On the Wallaby

- Rice Cultivation - Cairns and He

ay, at I he entrance to Trinity Inlet, it was so named by Captain Cook, who, after a series of extraordinary hardships, put in here on Trinity S

1877, but for many years was put to no practical use. Now the entrance has been carefully dredged, and vessels, drawing even as much as twenty-four feet of wate

ocean by the Great Barrier Reef which lies about twelve miles out. Immediately opposite the bay, the reef has an

irable naval depot, the inlet alone being capable of containing the entire Australian squadron at one and the same time. I recomme

s where Cairns now stands, but before they had been there very long, news came to them of the discovery of a river running into the sea, about two miles north of Trinity Inlet. On going to ascertain the truth of this statement for themselves they found a river navigable for over ten miles, winding its way across a beautiful alluvial plain covered with dense tropical vegetation, such as tree-ferns, areca palms, fan palms, wild nutmegs, native india

ving town, boasting no less than fourteen public-houses (a sure sign of a Queensland township's prosperity), and a score of large business premises. In 1879, however, an easier track over the Ranges was discovered from another point twenty miles to the northward (now

ap Wah' Companies were the first to start in that neighbourhood; while the whole of the magnificent plain on the banks of the Barron River, stretching from the ranges to the sea for about ten miles, and from the town of Cairns northward for fifteen, wa

assert itself. Town allotments were pegged out and boomed. Speculation in land followed, with the resu

e, prodigal of gifts, helped her. The Northcote Antimony, the Herberton Tin, the Muldiva Silver mines, the Ethe

uperior, in the whole railway-making world. Already it creeps over the Ranges towards Herberton. Eventually it will take in the various fields mentioned above, cross the base of the Peninsula, and penetrate even to the distant shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. About fifty miles are at present completed. The second sectio

t twilight, when the weird gullies are filling with the shadows of approaching night, Hambledon is a sight to remember for ever. But these hills have another charm apart from their scenic beauty, they protect the young cane from biting winds, and condense into needful rain the clouds that linger on them. Perhaps as a result, two bewitching waterfalls exist near by, and I

o a neat little wharf on Trinity Inlet, where vessels of the deepest draught can load in comfort. It must

cauville railway for carrying the cane into the works. It is calculated that this mill can turn out ten to

rs' shops, etc., presents the appearance of a small township. The owner's residence is situated on the top of a knoll, commanding a lovely view of Trinity Harbour and the town of Cairns, with the In

toes, and tea, besides as much fruit as they have room or inclination for. When they are sick a doctor is paid to attend them. They are found in clothes, and have an excellent school, where a properly qualified teacher instructs them in the three E's. Some of

be true - that the majority of the boys themselves prefer plantation life in Queensland to life in their own proper island homes. This is evidenced by the number of time-expired boys who sign for a second or even a third term. And pray, how does this read against t

little about his work, he can command a much higher wage, sometimes as much as 10l., and not unfrequently more. And out of that they manage to save, for they are, as a rule, a thrifty people. In one district alone, of 3,000 Kanakas, something like seven hundred

g boat, 5l. as return passage money, 3l. Government capitation fee, and 1l. hospital capi

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lot of the Kanaka in Queensland is not quite t

f cane. In 1891, 1,180 tons from 943? acres, and in 1892, 1,465 tons from 950 acres. 1889 and 1890 were bad seasons, when the cane was much i

the end of June to the end of December - a time of

e soil is a rich chocolate loam, and is easily ploughed by teams of two horses

g beside it. It is in every way an ideal spot for a plantation, possessing as it does natural drainage, natural irrigation, the railway, and a soil not to be surpassed in Queensland, over 10 feet deep of black alluvial loam, composed mostly of decayed veg

g colonist, is an exceedingly able agriculturist, a profound thinker, and a d

by white men. His stories of the first settlement of his land are most interesting. At the outset he leased a portion of it to Chinamen, each party taking at a moderate figure, on an average, ten acres. The Celestials, wit

over 700 bunches an acre can be obtained yearly, a fair idea may be gained of the revenue to be derived the

the Queensland rice industry. I submit an extract from the 'Cair

CUL

HERN QU

n the last twelve months over 2,000 acres of virgin scrub along the Barron River, and only five miles from Cairns wharves, were cleared and planted, of which over 500 acres are situated in the fine large estate, Caravonica Park, owned by Mr. Thomatis, who both in the old country and in Queensland has always taken great interest in agriculture and in technology. This large tract of rich land, which had hitherto been lying idle, now became rich in orchards and gave employment to several hundreds of people, circulated money and wages, and created general wealth. A large steam mill was erected at Cairns, and i

nd protect our rice-growers, as has been done in Queensland, against the rice grown in China. From statistics we gather that Queensland consumed nearly 5,000 tons of rice yearly, imported from China, which demand the Cairns farmers will entirely supply. A gentleman who knows much of rice culture in America and North Italy states that the seed should be sown just before the ear is expected to fall. In a fortnight it will germinate, and then for two months it can live and prosper best under water, thus turning into some useful purpose the heavy f

undred leases, each of which possesses a comfortable homestead. OS the same ground, three crops yearly may be obtained: rice, early in December, ri

ing his estate with Europeans on the Metayer system. A large number of

ifths to the latter, of all crops, after deducting the necessary seed for the next sowing. By this system, Mr. Thomatis hopes the country will gradually become populated with that Utopian class - a happy, independent, thank

bright, sunny days, with heavy rain at night. During this period, refreshing breezes blow almost continuously. In the fine weather the climate is simply a Paradise, deliciously cool nights and mornings, bright sunny days occasionally interspersed with shower

r asthma, and the mango, paw-paw, and ginger for dyspepsia. In November and December the weather becomes too warm and oppressive for comfort, except to those inured to it by long residence. Once acclimat

with its lovely glimpses of the sea and of the heights of Cape Grafton rising to the right, we make for

ourney is not behind it in point of completeness. A powerful engine, well-built carriages, perfect brakes (and th

whose different growths lie pleasantly basking in the warm sunshine of the tropical morning. Now and again we catch glimpses of the Barron River, flashing its way across the plain to the blue sea beyond. But we have small attention for such trivial things. We are too much occupied watching t

we reach the famous second section

seemingly impossible to possible. The growth on every side is marvellous: gigantic staghorns, and orchids of every shape and hue, gorgeous creepers, yellow hibiscus, wild bananas, paw-paw apples, granadillas, mix with palms of all varieties, many as much as 60 feet high (their graceful fronds gently swaying i

danger is not yet over. Sometimes we seem suspended in mid-air over yawning gulfs a thousand feet or more in depth, at the bottom of which, like a silver streak, flashes the ever-present Barron River. Looking down, an almost irresistible desire to hurl one's self from the window seizes one. A

s. Then, as before, we dash on from loveliness to loveliness; till, more than satisfied, we come to a halt at the cleari

on, at the small hostelry on the hillside, the stage coach, drawn by five panting horses, puts in an appearance, and pulls up at. the door,

the deep boom of the mighty waters being ever present in our ears. Then, suddenly, without warning, we step from the undergrowth into a full view of the Barron Fal

mortal man can conceive, a precipice of solid rock a thousand feet or more in height. Then fancy that fall of water crashing with the roar of a mighty ocean - a roar that can be heard many miles away - deep down, down, down into a seething, boiling cauldron of whitest foam, lying small as a half-crown in the great abyss below, out of which rises continually a

pal mist. For some unknown reason tears rise in our eyes. We have seen enough; we are satiated with lovelines