Saturday, November 13, 2021

COLLINS

Robert Nelson Mitcham Collins
Source:  Gillian Logan Hamilton

Robert Nelson Mitcham Collins was mayor of Gulgong during the Gold Rush and very active in the communities of Gulgong and Mudgee. He had a tinsmith shop in both towns and married Sarah Jane Hume, daughter of prominent Mudgee businessman John Hume.
According to his 1883 obituary, he "organised and worked up the Gulgong Fire Brigade, making it one of the best disciplined and most effective corps in the colony". He then went on to captain the Mudgee Fire Brigade.
Source:  Gillian Logan Hamilton, descendant

R N Collins, Iron worker, Gulgong, 1870-75
Click here to see zoomable image

Detail of above

Robert Nelson Collins, Galvanised Iron and Tinplate Worker in Herbert Street next to Charles M. Poole, Tailor and Habit Maker. Collins was the Mayor of Gulgong for two years 1877-78 and he died in Mudgee in 1883. 
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis, Research Gulgong (Dec 2006)

Robert's wife, Sarah Jane Collins (nee Hume)
Source: Gillian Logan Hamilton

NEWS ITEMS

1876 - TRUSTEES
The undermentioned gentlemen have been appointed as the trustees ... the land at Gulgong dedicated in a site for a Presbyterian church, in the room of Messrs William Booth and John Russell who have resigned -Messrs Alexander M'Culloch and Robert Mitchan Nelson Collins.

1876 - MUNICIPALITY OF GULGONG
NOTICE is hereby given, that Mr. Robert Nelson Collins has this day been duly elected Alderman of the above Municipality, to supply the extraordinary vacancy caused by the absence of Mr. Henry Rossitter.
WILLIAM SELFF, Acting Returning Officer. Gulgong Council Chambers, 14th October, 1876.
1877 - QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY
Thursday, the Queen's birthday, was celebrated here by a fete, the proceeds of which were to be devoted to augmenting the funds of the local hospital; and though in every way a success, it did not meet the expectations of the promoters, who were delegates from all the societies united. The non-success may be attributed to the disturbed state of the weather. During the whole of Wednesday some sharp showers fell, and the wind was bitterly cold, and in the evening it blew nearly a hurricane. Thursday morning set in with anything but a promising fine day, and many prognosticated a downpour of rain; towards 10 a.m., a genial warmth set in, and the various societies, having formed into order of procession, marched off to the Turf Club grounds. The procession was headed by the Mudgee Brass Band, followed by the Fire Brigade, the M. U. and G. U. Oddfellows, &c, the German Association bringing up the rear, arriving at the place of rendezvous. No time was lost in commencing the list of sports, consisting of hack and other races, tilting at the ring; boys', girls', and men's races; walking, jumping, tug-of-war; hop, step, and jump; and a variety of other sports selected by the committee, who worked well together, Mr. L. S. Donaldson, J.P., acting as judge, M. O'Neil handicapper, and T. Ryan clerk of the course; H. Beal acting as auctioneer in disposing of a variety of articles contributed by the residents. As much of the programme as it was possible having been gone through, the procession returned to town, followed by the visitors, each expressing satisfaction at the day's entertainment.
In the evening the members of the Fire Brigade, under the command of their captain, Mr. R. N. Collins (Mayor), gave a torchlight procession, and, with engine, hose-carriage, and other appurtenances perambulated the principal streets. The effect was good, and there were few of the citizens who did not turn out to give the brigade a hearty welcome. The day's festivities were brought to a close with a ball at Mrs. Powell's large hall, Star Hotel, given by the Loyal Gulgong Lodge, G. U. O. F. Dancing commenced about 10 p.m., and was carried on with spirit till daylight.
During the day there was a cricket match between the Mudgee West End Club and Gulgong—the former scoring 106, with 7 wickets to spare; and the latter 104 all told.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Mon 4 Jun 1877 Page 3

1877 - LAND OFFICE
A public meeting was held on Thursday, at W. Hunter's Albion Hotel, for the purpose of taking steps for obtaining a separate land office at Gulgong. The chair was occupied by Mr. R. N. Collins, the Mayor. Alderman Zimmler explained at considerable length the hardship of persons having to travel to Mudgee and back, a distance of thirty-six miles, or to Cassillis, a distance of 120 miles. He (the speaker) proposed the first resolution -"That this meeting is of opinion that the importance of the town of Gulgong, as the centre of a large population, demands that a land district be proclaimed, and a land office opened at this town." Mr. H. J. Woods seconded the resolution, which was carried.
Alderman Scully proposed - "That the resolution now passed be signed by the Chairman and forwarded to Messrs. Rouse, Buchanan, and Forster for presentation to the Minister for Lands." Mr J. H. Coydon seconded the resolution, which was carried. A committee was formed for the purpose of carrying out the resolution. The meeting was largely attended, the public taking a manifest interest in the subject.

