THE QUEENSLAND SHEARERS AND THEIR COOK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1575, 5 January 1884, Page 2

THE QUEENSLAND SHEARERS AND THEIR COOK.

&- Tlio shearers' cook had a very bad time, Ho had many masters, each of whom had a peculiar taste, which imperatively required satisfying, Tlioro were so many faults found with the style of cooking (the true shearer being quite a gourmet in the matter of dough-boys and duff), there were so many domands for food and drink at irregular hours, that, notwithstanding the good pay which this functionary gets (ho rechiving generally a certain sum from each man, besides a subsidy from the owner of the station), two or three tried the office, and either resigned or were dismissed. No one would take the job. The shearers were getting alarmed. They would have to cook their own food. This was a prospect none of them relished. It was tirao lost, a waste of material, bad prospect for puddings, and no servant to order or complain about, A negotiation was opened with the washers, some of whom no doubt tempted with the high wages, would be glad to take the office. The shearers were right. A. washer, a dogged detormined-looking man, accepted, and commenced operatiens. That night, on their return from the shed, each pannikin and knifo was laid on the long bark table, the buckets with the tea placed handy, and a hugo duff and pieces of boiled beef in tin dishes graced the board. As usual no sooner had the men taken their places than cries arose of, " I say. cook, do you call this duff?" "This tea isn't sweet enough." "Tea's too sweet, cook," "Doctor !" The doctor quietly mado his appearance. Rolling up his sleaves he marched up to the biggest and strongest of the bullies, and pointing with his strong stump of a forefinger to the pudding on the man's plate, ho said, " Now then, mate, is that ere duff the right thing." Tho battered prizefighting look of his bullet head and flattened nose was quite onough, " I ses its fust rate," was the reply. " All right," said the cook, walking slowly along tho table, his eye glancing fiercely around to find a victim. " Any one of you gents as ain't satisfied can give me a lesson outside you know." It wrs sufficient. A stillness almost supernatural followed. The cook afterwards said he couldn't imagine how anyone could disagree with such a quiet lot of men.

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