Opening in 1891 the Moonta School of Mines was intended for students who wanted to increase their knowledge of those arts and sciences which were especially important to miners and others similarly engaged. The School was situated close to the Moonta Mines, at that time the most important copper mines in Australia, and the smelters at Wallaroo. The the mines students were able to acquire practical knowledge of the work of a miner. The close by smelting works at Wallaroo were seen to be of great service to those wanting to become acquainted with chemistry and metallurgy. Subjects taught at the Moonta School of Mines included Chemistry, Metallurgy, Steam and the Steam Engine, Magnetism and Electricity, Mathematics, Machine Design, Mine Surveying and Leveling, Drawing, Plumbing and Sheet Metal Work. The Moonta School of Mines building in Ellen Street was formerly Baptist Church. Brown soft covered book of 87 pages. Contents include: * General objects of the School * Report for 1903 * Instructors Reports * Balance Sheet * Examination Questions * Timetable * Certificates granted by Council.cm Images include: * Moonta School of Mines * members of Council (Hancock, Symons, Uffindell, James, Hughes, Cowling, Haining) * Instructors (Rogers, Hancock, Pomroy, Blatchford, Martin, Richardson, Brown, Potter) * Classroom * Laboratory (Practical Chemistry) * Mine Surveying Classhancockmoonta, moonta school of mines, symons, uffindell, james, hughes, cowling, haining, rogers, hancock, pomroy, blatchford, martin, richardson, brown, potter, e.f. blatchford, a.l. brown, r. cowling, r. haining, h. lipson hancock, henry richard hancock, leigh g. hancock, j.w. hughes, t. james, edward martin, h. pomroy, f. potter, g.h richardson, g.j. rogers, j. symons, h.w. uffindell, schools of mines

This uniform belonged to Sapper Hughes 3795948 of the Royal Australian Engineers Corps. By the date on the uniform, it is assumed that he served C 1968.This uniform has significance as an example of a uniform worn by soldier ranks for daily work and dress parades.Khaki coloured long trousers with attached suspenders. They have a button up front (5 brown plastic buttons). There are two pockets on either side of the trousers and one button up pocket on the back right with a flap that is fastened with a single brown plastic button. There are three extra brown plastic buttons on the back exterior of the waistband and six belt loops on the whole length of the waist band. The interior pocket fabric is more light weight and a slightly more green in colour. The interior of the right back pocket includes a white patch of fabric with printed inscriptions and further inscriptions written in black ink just above. The suspenders are composed mostly of blue, grey, beige, black and cream striped thick fabric. There are also silver coloured metallic components (which include inscriptions) and leather sections, most of which have a reddish/brown coating on the exterior and a white coating on the interior. One leather component has inscriptions in black ink on the interior as opposed to a white coating. The suspenders are attached to the trousers by six brown plastic buttons on the interior of the waistband. Back pocket interior inscriptions on the green fabric: HUGHES / 3795948 Back pockket interior inscriptions on