East Kunderang, The Fitzgerald’s homestead, Dunghutti Country Part 2
from The Australian Town and Country Journal, Sydney, Saturday 6 October 1900, p7:
A lad named Edward Fitzgerald has been drowned while crossing the Macleay River at East Kunderang, sixty miles up the river from Kempsey. Since the last rain at that place the river has been very boggy and dangerous, and the lad attempted to cross after dark.
A body was found on Wilson’s selection. There was a terrific gash in the arm. The body has been identified as James Magner, an old Walgett identity, who not long since left the town in a weak state of mind from the effects of drink, having spent about £1600 in a prolonged spree.
The aboriginal Boori, who escaped from custody while being conveyed from Lismore to Casino, is still at large. He was last seen near Hanging Rock, ten miles from Lismore.
Mr Fagan informed Dr. Ross, in the house, that good cedar timber was getting very scarce in the colony, whole forests of it having become exhausted.
Wm. Gay, while out hare shooting near Nimity-belle, fell over his gun, which went off, the charge entering one of his feet, and blowing off a toe.
The body of a young man named Richard Hoolihan was found in a field on Sept 26 with his head almost severed. In his clenched hand was a blood-strained razor. He was quite unknown in the district.
Mr Samuel Graham of Armidale died in the local hospital on Sept 26 from the effects of a sulky accident, when his horse bolted. Deceased was thrown out and received sever injuries in the head. An employee, named Brown, who was in the sulky, jumped out and received nasty cuts.
John Ferrier was found guilty at the Bairngdale (Vic) assizes on Sept 25 of the wilful murder of Alice Aubrey who he shot in the back at Dawson, near Heyfield (Gippsland) in July last. Evidence was given, tending to show prisoner’s insanity, but the jury found him guilty, and sentence of death was passed.
A peculiar experience recently befel a painter at the new building of the loco. sheds, Junee. While engaged at his work, a heavy stone fell and struck him on the left ear, tearing the upper part of the organ out by its root.
