being a fireplace in it. The bedroom was a great improvement on the room at Kidd's; the parlour was simply a mistake, and never used except as a thoroughfare, there being no fireplace in it, and only four doors. We now commenced to keep regular hours—opened the office at ten a.m. and closed at three p.m. After the bank was closed we had our dinner behind the counter, so that we might have the benefit of the fire. Our first messenger was a darkey; a fair cook, but too extravagant. He always had a lot of coloured gentlemen about the kitchen, who of course were entertained at our expense, and he very soon got “marching orders.” We then got a Chinaman, Iyon by name, the cleanest and best cook I ever knew. When we got fairly settled in our new establishment I became a subscriber to the only library in the place, no great choice of books, and for this luxury I had to pay 6s. 8d. per month.

23rd August.—To-day one of our select few was taken up by the police as a “ticket-of-leave” man out of his district. The news spread, as news always will do, like wild-fire, and, of course, was the chief topic of conversation. He indulged freely at times, and when he had too much, was noisy, and often-times very abusive; this, no doubt, attracted the attention of the police, who soon found out his pedigree, and this was the climax. Had he behaved himself with propriety for three months longer his time would have expired, and he would have been at liberty to go where he pleased.

18th September.—A dance room opened this evening at the Empire Hotel, Carmichael’s, a first-class band was engaged, as soon as the music struck up I could not resist the temptation, so went over. In a room 14 x 20 I found some forty or fifty diggers standing about, smoking, chatting, and a few dancing. There were only three dance girls, and those who were fortunate enough to secure one as partner must have found it hard work dancing on a floor fully an inch thick in mud. Just fancy fifty diggers coming into a room with their muddy boots, and walking about; what a nice state the floor would be in for dancing. It struck me as a queer sight to see hairy-faced men in pea jackets, and long boots, with pipes in their mouths, dancing together. The dance room was a great attraction, after every dance the landlord expected each girl to entice her partner to the bar, to pay for a drink for himself, his partner, and often-times a friend or two; so you see that sort of enjoyment, with nobblers at a shilling each, costs something, and is a great source of revenue to the landlord. At first there were growls innumerable. There being so few girls, it was impossible for all those who wished to dance to get partners; however, those who were not fortunate enough to get a a partner had to take a hairy-faced gentleman or not dance at all.