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an interest in the mines) he sold his bread oven to the Pozzis for 30 pounds.^ Though<br />

the Righettis had promised not to set up another oven within four kilometres of the<br />

Pozzis — an example of a spirit of accommodation as well as rivalry within the Italian-<br />

speakmg group ~ Giuseppe entered into partnership with Dr Rossetti (see previous<br />

sections) and reopened again next door. Furious letters were again written by the<br />

Pozzis to then- family in GiumagUo, claiming:<br />

Quando si ha a che fare con briganti sempre si resta traditi nen dai<br />

nemici nostri ne, sene i nostri veri vecchi amici signori Righetti, i<br />

quali (almene il Giuseppe e ii Serafino) hanno venduto a noi il lore<br />

feme per 30 lire, colla cendizione che essi non mettessere piii ferno<br />

se non due miglia e mezza lontano dal nostro.^'*<br />

Alessandro drew comfort from the knowledge that the Righettis would be criticised by<br />

the compatriots in Ticino, viUage morality continuing to assert its influence in the early<br />

years of settlement. The new bakery, which (according to Alessandro) belonged half<br />

to Righetti and Rossetti and half to a company of six people from various nations, is<br />

claimed to have only attracted custom due to the presence of Rossetti's good looking<br />

sister-in-law and certainly not to the skill of its owners.^*<br />

By September, Battista had sold his share in the business and moved to<br />

Bendigo, where he tried another venture popular with the Swiss, a sweet shop. When<br />

it too failed to make a profit, he decided to retum to Someo, doing so before the year<br />

had finished. His wife, who had awaited his retum in Ticino, had bought land on his<br />

behalf, possibly paying for it wdth a loan of 5,105 francs from her father-in-law.^* With<br />

little to show for the two years in Australia, Battista retumed to the comfort and<br />

support of his family.'^' His brother Giuseppe continued as a store owner and baker in<br />

Hepburn, offering to buy back Pozzis' bread oven for the sum of six pounds. Two<br />

210

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