Windsor & Richmond Gazette, Saturday, February 24, 1900 - page 4 River Topics. (By Chris) Speaking at the banquet tendered him at Wiseman's Ferry, the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. E. W. O'Sullivan) stated that the Lyne Government had passed many useful measures which their predecessors never had courage to attempt. Now, "Teddy" should not take undue credit to his Government, for he must surely know that the most important measures passed during last session were introduced to the House by the Reid Administration, after whose downfall they were taken up and passed by Lyne. The necessity of a jam and fruit preserving factory on the river was never more forcibly emphasised than during the present season, when some thousands of cases of fruit have rotted on the ground in the various orchards along the river. This is a state of affairs to be deplored, and clearly indicates that out farmers lack energy and enterprise, not to say common sense. Surely we have men amongst us capable of taking this important matter up and bringing it to a successful issue, which, when once a going concern, must redound to the benefit and prosperity and credit of the river. Other districts in the colony can boast of the advantages accruing from co-operation, and why Hawkesbury farmers lag behind so surpasseth all understanding. One cannot fail to be impressed with the number of Indian hawkers who are apparently making a good living by disposing of their wares along the river. As I pointed out in my notes recently, these pestiferous hawkers are mere interlopers and social nuisances, and, indeed, it is not so long ago that river residents themselves regarded them with a feeling akin to horror and disgust. But now things are changed, and the Indian is becoming to be regarded as an "allright" sort of fellow, with whom nice bargains in Brummagem jewelry and brass trinkets (and other cheap and useless rubbish which usually run away with country folks' cash) made be made. "Chris'" motto is, "Australia for the Australians," and he hopes that with the advent of Federation, this alien invasion will in some degrees be checked. It appears that the Government dredge, "Signa," which was dispatched from Sydney some months back for Windsor Reach, to commence operations among the shoals up that way, in some mysterious manner found its way into Mangrove, or some other tributary of the Hawkesbury, where it is still doing work at the pleasure of the Member for Northumberland. Mr. Morgan should interview Mr. Norton (who appears to have control of the dredge) and politely request him to pass the "Signa" along to Windsor at his earliest convenience. Of course we are well aware that Mr. O'Sullivan and Mr. Norton are strong personal and political friends, but without insinuating anything. I would express the hope that the Minister's warm personal and political regard for the editor of "Truth," will not influence him in granting the Wolombians concessions, that are not also bestowed upon the Hawkesbury and other electorates of the colony. Talking of the river reminds me that the Hawkesbury's greatest champion and admirer, Mr. G. C. Johnson (founder of the now defunct "Hawkesbury Chronicle" newspaper) has lately been spending a somewhat extended holiday on its banks. Through the columns of the Gazette, Mr. Johnson has, with unswerving and unvarying advocacy, urged that the river be made navigable for large craft to proceed to Windsor, and no pen can describe the magnificent scenery abounding along the banks of our queenly "Australian Rhine" in a more faithful and realistic manner than that wielded so gracefully by the ex-Windsor editor. It is so safe to say that had our Windsor friends been so strong and consistent in their advocacy of the cause as G. C. J., the river would have been dredged long ago. I hope, however, that the Government will take up the work before long, and my sincerest wish is that the veteran journalist will yet see the s.s. "Hawkesbury" moored to Windsor wharf.