Brian Condon: Diary of James Alipius Goold, 1848-1886
November 7th. I afforded the people of Kilmore the same opportunities of approaching the Sacraments. The Holy Sacrifice was offered up by me every day until the 10th, when the exercises closed. The people attended very well all through. On Sunday I gave the Holy Communion to a 100 persons. During these retreats a great many were reclaimed who never approached the Sacraments.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
A station held at Kilmore on Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday the 7th - 8th - 9th and 10th of November. The congregations on each day were very large. On Sunday the last day of the station about 200 persons attended - and a hundred were admitted to the Holy Communion.]
On Monday the 11th November I left Kilmore for the Goulburn where I arrived in the evening at 7 o'clock. The day was exceedingly hot, the country was suffering from a long and unusual drought. Vegetation was nowhere to be seen, the pastures present a brown and burnt aspect. In the evening I said night prayers at the house of a good Catholic, a native of the Colony, at which were present the few Catholics who live in the settlement. On my return from the Murray, whither I was proceeding, I promised to hold a station at this place.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
Left Kilmore on Monday the 11th and reached the Goulburn that evening at 7 - distance 25 miles. Said night prayers at Peter Tiernan's at nine - and immediately after retired to rest.]
Tuesday 12th November I left the Goulburn at half-past seven o'clock a.m. Delayed a short time to select a site in a township, which had been lately surveyed, for a Church etc. Arrived at the half-way house, where we remained two hours. Thence we proceeded to the Honey Suckle, which we reached about 7 in the evening. The heat this day was occasionally very powerful. The Inn at which I stopped is kept by a Catholic from the North of Ireland. His wife is a Presbyterian. Previous to retiring for the night, I said prayers in which the family joined.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
Tuesday 12th left the Goulburn at half past seven and arrived at the Inn situated halfway between the Goulburn and the Honeysuckle at twelve - a distance of 27 miles. Rested at this place two hours - and then proceeded to the Honeysuckle 20 miles from thence where we arrived about 7. The day was occasionally very hot. I felt unwell during the day. Said night prayers for ourselves and the family and retired to rest.]
Wednesday 13th. November This morning I said Mass and addressed a few words on the Gospel of the day to those who were present.
We started from this place for the Broken river at eleven o'clock a.m. It was 1 o'clock when we reached the Benalla. This day's journey, though only 25 miles, was one of the most severe we had yet performed in consequence of excessive heat, which continued the whole of that day and night.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
Wednesday 13th. This morning we left the Honey-Suckle a short time after I celebrated Mass - and proceeded to the Broken river - where we arrived at one o'clock. The Honey Suckle is 25 miles from the Broken river. At this place we received very bad accommodation. The day and night were unusually hot.]
The accommodation afforded at the Inn at this place was so bad that I was compelled to proceed early the next morning on my journey to the Ovens River and Wangaratta. The distance was forty-five miles. The heat, though not so great as the previous day, was still oppressive.
About one o'clock a.m. we came to a hut, situated half way, where we rested the horses and ourselves. We could not obtain here any other feed for the horses but grass. The refreshment we procured for ourselves was meagre enough. However both men and horses thrived on it. The road we came over was hilly and the country we passed was poor and suited only for pastoral purposes. The weather still continued to be excessively hot. Having refreshed ourselves and the horses we resumed our journey and arrived at Wangaratta at four o'clock p.m.
This township is situated on the Ovens River. There is not much agricultural in its vicinity. It is however excellently adapted for the purposes for which it is at present used, viz: grazing sheep and cattle. Here we found a good Inn, of large and convenient dimensions. The wife of the owner and occupant of it is a Catholic. They made their property by a careful and prudent management of their wages, when servants.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
Thursday 14th. We commenced our journey to the Oven's river at six this morning. The distance is forty miles. We stop[p]ed at a hut situated about halfway to refresh ourselves and horses - the excessive heat of the day and the hilly nature of the road rendered this necessary. We reached the Oven's [sic] about four o'clock. The township of the Oven's [sic] is situated in the heart of a very fine country. It [is] sure to become a large settlement. Here we remained for the night. The Inn is a most respectable building - and affords excellent accommodation.]
