Mr [I] Osborn [James Osborne, publican of Ring of Bells Hotel, Home Rule or draper of Hill End ?]
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW
Joseph Moss was licensee of the Ring of Bells Hotel in Herbert St, Gulgong, 20 December 1871.
In September 1872 and in 1873 he had the licence for Home Rule's Ring of Bell's Hotel.
James A Osborne was licensee for Home Rule's Ring of Bell's Hotel in 1874.
Source: Governemtn Gazettes
James Osborne of Home Rule was the owner of the Ring o’ Bells Hotel in Home Rule during
the goldrush. In February 1874 MJ King gave his popular Hibernian entertainment
at Osborne’s Assembly Rooms to good houses. I’m assuming the Assembly Rooms
were the same as the detached concert room that Joe Moss had during his
ownership. It appears to have been another place for entertainment in HR along
with the Royal Shamrock Theatre. In May 1874 the Queen’s birthday was
celebrated at a ball and supper at Osborne’s Assembly Rooms.
In May 1874 people at HR petitioned the Joint Stock Bank to establish a branch there. The bank opened a branch temporarily in Osborne’s Assembly Rooms. In September 1874 Osborne and party were mining claims 10 and 11 on the Home Rule Extension. They were about to commence washing 300 loads at Fosberg’s machine. Claims 10 and 11 were variously reported as Osborne and party’s claims and as Johnson and party’s claims. It seems they were in partnership. In August 1874 William Johnson’s eldest son died and James Osborne was a witness to his burial at Gulgong.
In October 1875 a fire broke out at the back of the public school in the main street of Home Rule. Osborne was the captain of the fire brigade. By its actions the brigade was said to have saved the town from total destruction. That night a public meeting was held at Osborne’s hotel to reward some of those involved in fighting the fire.
Ring of Bells Hotel, Home Rule
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW
1875 - Destructive Fire at Home Rule
On Thursday, T A Browne, Coroner, conduct an enquiry at Osborne’s Commercial Hotel, Home Rule, touching the origins of the late fire. A jury of twelve men were appointed, and Mr Nicholas Sheridan chosen as foreman. Mr O’Bryne, Inspector of Schools was present to watch the proceedings.
William Thomas, sworn; I am teacher of the Public School, Home Rule, recently burnt down, I left the building after my ordinary work at 4pm; no person resided on the premises nor was there any person in charge; the keys were left with a woman who cleaned out the place; her name Mrs Leroux; at 3.45 I was at the fire, the schoolhouse was then burning; I was called up by an old lady who told me the schoolhouse was burning; I reside about a quarter of a mile east of the town; I never gave any person leave to stop in the building nor do I think any person was in there.
Examined by a Juror; There was no fire nor had Mrs Leroux any reason to light one; she usually swept the building after sundown; the keys are generally in my possession; no other person had any access.
Examined by Sergeant Keenan: The woman Leroux might use her own discretion about the time of cleaning; on Tuesday night there was a heavy storm gathering.
Sergeant James Keenan sworn: I am station at Home Rule; at three minutes to 3am, while in bed at my residence, Christmas Lead, I was awoke by the fire alarm; immediately after the alarm bell rang I saw flames proceeding from a building at the further end of town; I awoke Constable Foster and we at once proceeded to the spot; Constable Evans then joined us; The Public School was then on fire and the house adjoining it, the Fire Brigade were at work playing upon the premises; myself and the officers with the assistance of some civilians pulled down one of the houses for the purpose of preventing the spread of the flames; I have made diligent enquiry and cannot find the cause of the fire; two houses were burnt and the third pulled down; the storm was very high at the time and the lightening which played about the premises was of a red description; I observed no person upon the premises before leaving my night duty.
Constable Edwin Evans: About 3am on the 20th the on hearing the fire alarm I proceeded to the spot and found the school premises on fire and also the premises occupied by William Phillips the flames had not reached the centre of the school house; when I left duty there was no sign of fire nor was there anyone in the street but the watchman who called the hour past twelve o’clock; there was a thunderstorm till 2am; I covered up the arms in the barracks.
Examined by the Coroner: I never saw any person in or about the premises after school hours; the building was composed of weatherboards, bark roof and corrugated iron verandah.
Examined by a Juror: When I first came down I did not notice if the roof had fallen in.
John Callaghan, Nightwatchman: on the 20th about 3am, I noticed the fire, gave the alarm and called Mr Osborne, captain of the Fire Brigade; when I first noticed the fire I was in Main Street calling the
hours; first saw the fire through the window of the school and appeared to be burning at the back of the building; I found the fire was in the back and kitchen; pushed open the door and the calico on the walls and roof was on fire; a few minutes after Mr English came and broke a few palings down for the purpose of ringing the bell; I did not attempt to enter the building, it being a blaze, I am certain it started in the kitchen.
