FIRST M.L.A. FOR THE OVENS DISTRICT.

Kumara Times, Issue 3147, 4 December 1886, Page 2

FIRST M.L.A. FOR THE OVENS DISTRICT.

DIGGERS' ECCENTRICITIES.

Melbourne, November 24,

In the last report of the Secretary for Mines the following is recorded : "In the year 1855 a storekeeper named Donald Cameron, carrying on business at the Woolshed, was elected the first member of Parliament for the Ovens district, and he had the honour, unique in the history of the colony, of being driven in triumph from the Woolshed into Beechworth in a gig with a tandem, the leading which was shod with gold. A. resident of the district has favoured me with the following particulars of the occurrence:—Just before the election an eccentric individual known as Tinker Brown, who had made a lot of money on the diggings, suddenly purchased a circus, with tents, horses, waggons, &c, complete, and coming into Beechworth wi'h his company he offered to drive the newly-elected member with a supply of golden horseshoes for the occasion. The Woolshed "bosses," who were greatly elated at the result of the election, were warmly taken up with Brown's idea, and they resolved, in addition, to present their member with a diamond scarf pin. The horseshoes were made by a working jeweller named Tofield, and weighed 9ozs. each. The team was driven from Woolshed to Beechworth and back, as far as Lasenna Hill. On removing the shoes of the leader (a pieb.ld circus horse) ihey wore found to have lost a total of 1 fozs. Before "Tinker Brown" died he willed them to a married daughter, keeping a pablichouse at Wi.gga Wagga. They were in existence until about four years ago, when the owner had them melted and turned into sovereigns.