On the next day - Friday the 15th November - we were disappointed in making an early start by my mare having strayed away during the night. The servant had to remain after me until she was found. He had not to wait long, as soon after my departure she was found. We reached Albury at 4 o'clock p.m., having delayed at the Inn situated near the Black Dog Creek, which is half way between Wangaratta and it, to rest and feed the horses.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
Friday 15th. This morning we were disappointed in making an early start in consequence of the mare having strayed from the paddock where I ordered her to be placed the previous evening. However, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour at which we resumed our journey to Albury, we arrived there at four o'clock p.m. having stop[p]ed at the Black Dog Creek for refreshment two hours.
Saturday 16th. November This day we entirely devoted to a preparation for Sunday. I gave notice to the Catholics living here that I would celebrate Mass and hear confessions at Mrs. Huon's on the Melbourne side of the River Murray, which divides the Archdiocese from the Melbourne Diocese, at eleven the next morning. The town of Albury has not made much progress since I past [passed] through it two years ago.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
Saturday 16th. We have made this day a day of rest for ourselves and the horses. I have arranged to celebrate the holy Mysteries at Mrs Huon's at nine o'clock tomorrow - after which I purpose proceeding down the Murray 40 or 45 miles. Albury is but an inconsiderable township at present - its situation however renders it important, and will no doubt be the means of increasing its size and population. There are but few Catholics living here - and but one respectable Catholic family.
Sunday 17th. November Today I celebrated Mass at 11 a.m., at which not more than twenty persons assisted. After Mass I proceed down the river to a station belonging to a Catholic family, by name Brown. It was late in the night when we reached this place, the distance from Huon's to it being fifty miles. We had to cross the river Murray or Hume in a square small boat. It was not without some risk that we succeeded in bringing over in it the horses and gig. The "Inn", at which we delayed a short time, afforded very bad accommodation. I remained at Browns until Tuesday, celebrating Mass each day. On Tuesday morning - 19th inst. - we crossed the Hume or Murray river again - in a small boat, the horses swimming. The gig had been previously taken over in the boat. We came to Wangaratta at three o'clock. The next morning - Wednesday 20th - we held a station here: twenty persons attended. The Catholics living here are very few, and mostly servants.
We remained at Wangaratta this day, in order to rest ourselves. At one o'clock I visited the township and selected rather a handsome site for a church, clergyman's dwelling and schoolhouse. In the evening I called on a Catholic family who occupy a cattle station three miles from the township. The father, a man of 90 years of age, had been transported to N.S. Wales for the Irish revolution of 1798 ['1878' in text. Ed.] . He was in the enjoyment of all his faculties.
[Another (earlier) version. Ed.:
Sunday 17th. I offered up the Holy Sacrifice this morning at half past nine o'clock. This was the first time that the Holy mysteries were celebrated on the South side of the Murray. The Congregation consisted chiefly of persons from Albury. Having read in English the Epistle and Gospel of the day, I made a few observations on the latter. After Mass we heard a few Confessions. As soon as we finished breakfast we proceeded on our journey down the South side of the Murray. This river had been discovered by Hamilton Hume - a native of New South Wales - and it bore his name until it was afterwards seen by Captain Sturt - the present Colonial Secretary of Adelaide - who, believing that it was then for the first time discovered, gave it the name by which it is at present known amongst the settlers near Melbourne - and by which it is distinguished on the Maps of the Colony. We crossed this river by means of a very rude and unsafe kind of boat - at Messrs Clark and Brown's station. The Inn at which we stop[p]ed for a half an hour after crossing the river affords a very bad accommodation. We arrived at Mr. R. Brown's station at half past seven o'clock. This gentleman is a Catholic. He received us with very great kindness. I purpose remaining with him for a few days. The weather up to the present has been very favourable. The country is suffering much for want of rain. The broad acres of the squatters are without grass. The cattle and sheep graze on the banks of the river - or in the neighbourhood of lagoons - the only places possessing herbage green and fresh.]
[The earlier (and only remaining) version. Ed.:
Monday November 18th. I said Mass this morning at ten o'clock. Immediately two children belonging to persons on the South side of the river - in the Melbourne diocese - were baptized by Dean Fitzpatrick. One of the children was four years old. The weather still continues hot and droughty. Night prayers with the family at nine - retired to rest immediately after.
Tuesday 19th. I rose this morning a little before six. Celebrated Mass at seven. At eleven o'clock a.m. we left for the Ovens - where we arrived at three o'clock. Retired to rest at half past nine.