the white fabric: E.W. P/LTD. / SOUTH AUSTRALIA / 1968 / (a symbol of a broad arrow) / Class 8405-66-025-6405 / Batch 67 / Mill / Size and Waist 28C / Matching Jacket 35 /36C / DRY CLEAN ONLY / CREASES SET BY SIROSET / REPRESS ON ORIGINAL CREASES / MENDING PATCH ATTACHED / NAME HUGHES. J.W. / ARMY No. 3795948 8PL Bcoj Identical metallic clip inscriptions on two of the suspenders: POLICE / (embossed image of a police baton)royal australian engineers, warrnambool rsl, warrnambool, engineer, hughes, sapper hughes, 3795948, hughes 3795948, uniform, army uniform, trousers, army

Belonged to the Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissionersarge, wooden, rectangular "Roll of Honour" board for the Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners. It was their honourary board for employees who went to the 1st World War. comprised of seven panels with names of people carved into them. The centre panel has "in Memorium' in brass lettering and is raised out from the three panels which flank it on either side. The main lettering across the top of the board is made from brass, and is attached to the wood. A circular brass crest is featured in the centre top of the board, which is flanked by carved gum leaves and nuts. The date "1918" is also cast in brass and attached to the lower front right hand side of the board.1918 circa."ROLL OF HONOUR/ THE MELBOURNE HARBOR TRUST COMMISSIONERS/ MHT/ IN MEMORIAM/ R. DEWAR, W. KEARNEY, A.H. TREBLE, R. CURWEN, G.R. PALMER, J. STUBBS, A. ALLISON, T. MCCARRON, W. MCLAUGHLIN, J.D. MCMILLAN, F.S. CLISSOLD, A. STEEGE, W. JORY, C.H. WOOD, H.H. BARKER, J. HEMINGWAY, R.H. CROCKETT, T.W. PARROTT, E.G. STONE, W.H. FRAME, S.H. PARROTT, V.W. PIPER, A.R MCBRIDE/ D. FINLAYSON, S.EVERETT, G.O. LAWRENCE, A. PHILLIPS, A. CAHILL, G.C. HUGHES, G.S BELL, A.D. BROAD, C.W. MILLS, A.C. COOK, A. JONES, A. COCCIARDI, A.N. ROYCE, M. THOMAS, A.WARE, J. RISBRIDGER, A. STEPHENS, G.S. MCCOLL, W.S. TAYLOR, H.A. MILLER, P.J. BURNS, D.B. MACKIE, F. HEARN/ E. SAMBELL, J. STOTT, W. POOLEY, R. JOHNSTON, A.W. FERGUSSON, W.H. SPURR, P.R. STEVENS, D.J. STUART, T. CHAPPLE, W. REED, W.J ALLINGHAM, J. PAGE, J.J. MAIR, C.A PHIPPS, J. WILSON, A.J WILLIAMS, W.L. FOSTER, W.S PENHALLURIACK, R.N. BARBER, E. DOLAN, T. MCGRATH, P. PATERSON, J.W. GRAY/ C.J.H.BARRY, F.L. WATERS, F.E. BUXTON, A.C. NUTTING, E.J BATTEN, C.E. ELLIOTT, C.T. RUFFLE, W.H. STEVENS, J. JOHNSTON, D. BATHIE, J. MCPHERSON, T.W. GIBBON, J.W. BURN, C.H. CHEEK, P.J. EVANS, J. MUCHEMORE, G.N. SADLEIR, W.D. SMITH, C HINCHCLIFFE, A. CARD, F.A. ROBERTS, C.E. TROWBRIDGE, W. ALLAN/ V.T. NICKELS, J.G MEYERS, T.G. MCKEDDIE, W.H EVANS, S. KEWLEY, F. MUIR, F.W. TREGANOWAN, M. GRANT, T.R. HAWWORTH, N. NORRISON, J. MCDONALD, J. SHERIDAN, H.R. GOLDIE, A.A. METHVEN, H.P.H VINVENT, P. RIDDELL, R.W. BARCLAY, P. NASH, A.E. WHYTE, W. DAWSON, J.F LEISTER, J. MCNEILL, H. STAFFORD/ J. PHILLIPS, W.J. PETTETT, W. PRIEST, C. OLSON, G.D. CARRE, L.C.R GAME, I.M COWLISHAW, R.R. SMITH, P. DUSTING, T.H. JONES, W. DOWIE, G.T. BEASELY, J.G BAILEY, F. JORDAN, J. FARRELL, A. DAWE, W.H. STUBBINGS, C.W. STEFFENSON, H. BLACKEBY, H. TATE, J. BASSETT, J. MCLEAN/ IN MEMORIAM, P. FOLEY, A.C. JOHNSON, S. TURNER, C.W FORD, E.F RENNICK, T.G. HOBERG, T. WEIR, W.S HICKS, J. BARRY, H. DANIEL, W. ROADKNIGHT, L.N CLARK, R. DYSON, H.G JOHANSON/ 1914/1918

