Read more: Settlers make a mill of it

The Scrutineer newspaper described the occasion which, as quoted in last week's article, was held in a clearing just below the sawmill works, on a bend of the Nepean River. The clearing is also described as a 'camping ground' being a term then for a place beside a river or swamp where farmers could take their stock during a drought.

The guests arrived by buggy at the mill in the early afternoon, having travelled from Moss Vale through 20 miles of picturesque countryside. The paper's report continues here.

"We found the new sawmills with the proprietors, Messrs Thomas Seery JP and John Hayter, and everything in order to start the machinery going. But we were first invited to the picnic party a little further on, where on 'mother earth' everything nice and choice was laid out, inviting to a degree, and especially to appetites keen as ours were, after the three hours' drive through a keen and bracing atmosphere. Here was gathered a jolly party bent on enjoyment, into which also the crawling reptile in the shape of lizard and snake found their way; a large snake actually made its appearance between two young ladies, which Mr Seery quickly despatched without causing any trouble or alarm. After a very refreshing luncheon, we strolled over the proprietors' grounds."

The company numbered some 40 persons, among whom were Seery and Hayter, Mr and Mrs S K Miller, Messrs Moses, Cunningham JP (of Marulan), Edwin Smith (ESandAC Bank, Burrawang), and other gentlemen; also Mrs Hayter and Moses, Misses Miller, Hayter, Baxter, Cleary, Kerwick, and other ladies.

"On looking over the grounds, we were shown some splendid timber - yellow gum, messmate and box, 100 feet in length, by eight feet at the butt to two feet thick at the small end; some cuts exhibited showed excellent qualities for building purposes. The ground covers 400 acres of rich soil, well-watered by the river, and thickly timbered, which will keep the mill and some 20 men employed for four or five years to come."

"Returning to the camping ground by 4.30pm, a comfortable tea was served, after which Alderman John Cullen proposed the health of the 'Proprietors of the Kangaloon Steam Sawmills - Messrs Seery and Hayter', in doing which he spoke at length of their spirit of enterprise and wished them every success; he also coupled with the toast the name of Mrs Hayter and Miss Seery and also paid a passing compliment to the other ladies present; he characterised the ladies as young and beautiful; in fact, it was near this spot that he had made his own fortunate choice of a partner for life. (Applause)."

"Mr Seery responded at length; was heartily glad to hear the toast of success to the new sawmills given; he and his partner, John Hayter, had been the means of starting and working successfully several enterprises in the district - a mill at Burrawang and Yarrunga, and butter factories at Robertson, Wilde's Meadow and Yarrunga, each of which gave him much pleasure, not only for the personal profits he had derived, but from the larger amount of good such works had done and would still continue to do so in the different parts of the district in which they had been established, by the extensive employment of labour, which would provide means for the support of many families around. He might state that to show what extent this had been the case, he had paid no less a sum than £12,000 in wages alone, in the different industries that he and his partner had established in different parts of the Berrima district."

"An adjournment was made for the mill works. Some huge logs were in position to be quartered and sawn into square posts, joists, flooring boards, battens, shingles, etc. The whistle blew and the machinery at once was set in motion, and soon two or three logs were cut into different sizes. There was already some 100,000 feet of timber sawn and no apparent diminution of trees from the forest around."

The paper's coverage ended by stating that the day's outing had been most pleasurable and satisfactory to all. When parting, the company gave three cheers for Seery and Hayter, wishing them prosperity and success.

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