Examined by a Juror: As certain when I first observed the fire it was at the back of the Leroux’s house.
Examined by Mr O’Byrne Inspector of Schools: When I pushed the door of the schoolhouse it was not fastened.
Examined by Juror again: There could have been no fastening as the door yielded to my pressure.
Examined by Mr Byrne again: All the gates of the outer fence were securely fastened; the fire at first was confined to the interior.
Examined by Juror: I do not think the fire occurred in the Public School but in an adjoining kitchen.
Mathew English: About 3am. I was awoke by the watchman giving the fire alarm; I then saw the flame proceeding from the premises, I tried to force the gate but could not, I then pulled done some palings and rang the bell; Mr Osborne, Mrs Ramsay—of the Joint Stock Bank—myself and others got the engine out and played upon the premises; the flames seemed to come from a small room at the back of the building; I think it was a bedroom, the door of which was a little open; when I arrived the watchman was trying to break in one of the doors; there were a number of people present; the door referred to was one belonging to the main building; the small door connected itself with the main building.
Examined by the Sergeant: the main door seemed to fastened.
Examined by a Juror: When I arrived the whole building was in flames; I never heard of any row or ill feeling in the neighbourhood; I believe Mr Thomas was well respected by everybody in the district.
William Phillips: I was the owner of the house adjoining the Public School; it was consumed entirely; I was woken by the thunder at 2am there was no sign of fire; about an hour later was awoken by the alarm of ‘fire’; the fire was in the little room abutting from the main building; did not watch the fire but got my wife and children out; did not see anyone about, my house is only a few feet from the school building.
Ellen Leroux: Corroborated the evidence of the former witness and said the bed where they lay was only two feet from where the fire seemed to originate.
At this stage of the proceedings the jury retired to view the scene
Witness continued: I had no access to the School from the front; I had the key to the front door that day; when entering the school by that door, I could not get out any other way; any person could not get in or out by the windows; they were fastened; where the fire commenced there was a division but no one could get into the small room without coming into the yard; I heard no footsteps but a sheet of bark slipped from the house; and the little dog barked; the bark was from my own kitchen.
James A Osborne: I am captain of the Home Rule Fire Brigade; did not know the exact time he was awoken by the fire alarm, the engine was got out in a few minutes by the brigade and others; the school and four other houses were burning; they were Mr Robert Graham. The next belonging to Mr Mallinson and next Mr Scully; I do not know how the fire commenced but I consider considerable damage was done by Mr Scully knocking out in his excitement the doors and windows, thus giving wind to the flames.
Examined by the Sergeant: It was necessary to pull down one house to save all that side of the street.
The Coroner having summoned up all the evidence adduced without retiring, a verdict of ‘That the building was set on fire by whom or how there was not sufficient evidence to show.’
Home Rule from our Correspondent
The fire in the Public School at Home Rule, raged furiously for more than an hour, destroying the school and three buildings adjoining as far as Greening’s Hotel, there was a steady breeze blowing south-east, fortunately it veered a point of two, too the south, otherwise both sides of the street would have been in danger. The police are deserving of praise—under the command of Sergeant Keenan, who rendered most valuable service. The fire soon reached Mrs Leroux and her family and from there it soon reached Pope’ Bakery. This was a most critical moment, when to hesitate was to be lost. It was there that the calm, steady judgement of fire Captain Osborne came to be observed, he ordered a party of axemen to chop down the house next to Greening’s Hotel, which was the only way to save the town. The men worked with a will and during the time they were at this work, the heat was so intense that the engine had to be kept steadily playing on and around the fire. When all worked so well, it would invidious to single out any particular person or persons.
A public meeting was held at Osborne’s Hotel last night—Mr P Dwyer in the chair—when the following prizes were awarded—Michael Byrne, first waterman 20/-; John Connors second waterman, 10/-. The last one handed back to be given to the Gulgong Hospital.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, October 23, 1875
1876 - Cricket ! Cricket!
A Grand Cricket match will be Played at Homers Paddock on New Years Day between the Gulgong and Home Rule Cricket Clubs. Wickets to be pitched at 9.30 sharp.
Being the first match of the season the Gulgong Club have decided to open the gates free to all comers.
Cricketers are requested to muster at 9am sharp at Osborne’s Hotel.
CRICKETERS’S BALL
On Monday Night
January 1, 1877
at
OSBORNE’S
Assembly Rooms
Refreshments Provided.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, December 30, 1876