The Pioneers of Ballarat may have been created to the Ballarat Old Colonists' Association and the reunions held by the early Ballarat pioneers. The dates given after the pioneers time is their date of arrival into the colony.Photograph showing numerous portraits of men who were considered Pioneers of Ballarat as complied by R. Walker and produced by Chuck Vice Regal Photo. The men depicted are: J. Smith; W. Gay; W. Downie; G. Goddard; B. Varcoe; A.F. Seidal; Loius Balhausen; J. McKenzie; William irwin; M. Box; Thomas Bath; James Oddie; William Tulloch; J.W. Graham; J. Ward; W. Curnow; R.J. Binder; F.J.L. Turner; W. Eyres; C.A. Welch; B. Welch; G. Welch; J. Lake; H. Smith; J. King; R.T. Wreford; Ernest Balhausen; J. Ward; T. Trengrove; J. Truswell; J. Taylor; W. Seeley; J.P. Murray; Hon. David Ham; Andrew Anderson; E. McCartney; J.H. Smith; Joseph Edward Cowley; A. Jones; W.H. Furness; F.N. Martin; James Anderson; G. Becher; James Meek; T. Hawkins; P. Drummond; C. Barker; J. Malcolm; R. Brown; G. Tupper; A. Rose; W. Pinkerton; A. Clinton; A. Sheppard, F.C. Downes; J.A. Blight; J. Blight; T. Blight; J. Richardson; C.W. Toy; W.C. Elder; E. Towl; S. Walker; W.P. Martin; J.T Langley; J.A. Abramowitch; R, Allan; S.W. Woodward; G. Hunt; J. Bishop; F.L. Graham; R. Graham; W. A.G. Fraser; J. Davies; J. Paterson; B.G. Tucker; E. McElroy; W.H. Burton, T.C. Coates; J. Williams; J.P. Roberts; J. Ritchie; T.W. White; J. F. Harvey; Natale D'Angri; D. McCallum; W. Chisholm; P. Kohl; J. Moncrief; J.P. Marshall; R.U. Nicholls; G.L. Holthouse; C. Gray; W. Gale; James Long; Theo Williams; J.R. Ellsworth; W. Scott; Henry Josephs; D. Cooke; William Little; T.H. Thompson; E. Morey; J.G. McDonald; C.C. Shoppee; G. Douglas; W. H. Ellis; W. Hicks; J. Cameron; W. B. Koppers; F. Marendez; G. Herrmann; J. Kelly; E. Jermyn; P. Murray; P. Gay; D. McNaught; T.D. Wanliss; G. Lord; H. Glenny; J. Trethowan; J. Blandford; J. Goujon; W. Coad; A. Colliver; J. Nunn; J. Munro; W.C. Burbidge; J. Jarvie; C. Ferguson; C. Morris; J. Russell; J. Phillips; J. Coghlan; R. Clark; Thomas Stoddart; M. Wasley; B. Retallack; John Reid; M.C. Carey; P. Maloney; E. Newman; J. Lamb; J,. Pryor; J. Gibson; James Mitchell; J. Rowe; James Vallins; A. Roxburgh; A. Cant; O. Thomas; J.Y. McDonald; W.M. Acheson; A. Jack; R. Gibbings; E.W. Chamberlain; J.H. Ellsworth; J. Falconer; G.G. Lorimer; James M. Bickett; T. Sayle; Andrew McIntyre; W. Hambley; K. Coutts; T. Muir; R. Scott; G. Leach; E. Richards; R. Hearn; J. Hughan; D. Miliani; E. Parr; J. T. Irving; W.G. Williams; J. Marks; J. Darby; T. Ray; D. McKenzie; James Robson; J. Robson; J. Moore; J. Murphy; Robert M. Serjeant; C. Ford; E.E. Campbell; P. Folland; P.J. Rickard; A. McVitty; B. Angwin; J.T. Sleep; M.P. Whiteside; W. Curtis; H. Crisp; E. Major; R. Pearce; J. Waller; G. Waller; G. Abrams; J. McIntyre; J. Johnston; W. Johnston; W. Taylor; J. Knoth; J. Davey; G. Smith; N. Kent; E.O. Witherden; J.B. Cathcart; W.H. Harrow; G. Evans; L. Ure; W.T. Glen; T. Dickinson; D. Hughes; J. Strickland; J. Hillman; E. Jackson; R.J. Walker; D. Gunn; R.J. Gullan; T. McManamy; A. Gray; James trembath; W. Porter; J. Showman; C. Walker; J. Bowman; W.B. McDonald; P. Jago; J. Stout pioneers, ballarat, chuck, chuck vice regal photo, r. walker, ballarat pioneers, pioneers