AMID WILD LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 99, 23 October 1924, Page 7

AMID WILD LIFE

ADVENTUROUS TOUR

CHASING EMUS IN A CAB.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESFONDIHT.)

SYDNEY, 9th October.

Some bright and engaging little episodes of the tour through the heart of Australia of Lord Stradbroke (Governor of Victoria) accompanied by Lady Stradbroke and others, are related by Mr. W. P. Nicholls, who accompanied the party, in charge of the four motorcars placed at their disposal by an Adelaide firm. In the long journey of 3000 miles the cars behaved splendidly. Considerable excitement, said Mr. Nicholls, on his return to Adelaide, last week, was caused at midnight, when the party were camped at. Kelly's Well. Everybody slept in the open, including Lady Stradbroke, who entered into the rough outdoor life with zest, i. At the well there was a mob of about forty camels of an Afghan, and during the night these strayed through the sleeping quarters of the Vice Hegal party.' Several' of the sleepers narrowly escaped being trampled on in their sleep, and for a time there was considerable commotion. "You try \vaking | ■up at midnight, and see a camel standing over you, and see how quickly you can get out of bed," said Mr. Nicholls. Throughout the journey Lady Stradbroke was particularity, interested in bird-life, and spent much time observing the little feathered folk through field glasses. Also, she never lost an opportunity of - photographing them whenever possible. ' Good shooting was to be had at Warlock Ponds, where several geese, ducks, and flying fox were secured by the gunmen. Flying foxes were particularly troublesome, keeping everyone awake at night with their screaming. At Mataranka (a Government station) the travellers thoroughly «njoyed a swim in the hot springs, at a river which is a tributary of the Roper. Here Lady Stradbroke greatly enjoyed a. feast of pau pau,''a luscious native fruit. Lord and Lady Stradbroke subsequently. travelled by tr^in to Darwin. On] their way to rejoin the party, Lady Stradbroke "suffered as a result of a foreign substance lodging in her eye. In endeavouring to clear it, sha used the wrong lotion, and on rejoining the party, high speed was made with the \ cars ■to Maranboy, where she received j a treatment at the hospital. ! Ten points of rain fell while the party were at Newcastle Waters, but | the cars were successful in negotiating the, black soil plains, which were exceptionally rough. At Anthony's Lagoon the local policeman made' Lady j Stradbroko s present of some fine specimens of ribbon-stone, a rare mineral found only at Anthony's Lagoon. The party picked up an old bushman who was tramping to Longreach, and de- j cided to give him a lift for part of Mb journey. However, he proved so use"-"] ful at washingl dishes and being handy I man generally, that he went along with the party for the whole distance. Just outside of Boulia the Governor and Lady Stradbroke, who were: in the j leading car, came across a mob of emus, and Lord Stradbroke promptly gave chase, the car taking all obstacles in its stride. _ The utter disregard for safety at which the Governor drove caused perturbation among the other members of the party, and it was Lady Stradbroke who, eventually persuaded him to dosist. At Llanrheida Station, in Queensland, the travellers came upon a porcupine. Lady Stradbroke promptly dismounted, and with a piece of a Plume petrol case, j endeavoured to turn tho spiny little fellow on his back. He resisted Btoutly, and it was not without a fight that he was eventually capsized. Another incident of interest occurred at Chattsworth Station, in Queensland, where a day was spoilt. At a nearby cattle camp black boys were engaged in cutting out the bullocks from a mob of about 2000 animals for purposes of branding, etc. Lord Stradbroke mounted iv horse, 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 fino horseman.