Hi Ivan.
One of the things that made me think he wasn't an Aussie was he was on his own; in Aus there would have been at least three men, one holding the bale steady the other two studying the horse page.
AS for John's observation of the narrow recess for the hatch boards, I can't remember them being all that deep on some of the earlier ships, as I can recall missing the recess and the hatch board falling into the hold.
Cheers Des