Below is a transcript of the first Article.
With a population of less than 700 people, Rylstone is one of the most prosperous and from a financial point of view, one of the soundest towns of its size in the western portion of New South Wales. Situated on the southern bank of the Cudgegong River, and on the branch Railway Line from Wallerawang to Mudgee. Rylstone is 158 miles west of Sydney by rail, and 32 miles from Mudgee. The town, which lies at an elevation of 1983 feet above sea level, has had the advantage of railway communication since June 9, 1884, when the section of the line from Capertee to Rylstone was opened for traffic, the line to Mudgee being completed in September of the same year. It is a well-known fact that the Mudgee line is one of the most unprofitable in the State, but Rylstone returns a very large revenue. In 1902 the total earnings at Rylstone amounted to £3327 and in 1903 the revenue totaled £4192, an increase of £866 over the previous year. In 1904 the earnings at Rylstone Station totalled £3258, and in 1905 year ended June 30th, £3250, a decrease of £8, compared with the previous year.
Rylstone is an old established town and its principal peculiarity is the large number of substantial. and at the same time handsome stone buildings it possesses. The public offices and many places of business and private dwellings are built of stone, obtained in the district, and those give the town a most imposing appearance. the town was originally laid out at Rawden, about four miles down from the site of the present town, but there being some objections to this, on account of he distance from the main road, a surveyor was sent to lay out the present township. This occurred fully 70 years ago, the township being originally on a block of land rented by the late Mr. J. Nevell, of Carwell, and forming part of his sheep station. There is a conflict of opinion regarding the origin of the name Rylstone. One version is that the township was named Rylstone after a stone of that name discovered in the district by one of the original surveyors of the town, while the other version is that it took its name from the town of Rylstone in England. Be that as it may, the town is the centre of a fine agricultural district, mining being also carried on.
Within easy reach of Rylstone are a number of well-known sheep stations, the principal among them being Lue (formally the property of the late Mr. V. J. Dowling), which at present carries about 25,000 sheep; Dabee, on which the owner, Mr. R. M. Fitzgerald, now runs about 12,999 sheep; Rawden (the property of Messrs. Cox Brothers) with about 20,000 sheep; Toolamanang, owmed by Mr. James Jenning, and which carries 15,000 sheep; Carwell, the home of the Nevell family; Bogie and Warrangee, the properties of Mr.F. C. Ashe and Mrs. M. E. Jamieson respectively; and Umbiella, occupied by Mr William Pitt. The district also boasts of several important studs, the principal studmasters being Messrs. James and H. S. Thompson, of Woodlawn, Rylstone and Weddin; Mr. T. A. Harris, of Holbrook, Weddin; and Mr.James Readford of Westwood, Rylstone. There are also a number of cattle breeding stations around the town, including Bylong (Mr.John Lee), Budden (Mr.Wm. Moore) and Sunnyside (Mr. W. H. Tindall).
The Rylstone district, as already stated, also posses mineral resources, and diamonds are reputed to have been found in the bed of the Cudgegong, while cinnabar, gold, coal, ironstone, copper, shale, and lime also occur in the district.
Rylstone has not yet been raised to the dignity of a municipality, but an energetic progress committee watches over the interests of the town, and one is quite correct in saying that, as a results of the efforts of the committee, Rylstone is in a far better condition than many towns that have a municipal government. The first progress committee at Rylstone was elected in April 1899. This committee consisted of Mr. William Taylor (president), the Rev. H. D.Sealy Vidal (honorary secretary), and Mr. P. G. Hart (proprietor and editor of the Rylstone "Express") we are enabled to publish a group of the members of the committee. The present progress committee consists of Messrs. W. Taylor (president), T. W. Taylor (hon.secretary), C. E, Barnes, H. R. Dalton, L. McLachlan, James Walker, J. M. Macdonald. L. O. Taylor, and S. G. Benson. During the past year the committee has been instrumental in having the following work carried out; - Repairs to local public school and schoolmaster's dwelling; repairs, etc. at post office; repairs, etc. to Pyangle-road; new school at Merryangle; and repairs to school at Breakfast Creek, and approach to Rylstone Railway Station; while the committee has the matter of the Nullo Mountain-road in hand.
The Rylstone School of Arts, considering that it has been in existence only four years, has made remarkable progress, and now has a membership of about 113. The initial meeting in connection with the establishment of the institution was hwld in May, 1901, the conveners being Messrs. H. R. Dalton, J. Brunkars. and G. F. Maguire. On June 20 of the same year the first committee was elected, and consisted of Messrs. R. M. Fitzgerald (patron), S. G. Benson, (president), J. T. Cox, Jas. Thompson, D. M. Jones, Jas. Dawson, J. A. Puddicombe, and J. Brukaz (vice-presidents), H. R. Dalton (hon.treasurer), G. F, Maguire (hon. secretary) T. W. Taylor. M. W. Hayward, G. S. Hall, W. J. Puddicombe, John Dawson, G. W. Hardwick, F. Moriarty, L. D. Taylor, J. T.Reid, and R. T. Highfield . The present committee, elected in July last, consists of Messrs. John Hurley (patron), S. G. Benson, (president), C, E. Barnes, and J. Machin (vice-presidents), Mrs. H. R. Dalton, Misses A. Kersley, Taylor, E. P. G. Hart, and the Rev.F. J. Harris. The institution is a distinctly progressive one,and although the School of Arts is at present conducted in rented premises, the committee hopes to have a suitable building on its own land in course of time.
As stated, the public buildings of Rylstone are substantial structures of stone, and these include th e Post and Telegraph Office, Courthouse, Police Station and Public School. At the former, Mr. S. R. Millard is post and telegraph master, while at the Courthouse Mr. Colin E. Barnes is clerk of petty sessions, and Crown lands agent. Mr. Barnes, who has been stationed at Rylstone during the past sixteen months, and who as formerly at Grafton, is a popular townsman and takes a keen interest in anything appertaining to the advancement of the town. The police magistrate is Mr. O. A. Edwards, of Mudgee, who visits Rylstone monthly. Sergeant J. Copewell is in charge of local police matters, and at the public school (which has an average attendance of about 125) Mr. J. Machin is headmaster. Other Government officials include Messrs. T. Irwin (railway station master), William Taylor (Coroner, while Messrs. S. G. Benson and William Taylor are members of the local land board. There is a branch of the Australian Joint Stock Bank at Rylstone, Mr. H. R. Dalton being the manager. Mr. Dalton, together with Mrs Dalton, takes a lively interest in the welfare of Rylstone, and are always to the front in connection with anything which tends to progress the town. Mr. Dalton was one of the founders of the School of Arts, and is a prominent member of the progress committee, while both he and Mrs. Dalton are members of the committee of the School of Arts.
Ref: THE TOWN AND COUNTRY JOURNAL. SEPTEMBER 27, 1905
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