of ballarat, j. smith, w. gay, w. downie, g. goddard, b. varcoe, a.f. seidal, loius balhausen, j. mckenzie, william irwin, m. box, thomas bath, james oddie, william tulloch, j.w. graham, j. ward, w. curnow, r.j. binder, f.j.l. turner, w. eyres, c.a. welch, b. welch, g. welch, j. lake, h. smith, j. king, r.t. wreford, ernest balhausen, t. trengrove, j. truswell, j. taylor, w. seeley, j.p. murray, hon. david ham, andrew anderson, e. mccartney, j.h. smith, joseph edward cowley, a. jones, w.h. furness, f.n. martin, james anderson, g. becher, james meek, t. hawkins, p. drummond, c. barker, j. malcolm, r. brown, g. tupper, a. rose, w. pinkerton, a. clinton, a. sheppard, f.c. downes, j.a. blight, j. blight, t. blight, j. richardson, c.w. toy, w.c. elder, e. towl, s. walker, w.p. martin, j.t langley, j.a. abramowitch, r, allan, s.w. woodward, g. hunt, j. bishop, f.l. graham, r. graham, w. a.g. fraser, j. davies, j. paterson, b.g. tucker, e. mcelroy, w.h. burton, t.c. coates, j. williams, j.p. roberts, j. ritchie, t.w. white, j. f. harvey, natale d'angri, d. mccallum, w. chisholm, p. kohl, j. moncrief, j.p. marshall, r.u. nicholls, g.l. holthouse, c. gray, w. gale, james long, theo williams, j.r. ellsworth, w. scott, henry josephs, d. cooke, william little, t.h. thompson, e. morey, j.g. mcdonald, c.c. shoppee, g. douglas, w. h. ellis, w. hicks, j. cameron, w. b. koppers, f. marendez, g. herrmann, j. kelly, e. jermyn, p. murray, p. gay, d. mcnaught, t.d. wanliss, g. lord, h. glenny, j. trethowan, j. blandford, j. goujon, w. coad, a. colliver, j. nunn, j. munro, w.c. burbidge, j. jarvie, c. ferguson, c. morris, j. russell, j. phillips, j. coghlan, r. clark, thomas stoddart, m. wasley, b. retallack, john reid, m.c. carey, p. maloney, e. newman, j. lamb, j, . pryor, j. gibson, james mitchell, j. rowe, james vallins, a. roxburgh, a. cant, o. thomas, j.y. mcdonald, w.m. acheson, a. jack, r. gibbings, e.w. chamberlain, j.h. ellsworth, j. falconer, g.g. lorimer, james m. bickett, t. sayle, andrew mcintyre, w. hambley, k. coutts, t. muir, r. scott, g. leach, e. richards, r. hearn, j. hughan, d. miliani, e. parr, j. t. irving, w.g. williams, j. marks, j. darby, t. ray, d. mckenzie, james robson, j. robson, j. moore, j. murphy, robert m. serjeant, c. ford, e.e. campbell, p. folland, p.j. rickard, a. mcvitty, b. angwin, j.t. sleep, m.p. whiteside, w. curtis, h. crisp, e. major, r. pearce, j. waller, g. waller, g. abrams, j. mcintyre, j. johnston, w. johnston, w. taylor, j. knoth, j. davey, g. smith, n. kent, e.o. witherden, j.b. cathcart, w.h. harrow, g. evans, l. ure, w.t. glen, t. dickinson, d. hughes, j. strickland, j. hillman, e. jackson, r.j. walker, d. gunn, r.j. gullan, t. mcmanamy, a. gray, james trembath, w. porter, j. showman, c. walker, j. bowman, w.b. mcdonald, p. jago, j. stout, john smith

