THE Bega standard reporter interviewed Mr Gowing, and "learned from him that he had been in the colony a great number of years, having first come from Sydney to Monaro, where he intended to go in for a station, and dropped kellick in the vicinity of Buckley's Crossing, but the cattle and general outlook not pleasing him, he determined, on the strength of what a friend, who knew he was an agricultural man, told him to come down to Bega.

This determination he acted on, and pitched his tent near where his home now stands, awaiting the first land sale, at which he was present. To cut a long story short, he secured a good slice of land at a very low price, and in the early years, by dint of industry and thrift, managed to secure the magnificent holding he now occupies, which stands as a example to other equally fortunate landowners, who by exercise of care and patience, could have just as good or better gardens than Mr Gowing has.

It would take too much time and space to detail Mr Gowing's experience as a wheat grower, and a miller (and the mill-stones are in place now, though silent), his trouble in shipping produce to Sydney, and the opening up of Tathra, of which is is the acknowledged finder, and of other experiences. Beside his hobby of floriculture, Mr Gowing has another hobbyhorse, that of using machinery whereas practicable, and in use and rusting he has machinery the cost of which would mean a considerable fortune. We might hear mention that all the ploughing is done by means of the steam plough, the only one south of Sydney we believe."

Mr Gowing erected a marquee for the ladies of the district who catered for the garden party. The food was donated and "in attendance at the tables were a number of young ladies as waitresses. To them much credit is due for the solicitous care of all who partook of the luncheon. The general verdict was that the tariff - a modest 'colonial robert' - was all too small for the repast set forth by the caterers, who were kept busily employed for a very long time, the tables being filled over and over again. In spite of this great tax on their resources, however, there was enough and to spare (after the energies of the ladies had been we consider rather unfairly taxed) for serving up tea also. Although the ladies must have been tired out in their efforts in the good cause, they have the satisfaction of knowing their efforts were heartily appreciated by one and all."