Source:
Dicker's Mining Record from the Maitland Mercury
Details:
MANUFACTURE OF KEROSENE AT MAITLAND. For some time past the oil-bearing properties of the coal obtained at the mines of the Hon. Bourn Russell, which are situated at Stoney Creek, about a mile beyond the boundary of Maitland, have occasioned much consideration on the part of the proprietor, and a number of wealthy enterprising gentlemen, as to the best means of profitably developing the oleaginous qualities of Stoney Creek. About two months ago, Mr. Russell, amongst other gentlemen, was present at some experiments made in Sydney to test the oil-producing qualities of some kerosene mineral from Hartley Vale. What he then witnessed induced him to make some experiments after his return to Maitland, with some coal raised from his own mines; and although his son, Mr. Frank Russell, by whom the experiments were made, had only very rude apparatus for the purpose, the results (which have already been made public) were most satisfactory. Mr. H. H. Hall, who formerly resided in Maitland, on a recent visit to America took with him some Stoney Creek coal, to have its value as a kerosene-bearing mineral tested there; the result was very encouraging, and Mr. Hall brought back with him from America some patent apparatus and plans of machinery, by which the distillation and the process of clarifying the oil are completely simplified and expedited. Unobtrusive but active measures have since ueen taken to establish a company for manufacturing the oil in large quantities and inamarketable state; this important undertaking has, to some extent, been successfully accomplished, inasmuch as a number of the wealthiest and most enterprising citizens of Sydney have formed themselves into a private company, and will supply the necessary capital to enter at ouce upon the production of petroleum, or the oil in crude state, and ultimately into the process of preparing the purified oil for general use. The company havo taken a lease of Mr. Russell's mines, with the surrounding land, for a period of years; the lease has been signed by some of the company, and within the next month they will commence the erection of machinery and apparatus at the mines for extracting the crude oil from the coal. The works here will probably cost about £10,000.
First Name:
Bourne Junior
Details:
Granted publica's licence for the St. John's Tavern
Details:
Advertising for married couple to work on lower Hunter property
Surname:
Russell (obit.,)
First Name:
Captain Bourn
Details:
The hon. Bourn Russell, who has just passed from amongst us, at the ripe age of 85, was born at Rye, in the South of England, on 1st December, 1794. In early life he received a good education, but while very young, his father, Bourn Russell, was killed at sea, while in command of a sailing vessel. His grand- father was also killed at sea, while in command of a vessel, carrying despatches at the siege of Gibraltar. Coming of such a stock, it is not surprising that Mr. Russell early resolved to follow a seafaring life, and by the time he was 21 years of age he was in command of a vessel. Soon afterwards he became captain of a vessel trading to China and the South Seas. Of this vessel he was tempted to become part owner ; and for this purpose sold the family property, which had come to him as the only son. While amongst the islands of the Pacific he made several surveys of (then) little known places, and published a map in Sydney which was much used at the time. When he was about 30 years of age he was induced, like many energetic men of the time, to engage in whale-fishing, and made several voyages from Sydney for that purpose. In these he made a considerable sum of money, and determined to settle in this colony, which he had first visited in 1826. His family, consisting of Mrs. Russell, three sons, and two daughters, came to the colony in 1834. Mr. Russell, the astronomer, and one other son were born after the family settled at Maitland in 1835. In Maitland Mr. Russell began a general business and rapidly accumulated money and some station property; but in 1842, during the great crisis in this colony, his name was found on so much of the paper of a Sydney firm, that all he had acquired was lost. Thrown thus on his own energy, he made a start again, and succeeded in making a moderate competency. Throughout his residence in Maitland, he was identified with every movement having the wel fare of the district in view, and for many years sat upon the bench there. From the first general election in 1843, he always took an active part in politics. About 1856 he contested the Maitland electorate with Mr. (now the Honorable) E. C. Weekes, but was not successful. Soon after, however, he was nominated to a seat in the Upper House, and has always taken an active part in its deliberations. This session he has several times attended, but finding the infirmities of age creeping upon him, he obtained leave of absence. Although getting gradually weaker, there were no symptoms to indicate that his end was near until Saturday morning. Even then he rallied again, and his medical attendant thought him decidedly better in the afternoon, and the danger seemed past. About 11 p.m., however, the unfavourable symptoms returned. Yet he was still able to walk about his room and converse with his daughter, and, getting some relief from the pain, laid himself down to sleep, asking at a quarter past 12 what time it was. He then seemed to go to sleep, and quietly breathed his last
