Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/519

Mr. A. B. Murray ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 493 scab, which was endangerint;" the condition of the Bock, and got them into such fine order that they took a prize at the first pastoral show in South Austraha. This exhibition was held at the Horseshoe, Noarlunga, under the auspices of the celebrated South Australian Company ; and Mr. Murray, who personally brought the sheep from Barossa, won honors against all the animals shown on that occasion. In 1842 Mr. Murray proceeded to Sydney in the brig Lady Emma, and was there married, by the Rev. J. Dunsmore Lang, to Miss Scott. Upon his return to South Australia he decided to engage in agricultural pursuits, which, to correct the re-action caused by the bursting of the boom in 1841, v/as vigorously advocated by Governor Grey (afterwards Sir George Grey), who succeeded Colonel Gawler. Mr. Murray possessed property on the Barossa special survey, where he was an original selector and part owner, and thither he went to cultivate the soil. Fortunately for him, perhaps, his first efforts were not very remunerative, for, although the yield was good, the ruling prices for wheat were absurdly low. There was very little money in the Province, and the wheat returns had increased so rapidly that there was a consequent fall in price. Mr. Murray's crop was infested with "smut," which so injured the sample that he could only obtain is. 6d. per bushel for most ot the grain, and 2s. for the best. The buyer was Dr. Kent, the ]wpular founder of Kent Town, where, near the present Kent Town Brewery, he had erected a mill. What with the trouble of breaking the soil, and then carting the produce to Adelaide in bullock-drays, Mr. Murray was not enamored with wheat-farming. In partnership with his sister-in-law (afterwards the wife of Mr. P. M. Murray), he now purchased some ewes from the late Mr. Duncan McFarlane, of Mount Barker, and also secured a ram, which he selected from Mr. I). McFarlane's own fiock. This ram was the sire of the late Mr. John Murray's ram " Champion," known in the family as " Prizey," and ultimately ending his days as the property of Mr. A. B. Murray. The.se .sheep — the nucleus of the Murray flocks — were brought overland from Victoria by Mr. Lachlan McFarlane, and were the joint property of Messrs. James and Duncan McP'arlane, of New South Wales, two of the earliest and largest pastoralists in the colony. Mr. John Murray, who landed on September 5, 1841, from the City of Adelaide, purchased part of his brother's land at Barossa ; and he and his brother each took a fourth, and Miss Scott a half, of the progeny, and started on a long and famous career as sheep-breeders on a large and successful scale. The Barossa special survey mentioned above was sitlected after three days' examination of the country by the late Mr. Robert Cock (of Adelaide), the late Mr. John Warren (of Springfield), and Mr. Murray. It was taken out in lieu of what was styled the Finniss special survey, which was taken from them in favor of another applicant. P>om year to year the partners improved the breed of their flocks, and took prizes at numerous shows. These sheep were sturdy - framed, and bore good wool. To this day Mr. A. B. Murray retains descendants of the original flock, and has won with them numerous medals and certificates. At the r^uke of Edinburgh's Show he secured four gold medals and several money prizes; and as late as the September Show of 1895 his entry took fourth prize in the combing merino ewe class, his nephews being the other prize - winners. There were fourteen entries, and the fourth prize was taken by Mr. Murray, beating sheep shown by his three nephews and Messrs. J. H. and C. H. Angas.