ADDISON’S FLAT
In 1882 a State school was opened, Mr. David Hogan being the teacher, and Miss McRae assistant, with 140 pupils. In 1889 the daily attendance was 49; in 1896 it was about half that number, Mr. W. J. Moloney being teacher; while in 1908 it was only 9, Mr. Thomas Kane being in charge.
The first-borns of Addison’s Flat were, it is believed, Mary O’Reilly, Frank Dennehy, Bridget Moloney, in that sequence. The first marriage was, it is understood, that of Mary Jane Cahill and Michael Darcy on 8th March, 1868.
The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England were erected in 1869. The latter was, in later years, pulled down to allow of its site being sluiced for gold.
The gaol was built in 1868, and held the enviable reputation of, it is said, never having had an occupant under lock and key for more than a few hours, and that only for petty offences. It was later used as a store-room and eventually as a fowlhouse.
Some of the richest leads of this field were: O’Toole’s, said to have been the richest, having given returns totalling £130,000 during its forty years of working; The Shamrock; Wilson’s; Addison’s; Twohill’s; Virgin Flat; Gallagher’s; Caroline Terrace; Cement Lead. Many of the fortunate gold-seekers were making from £10 to £15 per day.
One of the earliest elevators or “blow ups” was on the Shamrock claim; and it is said that the first stamper battery was on The Venture claim owned by Messrs. Wright, Hardley and Garvin. It is also stated that a small dredge operated on the Garry Owen claim. The area of the field was about ten by six miles, and the main supplies of gold were found at a depth of from ten to forty or more feet below the surface.
Among Westcoasters the story of the riot at Addison’s is an oft-told tale, handed down from father to son. The Westport Times and Charleston Argus of 4th April, 1868, records that the trouble occurred on the 2nd of that month.
The Hibernian Budget of a comparatively recent date, states that the “combined Hibernians” of the district had decided to hold a ball. As the Hibernian Society was not established in the district until January, 1870, the reference probably should be to the “Celtic Committee,” or to the
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