Can anyone please tell me the background of James Manning BYRNE who became Mayor of Wilcannia? Even a small thing like if he was Irish or English would be a great help in establishing if he was in any way connected with my BYRNES. In 1874 he was in charge of the Snagging Camp on the Lower Darling River (getting rid of obstacles to navigation - not cooking up sausages for camping groups). 1878 saw him with the freehold of Connorgee (sic), Lower Darling again. By 1882 he was at Wilcannia, and in 1883-1884 he held the freehold of Mulga Way, Wilcannia. 1886 Billilla freehold, Wilcannia. 1887-1889 Mulga Way freehold, Wilcannia. 1890-1893 Tolarno Run, Lower Darling River. Then from 1894 he held the leasehold of Tartna, Menindie District. My BYRNES family worked with him and records would show that they were very much aware of the presence of a family with the same/similar name - eg all our records were listed as John Thomas BYRNES to distinguish him from John BYRNE. My family were Irish. Is it just a case of two families with a similar name being in the same area at the same time? Regards ...........Rusheen. BTW - glad to hear that the Darling is flowing again at Wilcannia after 3 years.