St. Patrick's Day at Tumut

The Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser

30 March 1850

Tumut.

Our usually quiet little township was enlivened on Monday last, by the festivities which generally accompany the anniversary of St. Patrick's Day.

A very large concourse of people, amongst whom I beheld many of the fair daughters of Erin in their best bibs and tuckers, assembled to witness the Races, which were very well contested; indeed I consider the running superior to anything I ever witnessed at Tumut on any similar occasion; everything was conducted in the most orderly manner, without any of those pugilistic encounters and hurrah fights which are so frequently the concomitants of such meetings.

Mirth, good humour, and hilarity appeared to be the predominant and universal motto.

We have a very good Race Course, and if a little more sociality and unanimity existed amongst the higher classes, this truly manly and British sport would be carried on with much greater eclat.

Our township is gradually progressing - a new public-house is in course of erection, and I am credibly informed that another commodious building for a new store will be commenced instanter.

A hut robbery was perpetrated the other night, during the absence of the police on duty, but measures have been taken which, I trust, will soon lead to the detection of the thief.

Our district, generally speaking, is remarkably quiet, the establishment of the Court of Petty Sessions having had a most talismanic effect.

I hear that several parties here are about engaging the "Irish Orphan Girls" recently arrived at Gundagai.

The want of female servants has been long severely felt in this quarter.

The season has been unusually favourable, and we have beautiful pastoral and agricultural land, and so long as our staple commodities command a remunerative figure - nothing can prevent us from going ahead.

Tumut, March 21, 1850.