1877 - GULGONG. [ FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT ]
On Wednesday evening, at 7 o'clock, a fire broke out at the homestead of William Aldridge, the owner of the racehorses, Eclipse and Gulgong. The fire appears to have occurred in the bedroom by a child taking a lighted candle to the bedside, when the curtain caught. The scene of the conflagration was near the Black Lead, half-a-mile from the town, and it is creditable to the fire brigade that they were upon the spot in so short a time, and without delay commenced to pour upon the burning building a powerful stream of water, and quickly subdued the flames. Some portion of the house and its contents were saved, but considerable damage was done by persons in their eagerness to save by cutting, slashing, and breaking things. The captain of the fire brigade (R.N. Collins, Mayor) called several persons' attention to the fact that they were doing, more harm than good; the things, he said, might as well be burnt as broken to pieces. So energetic were the movements of the brigade that at the close Mr. J. F. Plunket, J.P. briefly addressed those present and said the promptness of volunteers deserved their recognition and proposed three cheers for officers and men, which was given most heartily.
On Thursday, Mr. T. A. Brown, coroner, held an inquiry into the cause of the fire. The first witness was William Holmes, who stated that he lived about 200 yards from Mr. Aldridge's; observing the fire, he ran across and endeavoured to save some of the articles, when he was requested to go to the stable and take away two valuable horses; this he did, and returned with them after the fire was extinguished; was present when the fire brigade arrived, and they made short work of it by a continuous stream of water.
Senior-constable Merrin gave evidence as to his arriving at the fire, taking down the statement of the housekeepers and receiving from, the captain of the Brigade the goods saved.
Eliza Jane Byrnes said, "about dark on Wednesday, I had occasion to leave the house for the purpose of going into the grass paddock to feed a milking cow, and left the two children in the house; there was a lighted candle in the kitchen; no person except the children was there; the table upon which I placed the candle was close to the wall, which is formed of sheet iron; when I was some distance away I observed an unusual light and ran back; when I arrived the eldest child said, "Run, mother, the place is on fire".
I saw at once the bedroom was in flames; it was lined with calico and paper; the child told me she had taken a candle to put baby to bed, and the clothes caught fire; Mr. Aldridge left home early yesterday morning, and returned this day about 230. The Coroner briefly summed up the evidence and the jury returned a verdict that the fire occurred accidently.

1877 - FIRE DRILL
Mr. R. N. Collins, the captain of the Gulgong Fire Brigade, has been invited to come to Mudgee and put the members through the necessary drill.
  
1877 - MUDGEE. (From our Correspondent.)
On Saturday evening last the fire engine was safely piloted into town by the veteran whip Tom Tarrant, and has been housed temporarily in a large coach house, which has been kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee by the proprietor of the Old Royal Hotel. Among a crowd of curious spectators who inspected the engine on Sunday evening last was your correspondent, and his impressions are identical with the opinions of those of our citizens who pronounce the little engine to be a "plum." It is at least consolatory to the manufacturers, Messsrs. Bowen and Co., to know that everyone who has seen their work does not fail to shower encomiums upon it. The ladders have not arrived yet, but are, I understand, now in port. A Demonstration Committee has been appointed, and it is intended to spend a day for the public baptism of the little fire-equalling machine, and the subsequent formal handing of it over to the Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough. I would suggest that on the occasion Alderman Frank Tindall be nominated sponsor, as it is to meet that such parental responsibility should devolve upon him who has so strenuously fought for the existence of his godchild, and thundered and agitated for the Council's grant of £50. At present the engine presents a very handsome appearance, the painting and brass fittings adding a lustre.
The town was thrown into a state of indescribable uproar on Monday evening last through the initiatory drill and lecture of our firemen. The lecture was formal, and of course tame, thereby contrasting immensley with the drill, which was one of the liveliest things we have had in town for a time. The engine was drawn to the Market Square enveloped in a surging mass of humanity, from Municipal dignitaries to immigrants from Arabia. Everyone whose exclamatory cavern hadn't become the receptable of a volume of dust was shouting with might and main, and the mania for bawling having seized those on the footpaths the town was for once converted into a bedlam.
The practice was gone through under the supervision of Captain Collins of the Gulgong brigade. On the whole the first drill was satisfactory, and the members give promise of future efficiency. There was a second drill last evening, and it possessed the feature of being a 'wet' one. Not that any Boniface was particularly charitable on the occasion, but that the hose was supplied with the limpid element. The members (not yet having the uniform) presented a somewhat unimposing appearance, as everyone came out in anticipation of getting an unceremonious bath, and consequently didn't turnn "the best side to London."
I trust to be able to embody in a future dispatch a description of the baptismal ceremony of the fire engine.November 21st, 1877.


R N Collins, Capt of Mudgee Fire Brigade
Source: Gillian Logan Hamilton


R N Collins, with Mudgee Fire Brigade
Collins is second from left in back row, three stripes on right sleeve
Source: Gillian Logan Hamilton

1878 - PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS.
His Excellency the Governor approves of the appointment of the undermentioned gentlemen to the Public School Boards established at the places specified in connection with their names respectively, viz.:—
Gulgong : Messrs. Charles Bird, Henry De Boos, Robert Nelson Micham Collins, John Tuxford.
On Monday evening last a numerous and influential meeting of the principal residents of the town and district, convened by Richard Rouse, Esq., Mayor of Gulgong, was held at Hunter's Hotel for the purpose of urging on the Government the necessity of proceeding immediately with the railway from Wallerawang to Mudgee. In the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Mr. R. N. Collins, late Mayor of Gulgong, was voted to the chair. 
After explaining the object of the meeting, the chairman called on Alderman Zimmler to move the first resolution. Alderman Zimmler said the necessities of the district and country rendered it imperative on the Government to make this railway. He hoped the Government would not trifle with this question. After a lengthened argument in favour of the question, he moved the following resolution:-
"That this meeting is of opinion that, in view of the importance of the district, a railway from Wallerawang to Mudgee should be immediately constructed, and that a refusal to carry out such an undertaking before the trunk lines are completed would be a public injustice." 
Alderman Tuxford seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Another resolution was passed, that Sir John Robertson, member for the district, be asked to present tho foregoing resolution to the Premier.



 

Robert Nelson Mitcham Collins


1883 - Late Mr R N Collins
The awful truth expressed in the aphorism …….. of life we are in death,’ more sadly realised on Tuesday afternoon, when the news of Mr Collins death gradually became public. On Sunday he seemed to be in the best of health and much as usual, never complaining of illness, Monday morning the first symptoms of the English cholera which struck him down, appeared. Despite all the best care and medical attention given, he died at 12.30pm on Tuesday. It was a time before a large portion of the town here to witness a marriage ceremony became aware of the loss of one of our best known townsmen. The late Mr Collins was in the fullest sense was respected by everyone who knew him, for a man to go through life without an enemy is an achievement in its self, this he did, and was most lovable; his disposition was kind and charitable and those whose had contact with him extended over a long course of time can never remember hearing him say anything against his neighbour. His integrity in matters of business was above reproach, his character unblemished and his memory equally revered. He was warm hearted, manly, a good man, held in much affection by his friends, patriotic and stainless character. For a long time he was engaged with Mr Schlacter. Subsequently he went to Gulgong, and here began to exhibit these qualities in his public service which was so valuable. During his residency of this gold diggings township he took an active part in town affairs and was elected Mayor of the Municipality a position which he held for two years, earning the title of being a ‘model Mayor’. He worked and organised matters in the Fire Brigade and was captain at one time. He was also on the Gulgong Hospital Committee. A little more than five years ago he came to Mudgee where he entered into business, taking an interest in both Municipality and Fire Brigade. His wife predeceased him some 18 months ago. The funeral was well attended by members of the Fire Brigade and Oddfellows Lodge.
Source: Bishop's Clippings, November 27 1883

Posted by at
Labels: , , ,