Thirteen pages of memorabilia used at the Teachers' College 40 year Reunion in 1989 and 25th Reunion in 1974. It includes photographs, newspaper clippings and lettersBallarat Courier in Retrospect 1989 Ballarat Courier in Retrospect 40 Years ago reunion, teachers college ballarat, 40 years, photograph, clippings, m.j. page, j.m. dunn, m.e. blaby, g.j.white, m.l. collins, d.g. prowse, f.l. english, w,j, cook, f.j. barnett, t.m. dowling, v.m. tyson, m.b. court, s. freckleton, n.g. heinrich, n. miller, m. godfrey, m. eveston, r.l. witney, e.m. gearing, j.m. clarke, n.m. george, d.h. evans, k.b. richardson, w.p. hall, w.p. baker, peter fryar, laurence peter fryar, j.m. addinsall, m.j. reynolds, margaret reynolds, v.j. kelly, p.j. hudson, a.i. mcintosh, t.w.h. turner, w.f. ford, l.s. mcrae, l.a. campbell, j.m. pentney, b.j heron, j.h. gervasoni, john hogan gervasoni, m. miller, e.n. tippett, j.w. blackie, r.m. preece, g.n fithall, m. mcewin, i.p. ryan, l.i. irving, p. aldred, b.c. webb, v.m. ward, a.m. panther, j.h. dunn, m.m. gallagher, e.b. hughes, r.h.lam. stowell, d.j. collins, i.g. mcmahon, b.m. thorpe, a.e. white

It is traditional for sporting clubs to recognise their sporting champions and this board maintains that tradition. It lists the Men's club Champion from 1968. It list the life members from 1974.Significant as it records the annual club champions and lists those honoured with life membership of the club. LIFE MEMBERS 1974 Mrs N. R. Calvert; 1977 Mrs F. Calvert; 1981 D.C. Moore; 1983 M.J. Murnane; 1985 J.S. Irvine; 1987 f. Hughes; 1988 A.W. Moore; 1989 H.W. Ryan; 1990 Mrs J. Neville; 1991 Mrs K.D. Irvine; 1993 D.W. Rogers; 1994 Mrs L. Cumming; 1994 F. Moore; 1998 Mrs E.M. Brown; 1999 A.N. Calvert; 2001 H.M. Gillespie; 2006 D.H. Bradshaw; 2011 R.W. Hesketh; 2013 W.A. Wood; 2017 J. Leishman; 2020 B. Dumesney CLUB CHAMPION 1968 B.J. Cook; 1969 J.W. Wilson; 1970 B.J. Cook; 1971 B.J. Cook; 1972 D.H Bradshaw; 1973 K. D. Boyd; 1974 K. D. Boyd; 1975 B.M. Clarke; 1976 K. D. Boyd; 1977 B. Ellis; 1978 R.K. Patterson; 1979 R.K. Patterson; 1980 T.L. Austin; 1981 B.R. English; 1982 P.G. Clarke; 1983 L. Scott; 1984 A. Sanders; 1985 P. Bayne; 1986 B. Clarke; 1987 M. Beer; 1988 B. Clarke; 1989 B. Clarke; 1990 P.T. Plozza; 1991 P.Brown; 1992 S. Trounce; 1993 B. Dumesney; 1994 M.R. Beer; 1995 S. Rowe; 1996 J. O’Shea; 1997 S. Craig; 1998 B. Dumesney; 1999 B. Dumesney; 2000 S. Craig; 2001 B. Dumesney; 2002 d. Whitehead; 2003 g. Crake; 2004 D. Gloster; 2005 C. Brooks; 2006 M. Hayden; 2007 M. Hayden; 2008 C. Brooks; 2009 M.R. Beer; 2010 A. Presnell; 2011 M. Fisher; 2012 G. McGorlick; 2013 M.R. Beer; 2014 L. Elmer; 2015 W. Couch; 2016 D. Smith; 2017 H. Huffadine; 2018 M. Ryan; 2019 M. Bell; 2020 Covid 19; 2021 L. Smith Rectangular shaped wooden honour boardDates and names engravedpeterborough, peterborough golf club, sporting honour boards

Photo donated by Margaret Clarke, daughter of Stanley D.Livermore who enlisted in 1915. Roll of Honor used to hang in Mechanics Institute Hall which was on the site now occupied by the Scout Hall, Canterbury Road, Vermont.|Ron Clarke took it home when old hall was pulled down. It was just about falling to pieces but Ron wired it up and photographed it. Has not been located sinceBlack and white photo of Roll of Honor for Vermont Volunteers 1918 War.|PLEASE NOTE - The names on the board are divided into years as follows :-| 1914 -|Bowan to Holbery 1915 - Riley to|Livermore 1916 - Anderson to|White 1917 - Caplin to Mauwar memorial vermont, clarke, margaret, vermont mechanics institute, world war 1914-1918, bowan, w.j, cookesley, w., holberry, r., holbery, riley, j., anderson, a., bromley, ron., bruford, h.r., carter, f.a., w.h., christie, dawe, p.a., embling, s., fankhauser, c.a.a., geal, albert, husband, c.t.m., hall, charles samuel, jay, w.a., j.w., livermore, c.r., s.d., d.c., f.m., beard, boyle, r.g., chafer, j.h.e., collins, a.m., cooke, g., gee, graham, macwhiney, r.c., g.a., harris, p., hughes, kent, l., lloyd, d., mckinley, mcleod, n.l., mock, t., morgan, plumridge, h.e., pye, william r., scammell, c.h., uren, leonard., wallace, c.h.a., white, f.i., caplin, a.a., course, e., dibben, h., matheson, c.e., mau, l.j.

