January 22nd 1920
Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent)
Very hot weather is the order of things around here, but still water and feed are plentiful and stock are good. There are a few nice haystacks around the farms. Most farms are finished stripping but the results, generally speaking are poor owing to the recent storm. In fact, there are heavy losers through it. Messes Jim Valentine and W.H. Stokes lost nearly all their crops, and others lost a fair proportion, as the hail wind and rain were very heavy.
Mr. Stafford lost a splendid draft horse a few days ago. He was tied up, but accidently got down and broke his neck.
The Bindu Road, which is the motor track to Geraldton, is in a very rough and bad state, and the Road Board do not attempt to make it better. Messes valentine and Duncan’s road is also in a disgraceful and dangerous condition.
Owning to ever rising charges for commodities, I am afraid most farmers will have to go into towns, as 5 shillings per bushel for wheat is no good under the present conditions. Framers were better off when wheat was selling at 3 shillings and two pence [per bushel] (5 shillings per bushel equates to $1.50 per bag or $18.00 per tonne)
The timber for our railway stock yards has arrived and we hope to see them erected very soon, as there are a number of stock to be trucked during the next few months.
People are wondering as to what is the method of disposing of timber etc belonging to the wheat pool. In these days of short supplies, this should command a good price.
Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent)
Nice rains have fallen around this part of the district, and everything in the garden is looking lovely. The order of the day with the farmer is large areas of wheat, in anticipation of a big price next year.
The grass is making good growth and stock are looking well, and there should be some good wool clips around here at the end of this year, as sheep have had a good season. I notice lambs are fairly plentiful in the paddocks also and look well. This is a fine stock raising district when better methods are used.
The new railway stockyards are finished and are proving a great convenience to the settlers, but better arrangements for dispatching and lifting stock are required.
The school holidays have just finished, and the lads and lassies are back at their books.
It is rumored that Mr. N. Fry, who left to settle in Victoria, will shortly return and settle again in this district. Surely the place has charm! They all come back
August 10th 1920
Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent)
Last Sunday the Tenindewa footballers met the Devils Creek team and got a severe drubbing on their own ground. This is not as it should be. These two teams are now level pegging for the premiership. So Tenindewa have to meet Mullewa next. If they win, which they should do if a full team gets together, they will be premiers.
If rumour is correct wedding bells will soon be ringing for a Tenindewa couple; its nice to see young couples settling down.
Last week Tenindewa experienced four of the heaviest frosts for many years. Everything put on a white coat and ice was plentiful. Some of the crops around here were touched with it, and a good number of potato patches as well.
We have had some lovely rains, and if the season continues showery there should be some of the best crops ever harvested in this part. Most farmers go in for a fair percentage of fallow hence crops are fairly sure.
Some remarkably fine crops are showing in this district. Feed is plentiful, and all stock are looking well. There should be a good wool clip. Lambing is about finished and the youngsters look very nice playing around in the paddocks. The flower season is here, and it is quite a pleasure to be outdoors.
The Young Idea
Upon scholars at a Bath secondary school being ordered to write an essay on school work, one bright youngster worked off the following in his papers; “home lessons are hastening my life towards the tomb”
Note Fry’s house through the other side of the rails (centre of photo)
September 21st 1920
Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent)
The most popular news this time is people are marrying. Our esteemed farmer Mr. R (Bob) Oldham, was married on Tuesday last, at Christ Church, Geraldton, to Miss Gwen Palmer. Many Tenindewa residents visited Geraldton to witness the happy event, and their many good friends wish them every good fortune.
Tenindewa footballers got a licking for the premiership. I think they must have dropped their tail a bit, as Devils Creek won by a good margin, after a fairly robust game.
Crops are looking remarkably good and I tip a bumper harvest if we do not get rust, septoria, smut or a storm. Of course the farmer is never sure of his crop until it is in the bag, and tightly sown up. Things could not look brighter for the farmers than they do.
