Katanning Coolgardie Track. Katanning Coolgardie Track. Katanning Coolgardie Track. Katanning Coolgardie Track. Katanning Coolgardie Track.
KATANNING TO COOLGARDIE.
T. E. HADDLETON’S ROUTE.
(from our Katanning Correspondent)
Western Mail
10 September 1893 – P4
Since the unfortunate attempt of McIntosh to open up a track to the Yilgarn Goldfields, several more successful trips have been made from various towns on the Great Southern Railway. Katanning started Mr. Michael Cronin and party in March last. Considerable time having elapsed without any news or immediate benefit, others were induced to experiment with what is to be recognised as the maximum of success, considering the barren and inhospitable nature of the country to be travelled.
The Yilgarn gold rush saw thousands of men try their luck looking for gold
Mr. Haddleton takes first place among these, and without actually carrying out a track from here to Coolgardie, by judicious juncture with known tracks and careful selection of unexplored country, he has succeeded in being able to indicate a course which he declares will afford greater advantages to travellers from this district than any other.
Mr. Haddleton has been twice and back to Coolgardie and seems to have shown practical bushmanship of no mean order. The course as described runs as follows: –
Treading in a northerly direction from Katanning, the track strikes the Pingelley road at Waderin Well at a distance of 138 miles. In this distance there are 11 stopping places where a sufficiency of feed and water may be obtained. The longest stage is from Jeelikin to Tampin, 30 miles, at which latter place any reasonable supply of chaff may be had at something near half the price at Southern Cross. From Wadering Well to the Cross is a distance of 86 miles, in which there are only 14 miles of bad road. There are four stages, and decent feed and water. Thence to Coolgardie is 110 miles, a distance which has been several times described, and which Mr. Haddleton avers presents no grave difficulties, the last 40 miles being cleared.
The whole track as above indicated is the result of careful personal investigation on the part of Mr. Haddleton, of whose experience newcomers might worthily avail themselves, without any fear of misleading abatement. It might be mentioned that the intermediate stages are plainly indicated and in no way liable to be passed by.
RETURN OF MR. MICHAEL CRONIN.
Michael Cronin
A large and thoroughly representative meeting was held at the Katanning Hotel on Saturday, the 27th ult. Among those present were Messrs. F. H. Piesse, W. Andrews, Dr. House, E. Bell, C. A. Stephson, W. K. Adam, T. H. Stanbury, J. Butler, A. Keirle, J. Bansbury, H. Bramley, W. Grover, T. J. Knox, F. Flindell, Jackson, A. W. Piesse, and many others.
The business of the meeting was to receive a report from Mr. Michael Cronin of his trip to Coolgardie and back with the object of making a practicable and available track. Mr. F H. Piesse was voted to the chair, and announced the business of the meeting, introducing Mr. M. Cronin in a eulogistic speech in which he set out the terms of the contract between him and the original subscribers, and gave him every credit for having conscientiously fulfilled what he had undertaken.
Mr. Cronin then rose, and it having been resolved by vote that his diary should be read in extenso, he proceeded to do so. As the diary is, however, somewhat lengthy and diffuse, and contains here and there details of little importance, a digest will answer the present purpose: –
Cronin and party, consisting of Willie, his son, and Philip White, started on Tuesday, March 28th, at 3.30 p.m., travelling in a N.E. direction, reaching Merrilup, 45 miles distant, on the 30th, but found no water there. They dug and timbered a well there, and spent the next four days exploring for a forward route, rain falling on the third of April.
The next stage was Tarrin Rock, about 20 miles from Merrilup, and which was reached on April 6th, with the waggon. They were obliged, on account of the soft ground, to leave the dray behind temporarily, two going back for it and bringing it along the next day or so. The next few days were spent in further exploration, with discouraging results, feed and water being unusually scarce, and the party having almost invariably to camp in Marlock thickets.
