DOI: 10.7925/drs1.ucdlib_256185
title: Diary of Arthur Oram
title: Hely's scribbling diary for 1915

description: The 30th of 33 diaries of John Oram’s son, Arthur Oram, farmer and land agent, County Mayo. Covers the period January–December 1915. 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 Messrs Vereker and Gahan at Newport to discuss the purchase of his interest in the Sandymount holding which he valued at £371. Agreement is not reached as the offer made is too low (4 February 1915). - Refers to his son John and his employment with Ulster Bank in Belfast (15–17 March 1915). - Refers to the marriage of his daughter Gretta to Sidney Thomas at Newport church (7 April 1915). - Refers to his case before the Land Commission and the advice to the court that the application be rejected. Remarks that his interest was valued by the CDB at £250 (19 May 1915). - Remarks that he met Mr Robinson, Land Commissioner at Sandymount in Newport and spoke again about the case before the Land Commission Court in Westport and the continuing doubt about the suitability of the land in question (28 May 1915). - Describes a visit to Melton Mowbray to visit his daughter Gretta and his son-in-law Sidney Thomas and on to Heytesbury for the marriage of his son James to Ida Talbot. Describes visiting Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and on to Weston Bampfylde where he visited the grave of his parents. Also visits Devizes where he meets Alfred Hinxman and Walter Loveridge (10 June–1July 1915). - Remarks that he received a letter from the Land Commission fixing the price of his Sandymount holding at £400 (16 July 1915). - Refers to a meeting of the Board of Conservators and remarks that his re-election marks a continued service of between 30 to 40 years. Remarks that the funds are very low (6 October 1915). - Remarks that he went to Newport and learned of an accident to Mrs Turney who was run over by a train near Newport Station '… engine going over and crushing one foot at instep, lay some time on line before screams were heard …' (12 October 1915). - Remarks that he heard from Revd Turney that his wife was in Dublin for an operation (14–15 October 1915). - Remarks that following a discussion with Eugene, whom he employs as a yardman, he realises that his reason for leaving is because he wants an increase in his wages '…which I refuse to increase … the Father (Joe) having only one hand and the boy (Eugene) only 18 …' (27 October 1915). - Remarks that he has informed Joe that owing to his disability and the fact that he cannot assist in milking the cows he should no longer come to work unless he is specifically required to do so (30 October 1915). - Refers to his and Mrs Dick's appeal cases at the Land Commission Court in Castlebar. Remarks that the Judge assigned a Court Assessor to visit the lands before a decision can be made (9–10 November 1915). - Remarks that he saw Mrs Turney for the first time since her accident and observes that she is doing very well, all things considered (7 December 1915). - Remarks that he met Mr Fitzgerald, the Judge's Assessor from the Land Commission and Mr Duncan from the CDB at Sandymount concerning his land interest (14 December 1915).