A HOLIDAY TRIP TO AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 17

A HOLIDAY TRIP TO AUSTRALIA.

[By Our Travelling Contributor J Hearing that Mr E. K. Simpson, the well-known Eangitikei settler, had not long ago returned from a tour through a portion of Australia, I asked him to let me have a short chat with him about what he noticed concerning the rural districts over there, knowing that information of that kind is always appreciated by our local farmers. In answer to my query, he said the finest country he had seen in his travels was in the Eiveriha district, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee. This he described as being soil of magnificent quality. “And what about its climate ?”

“Ah, that’s jusj: it- If it had a climate like New Zealand there would not be a country in the world like it. At least, that is my firm conviotion.” “ How is it held ?”

“ Mostly in selectors’ blocks of large areas, perhaps running back a distanoe of 20 miles from the river.”

“ What kind of grasses are there ?” “ Principally a natuial grass, known as barley grass ; there is also prairie grass and a species of wild oats. When the weather has been favourable—that is, moist —the growth and verdure are something marvellous. No one would believe the extraordinary growth unless they had actually seen it.” “ Is it a level country ?”

“As level as the sea for miles upon miles. It is a beautiful sight when driving l over it.”

“ But they have severe droughts ?” “ Yes, that is the trouble; and then, of course, sheep die in thousands. I was speaking to a settler, asking him how he had come off. * Oh,’ said he, ‘ better than some of my neighbours. 1 suppose my total loss last drought would be only about 60,000 sheep,’ and he appeared to think he had come off very lucky indeed, as some of his neighbours had lost a much larger number.

“Is there no possible means of keeping the sheep alive ? ”

“When I tell you that they become so ravenous that they will devour even dried rabbit-skins, it will give you some idea of the condition that they are reduced to in a period of drought. A labouring man told me that when he threw away the piece of newspaper in which his dinner had been wrapped, the shearing sheep would forthwith consume it. It must be a dreadful gcene during a prolonged drought, but immediately the rain-fall sets in, the growth comes away, amazingly. I was told by a gentleman that he put in a large

flock of sheep—some thousands—overnight ; i into a paddock covered with natural grass,f and in the morning he found them all about the gate through which he [had put them, with the standing grass rising like a wall beyond where they had been grazing .” “And are there no English or foreign ( grasses there ?” “ I was staying with a gentleman who had. t been in the colony for some 32 years, and. would you believe me, he had never event heard of cocksfoot. He actually asked me--1 how the first syllable was spelt, cox or 1 cocks! That is a fact. They appear quite 1 satisfied with the natural grasses indi- [ genous to the soil, on which (when they , have a good season) stock thrive amazingly. They reckon that one good season pays . well for two or three bad ones, so you may i imagine what fortunes they would make » were every season a good one.” ■ “ I incidentally heard that you were \ nearly investing f across the water.’ Was there any truth in the rumour ?” | “Well, I happened to hear of what I . thought might have proved a capital inj vestment, and I think it is just possible that had I known of it in time to come > across to New Zealand and form a small t j syndicate among some of my own personal } friends, I might perhaps have gone in for ' it. It was a run in Western' Australia comprising a leasehold of some eleven ; hundred thousand acres (1,100,000) , larger than all the country of Bangitikei , under existing boundaries. It carried , 8000 head of cattle and nearly 300 horses. i The lease was for 21 years, rental half-a----f crown a thousand acres. Well, finally it 1 went to auction and realised the sum of 1 £5400. In other words, the cattle were \ sold for less than £1 a head, all the l horses were thrown in, as well as the i goodwill of tl\e lease. I certainly thought > it good enough, and, as I told you just l now, had I had the time to arrange matters I think I should have risked it 1 without any serious misgivings.” > “ Would you have continued to keep cattle ' on it ?” f , \ “No, I think I should have gone in for sheep. OL course the difficulty would i have been to have get rid of so large a ) number of cattle, owing to the existing • stringent laws in force in thb adjacent i colonies owing to the prevalence of the tick i plague.” ! “ Did you see anything of that evil ?” ■ “ No, not in any place where I have been in Australia, though I heard plenty about its ravages.” “ Did you meet any who had done well. ; in Australia in pastoral pursuits ? ” “ Yes. I was-staying for a time with a gentleman who told me a good deal of his previous career. He had worked very hard for years, and for a long time he did not know what would be the result of his labour. Sometimes it looked as if it would come out all right, and'at others as if he would have to “go under/* However, ha held on and struggled manfully’, aud now he considers he has “ turned the corner.’*' His last dip was represented by 400 C bales; of wool, worth net £U a bale. He intended* appointing a manager, as he was somewhat; i wearied of the long period of harassing* ; anxiety and bard work " “Do they grow good wheat in the. Riverina?” “ When the season is favourable they dov But the growers are handioapped through the prohibitive tariff on all grain, supplies or stock going into protectionist Victoria. I am not exactly sure how they manage things, but I know it does not pay on account of the tariff to send the wheat into Victoria. But I think it is sent through Viotoria to Adelaide, where it is ground, and then returned to Victoria in the form of flour. Some peculiarity in the tariff is thus turned to account, but it seems quite an unnecessary oarriage and handling.” “ Where are these duties imposed ?’* “At Albury, on the border. Every kind of commodity or stock is taxed, For instance, sheep, even lambs, are charged 2s each. Wethers that may be worth from 5s to 6s there will have cost by the time they reach Melbourne about double that amount. Of course, they have to be driven ‘ a long distance. As I remarked just now, if Riverina had our New Zealand climate, it would he a marvellous country. Even, as it is, where irrigation has been used, the growth and rank verdure, even in the,. dry season, is something amazing, astonishing fertility is the soil. I should be surprised to know that there was soil equal to ic in quality anywhere else in Australia.” f } “®° they ripen the grain in harvest; time.” ' ... “ Oh, yes, but a large quantity is mada into chaff.” “ Yes, but I mean wheat ?” , “They make large quantities of wheat into chaff, and horses do remarkably well on it. It- was rather a surprise to me. In the cities, I visited several corn stores, and I found scarcely anything but wheat chaff. It is cut a little before it gets ripe, and makes nice, clean, wholesome, nourishing provender. Of course it would not pay to oonvert wheat in this country into chaff, while the grain is at its present market price. But across the water wheat chaff appears to be the principal provender of the kind sold, and all who have used it speak well of it. In appearance it is nicer than oaten chaff, and quite as well relished by horses.”

I suppose you had a very enjoyable

“ We all enjoyed ourselves exceedingly, and visited a good many places. In fact we made the most of our time.”

“ Would you like to reside there, Mr Simpson ? ” “ Well, I don’t know about that. Melbourne is a wonderful place; but I prefer Sydney very much. Its harbour and surroundings are beautiful. I don’t wonder that people become attached to it.” “I suppose you were glad to return to New Zealand ? ’’

“ Yes, but not to lose over 2000 acres of grass in one area by fire, besides other losses of a similar oharacter. However it might be worse, Good-bye.” ’