This extract from the diary of Augustus Bostock begins in August 1862. AUGUST 1862 Fri 1 - Pruned GOOSEBERRY Trees. Run bullets and made ramrod for JIMMY'S (Bostock) rifle. Took cattle from GRASMERE to PURNIM by NICOL'S BRIDGE. Has sheep killed by dogs and DREW (Mr.) shot one. W. Storms , heavy wind, rain all day. Sat 2 - Prune GOOSEBERRY Trees. JOHN (Keilar) working in the garden. Had 14 sheep killed and a lot injured by dogs. Went to Warrnambool in the evening. Met riding party on my way. Found sheep in PHIN'S (Thomas) PADDOCK. Brought them to their paddock again. Weather, mild with light showers. Sun 3 - Stayed in Warrnambool and went to English Church. DREW (Mr.) came in to let me know the sheep were killed. Stayed in town all night. Weather fine. Mon 4 Got a SUMMONS for HAMILTON (Mr) & PATTEN (Mr). Arranged to start to BOORTKOI (Hexham) tomorrow. Returned home and watched for dogs in the evening. Weather very fine. Tue 5 - Went to see HAMILTON & PATTEN about their dogs. Called at DOY'S, about his dogs on my way home. PALMER (Octavius Frederick William) and ladies did not come. JOHN (Keilar) and ARNEL (Frederick) working at flower garden at the side of the house. DREW (Mr.) went round to see if he could identify dogs that killed sheep. Weather very wet. Wed 6 - Put fence in flat, moved by floods. Went to see DELANEY (Mr.) about his paying for sheep killed by his dogs. PALMER (O.F.W.) ALICE AITKIN & Miss McDOWELL called on their way to BOORTKOI (Hexham). Went with them as far as the first creek, to put them on the RIGHT TRACK. Called at IDENS (Mr.) as I returned to tell him to look after his dogs. JOHN KEILAR working in the garden. ARNEL (Frederick) helping DREW (Mr.) with fence. Paid DOY (Mr.) balance of his account. Put bells on some sheep. Weather sharp showers and sunshine. Thu 7 - KEILAR (John) and ARNEL (Fred) commenced digging the outside border of garden. Went to Warrnambool to attend as JUROR at COUNTY COURT. Stayed in town all night. Weather fine in day - showers at night. Fri 8 - Returned home. Went up to BOORTKOI in the afternoon. Weather showery. Sat 9 - Stayed up at Boortkoi. TOM (Bostock) drove PALMER (O.F.W.) and myself as far as ARMSTRONG'S. Weather cold. Sun 10 - Remained at BOORTKOI. Weather fine through the day but dull and rainy at night. Mon 11 - Return home. PALMER (O.F.W.) and ALICE AITKIN rode down with me. TOM (Thomas Edward Bostock) drove two DOVETON'S down ( Annie & Rachael Emily Doveton ? - daughters of Francis Doveton & Margaret Bostock (d.1853) and MISS McDOWALL. They all went on to town. Killed eight more sheep injured by dogs. W. fine, dull day, rain at night. Tue 12 - KEILAR (John) & ARNEL (Frederick) working in the garden. DREW (Mr.) and myself went to Warrnambool to attend the Court about summons, about killing of sheep. Spence's (Basil) case came off but was dismissed. I was one of the witnesses. Stayed in town all night. W.cold/showers. Wed 13 - Remained in town. Attended sale at MRS.ADAMS (wife of Late William Adams.) Went on board steamer to see TOM (Bostock), EMILY & ANNIE DOVETON off to Melbourne. Stayed in town all night. Weather wet and cold. Thu 14 - Return and help TRIPP (W.) with cattle. ALLAN JENKINS called and I paid him rent for PURNIM. W.wet/cold. Fri 15 - DREW (Mr.) went to PURNIM to see about the cattle and to see that fences are alright. Delivered shepp to MRS.SNOW (wife of