DOI: 10.7925/drs1.ucdlib_256178
title: Diary of Arthur Oram
title: Hely's scribbling diary for 1908

description: The 23rd of 33 diaries of John Oram’s son, Arthur Oram, farmer and land agent, County Mayo. Covers the period January–December 1908. Arthur's diaries record his day-to-day work on the farm, the management of the land under his care, the management of the animals and crops, the buying and selling of livestock at local markets. Also repairing fences, farm buildings, roads and ensuring their upkeep. The diaries also note the weather for each day, his commitments at the Assizes, attendance at the Petty Sessions and other community work relevant to his social standing. He alludes to his work as an elected representative on the Board of Conservators, his membership of the Drainage Committee and the Railway Committee, the surveying and valuing of land, the advertising and awarding of tenders, and the commissioning and inspection of work carried out in respect of these two committees. Arthur also refers frequently to the difficulty in collecting rents from tenants. The diaries record rents received, name of tenant and amount. He refers to events and milestones reached in his own family, attendance at church and the regular company the Orams kept with their neighbours and extended family. The diaries also make reference to current affairs.
description: Scope and content: Includes: - Remarks that he met with Mr F Chambers who took possession of Teevemore (1 January 1908). - Remarks that he was served with a witness summons to appear at the Westport Sessions in the case of Hawkshaw and Others v CDB concerning cases of flooded lands (4 January 1908). - Remarks that he travelled to Knockloughra to talk to Miss Hope concerning the sale of lands to the CDB and to offer advice about what she should put in the letter (27 January 1908). - Remarks that he received a letter from his son Attie in London concerning his appointment by the Indian government as an engineer employed by the Indian Public Works. He consulted Major Harding about his choice of provinces in India (27 June 1908). - Refers to a letter received from the CDB and their objection to Miss Hope withdrawing her case and that she should appear the next day (2 July 1908). - Refers to the Land Commission Court and the hearing of Miss Hope's case '… the court decided with Mr Robertson for Miss Hope and so she practically defeated the CDB, their notice to quit being bad, they (CDB) are now no further forward than at the beginning' (3 July 1908). - Refers to Attie's departure for India (25 September 1908). - Remarks that he gathered apples but there were few left because of 'thieves and storms' (29 September 1908). - Refers to his inspection of various drainage works carried out, much of it unsatisfactory (9 October 1908). - Remarks that Mr Carey has received a letter asking him to meet a deputation about the sale of land directly to the tenants (15 October 1908). - Refers to his meeting at the Chief Engineers Office in Dublin discussing referencing work and mapping. Describes the referencing work carried out beginning at Mulranny and the difficulty he encountered at Castlehill owing to small plots of land (3–14 November 1908).