FIRST CENTURY OF DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



" The process of boiling-down, resorted to during the panic, when 

 stock was nearly at zero, was a very happy idea, a> it not only) at 

 once made sheep and cattle worth the price of their riiue and tall-w, 

 but acted beneficially by thinning their stock. The process itself is 

 very summary. Large cauldrons were provided ; the beasts were 

 skinned, cut in four, and thrown in, and the fat skimmed off, strained, 

 and put into casks. The heads, bones, and refuse were all thrown 

 away a> valueless in a country where manure is not used, the: land 

 tilled being of the richest and not yet exhausted. The waste, how- 

 ever, was great, -ior much might have been made of gelatine, hoofs, 

 horns, &c. The tallow, of both mutton and beef, was in most cases 

 excellent, and commanded high prices in London. This was a grand 

 epoch in the history of the colony. A good deal of beef was >alted 

 during the winter months, that being the only season at which it, can 

 be done. 



''The owners of this estate, the Messrs. Berry, reside in an excel- 

 lent brick house which crowns a rising ground. Well-built cottages 

 have been erected in convenient situations for the accommodation of 

 the different superintendents. The Shoalhaven, being navigable, adds 

 much to the value of the property ; and the produce of the farm is 

 sent up to Sydney in vessels built on the river. The estate would 

 maintain some thousands of people, but the owners of it can never 

 become rich by farming it. To give an idea of the value of farming 

 produce in this colony, I may mention that one of these gentlemen 

 told me that he once grew 2000 bushels of barley, but could only find 

 purchasers for one-half the quantity. The dairy was returning at the 

 rate of 70 per week in butter alone. This was the celebrated Jindy- 

 andy Dairy. 



"After leaving tlu- mansion of Messrs. Berry, and travelling al<iy_r 

 a fine beach ior about nine miles, the district we have entered is called 

 Illawarra, the native name bestowed by the aborigines ; and I have 

 been told that the " native" meaning of this beautiful land, Tllawarra, 

 means " Happy Valley." 



Mr. T. H. Braini, writing in! 1843, said: "We can confidently re- 

 commend particularly at the present moment New South Wales 

 as the most desirable sphere for the capitalist and man of fortune. 

 The most inveterate croakers amongst us are now well convinced 

 that our colony must very soon emerge from the difficulties which 

 are now pressing upon us, and when that is the case a healthier state 

 of things in relation to our monetary interests will doubtless be in- 

 duced. At this moment property of all kinds is sadly depreciated. 

 Good cattle are to be had at from 2 to 3 IDS., sheep at 5s. to 6s., 

 and land is sold for a mere trifle. 



" To any person with a small capital to embark, possessed of or- 

 dinary prudence and business habits, \ve have no hesitation in stating 

 that this colony presents attractions seldom to be found. We believe 

 that >uch a person would now require but a comparatively short time 

 to double his capital. The arrival of some few such persons, pOS- 

 n<>t only the desire to enrich themselves, but to benefit the 

 land, would be no small advantage to us at the present juncture. Their 

 arrival among ns, and the'r careful and well-directed employment of 

 their resource-., would tend materially to hasten the period we have 

 anticipated. To one such individual (Mr. Ken I'oyd t we are alreadv 

 indebted for a -ea>onable employment of labor, and we trust we shall 

 not have to wait long before others appear among ns to do the State 

 some service. We assure them they will receive a safe and abundant 

 reward for Mich uublic spirited efforts. 



"We have Mated .nr belief that thU colony will recover from the 

 depre-Mon which ha- of late weighed upon ns. and we ground onr 

 belief mi the fact that the colonies are beginning to open their eyes 

 to the real condition, to develop the resources of the land, and t-> 



48. 