The monument commemorates those from Avoca who have served in the various conflicts in which Australia has been involved. It was dedicated on18 November 1921. The memorial was later rededicated in 1988 to also remember those who served in the Second World War. During the First World War, 137 men from the Avoca area volunteered for the armed services and of this number 29 were killed. A plaque, unveiled in 1984, commemorates Sergeant Lewis McGee V.C who enlisted from Avoca in World War One. Colour photograph of the Avoca World War One. The Memorial is an octagonal building of rendered brick supported on eight columns with rounded engaged columns on the central section of each. At the top of the rounded section is a shield decoration. World War One Fallen Auls A. Beavis J. Beer C. Brown J.A. Brown J.N. Burns W. Dobley L. Driver W.H. Evans C.G.H. Fish W. Harrowfield N. Henderson J.H. Henry C.A. Howell T.P. Kiehl A. Lambert S. Lansdell H. Livingstone J. McArdle J.E.F. McDowell W.R. Oppy W. Rowlands W. Rowlands H. Smith S.W. Summers D.L. Templeton C. Turpin H. Willmott C. Wrigley F. Yates L.R. World War One Honour Roll Anderson N.W. Armstrong H.M. Barry R.E. Beavis JOHN. Blain J. Bowen L. Bradley H.J. Brazil F. Brereton W.C. Brereton C. Brown H. Burke J.F. Burke P. Burnett W. Cain H.C. Calnan C. Chandler R.W. Chandler H. Chaplan W. Coates E. Cross F. Cross C. Crute A.T. Cullip C. Daly J. Derrick E.A. Diamond C.P. Doodt D. Doodt C. Douglas J.O. Ebeling C. Elliot T. Elliot N. Elliot W.N. Ford H. Fraser D.C. French W. French W.H. French C. Garner J. Gee J. Gee F.R. Gibson C.A. Golder A. Golder F. Gollop H. Gouce W. Greenwood H. Greenwood W. Harbour H.J.H. Harris N. Harrow R. Harrowfield B. Hellings D. Henderson C. Henderson J.J. Henderson T.A. Hilderbrand W. Holland H.S. Hughes W. Jardine J.W. Jardine W.E. Jardine J.A. Johnson G. Johnson W. Johnson REG. Johns Kitchen G.R. Laidlow R.T. Larkins James. Leyden J.M. Leyden P.J. Lindsay F. Lyons P.L. McEwan F. McVicar F.C. McVicar A.A. Mitchell T.T. Moodie A. Nicholson E. Porter A.B. Randall W. Redpath S. Reeves H. Reid E. Resuggan A. Robinson R.W. Samers V. Scott R.V. Sims H.L. Stavely W. Torney S. Williams H. Willmott H. Wilmott D. Wilson B.C. Wilson A. Wiltshire C. Witherden T. Witherden D. Yates J.O. Young F. Johnson F. Kitchell P. Kitchen A.L.avoca, avoca war memorial

Following the founding meeting of the Mayo Tenants Defence Association in Castlebar, County Mayo on 26 October 1878 the demand for The Land of Ireland for the people of Ireland was reported in the Connaught Telegraph 2 November 1878. The first of many "monster meetings" of tenant farmers was held in Irishtown near Claremorris on 20 April 1879, with an estimated turnout of 15,000 to 20,000 people. This meeting was addressed by James Daly (who presided), John O'Connor Power, John Ferguson, Thomas Brennan, and J. J. Louden. The Connaught Telegraph's