Messrs. Stafford and Oldham are preparing for the freezing works. They have raised some very fine crossbred lambs this season. It is to be hoped the works will go ahead, as they have been hanging far too long.
On local farmer has tried Wimmera rye grass in his paddocks, and it is doing well. The grass is giving great results in lamb raising in Victoria.
Many residents intend seeing the Geraldton Agricultural Show this year. It is a good decision to have a few days holiday and rest. There is plenty of work in this district, but men are hard to get, Good prices are being offered for clearing.
Farmers are commencing their shearing, and should get splendid clips, as the season has been good all through.
November 9th 1920
Tenindewa Notes (From an occasional Correspondent)
Geraldton Guardian
The summer is now closing on us, and before long harvesters will be busy around us. The winter, to my idea has cur off short. To look at rain gauge registrations, we have had more rain than average years, but the majority of it fell in a few months, leaving the latter part of September and October very dry. Although the crops in the district would take anyone’s eye, a careful examination will show the heads not as full as they could be. This shows more particularly in the late varieties. Farmers are not worrying over the sharp closing of the season. The advance on the crop is the only thing that concerns them, and there will be great grumbling if its not 5 shillings nett [per bushel] on the siding.
A fair amount of hay has been cut, and rivalry exists in the [hay] stack building art to some extent. Will say later who carries the honours.
Great interest has been taken this year in the Mullewa Road Board rate payers meeting, and our local member came in for a good deal of criticism. It seems as if we could not get anyone to suit us, judging by the changes that take place.
November 17th 1920
Tenindewa Notes (From our Correspondent)
Harvesting here, as elsewhere, is in full swing, and as I have previously mentioned, the gathering will be bountiful. In some cases the reaper has been introduced to this district, in preference to the harvester, which goes to show we are progressing fast. If the Mitchell Government would only encourage, instead of forbidding, the destruction of the emu, the Hon. Thomas Moore might not have it all his own way next election in this cocky centre.
The knock back of the sale of wool put a damper on the bright outlook there was for high prices earlier in the season. I hear that Messrs. Petroff and Butler Bros. were the only two around this district to fluke top market before it fell like a pricked balloon.
Nine bob a bushel for home consumption wheat ($4.00 per tonne), certainly cannot be sneezed at, but the two and sixpence cash (25 cents) first installment on the pooled wheat is, to my mind, “up to mud”. For my contention is this — by the time the finalizing amount is paid, with the perpetual advancement in the cost of living, this pouny note then will only produce 10 shillings ($1.00) value. For instance: yesterday a farmer received 50 pounds ($100.00) from his 1916 crop of wheat. Ask yourself what the 50 pounds was then worth against its worth today?
Believe the residents of Eradu, on seeing the old pub pulled down and trucked away, are petitioning to the Railway Department for a refreshment station at Eradu– a much needed requirement, and, if they include a trough, so as those poor thirsty horses that are continually dragging their farmers along miles of sandy roads to meet trains, could in conjunction quench their thirsts, Eradu would be worth settling around.
Some talk at Tenindewa of having the townsite shifted, or of reversing position with the cemetery. I could not say whether the same engineer who laid out the “town” of Mullewa had anything to do with our “city”. However, it seems peculiar that our cemetery should be adjacent to the railway line, while the townsite is on the backside of a stony ridge, approached during the winter months through a quog marsh per floating log or per medium of life belt only. [I] Once was told, where commenting on this townsite, that the plans were taken off upside down, and I am wondering if the engineer who drew he plans of Tenindewa wasn’t something similar–upside down himself.
Everyone is waiting for the shareholders annual meeting of the Cooperative Society. I think Mr. Editor, if I remember rightly, you have heard of this society before and as everyone is going to say something at the meeting you may again hear something. [in a later edition]
December 4th 1920
Tenindewa Notes (From an occasional Correspondent)
Geraldton Guardian
Recently Messrs. Sutcliffe and Manners, organizers of the Primary Producers Association visited Tenindewa and addressed a public meeting at the Cooperative Hall. The local branch has been semi-moribund for some time but the speakers put new life into it, Mr. Alec Rumble being induce to take on the duties of hon. secretary, and Mr. Chas. J. Stafford the presidency. Other officers will be appointed shortly.
