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The following account was transcribed from The Australian Town and Country Journal, 19th August 1876 :
“SHOALHAVEN. - MELTON. [MILTON]
August 12.
“After a boisterous passage from Sydney, and calling at Woolongong and Kiama, we started for Shoalhaven and reached there about 7.30 p.m. I must say I had no cause to complain of the present proprietor. Before going on with my trip I should like to state a little incident that happened when we were leaving the wharf in Sydney. A driver of a safety-cab was on the wharf calling out, ‘Mr. M pay me my fare,’ and no response. ‘Haul the plank ashore,’ was the command of the captain. Cabby jumped on deck looking his fare; we steamed away from the wharf, cabby on board. When he found out his position he became frantic, and pleaded the captain to stop, but no avail; his only answer from the captain was, ‘You must go to Woollongong, you had no business to leave your horse and cab.’ ‘I am only a new chum,’ replied cabby, and with tears in his eyes, he prayed the skipper to stop; but on he went until he reached Dawe’s Point, when a whistle from the steamer was blown; a boat came alongside, and unfortunate cabby was allowed to get into it and proceed to terra firma. he had to pay two shillings for the boat, lost his fare, and probably an inspector had secured his horse and cab, which during this time were stationed outside the gate at the Phoenix Wharf.
“Terrara has not altered its appearance for the better during the last five years; no fresh buildings of any pretensions have been erected, and the School of Srts, the foundation of which was laid in my presence some eight years ago for the last seven and a half years has remained in a state of status quo, viz. walls from three to five feet high. This I can’t say, speaks well for the intelligent community of Terrara. There has been no flood of any consequence since 1870, so that the river has not encroached in any great degree on the banks since that period. Nowra is progressing. There is a new bridge being erected opposite Moss’ Hotel, and a very substantial structure it is. Several new buildings have been erected since my last visit, and the township assumes a business aspect. Mr. Lovegrove is still there as P.M., and his name is always mentioned in connection with the progress of the place. The roads from Nowra to Tomerong are in rather a bad condition. I am glad to say our coach arrived at Tomerong all right. The timber from here to Wandandean [Wandandian] is splendid for ship building, and the quantity is unlimited. Spotted gum is the best wood the colony produces for this purpose, and judges say equal to any known wood for such a purpose. The principal timber in this district is blackbutt, blue gum, and spotted gum. At Tomerong they boast of a public school. The master is Mr. M’Gee, one of the oldest members of the service. Children walk seven or eight miles to this school.
“Leaving Tomerong, we proceed to Melton [Milton], distance about thirty miles; roads in very good order. Bridges want repairing and inspecting very badly, otherwise there will be some serious accidents some day, as there are holes in some of them which would allow a man to go through, and if not careful there are many places where your horse would put his foot in. On our journey we met with the mail boy riding, as he stated, and looks did not belie him a knocked up horse, and as he had a hill to ascend he got off and drove the horse before him. This was a nice picture of the way in which her majesty’s mails are carried, where the contracts are taken at absurd prices. On inquiry I was informed that the contract price for six miles, three each way, from Ulladulla to Shoalhaven, a distance of forty eight miles, was L138 per annum, - for which the mailman has to travel and carry mails no less a distance than 11, 976 miles a year. Does it not seem absurd for one to take such a distance in all weathers for so small a sum ? And the consequence is, the mails are constantly hours behind time; horses knocked up and killed, because the price will not allow horse being fed and riders paid. This is a subject that requires looking into by the Postmaster-General. Another thing requires attention by the proper authorities; that is, our wattle trees; they are rapidly becoming extinct owing to their wholesale destruction by persons gathering the bark. Trees of all ages are stripped, and consequently die; and where are we to get others to supply the place. A law should be framed that only trees of certain size should have the bark taken from them. Already the bark which is greatly in demand for tanning purposes, is scarce, and the collectors of it have to travel many miles to obtain it in consequence of what has been done, and is till being done, namely stripping saplings irrespective of size. Li_chem Creek, about 12 miles from Melton [Milton], is the worst place on the road. Here it is really bad for a vehicle, being rotten ground, and requires immediate attention.
“on my arrival in Melton [Milton] I noticed a striking difference in the appearance of the place since my last visit, so wonderfully has it improved. The township has been incorporated, and the roads are in first-class repair; streets formed, culverts made, &c. Amongst the principal improvements are the School of Arts, a very handsome structure for the size. The Town Council hold their meetings there, and there is a free library. The Commercial Bank is a building of some architectural beauty, and is certainly an ornament to the place. A public school is to be erected, to cost L2000. A Court-house is being built, and a post and telegraph office is to be erected on same site. Mr. Mitchell is building a nice store, two stories. Mr. Wheatley has built a comfortable hotel, managed by himself, at whose place your correspondent stayed, and very good indeed were the viands and accommodation. There is also a chemist’s shop, Mr. Jones proprietor. A new store kept by Mr. Pickering, who is getting some good pickings. M’Arthur’s handsome structure is complete and does a large trade. Mr. Hall has retired and made way for Mr. Blackburn; this store is the creme de la creme, if I may so speak, of the district, and has connections for many miles around. Watt’s store is in full swing and cannot complain. Kerr, the tailor, is still in his old crib, and seems perfectly contented to remain there.
“Churches are well represented here , almost every denomination; and under Constable Beattie, who has been here for nearly eight years, the people are quiet and peaceable.
“On the night of my arrival there was a lecture given in the School of Arts by Mr. Rutter on Electricity. The Acting-superintendent, allowed telegraph instruments to be exhibited at the lecture. Mr. Mulligan operated on the Morse and alphabetical instruments. Some messages were sent and received, and several experiment tried. There were about 150 persons present. The proceeds were devoted to the School of Arts.
“The volunteers mustered up on Saturday night forty-two rank and file, under command of Lieutenants Millar and Cook, and went through their various evolutions very satisfactorily.
“The season promises favourable for an early spring, and farmers are looking forward to a good season to recoup their losses during the last drought.
“Seccombe’s preserved milk is the talk of the district. It certainly is delicious, and can be made into anything that eggs or milk can. I tasted some that had been opened three months and it was then perfectly sweet. Most of the stores in this town sell it, and many people use it instead of butter for children, and the youngsters thrive immensely on it.”
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