"Lord! if I were Mr. Dyson Maddox, I'd never let it be said that a black hat had cut me out sweetheartin'."
1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. iii. p. 21:
"A `black hat' in Australian parlance means a new arrival."
<hw>Hat, Old</hw>. See <i>Old-hat</i>.
<hw>Hatter</hw>. (1) A solitary miner—miner who works without a mate partner: sc. one who has everything under his own hat.
1869. Brough Smyth, `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 613 (`Glossary of Mining Terms'):
"One who works alone. He differs from the fossicker who rifles old workings, or spends his time in trying abandoned washdirt. The hatter leads an independent life, and nearly always holds a claim under the bye-laws."
1884. R. L. A.Davies, `Poems and Literary Remains,' p. 267:
"Oh, a regular rum old stick; . . . he mostly works a `hatter.' He has worked with mates at times, and leaves them when the claim is done, and comes up a `hatter' again. He's a regular old miser."
1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `The Miner's Right,' p. 37: