Page:History of West Australia.djvu/435

 mortar type—but that in which stern solitude often wields a melancholy sway. Western Australia, with her wide domain of acres, has been extensively explored and pastoralised, and standing in the ranks of the practical pioneers is the name of Edward Timothy Hooley, whose first years in this colony were full of discouragements and difficulties. His resolute faith in the country, combined with his capacity for hard work, finally enabled him after a life of adventure to win a leading place in the land of his adoption.

E. T. Hooley was born at sea on October 3, 1842, on board the ship Boliver, bound for Tasmania, whither Hooley père was proceeding to become overseer of a sheep and cattle station. After three years in Tasmania Mr. Hooley, sen., and family removed to Victoria and entered into pastoral pursuits in the same capacity as in the island colony. For six years he was connected with the pastoral industry in the famous Western district of Victoria, and there launched into farming and grazing on his own account. Growing up on his father's farm Edward acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture, dairying, and general bush work. The lad was educated at Portland, Victoria, and on leaving school "struck out"—to put the matter expressively—by becoming a sheep and cattle dealer. He acted as his own drover, and being an excellent bushman, brought his hard-earned knowledge into play, and gained financially by it. Many and varied were the adventures which fell to his lot rounding up wild cattle in heavy country, hunting the kangaroo on the dismal heaths, and little dreaming of what lay before him in a far-off land. In 1864 he joined the Camden Harbour Pastoral Association, which was formed in Melbourne for the purpose of acquiring land in the north-west of Western Australia. Very favourable reports had reached Victoria concerning the north-west of this colony, and weighing all these carefully in the balance, the Victorian company decided to settle country in the vicinity of Camden Harbour. Accordingly, ships were chartered, and on November 16, 1864, the first of three vessels sailed from Melbourne, and was followed at intervals of ten days by the others. Young Hooley was on board the Stag—the first vessel. One of the party was lost overboard in rough weather while crossing the Great Australian Bight. The Stag made a good run. On arrival with a portion of the sheep, cattle, and horses, the immediate country was found to be destitute of grass and water. The prospect was most dismal, for the view disclosed huge stretches of burnt grass and parched ground. Mr. Hooley and a detachment of his party, consisting of Messrs. A. J. McRae, J. Hindbaugh, and Ellwood, on disembarking decided to try and find water near the Glenelg River, about seventeen miles from the harbour, and with this end in view walked by day and night through the sullen bush. They could not make much headway, for the thermometer, even near sunset registered 125 degrees in the shade. In the morning they struck the Glenelg River, but were disappointed to find the water quite salt, the river being subject to tidal influences. After spending another half-day vainly looking for fresh water they retraced their footsteps. On the return journey one of the party—Mr. Ellwood—was so overcome by fatigue that, throwing away his ammunition and gun, he laid down under a tree, telling his companions to push on and leave him there to die. This was indeed a bad beginning to their pioneer work, and gave them an idea of the privations which might be theirs. They were not the men to leave their comrade to perish without some efforts being made to save his life. So they camped beside him, soothed him as best they could, and at sunset when the fierce heat had departed made an effort to get him along. It was twilight. A strange sight, it must have been, to witness the exhausted traveller being nurtured in his dire distress by the friends. Journeying at a painfully slow rate, although Mr. Ellwood had recovered sufficiently to walk a little, the band, after travelling for a quarter of a mile and becoming faint and fatigued, were rewarded by finding' water. The bushcraft of Mr. Hooley was practically demonstrated. Observing in the deepening gloaming a bronze-winged pigeon fly up on his right, he immediately assumed that water must be close at hand. Hurrying in the direction from whence the bird rose he found a beautiful pool of fresh water, in whose welcome depths the party drank refreshing and deep draughts. They took every care to so locate the pool that they could find it at any future time without difficulty, and repaired to Camden Harbour. Their provisions having ran out, they were eager to reach the Stag, and were delighted when daybreak disclosed their boat. While satisfying their hunger they learned that a second party, guided by Mr. T. C. Murray, had discovered a splendid spring within half a mile of the shore.

When the other vessels had arrived, the task of landing the stock was negotiated. This included 4,700 merino ewes, bred on the stations of the Messrs. Chirnside, of Victoria. The sheep were all driven to the spring Mr. Murray found, and around it they depastured for a day or two with disastrous results, for the discomfiture of the young settlers can be imagined when they observed their fleecy flocks dying at the rate of 120 sheep a night. This was attributed to some poisonous weed, which was, however, not discovered. Mr. Hooley and his companions decided to go further inland. They came to a spot where there was plenty of old grass and sufficient good water, and there they let the sheep run. An early fall of heavy tropical rain brought up a luxurious growth of grass. Still the sheep continued to die off, until at the end of three months there were only 1400 left. Every effort was made to find the poisonous weed, but unavailingly. Their discouragement was accentuated when in a few months there was not a single sheep left. Mr. Hooley had several months previous to this started off in charge of his old party on an exploring expedition up the Glenelg and to the Prince Regent River, where the scenery was grand, but the land rough and unsuitable. After examining the country the party came to the conclusion that it was not suitable for sheep. Mr. Hooley was only twenty-two years of age, but was asked to lead a party to Perth, then known as the Swan River Settlement. While this trip was in contemplation, however, a ship—the Teintsin—arrived from Fremantle, on board which was the late Mr. P. 8holl, of Perth, and a party of surveyors, police, &c., for the purpose of settling the Camden Harbour district. Mr. Sholl became the first Government Resident, and he arrived not very long after the news had reached the Western Australian Government that a Victorian party had settled in the north-west. This, of course, was the party of which Mr. Hooley was a member. A number of Victorian settlers took the opportunity of leaving the settlement by this vessel. Although he had realised that the land was unsuitable for settlement Mr. Hooley was not altogether discouraged, and determined to explore other places in the north-west. He heard that settlers had located themselves at Nickol Bay, and accompanied by his friend, Mr. Murray, decided to examine that part of the country. They arranged with Captain Jarman, of the Teintsin, to allow