Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 5 Dec 1874 ¹

THE TOWN OF YASS.
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WE present our readers this week with a view of Yass, one of the principal centres of population in the Southern district. The town is divided by a stream known as the Yass River, but the principal, or business part of the place, is situated on the southern bank. The two sides are connected by a bridge, which forms the main feature in the foreground our view. It is on the great Southern Road to Albury and Victoria, and is about 180 miles from Sydney. The railway at present goes only to Goulburn, but it will soon be open to Yass, and in a couple of years is expected to reach Cootamundra, more than 40 miles beyond. Yass is on the western edge of a long series of gentle undulating plains bearing its name; but once they are left the country becomes exceedingly mountainous. Although called South Yass, the town is really built on the east bank, as the river’s course there is nearly north and south. It is sheltered on three sides by high mountains, Mount Browning being very conspicuous. Our sketch shows that it consists, like most of our up-country towns, of one main street, stretching at a right angle from the river. Near the bridge are vacant spaces, once occupied by buildings washed away during the late disastrous flood, but at a short distance from its rise numerous fine buildings of two stories, the handsomest and most conspicuous of which are the Commercial Bank on the north, and on the south the stores of Messrs Ritchie and Davis, and Alexander and Co, substantially built of stone. Close to the bridge, uninjured by the flood, is the Louisville Academy. Cooma-street, as the main street of Yass is called, is itself nearly level, but on either side are rises on which stand many fine private residences, surrounded by spacious gardens. Half way down on the south side is the Anglican Church of St Clements, a noble and spacious building, to which a comfortable parsonage is attached, the whole being surrounded by beautiful tress. On the south side is the Roman Catholic Church of St Augustine, also shaded by umbrageous trees and foliage. The gaol and telegraph-offices are situated some 300 yards from the bridge. On the opposite bank of the river, where North Yass, when built, will stand, is a plain with a gentle rise from the river till it is lost in the ranges that surround it. There are branches of the Australian Joint Stock and Commercial Banks, and agents for several insurance societies, and the Mutual Provident. Yass has also a well-conducted newspaper, the Courier, and Masonic and Oddfellows’ Lodges, as well as the other institutions usually found in inland towns of importance, including a hospital, Mechanics’ Institute, post and money-order, and telegraph-offices, and a court-house,

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The Yass Courier and General Advertiser, Tue 12 Oct 1875 ²

LOCAL AND GENERAL
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ST CLEMENT'S ORGAN FUND.—ART UNION. 

The drawing for prizes in the art union got up on behalf of the organ fund for St Clement’s Church came off at the court-house, Yass, last Friday afternoon. There was a large number of persons present. The Town Band also attended, and played in front of the building. There were 150 tickets issued at 5s each, and a much larger number could have been disposed of. Messrs Windeyer, Iceton, and Firth superintended the drawing. The undermentioned were the prize-winners:— 

The Rev Mr Yarrington moved a vote of thanks to Messrs Windeyer, Firth, and Iceton, for the satisfactory manner in which they had conducted the drawing.     Dr Perry seconded the motion, which was carried with cheers.     Mr Windeyer acknowledged the compliment, and the gathering dispersed. …     CRICKET.—The cricket season this year in Yass promises badly. The meeting called for last night at the Commercial Hotel  lapsed, owing to the paucity of attendance.     YASS POLICE COURT.—A case was heard with closed doors yesterday, before Mr Hall and Mr Yates, in which the accused was one Thomas McDougall, lately a groom at the Royal Hotel. After hearing the evidence, the prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions.—On the same day, a woman, named Ann Stewart, was fined 10s, in default of payment, seven days’ imprisonment, for drunkenness.     THE MEMBER FOR YASS PLAINS.—We understand Mr Fitzpatrick contemplates visiting his constituents before the Assembly meets, and that the hon gentleman intends to address the electors at Yass and at other places in the electorate.

Mrs Lehane...........................................  Mr JT Jones...........................................  Mr Thos M Townsend.............................  Master T Rhodes Firth, junior..................  Mrs Lehane...........................................  Mr Hayley.............................................  Rev WHH Yarrington..............................  Mr Leseberg..........................................  Mr HM Steele.........................................  Miss Jane Donald...................................  Mr L Yates.............................................  Nr A Zouch............................................  Mrs Clayton...........................................  Miss Allman...........................................  Mr MJ Cunningham................................  Mr JR Colls............................................  Mr W Tanswell.......................................  Mrs Lehane...........................................  Mr E Davis............................................  Mr A Zouch...........................................  Mrs Perry..............................................  Mr G Sharp...........................................  Mr A Zouch...........................................  Mr AG Brentnall.....................................  Mr Hannam...........................................

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 4 Feb 1876 ³

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
THURSDAY.

THE SPEAKER took the chair at twenty-nine minutes past 4 o’clock.
…

ADJOURNMENTS.—CONDITION OF
COUNTRY LOCK-UPS.

…
    MR FITZPATRICK said that while the state of the gaols was being referred to, he might call the attention of the Government to the following telegram, which appeared in the Herald to-day:—“Wednesday.—The Yass Sessions opened and concluded to-day. Five cases were disposed of, none of them important. Judge McFarland revoked a sentence to Yass gaol of three years for horse stealing, and sent the prisoner to Darlinghurst, commenting severely on the insecure state in which Yass gaol was permitted to remain, notwithstanding his having publicly, and otherwise, for the past three years referred to the circumstance. He also said that since he had visited Yass as District Court Judge, either two or three prisoners sentenced by him had escaped from the gaol.” Judge McFarland was moderate in saying that he had been complaining, and he had been at intervals moving the Government for some six years.

    MR ROBERTSON scarcely expected this discussion about gaols to have taken so wide a range. Before referring to this matter, however, he would notice the remarks of the hon and learned member for the Western Gold-fields,

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The Yass Courier and General Advertiser, Fri 4 Feb 1876 ⁴

LOCAL AND GENERAL
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YASS GENERAL SESSIONS.

This court was opened before Judge McFarland on Wednesday last. Mr Lee prosecuted for the Crown. The legal gentlemen in attendance were Mr Want and Mr Watkins (barristers), and Messrs Wilkinson, Iceton, and Windeyer (attorneys).

  The evidence in each of the cases disposed of was very similar to that given at the Police Court, and was then published in full in these columns. A brief resumé is therefore all that is now necessary.
…

UNNATURAL OFFENCE AT YASS. 

    Thomas McDougall was found guilty of an offence of this description, [attempting to commit sodomy with John (or James) Lockeroy], and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment in Yass gaol.

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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 5 Feb 1876 ⁵

COLONIAL & INTERCOLONIAL MESSAGES
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…

YASS.

Wednesday.

    The Yass Sessions opened and concluded to-day. Five cases were disposed of, but none of them were very important. Judge McFarland revoked a sentence to Yass gaol of three years for horse-stealing, and sent the prisoner to Darlinghurst, commenting severely on the insecure state in which Yass gaol was permitted to remain, notwithstanding his warning, publicly and otherwise, for the past three years. In commenting on these circumstances, the Judge said that since he had visited Yass as Chairman of Quarter Sessions, either two or three prisoners sentenced by him had escaped. 

 

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¹  Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 5 Dec 1874, p. 900. Emphasis added. 

²  The Yass Courier and General Advertiser, Tue 12 Oct 1875, p. 2. Emphasis added.

³  The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 4 Feb1876, p. 2.

⁴  The Yass Courier and General Advertiser, Fri 4 Feb 1876, p. 2.

⁵  Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 5 Feb 1876, p. 206.

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