CONCERNING QUEENSLAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 10

CONCERNING QUEENSLAND.

: Sir, —With, reference to Mr. . Bennett's views of Queensland as published in your issuo of tho 32th instant, ns a-resident of 30 years in that State I dosire to point out that although, in'tho-main, Mr. Bennett is correct, his' impressions are liable to mislead anyono who has never been thero. For 'instance, when questioned as to tho chances tho country offered settlers, Mr. 'Bennott iriado iio mention, of tho Darling Downs, an arca'of abuut 4000 square miles of the finest farming and sheep fattening land imaginable. This country surrounds Toowoopiba (population 16.000), and 'is 100 miles "from Brisbane (137,000). The average rainfall at Toolvoomba for 20 years is from' 35 to 39 inches per annum, and at any other part of. the Darliiig Downs it is less than 26 inches, and fairly well distributed. iThe climate in the Toowoomba district compares favourably with any other in tho world, the altitude at that ceritrc; being over '1900 feet, and in tho middle of summer tho temperature hardly cvor reaches 9odeg., .more often 87dog. j and that onfy for about three months.., : What - Mr. ■_ Bennott says about the large pastoral holdings is correct, but the country ho refers to .is 600 miles west of Brisbane, connected by rail to Cunnamulla. It must he-remembered that tho. area of Queensland is 078,000 square miles,' bo that there is pltnty <)f land to, choose from._ It is undoubtedly a land of great possibilities, and only Vequires a further 3,000,000 industrious people' to develop the wonderful resources. burning to, the< sale of 16,000 fat sheep me.ntionfed by Mr. Bennett, ii is ijiost probable thai: the -sheep were "off shears" when sold at Ts.j'andjt is the custom when selling large lines to .give delivery on tho station, so that the-, grazier takes no risk or expense iii-'travelling them to tho works. I might alw mention that the countrv in the Warrego district is nearly all leasehold, the rental being anything from ,155.. to £2 per square mile por aniium,. so that the grower is; not under a heavy expense in raising tho deep. —I am, etc., . . 1 , 11. YEATES. Wellington,' March 13, 1909.'