Wednesday 20th. I rose this morning at seven - celebrated Mass at ten - twenty persons assisted. Visited the township at one o'clock and selected a site. At three called on a Catholic family - who hold a cattle station within three miles of the town. The father - a man of ninety years - was sent out for the 'rebellion' - he is very feeble - but enjoys all his faculties. I did not retire to rest until expecting the mail, which is unusually late tonight. I purpose starting at four tomorrow morning for the Honey Suckle. The distance is 45 miles.]
Thursday 21st. November This morning we left for the Honey Suckle at 6 o'clock. The distance we had to travel was 45 miles. The day was exceedingly sultry and disagreeable, a hot wind with clouds of dust prevailing through the whole day.
At the Broken river in Bangalla we stopped to refresh the horses. After a delay of an hour we continued our journey to the Honey Suckle, where we arrived a little after six o'clock. Bangalla is a small township: the Catholic population does not exceed eighty, children and adults. The town is situated in the centre of a large squatting population. The land is not very good. The water at this place is pretty good.
Violet Town is situated on the Honeysuckle Creek. As yet the houses are few and the population insignificant. At this place I stopped a day, being very much fatigued - the horses were also very tired.
Thursday November 22nd. We left the Ovens this morning at six o'clock - and arrived at the Broken river - or Bangalla [Benalla] - at 10. We remained here two hours - during which time I made a selection of a site for a church etc. The day was exceedingly oppressive - hot winds prevailing yesterday and today. With much labour we succeeded in getting the horses to travel the last stage to the Honey Suckle - or Violet Town - a distance of twenty miles. The Broken river is 30 miles from the Ovens. The Innkeeper at the Ovens would make no charge - though we stopped at his place on our way to Albury - and on our return - three nights and two days. We met with the same kindness at Violet Town. The Inn Keeper at the Ovens is a Protestant and an Englishman - his wife is a Catholic and Irish. The Inn at Violet Town is kept by a Catholic and an Irishman - his wife is a Presbyterian. At Bangalla there are eighty Catholics - adult and children - it is likely to be a pretty large town. The land in its neighbourhood is but middling. The water of the river is excellent for use. Violet Town - though surrounded by some good land - will never be of much consequence. There are few - very few - Catholics living here - and there are no more than two or three small houses in the township - the neighbouring country is in the hands of a few squatters. We retired early to rest tonight.
Friday November 23rd. I celebrated Mass this morning at nine o'clock - previous to my doing so I heard a few Confessions. We left immediately after on our way to the Goulburn. We made a short day's journey today - having travelled only twenty-three miles. Tomorrow we shall make the Goulburn - which is twenty-seven miles from this stage.
Saturday November 24th. We arrived at the Goulburn at 12 o'clock. Confessions were heard at nine tonight - in consequence of the shortness of the notice but few attended. Having said night prayers at Mr. Tiernan's we retired to rest. Immediately after my arrival I made a selection - near the bridge on the road from this to the Ovens - of a site for a church.
Sunday Heard Confessions this morning - I celebrated Mass at eleven o'clock. The attendance was better than I expected - above forty persons. A few approached the Holy Communion. The people contributed a something towards the expenses. We leave very soon for McCullough's. Arrived at McCullagh's [sic] - after visiting a sick man six miles from the Goulburn - at one o'clock - and after a short rest proceeded on our road to Kilmore - which place we reached after a tedious journey of a few miles in the dark, over a very bad road, a great part of which we were obliged to walk - at half past eight o'clock. I retired to rest a little after nine. The weather continues very warm and dry. The crops have suffered much from the hot winds that prevailed last week.
Monday 25th. I rose this morning rather late - owing to the fatigue of yesterday. I celebrated Mass at ten - a large congregation assisted - visited a poor lunatic after Mass - and read over her. I purpose leaving Kilmore for Kilmacue at three this evening. I left Kilmore at three - or a little after - and reached Kilmacue at a little after six. Feeling very tired I went to bed immediately after night prayers - during the night I slept very little. A hot wind blew the whole of the night and increased towards the morning.
Tuesday November 26th. I rose this morning at four with the intention of leaving for Melbourne at five - the distance being only twenty miles I expect to arrive there for breakfast. We started at the time appointed and have just arrived, it being a quarter to eight o'clock. The weather this morning was very sultry.