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The Western Australian Times (Perth, WA : 1874-1879) (about)
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Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2980530
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COUNTRY NEWS.
FREMANTLE. 1
(From ow correspondent.) j
Our new church is going ahead at a very en- couraging pace. In about three weeks, mach progress nas been made. Large quantities of huge blocks of stone of all conceivable shanes have been cut np, rough-hewn into convenient I sizes, and fine-dressed into shape, carted into
the compound, and now lie ready for placing in the structure. Offices, carpenters', masons', and blacksmiths' sheds, have been built; wells sunk, mortar heaps worked np, foundations dng ont, and built in all round; sand-ballast waggon con- structed, trollies at work, and a line of rails laid down for running the large heaps of sand and <MW*away. Evidently an energetic mind has been at work here. Even the piaser-by must observe the Clerk of Work's nm* jinitting activity
¦ daring twelve hean of the day; andi hear afe
hands soon will bernete crowded, with Ike' : work of laying ont patterns of the ni mei eal il
stone tracery work, pillan, mullions, eaeitetv arches, and designs for wood sod iron; ead la , seeing all the work properly performed; whick will be strain amply soxacleat for any toe ssa*. ? It is to be hoped?I hope it as a ehuiehasa mad resident ? that the stranger who hes bea* l j brought down from Perth to carry oat the work
' for as, will be left tmhampered?that the
mittee will not make themselves * too busy*, mad that no individasl member of that body wflC attempt to 'direct' how this and that work ought to be done.. Let him have fair play sad no interference from 'amateur baildon'; aid,
however galling the workmen may find the ever- ¦ buting, watchful eye of the committee-men, who do the patrol business from morning till night (and it is said from night till morning) yet fte ought not, at all events, be made to feet it.
At the present time the church employ about seventy hands. Of coane this has somewhat relieved the hitherto prevailing distress st the port, so that trade is. not quite so dall, nor money so scarce as when I wrote yon before. It is said Lady Ord will probably lay the founda-
tion stone of the new church.
Christmas has gone and past. Even 'Boxing Day '?with its literal ' boxing' accompaniments among the rough-and-ready folks of Fremantle? is now numbered with the days of the past* Also the New Year's day, with its very success? f ul regatta under vice regal patronage. All wat jolly. Even Mr. Jackson of Rottnest?the blackfellows* terror?looked jolly, as, on the bridge of the Rob Roy, like a ' cate' Scot he completely buttonholed His Excellency for a full hour. Probably His Excellency Governor Ord, and Rottnest Governor Jackson were ar- ranging the festivities for the island shooting season. His Excellency looked well and hearty, and seemed as if there was no necessity for any change of air on hygienic grounds.
Intermingled with the season's festivities were weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Many deaths have occurred here recently? babes, men in their prime, and old men in the sear leaf?death from distressing causes some. On Christmas day itself, passed to his long home a gentleman from amongst as?one of Nature's gentlemen?a man without pride?and always polished, . courteous, and lund to every one, ?Alexander Francisco senr., who has been long known, and will be long remembered, in connec- tion with Fremantle and with the colony.
A very active P.O. of the port was recently caught doing those things he ought not to have done, and was dismissed the force; of coarse. But I hear the delinquent has been taken on the force again, and is now doing duty tn Perth.
Such is life!
The idea of removing the "roundhouse" on
the hill, and#the tunnel, giving, hereby a clear view of the sea at the one end, and the park grounds at the other end of High Street ia gaining favor. The old feeling that if the hill was cut away the Sea would rash up oar main street is dying oat.
Now that another hitch has occurred about the Loan Bill and Railway business?it is pre- dicted that if we go in for Responsible Govern- ment we may get the Loan floated and Railway started next year?if not the Home Government will probably give their consent about the year 1898, when another hitch will occur. Governor Ord if alive will be hunted up and consulted and will suggest that the census of the colony should be takeu without delay. This done, it will be found there are 43 persons alive in the colony of West Australia.
Men of war and marines fossicking about ia all directions. This is the the third man of war ship visited us lately, the Danae. If we go oa like this Fremantle with all its sand will not be such a " dusty" place after all.
January 5th.