The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-08-28 00:00:00

A MONTACUTE FARM LABOURER IN
AUSTRALIA.

The following letter has le,' received by Me
" Ono from the Plough," from Mr. William
Hockey, of Callowie, Adelaide, South lustre :
Silk—This ters true story—the hdtory of my life. 13 on
and heel in England, Sontersebthire, Montacute, near
Yeovil, the son of James Hockey. Went to work very
young for Mm. Rugg, of Lefton. About two miles to walk
night and morning every day for a month keeping the
birds from the wheat seven days in the week for Cii a
week, but when the wheat was out of keeping I was not
wanted. When I left there I went to work nearly night
and day seven days for 3s. 6d. I stopped there about three
years. The last year they rose my wages another sixpence
—so then I had la I was getting up a young man and
they could not afford to give me any more wages, so I left
them. Then I went to work for Mr. Chapman, the stone-
mason. I had to work nearly night and day there. I had
' sa, so I stopped there twelve months. Then I left and
, went to Mr. Hallett's. at Lower Town. Thie was my last
place before I left England. There I had to work seven
rlays and part night sometimes. I was principally with
sheep there. I hail 10+. a week, no I could scarcely get
anything to eat or wear out of the 10e. for house rent,
wrap, and tire and everything. So I said that I would not
stop home any longer. I would go where I could get work.
I left England on the 21s1 of July. DM, and arrived at
Adelaide on the Pith of October, The second day
after hurling I got work—iirst three months 154. • week
and all food found, as well as washing, mending clobber%
and lodginse. and elethee. When the three months were
up I had 254. a week and my food, lodging, washing, and
mending. I had plenty of mutton chop., beefsteak% eggs,
butter, and pork pies, tarts, and cream. I thought I was
a little king. I got all this for my labour and had not got
to work so hard as I had at home. That kind of food is
what I could not get at Monter:lite. I could not get the
smell, let alone the that', there. 114 any by the master let
ilie piece work to do. Sonic weeks I used to make over
three pounds. So I hue alway+ had plenty of work to do
ever since I have been in the country. I have had masters
cume to rue to know if I would go and work for them—u
many as three and four at once for me to work for them.
They would give me almost any wages that I asked. I
could not say this if I had stopped at home. The first
year I saved .C4O, the next 1.514, and the next year /.61, and
the next again OA and then CV. I worked for a master
five year% Then I went on for myself with .1:2150.
started farming. I bought 312 acres of land. I kept that
two years and sold it. Then I biught 610 scree of fleet-
class land, as good se any in England. This is my owls
property. I have 400 acres of wheat in crop this year. I
reckon Me will bring me in £2,000 if it is • good year.
Farming stick—ln horse+, with harness for them, two
waggons, three double-breasted sells and one single
furrow, eight harrows, one roller, one scarifier, one horse
rake, one mowing machine, one cleaning machine, two
reaping machines, tools of all descriptions, about 100 head
of fowl.', &rout 00 pigs, 20 heel of dairy cows, and a
carriage to ride in. • And plenty more hart got on the
same as me. What are the poor working men of Montacute
thinking of--stopping at home with their wives and.
families half starving when there is plenty of work in
Australia? Tell them to come out to Australia, where
there is good living awl plenty of work, if you cannot get
them ti join the Union. If • lot came out it would make
it better for them that ii left. Do Montacute people
know no better than keeping their Wives and families
starving and in root Sir, would you he so kind as to
knock it into the people's heads to leave the country
Will you be io kind as to answer this to say you have got
the letter all right! From yours truly,
WILLIAM lioregv, Callowie, Adelaide, South Australia.
' Fun. labourers of the West—What do you think of
Slut I A carrigru to ride in—eh? I think we hail better
be off at once—all of us.