Windsor & Richmond Gazette, Saturday, March 10, 1900 - page 6 On Inland Waters - Conclusion. Among Orchards and Cornfields [Written Specifically for the Gazette by G. C. J.] The run down the river is generally pleasant, for a cool easterly breeze is the rule ; but our "day out" was a caution, for a cool place on the "Hawkesbury" was out of the question. The crew did some circus business in the water in every stopping place - glad to cool themselves no doubt - and as far as Wiseman's Ferry their antics proved most amusing. But even natatorial exhibitions pall ; and as the sun set and stoppages were still the order of the day, river scenery lost some of its charm, and watching the loading up of produce on deck became wearisome. At Mangrove two large boats were waiting out in the stream. Before their cargoes were transferred to the steamer it was quite dark, and one could but indistinctively outline the hills on either side. To one who knows Bar Point navigation seemed not without danger ; for the wind had freshened and a huge bush fire from Pumpkin Point down to below Bar Point obscured the course with a thick haze of smoke, and one both admired and pitied the skipper - the latter, because a paternal government has not thought proper to place a single light for the Hawkesbury voyager's guidance. Skipper O'Brien is only a young man, but he has plenty of gumption ; possesses a wonderfully quiet temperament and a good pair of eyes - for it is really no child's play to run a boat like the "Hawkesbury" from Bar Point round Milson's Island across to Long Island, under the bridge, and thread her way across the flats to the railway wharf. It was a weird scene, that hoisting aboard from the fishermen's boats huge bags of oysters, one man in the bows holding a "flareup." During such loading, and with a strong tide running, a boat may drift on to the rocks, so that the skipper must "keep his eyes skinned" in order to know his whereabouts ; and on a dark night I should say that steering a steamer of the "Hawkesbury's" size from Bar Point to the railway wharf is far more anxious work than taking her round to Sydney. But what about the "Plimsoll mark ?" What about deck loading ? It may be alright, but changes at sea come suddenly and frequent, and one lump of a sea on board, with such cargoes as the "Hawkesbury" has been carrying lately, and where is she ? I am not a croaker, but when I know the fuss that is often made about colliers carrying a few baskets of coal on deck from Newcastle or Bulli, I am of opinion that the deck load of a Hawkesbury trader (which is also a passenger boat) is equally dangerous. Anyway, it strengthens my argument that a separate passenger service is necessary for the river - our river - the People's river. Half-past two o'clock in the morning is not a pleasant or convenient hour to land passengers at the railway wharf, from which no train leaves until 7 o'clock, and I contend that the H.R.S.N. Company should stand aside as passenger carriers or run a boat for the special purpose. Imagine the "Hawkesbury" leaving Ebenezer at 5 a.m. and reaching the railway wharf at Long Island at 2.30 next morning. One would like to know when the skipper and crew rests, and how the Early Closing Act applies to them ? Even round the coast, the eight hour system obtains on the boats. Notwithstanding these remarks, I have nothing but praise for Captain O'Brien and his crew. The former is the best tempered man I ever met ; his orders are given quietly and he never appears put out. He smokes his pipe, minds his helm, and is courteous to his passengers, and so, indeed, are the "boys," all of whom are athletic and splendid workers. I must also say a good word for Mr. Tom Rose, who is both attentive and obliging and ready at all times to afford information to those "who want to know, you know." The Rose's are a fine old Lower Hawkesbury family, and I have pleasant memories of an elder "Tom Rose." If it be not out of place to make a suggestion, here is one : Why not let one boat pick up from Ebenezer to Colo, or say Wiseman's, and then steam straight away to the railway wharf, leaving the "Narara" to pick up all cargo below ? It would necessitate the handling of more cargo than now, it will be said. Even so, it would be a decided advantage to shippers, who would get their produce to market something earlier. And herein is the big trouble about which producers loudly complain - some of them being shareholders in the company, though patronizing another boat because of earlier delivery in Sydney. Say the boat leaves Ebenezer on Monday ; fruit to go that day must be pulled and packed either on Saturday or Sunday - and Sunday work is not unknown on Hawkesbury farms. The boat reaches Sydney at any hour between midnight and 5 a.m. on Tuesday, so that fruit may reach Bathurst street market before noon, or it may not ; if it does not there is a poor lookout for it. Thus, my idea of the two boats running half the distance each the same day has some merit, even though a day is lost between, which there must be with only two boats. I believe Skipper Jones is to have a new boat shortly (I have seen the model of her hull), and then he will compete more keenly than ever with the company. And now I have done - have had my little growl (as of old) and touched upon many things. It will be seen that I am all for the river ; and if I rap some people over the knuckles it is for their good. I should like to see improvements in many directions, especially in the orchards - less waste and more labour put upon the land. It is nonsense to say it won't pay ; wages are not big in all conscience, and labour is plentiful. It would pay some proprietors far better to do less bullocking themselves, and devote more time to superintendence. If the orchards produce too much, all the more reason why jam factories should be established at the points I have indicated. Then only choice fruits need be sent to market - all the other could go in to the jam pot. During my holidays I met many who swore by the Gazette - even men who voted for Federation, and some who are professed protectionists. Most of those I met were glad to hear of the recent change of proprietors, and I was assured that the old paper would not suffer therefore. I met your Lower Portland correspondent - that rising young genius, "Chris," of whom I can say much - were it not that his native modesty might be shocked. As a rule, the farmers are liberal - in that I found in most homes - both local papers, and their merits were freely discussed - the Gazette faring well in the discussion. When my dream of the Hawkesbury comes to pass I may write thus :- "O River ! Through the night I hear Thy wavelets rippling on the pebbly beach, I hear thy current stir the rustling sedge That skirts thy bed ; thou intermittest not Thine everlasting journey, drawing on A silvery train from many a woodland spring And mountain brook. On glide thy waters, till at last they flow Beneath the windows of the populace town, And all night long give back the gleam of lamps, And glimmer with the trains of light that stream From halls where dancers whirl." -- G. C. J.