AMID WILD LIFE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18204, 15 October 1924, Page 13

AMID WILD LIFE.

ADVENTUROUS TOUR. IN THE HEART OF AUSTRALIA. (rsoM oue owx cor.arsroKi.zh-T.) SYDNEY, October P. Some bright and engaging little episodes of the tour through the heart of umralia 0 f Lord Stradbroke (Governor if \ ictoria;, accompanied by Lady •Stradbroke and others, ar© related by •>ir W. p. Nicholls, who accompanied he party in cliai-go of tho four motorcars placed at their disposal by a. tdelaidc firm. In tho long journey oi -000 miles, tho cars behaved eplcndidiy. cnsiderablc excitement, said Mr ■ icholls en his return to Adelaide last • eek, was caused at midnight wheu •ie party were can»p<?d at K.'Jiy's Weil, slept in the open, including ■■vcly Stradbroke. who entered int-> tlie -iiyfh outdoor life with zest. At the Oil there was a mob of about -10 camels f M Afghan, and during the Ji"«c strayed througii tho sleepni" -luarters of the Vice-Regal party, -i*al of the sleepers narrowly escaped | txuiig trampled on in their sleep, and for a time there was considerable- com'"hi. ''You try waking up at midnight, and see a camel standing over anu see how qmcklv vou can ret out of Ix;d," said Mr Niencl'ls. Througliout 'ho journey Lady Stradbroke was particularly interested in bird-life, and J spent much timer observing tho littlo teatbered fold through field glasses. Also, c] le ncver j ost an opportumtv of photographing them whenever possible. Good shooting was to be had at Warlock Ponds, where several geese, ducks, and flying foxes were Eocured by the gunmen. Flying foses were particularly troublesome, keeping everyone awako at night with their screaming. At Mataraiika (a Government station) the travellers thoroughly enjoyed a swim in tho hot springs, at. a" river which is a tributary of the Roper. Here Lady Stradbroko greatly enjoyed a feast of pau pau, a- luscious * native fruit. Lord and Lady Stradbroke subsequently travelled by train to Darwin. On their way to, rejoin tho party, Lady Stradbroke suffered as a result of a foreign substance lodging in her eye. In endeavouring to clear it sho used the wrong lotion, and on rejoining tho party, high speed was made with the cars to Maranboy, where sho received a treatment at the hospital. Ten pointy of rain fell while tho party were at Newcastle Waters, but the cars were successful in negotiating the black soil plains, which wero exceptionally rough. At Anthony's Lagoon the local policeman mado Lady Stradbroko a present of some fino specimens of ribbon-stone, a rare mineral found only at Anthony's Lagoon. Tho party picked up an old bushman who was tramping to Ijongreach, and decided to give him a lift for part of his journey. However, he proved so useful at washing dishes and being bandy man general ly, that he went along with the party for the whole distance. Just outside of Boulia tho Governor and Lady Stradbroke, who were in the leading car, came across a mob of emus, and Lord Stradbroko promptly gave chase, tho car taking all obstacles in its stride. Tho utter disregard for safety at which tho Governor drove, caused perturbation among the other members of tho party, and it was Lady Stradbroko who eventually persuaded him to desist. At Llanrheida Station, in Queensland, tho travellers came upon a porcupine. Lady Stradbroke prorapty dismounted, and with a piece of a petrol case endeavoured to turn tho spiny little fellow on his back. Ho resisted stoutly, and it was not without a fight that ho was eventually capsized. " Another incident of "interest occurred at Chatsworth Station, in Queensland, whore a day was spent. At a nearby cattlo camp" black bovs were engaged in cutting out the bullocks from a mob of about 2000 animals for purposes of branding, etc. Lord Stradbroke mount-

Ed a horso, and, unaided, succeeded in cutting out a bullock, much to the delight of Lady Stradbroke, who was an interested spectator. The Governor showed himself to be a fine horseman.