NOTES FROM NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7662, 12 June 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

NOTES FROM NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND.

[by our travelling correspondent.] Leaving Sydney at night by steamer, Newcastle is reached early next morning. Newcastle is uninteresting, bat an excellent view can be obtained from a high hill overlooking the town of the surrounding country. Stretching to the left is an immense plain, covered with houses, which mark the various coal districts. A little to the right'is the Hunter River and Bullock Island, with bridge connecting an arm of the Hunter. Behind is Newcastle, with its harbour, shipping, fortifications, &o. Leaving by morning train, we in due time reached Tamworth, 183 miles from Newcastle. Tamworth is a pleasant town, streets well laid oat and planted. I am indebted to Mr. Alderman Lewis for his courtesy in taking ma to see the various places of interest, A abort distance from Tamworth is Paradise, a splendid vinery. Largo avenues run at intervals through these gardens, formed with upright stakes with sheds across, the grapes hanging down in splendid clusters — sight well worth seeing. We visited fine irrigation works, worked with a powerful steam pump. The water is pumped up, and conveyed in a deep ditch round the plantation. A man stands with a spade, and merely digs an opening; the water rushes through and forms a ditch, which irrigates the various plants. Labour is thus reduced to a minimum. The owner gave a short time ago only £5 an acre, but would not now part with it under £50. From Tamworth there is a steady rise until Glen Innes is reached. Glen limes is in the New England County. The town consists of one street, and wooden houses are making way tor brick. The bans, as usual, have fine buildings, and the stores are large and numerous. The climate here is very fine, and the land first-class quality. As a farming country it cannot be equalled in Australia.

The following are the average crops:— Wheat, 30 to 35 bushels to the acre; oats, 35 bushels; barley, 35 bushels; potatoes, 2£ tons to the acre. Fruits grow well, and English grasses—especially cocksfoot—when once laid down are permanent. In some parts wheat has been grown for twenty or thirty years without manure. Through the kindness of Mr. George Munro, of Sydney, we were able, through the present contractors for the line, to travel by rail to Tentertield. Glen. Innes is at present the terminus of the line. After some delay, we reached Tenterfield, and from thence took coach to Stanthorpe (Queensland). Stanthorpe was formerly the centre of tin mining, but the mines are now abandoned, and the town has a deserted appearance. On a small soale, it very much resembles Hokitika, a long street with buildings, the bulk of which are publichouses. Starting from Stanthorpe in the morning, Towoomba is reached in the afternoon. On our journey we pass through the celebrated Darling Downs, level plains of fine land, very much like the Canterbury Plains, with the very important difference that while Canterbury is fresh and green, the Darling Downs are dried up, and people everywhere are calling out for rain. 1 was pleased to observe the number of windmills, and no doubt the sinking of wells in this distinct will, to a certain extent, remove the miseries of drought. On oar way we pass through Warwick, apparently a flourishing town, surrounded by fine farms well cultivated. Towoomba is a tine inland town, and, owing to the extreme productiveness of the soil, is deservedly named the Garden of Queensland. We were indebted to Mr. Paletnorpe for his kind attention to us during our stay. The streets are well laid out, and soma of the shops would do credit to any city in Australasia. The soil is of a deep red colour, and almost anything will grow. The Germans (principally of the Lutheran Chur3h) form a large proportion of the population, and cannot be excelled as colonists, steady in their habits, and thoroughly industrious ; and, although their small farms in the bulk of cauea do not exceed from five to ten acres, yet, by working early and late, they have paid for their farms, and are now the happy possessors of comfortable homes free of debt. In company with Mr. Palethorpe, we attended an exhibition at the School of Arts. The bulk of the people were Germans, the exhibits were very good of their kind, and the German Glee Club discoursed to us sweet music. I could not help thinking that if the owners of Morrinsville, Matamata, &c., had the pluck to introduce such Germans on their lands it would be a payable speculation for them and an enormous advantage to New Zealand as a whole.