Henry SNOW - in financial trouble). Pruned some of the GOOSEBERRY Trees. W. cold/showers. Sat 16 - The river rose again - bank high. DREW (Mr.) working at drains. Finished pruning GOOSEBERRY Trees. JOHN KEILAR and ARNEL (Fred) at work in the garden. HILL (Mr.) called to get a bullock to kill. One of the LEICESTERS lambed. Weather cold and showery. Sun 17 - Home all day. Weather mild - light showers. Mon 18 - KEILAR (John) and ARNEL (Fred) dig garden. Went to PURNIM and kill bullock for Mr.Hill. To W'bool and stayed all night. Weather changeable. Tue 19 - DREW (Mr.) took dray to town to get things and to take calf for SHELDRICK (Walter). Sent trees for Mr.MUSGROVE. TOM (Bostock) came down from MELBOURNE by steamer. Went to Jetty with TOM to get his things. Stayed in town all night. W. fine/north winds. Wed 20 - Went up to LAND OFFICE to see PLANS OF LAND. Went out to ERNEST'S (Bostock of Lipook) in the afternoon. Stayed in town all night. W. fine in day, little rain in evening. Thu 21 - TOM (Thomas Edward Bostock of Boortkoi, Hexham) started for home. Return home. DREW (Mr.) carting wood. KEILAR (John) and ARNEL (Fred) digging in garden. Put in some seeds RAINGILL (T.W.) gave me. (It must have been a great garden....Thel). Small bridge is crossable. Weather changeable. Fri 22 - Counted all sheep in three outside paddocks. Cut tails off ewe lambs. Went to sale at JONES (Mr.) Saw little HARRY about going to BOORTKOI (Hexham). Sent Chesnut colt and got him shod. Agreed with DOY (Mr) to plough two acres of TOBACCO ground and also to harrow same for thirty shillings. Weather fine but cloudy. Sat 23 - Went to W'bool for MEETING of the ROAD BOARD. Went down to MacGREGOR'S Saleyards. Stayed in Warrnambool all night. Weather - wind north, very warm. Sun 24 - Stayed in town. Went to English Church in the morning and to hear MR.JAMES in the evening. Weather - north wind very warm - more like summer. Mon 25 - Paid rent to T.MANIFOLD (Thomas). Arranged account at bank. Return home. H.EDDINGTON (Henry) rode part of the way with me. Measured ground for tobacco. KEILAR (John) & ARNEL (Fred) commenced digging last bed in the garden. MARGETTS (Edward) called. Another LEICESTER lamb lost. W. north wind/very warm. Tue 26 - All hands commenced footrotting the sheep. Started for HAMILTON. Went as far as MR.MacARTHURS. (Gilbert MacArthur) Stayed there all night. Weather - sharp showers all day. Wed 27 - Went to HAMILTON. Rather late to see much of SHOW (Hamilton Agricultural Show). MR.GILL came to HAMILTON by mail. Weather - sharp showers. Thu 28 - Left HAMILTON. Go to MR.FRANK HENTY'S but only got as far as COLERAINE. PALMER (Octavius Fred.Wm.) was with me. Weather - fine cloudy. Fri 29 - Called at "TAHARA" - Mr.FRANK HENTY'S where where we had to SWIM THE HORSES across the river to get to ?? where we stayed all night. Weather fine. Sat 30 - Went to see the ??? and went on to JOHN MACKERSEY'S. Weather fine - hot wind. Sun 31 - Stayed at MACKERSEY'S (John Mackersey was married to ANN HARRIET HEADLAM - both originally from Tasmania. John & Ann moved to New Zealand some years later where family still live on sheep properties. I have a great many letters between John and Augustus who remained friends throughout their life.) Weather hot wind. Enough for today..... Just enjoy..Sincerely Thelma Bostock/Wilkinson/Rafferty/Rhodes - http://birrell.1hwy.com/index.htm