HENRY BALL came to Maneroo in 1851, and was at first employed at Wambrook, whence he took 1,500 head of cattle to Coolamon. He later delivered the same number in Melbourne. In 1853 he went to Adaminaby to take charge of the property belonging to Mr. John Gosgrove and his step-brothers, Henry and Charles York. There were then only two storekeepers' huts at Adaminaby, whilst three stockmen had to look after the cattle. The nearest sheep were ten miles away. Ball states that when he first went to Adaminaby it was not possible to drive a buggy from Cooma there. He was at Adaminaby when the Kiandra rush broke out and saw diggers meeting carriers 15 miles out of Kiandra and paying 110 ponds a bag for flour.