Page:Diary of ten years.djvu/248

 THE COLONY.

September 28th.—Rather a fine day externally. Only two visitors—Mr. Robert Brockman and Mr. Mellersh. The latter has only lately arrived here; he is now apprenticed to Mr. Brockman.

Monday 29th.—Busy sheep-shearing. Three men are employed at it, J—, Dodd the shepherd, and a man called Morley, who shears at 5s. a score. He has clipped 27, J— 22, and Dodd 18. I have a man folding them up. The plan for laying fleeces on top of one another would require at least one extra hand, and I think is objectionable in some respects. The wool is assorted according to the quality. I have coarse wool, merino wool, and merino with a cross of pure Saxon, which appears very fine; and I have a few pure Saxon fleeces.

Wednesday, 1st Oct.—One man shore 30 sheep to-day. Another such day will finish them, for I have about 233 grown sheep, and I do not intend to shear the lambs at present, of which I have about 130. A man came here yesterday looking for work; he said he had had nothing to eat on the previous day but a few sow thistles. I scarcely believe him; but it required some little starvation to bring the servants to their senses again.

Tuesday, Oct. 7th.—I went to Perth on Friday last, and stayed there till Saturday night. Two vessels had come in—the Jolly Rambler from Java, and the Jessie from Mauritius. The latter is loaded with rum and sugar, and some flour, but the captain will not break bulk unless at £40 a ton for sugar and flour, and 6s. a gallon for rum. So we are not much the