Eventually feed and water were found, and another stage of the journey completed, the loads having been lightened at Tarrin Rock to facilitate progress. This was on April 15th. On the 19th, another watering place was reached, about 12 miles farther on, the water appearing permanent. Further exploration in diverse directions resulted in gradual progression, the course being necessarily torturous. Rain fell on the 23rd and 26th, but not in any great quantity. On April 29th the party reached the tank on the Parker’s Range Road at the 29-mile post, going on the same day to the 18-mile, the night closing with rain. On April 30th, as they were out of provisions, it was decided to go on to the Cross, which they did.
Meeting T. Haddleton there, they returned with him along the Pingelley track as far as Wadering Rock, and striking off to the south, on May 6th reached Tampin, where it rained for a day and a night. They then continued in a southerly direction, trending eastward for the next few days; going back for the provisions left at Tarrin Rock. They spent the time up to the 16th of May in searching for a passable route and, on the evening of this date, the Broomehill teams on their return journey met them and camped.
Thence they travelled north, having considerable difficulty in getting along, owing to the soft nature of the country. Rain fell at intervals, and on May 29th they lost a horse, which had been sick for some days. The ground becoming very soft, the waggon was abandoned on May 31st.
During the month of June, the party struggled against the difficulties of the country with varying success, and found feed and water at fairly satisfactory intervals, also coming across some stupendous granite outcrops, but owing to names being wanting, it is impossible to clearly indicate localities.
The beginning of July was occupied in further exploration at a slow rate of progress. On July 7th, the party reached a waterhole in a rock with an adjacent tree marked “R.T.K.” and “J. Holland,” also “D.K.” and “J.C., 24/5/93.” From this they followed the Broomehill track and reached Victoria Rock on July 13th, and Coolgardie two days later, at 11.30 a.m.
After a stay of three days, they started back home, and Mr. Cronin reached Katanning on Tuesday, August 22nd, in the afternoon. The home journey was broken by several intervals of horse hunting, and was performed entirely on horseback, though several short cuts were made.
This may be called an epitome of the diary, and on its conclusion Mr. W. K. Adam proposed that the remaining moiety of £25 be paid to Mr. Cronin. The work was most conscientiously performed and had involved time and hardship. Dr. House seconded the motion. Mr. E. Bell pointed out that the track was practically that of J. Holland from the time of juncture.
The chairman then read the report of the first meeting from the Albany Advertiser, and which was held on March 22nd, also the original agreement between the subscribers and Mr. Cronin. This provided that Mr. Cronin, in addition to defining a track, should bring back a certificate from a trustworthy authority that he had reached his destination in compliance with the other provisions of the agreement.
Mr Cronin explained that P. White and his son were going through now on the same track and would be accompanied by responsible persons to vouch for the completion of the undertaking.
The list of subscribers was then read, it being resolved that only subscribers should have a voice in the matter. Mr. E. Bell then moved an amendment that the money be not paid to Mr. Cronin, as he had not complied with the terms of the agreement. The track was virtually Holland’s road. Mr. T. J. Knox seconded the amendment.
Mr. Cronin had not fulfilled the conditions of the contract. Another person had been twice to Coolgardie and back in the interim. The amendment was then put and lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it.
The motion was then put and carried, two subscribers abstaining from voting. In declaring the motion carried, the chairman said he did not believe in hair-splitting in such a matter as the present. He had known Mr. Cronin for years and knew no one better fitted to carry out such an undertaking.
Other teams had doubtless found tracks, but there was a lot of luck attached to all exploits of the kind. Even with regard to the Broomehill track, they could strike it at Nampup and out off three miles. Mr. Cronin had laboured under grave difficulties and had done his very best. He had shown a track quite as good as the Broomehill track.
It was to be regretted that he did not return sooner, but as far as that went none of the roads would be much use in a short time, as the railway from Northam was being actively pushed ahead, and the Government were making special arrangements with the contractor to have it completed six months under contract time. It would soon be finished, and with regard to the matter in hand, he thought that as men they should not object to pay the supplementary amount, as Mr. Cronin was perfectly trustworthy, and had undoubtedly done his best to carry out the terms of his agreement. (Applause.)
Mr. E. Bell said that he did not impugn Mr. Cronin’s intention, but he certainly denied the success of the undertaking.
A brief season of conviviality brought the meeting to a close.