Sunday, September 29, 2013

Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show 1960

This is what the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show used to be like.  My dad, Frank Rouse and my Uncle James Rouse (J. & F. Rouse Potato Growers, of Cora Lynn, telephone Iona 331 ) demonstrated  the washing and packing of potatoes, on machinery provided by Port Implements. You could buy the finished produce, 4 pounds of potatoes for 2 shillings and six pence. The spectators were very formerly dressed compared to today.


Show special advertisement in The Age September 23, 1960






That's Dad, leaning on the machine with his back towards the rollers.


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

100 years ago this week - Bunyip Court case

The following appeared in The Argus of September 16, 1913 (see here)  - 100 years ago.
Two farmers of Iona, named Victor Little and Thomas McGuire, were charged at the Bunyip Court on Wednesday, at the instance of Constable Wagner, with slaughtering vealers without licenses. The evidence showed that both defendants had slaughtered poddies and vealers on their farms, and Mr B. J. Dann, who appeared for both defendants, admitted the offences, which he contended had been done
in ignorance of the law. Little was fined 1/ per head for 21 head, and McGuire 1/ for nine head, with 11/10 costs each. Sergeant Bowden, who conducted the prosecution, explained that the proceedings were lodged to he a warning to those who were illegally trafficking in cattle, although no thing of that nature could be proved against defendants.


Case against Victor Little and Thomas McGuire
The Argus, September 16, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7232973


Victor Little (1892-1939) was the fourth of five children of James Little and Hannah Hughes. James had land at Iona and Little Road was named after the family. Victor and his wife Mareia lived at Iona and his occupation on the Electoral Roll is listed as a Dealer. They are both buried at the Bunyip Cemetery.
There is a Thomas McGuire listed in the Electoral rolls of 1909 at Bunyip South, occupation is farmer. Margaret McGuire is listed at same address. I presume that they are the same couple buried at the Bunyip Cemetery - Thomas, died 1933, aged 82 and Margaret (nee Fitzsimmons) died 1921, aged 67. They have three sons buried at Bunyip as well, Thomas John, died 1922 aged 33; William Patrick, died 1928, aged 38 and Peter James died 1952, aged 58. 

A report from April 1915 of a judgement in a similar case referenced this Little/McGuire case, read about it here