report of the meeting in its edition of 26 April 1879 began: Since the days of O'Connell a larger public demonstration has not been witnessed than that of Sunday last. About 1 o'clock the monster procession started from Claremorris, headed by several thousand men on foot – the men of each district wearing a laural leaf or green ribbon in hat or coat to distinguish the several contingents. At 11 o'clock a monster contingent of tenant-farmers on horseback drew up in front of Hughes's hotel, showing discipline and order that a cavalry regiment might feel proud of. They were led on in sections, each having a marshal who kept his troops well in hand. Messrs. P.W. Nally, J.W. Nally, H. French, and M. Griffin, wearing green and gold sashes, led on their different sections, who rode two deep, occupying, at least, over an Irish mile of the road. Next followed a train of carriages, brakes, cares, etc. led on by Mr. Martin Hughes, the spirited hotel proprietor, driving a pair of rare black ponies to a phæton, taking Messrs. J.J. Louden and J. Daly. Next came Messrs. O'Connor, J. Ferguson, and Thomas Brennan in a covered carriage, followed by at least 500 vehicles from the neighbouring towns. On passing through Ballindine the sight was truly imposing, the endless train directing its course to Irishtown – a neat little hamlet on the boundaries of Mayo, Roscommon, and Galway. Evolving out of this a number of local land league organisations were set up to work against the excessive rents being demanded by landlords all over Ireland, but especially in Mayo and surrounding counties. From 1874 agricultural prices in Europe had dropped, followed by some bad harvests due to wet weather during the Long Depression. The effect by 1878 was that many Irish farmers were unable to pay the rents that they had agreed, particularly in the poorer and wetter parts of Connacht. The localised 1879 Famine added to the misery. Unlike other parts of Europe the Irish land tenure system was inflexible in times of hardship. (Wikipedia) The Irish National Land League was founded at the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar, the County town of Mayo, on 21 October 1879. At that meeting Charles Stewart Parnell was elected president of the league. Andrew Kettle, Michael Davitt, and Thomas Brennan were appointed as honorary secretaries. This united practically all the different strands of land agitation and tenant rights movements under a single organisation. Michael Davitt Founder of the Land League The two aims of the Land League, as stated in the resolutions adopted in the meeting, were: ...first, to bring out a reduction of rack-rents; second, to facilitate the obtaining of the ownership of the soil by the occupiers. That the object of the League can be best attained by promoting organisation among the tenant-farmers; by defending those who may be threatened with eviction for refusing to pay unjust rents; by facilitating the working of the Bright clauses of the Irish Land Act during the winter; and by obtaining such reforms in the laws relating to land as will enable every tenant to become owner of his holding by paying a fair rent for a limited number of years. (Wikipedia)Image of a man with a moustache. He is T. Brennan.ballarat irish, brennan, thomas brennan, irish land act, rent