We took train to Brisbane. The descent from the high ranges to the plains below is a fine piece of engineering, though, of course, not to be compared with the Zigzag. Brisbane is reached in the evening, It is a fine town, with a population of 70,000. Queenstreet is a tine street, with very fine buildings, especially the banks and insurance buildings, and some of the shops would do credit to London. The gardens, containing many rare and wonderful plants, are close to Queeu-strewt. I am much indebted to the Hon. Macdonald Patterson, PostmasterGeneral, for his courtesy and general attention to us during our stay in the city. Mr. Macdonald Patterson is a good specimen of the shrewd, hard-headed Scotchmen, who, while having a keen appreciation for their interests, are truly patriotic, and by their bold conception and the ability which they possess of executing their plans, are of enormous service in a new country, where caution and vigour should go hand in hand.

The Queensland Club is a fine building, overlooking the gardens. The bedrooms are large and airy, and all lead out by French windows on to the balcony. 1 could not help thinking if the members of the Northern Club had sold their present club (before the late alterations), and had deputed the genial, argumentative, and unequalled Captain John Burton Daveney, of the Northern Club, to report upon the Australian clubs, we might now have a club a credit to New Zealand. Next the club are the Houses of Parliament. The House was not sitting, so I had not an opportunity of hearing the eloquence of Queensland legislators. The Houses of Assembly are pleasant chambers,, and the members apparently know how to be comfortable.

We had the pleasure of again seeing the I Right Rev. the Bishop of Brisbane, brother-in-law of our popular and beloved Bishop of Auckland. Bishop's Court, where we enjoyed the hospitality of the Bishop, is a tine building, and I only wish we had one as good in Auckland. His Lordship had just returned from an extended tour, and was about to start again on a tour of 1500 miles through his diocese. Brisbane is a filthy town, and the sanitary arrangements are simply vile. They have no proper water supply, hnd I do not think even Mr. Newman would drink the water. The hotels are filthy, and full of foul smells. 1 am happy to say a new hotel upon the American system is in course of construction. The drive on the banks of the river in the cool of the evening is very pleasant, but at one house where we dined the mosquitoes were so bad that the host had to light fires on the verandah to smoke them out—a remarkably pleasant country to live in. Through the kindness of the courteous and popular manager of the South British Insurance Company, I obtained letters of introduction to the various agents of the company on the coast. We took passage in the Keilwarra, commanded by the genial Captain Smith, the right man in the right plaoe, and who is thoroughly acquainted wihh this dangerous coast.

Leaving Brisbane in the evening, the next afternoon we reached Maryborough, situated about 60 miles up the Mary River. This is the centre of the great sugar industry, the banks of the river being planted with sugar cane. The town is clean, with fair-sized buildings, and can boast good botanical gardens. Rookhampton was next reached, and is situated a considerable distance up the Fitzroy River. The town is well laid out, with broad streets, but the heat is unbearable, resembling that of Ceylon. Rookhampton is commonly known as the city of sin, sweat, and sorrow. Across the river tower up the steep Berseker Ranges, and behind the town are the Dee Ranges, which continue under various names for 100 miles to Gladstone. Rockhampton is so shut in by these ranges that the heat resembles that of an oven. So bad indeed is it that the men on the wharf are frequently seized with sunstroke, and some cays obliged for some hours to atop work, Rockhampton may be

a. good place for making money, but I think in the future the number of absentees will be numerous. Our next place is Townsville, supposed to be the future capital of Northern Queensland. It is oa the coast, but, unfortunately, bos no proper harbour, although a large breakwater is under construction. From our steamer we were transferred to a small tug, and, when the tide was at a certain point, we slowly steamed up the Ross Creek. The chief street is built upon the banks of the creek. The wooden shanties are fast making way for good brick shops. Townsville is destined to be a big commercial centre, especially if separation is carried. The country is extremely rich, and north and south are fine sugar districts, while west and north the country i® rich in minerals. Charters Towers is a rich mining district, 22 miles from Townsville. The reefs are remarkably regular, and the famous Day Dawn is worked at depths of 600 to 1000 feet with the most magnificent results. The average yield is 102ozs 17dwts. and the dividends paid are equal to £400,000 a year. The town is prosperous, with excellent shops, and the miners, whose wages are £3 to £3 sa, spend their money freely, and I can truthfully say with the fearful heat of Charters Towers they earn their money* In conclusion, I may add that the hotels in Townsville are comfortable. The Queen's, which faces the beach, used to have a won* derful reputation when kept by Mr. Bolton. It is said not to be so well kept by the present proprietor. We were very comfortable, but I consider the prices very high for the value received. The hotel at Charters Towers is a credit to the place. The accommodation is good, and the charges moderate.