Tumut News

Australian Town and Country Journal

29 July 1876

I am glad to be able to state that our postmaster, Mr. Henry Hilton, has kindly agreed to open his office for the delivery of letters and papers, for half an hour each night after the mail arrives; and I am sure that this accommodation will be largely taken advantage of.

There has been some talk this week about petitioning the Postmaster-General to establish a daily mail between Gundagai and this town, by the marked-tree line. This scheme possesses its disadvantages, as well as its advantages, for it must be remembered that passengers can now get to Adelong in about two hours, whereas, if the proposed route be adopted they would have to travel a round-about road of about forty miles.

Such a winter us the present one has not been experienced in this locality for many a day. We are now in the middle of the rainy season, but we have not had any rain for the last month or six weeks. Of course those persons owning, large herds of cattle, must suffer from the continuance of the dry weather.

The stables at the rear of the Royal Hotel, which were burnt to the ground a few months ago, have been reconstructed on a new and improved plan, and it is to be hoped that their spirited owner, Mr. O. W. Fraser, will have better luck with them, than with those lately consumed.

On Tuesday night last, being the weekly meeting of the Tumut Musical and Dramatic Club, the adjourned debate, brought forward by the Ministry, as to whether "The extensive immigration of the Chinese to these colonies should or should not be discouraged," was resumed.

Mr. Ford, on the opposition benches, opened the debate. The other speakers on the opposition being Messrs. Stewart, Caspersonn, and W. H. Bridle. The ministerial speakers were Messrs. Tincombe, Elliot, M'Kenzie, and Seife. Mr. M. Omaro, in an able speech supported the views of the ministry. On dividing it was found that the ministry had gained the day by a majority of one, there being thirteen oppositionists, and fourteen on the ministerial side.

On Wednesday last, about one o'clock, an accident occurred here, resulting in the death of a Tumut resident, named Daniel Plowman. The deceased, who is a cooper by trade, has been in the employ of Mr. E. M'Kay for the past few months, and had been ordered by him to assist in unloading a waggon in front of the hotel.

It appears that while engaged in fulfilling these orders his foot caught between a box and the side of the dray and overbalancing himself, he was precipitated to the ground, and alighted it is supposed on his head. Death was almost instantaneous. A coroner's inquest was hold over the body, but it is needless to enter into details further than to say that the evidence tended to prove that no blame could be attached to any one, and a verdict was returned to the effect, that deceased came to his death by accidentally falling from a dray.