IN AND AROUND SYDNEY

Evening Star, Issue 22881, 12 February 1938, Page 13

IN AND AROUND SYDNEY

INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE TOUR ■ . % IMPRESSIONS OF A DOMINION VISITOR Many interesting impressions of Sydney, Brisbane, and districts of New South Wales are forwarded by Mrs E. Taylor, of Alexandra, who was a member of the party of New Zealand farmers which toured that territory last August. “ St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, is one of the most outstanding in the Southern Hemisphere,” she writes. ‘‘lt is truly magnificant. _ Almost as fine is the Soldiers’ Memorial. Sydney residents have every reason to be proud of this—there is something impressive about it, standing high: on rising ground. It made mo recall vividly those years of sacrifice between 1914 and 1918.

“ The next day we went to Hawkesbury College, _ where everything was minutely explained to us. Even I, despite my years, learned a lot new about the land. For instance, one of tbe professors explained that in a dry country it is better to have the ground in a fairly rough state, after it has been well prepared, as the seed has then a better chance to germinate. I had considered previously that the finer the soil the better the resultant crop, but it appears that there is more moisture under rough pieces. There fai accommodation for 150 students at the college, each enrolled at a fee of £32 per annum. The drive through the Sydney .National Park was most interesting. Three thousand four hundred acres _in area, the park was traversed by a drive bordered with some of the most beautiful trees she had ever seen. From Sydney the party went through Gosford, the centre of one of the most productive orange districts in Australia. The orchards were a perfect picture of dark green leaves laden with golden fruit. Newcastle was the next town visited, where the steel works were examined. The industry supported 10,000 persons, directly and indirectly. Work there never ceased, even on Sundays and holidays. Some idea of the size of the factories could be given by the fact that for the employees’ vehicles alone there was a huge parking area. Newcastle was very flat! "I should not like to live there, as I think it would be very damp in winter.” From Newcastle to Shoal Bay was not a pleasant journey. The road was rough, being off the Pacific Highway. Accommodation as the bay was very old-fashioned. Candles lit the bedrooms, while there was no electricity. The bay itself was a small holiday resort, but scarcely worth the rough journey, though pretty. ‘‘ If you holiday in Australia, don’t be persuaded to visit Shoal Bay.” A remarkable feature of tbe journey was the number of ferry crossings made over rivers and inlets. It was surprising that bridges had not been erected, though the ferries were capable of carrying from five to 20 conveyances at a time. Each crossing held a motorist up for about half an hour.

Port Macquarie, where the first convicts landed, was the next stoppingplace. The church built by the convicts stood there as it was first erected, a credit to the unfortunate constructors. The pews stood sft high, the purpose being to enable the convicts to be chained therein, while the same oldfashioned organ was still used on occasions.

Grafton—“ City of the Tines ” —was next visited. Each street was enhanced by a row of trees planted on either side. ' Flowers in Grafton were very pretty; a creeper called Bougainvillea was in full bloom, with clusters of deep pink and red blossoms—a fine sight, especially for the month of August. Grafton was surrounded by miles of luxuriant country; most of the territory the party visited was covered with huge forests of gum trees, extending as far as the eye could see. Around Coff’s Harbour large banana plantations covered the hillsides, with prolific crops of about 30 dozen fruit to a plant. Sugar plantations were also numerous in this district.

On August 15 the first half of the tour terminated at Brisbane, where the party was given an official welcome by the Department of Agriculture and Stock. The Minister of Agriculture and president of the Farmers’ Association Sir Bullock) gave an inspiring adess. “ I noticed that the Australians are all fine speakers, much better on the average than the people of the Dominion; they seem to nave more confidence in themselves, and appear seldom to be at a loss for the bon mot.” At Brisbane tire party visited the agricultural exhibition, which was considered second only to the Sydney Royal Show for the number of its exhibits and the general excellence of the entertainment provided. In Brisbane and the neighbouring towns dwellings were built high off the ground, the object being to ensure coolness in summer, while the gardens of the residences wore scrupulously tidy and filled with a great variety of blooms. Palm trees were prominent. The ‘ city itself looked prosperous, and the public buildings a revelation—- “ Australians seem to spare no expense on their public buildings. They are very interested in civic affairs, and each very loyal to his own ‘ shire.’ Shires cover about 60 square miles. On August 19 the party left Brisbane, proceeding along the New England highway through dry country, and gaining its first sight of an ant hill. They were very numerous, standing about 3ft or 4ft ia height. A native informed the members that occasionally the hills attain a height of over 15ft. An interesting feature of the hills was that the debris was used to make tenuis courts in Australia by rolling it very hard. After hours of bhe-gum country had been traversed, the fertile lands surrounding the town of Urbenville—still in the course of' construction—was reached. The most prominent industry there was dairying,'and ; although the residents had to be iatisfied with motor communication and freighting, a (dairy factory had been built. A still greater improvement in the state of the country was noticeable after leaving this smUi town. The feed was better; lucerne ind rye-grass were grown extensively. Australian farmers have a big problem to contend with iu droughts. Some <)istricts have been without water for two years. Irrigation is being introduced 1 in_ the districts around Tamorth, but this as yet is still in its elementary stage.” Although several dsiry factories were visited by the party, lit was noticeable that these were smaller than those of New Zealand, partijularly those of Taranaki. i One of the largest jdieep stations in New South Wales was also visited—the “ Gloswick.” Originally this estate consisted of 80,000 acres,[but it bad since been reduced to 28,010. Rather surprisingly, the carrying capacity, was

only 10,000 sheep. Racehorse stables on the property resembled private residences, they were so large and finely built. An enormous wool shed, and a blacksmith’s shop employing three men, were busily engaged all the time. Further, the station had its own post office, church, school, and amusement hall.

Armadale, an educational centre, had six colleges, including one for the training of teachers, and a girls’ grammar school. The soldiers’ memorial with carillon bells was exceptionally fine. August 23 found the party at the Jenolan Caves, where it was found that the colourings were very beautiful — “ delicate shades between pink and apricot, that any girl would love for a ball dress.” Of the caves, the most outstanding were the “ Bridal Veil ” and “ Mosquito Net.” It was an escaped convict who discovered the caves; when he was recaptured ho was forced to complete his sentence of 15 years. Near the caves the party was shown the dead stump of the tree which the explorers, Wentworth, Lawson, and Blacksland, used as a landmark in 1813. The Blue Mountain country abounded with fine scenery, inclnded being the pretty Wentworth Falls.; One dropped 600 ft,

Travelling from Bathurst, the party proceeded through snow to Katoomba. The country intervening experienced weather just as cold as that of Central Otago. It was a table land, on an average 3,000 ft above sea level. From Katoomba tho route lay through the Kurragong Heights and the Parramatta orchards, where citrus fruit is grown extensively, to Sydney. There, prior to sailing for New Zealand, tho party visited Bulli Creek, and on another occasion was conducted on a tour of the bays of the Sydney Harbour by officials of the New South Wales Government.