It is hoped in view of the near approach of the state elections the settlers will unite to help to put Mr. H. K. Maley on the top of the poll.
The harvesters are very, busy and the crops are coming off well, but I fear the huge crops mentioned in a recent issue will be by no means the rule. A fair average is assured, but the settlers out back have suffered terribly from the ravages of emus. These numerous birds roam the district in flocks of 50 to 100 and stalk to and fro through the crops breaking the hearts of sturdiest settlers. Something will have to be done about them, or farmers will hesitate to clear more land, or crop what they have, for the prohibitive price of wire, fencing is out of the question. By the way, one practical farmer suggested to me that a lot of wire netting now being used in a useless rabbit fence should be used to keep back these terrible pests.
Many farmers are back at the old weary water carting, for it is a long time since any rain fell, and it seems as far away as ever.
There is a great scarcity of bags for wheat, and the matter is causing the farmers anxiety. It appears that the Eastern States is fully supplied, while W.A. is bagless. Bags left Calcutta for the East in October, while the steamer conveying the bulk of our bags only left in November, and is not due in Fremantle until December the 6th. The East do not require the bags, while W.A., whose harvest is very early this season, is in sore need of them. The wheat is shedding badly, and this will materially reduce the yields unless bags are forthcoming.
Wheat receiving at the sidings will commence soon as farmers notify they are ready to deliver in sufficient quantities, but so far none have done so. If there is delay the farmers have only themselves to thank, as it is useless to requisition trucks and not be able to fill them.
The annual Christmas tree is arranged for Saturday, December 11th. Miss Paton, the popular school teacher, is again the organizer, and the affair promises to be an even grater success than last year. It is hoped her efforts will receive better appreciation than previously, for the work is heavy requires much thought, and is worthy of at least a spontaneous vote of thanks.
On Boxing Day it is intended to hold some real dinkum sports. A strong committee has been got together and they are working hard to make a them a success. Mr. George Napier has undertaken the secretarial duties, so no stone will be left unturned. The usual dance will conclude the days festivities.
On Advent Sunday the first Church of England service was held at Tenindewa, the Rev. H. Vine, Rector of Christ Church, Geraldton, being the officiating clergyman. The hall was well filled, but the harvest being in full swing and the farmers having a long way to come caused the absence of many. The service was of a simple, hearty character, the singing being really good, considering it was unaccompanied. The Rev. gentleman took for his text, “The Lord hath need of them” and gave a very earnest address. He especially stressed the need of clergymen in Mullewa to minister to the district from Yalgoo to Tenindewa, and the Archbishop had promised to station one there as soon as a young man was available. Mr. Vine greatly impressed the congregation, and it is hoped to arrange a real fine harvest thanksgiving later on. The feature of the service was the administration of the rite of Holy Baptism to the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Napier. This was the first public baptism ever held at Tenindewa.
December 7th 1920
Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent)
Things could not be much better, over 100 in the shade daily [38 degrees Celsius], and fires all round. Speaking of fires, it is time the railways took a pull. On my last trip from Geraldton the engine started several fires, including one in Grant’s paddock.
The farmers are busy harvesting and crops are close up to expectations, so there should be a record lot of wheat from this district for the 1920 season.
My last notes should have read that Mr. W. H. Johnson got 32.5 bags [of] Gresley wheat from one bag sown, and the 40 bushels of barley were being stripped at “Menang” not Mittagong.
Tenindewa is holding a sports meeting on New Years Day, the proceeds to go towards building and Agricultural Hall. (A very good idea)
The State School children have collected a goodly sum for their Christmas tree so the youngsters are to have a good time shortly. I believe we are to loose our teacher after Christmas.