A FAT LAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1690, 5 March 1913, Page 3

A FAT LAND.

AUSTRALIA'S WONDERFUL NORTH. . . WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY. REPORT BY A WELLINGTON CITIZEN. ~ ADVICE TO A WELSH COLONY. In Saturday's Dominion vras published an' interview with Mr. Eobt. Williams (late Customs expert in Wellington), who not long ago returned from a visit to the Northern Territory of Australia to leport, voluntarily, on that country as a place of settlement for the AVolsh Colony of Patagonia, who strongly desire to change their habitat. Mr. Williams is so much impressed with the possibilities of the territory that he intends settling there himself and has already resigned from the Government Service.

The following are a few of the extracts from Mr. Williams's report:— "During the brief time at my disposal I traversed as much of the country as possible and gathered all available information from both private and official sources. The result of deductions, from these data and froni my own observation is that I am able to strongly recommend the Korthern Territory as a place for settlement for the Welsh Patagonians, and indeed for any British .subjects desiring to enter into agricultural or pastoral pursuits under exceptionally favourable climatio and other'conditions. • I can fully endorse all thnt lias been said about its being 'a white man's country,' and am confident that the future will justify the present policy of a .white Australia. In considering the climate of this Northern Territory two main points must l:s born in mind—firstly its vast extent (over 333,000,000 acres) and consequent great'variation in temperature and rainfall. Secondly, that the northern half of the territory lies well within the monsoon belt, and has therefore an abundant and regular roinfali, and is never subject to drought as are other States of the. Commonwealth lying south of this belt. Even tho southern portion is by no means waterless, as mav bo seen by reference to the reports of the Tanami gold field (in latitudo 20), and of various scientific and mining expeditions that have traversed the so-called 'desert-heart' of Australia. While in the northern, or monsoon, regions, tho whole country, thousands of square miles in area, is most bountifully watered. Broad rivers flow east, north, and west. Great Rivers. Roper, for instance, Is navigable for a distance'of 100 miles from its mouth for vessels drawing 13ffc. Gin.; the Daly for 50_ miles; tho Adelaide for 70 miles; tho Victoria, Abgerton, and M'Artlnir, and several others might similarly be mentioned. On the great grass plains drained by these rivers are innumerable permanent, water-holes and lagoons, some of great size and beauty.,, The most striking feature of the monsoon region of the territory is the regular alternating of (he wet and dry seasons. From November to March rain falls in heavy tropical showers, producing luxurious tropical growth, a wealth of vegetation everywhere. From Apjil to October never a drop of rain falls, but the moisture in the ground, together with the heavy dews, is ample to produce what may be termed the crop of a temperate zone, differing greatly in character and quality from 'tho* crop of the tropical .(.wet) season. This means that the same plot of ground produces two harvests a year. Needless to say the possibilities of agriculture under such conditions ore not yet understood, and there, is room for 1 many inleresvincr and profitable lines of experiment and research. It cannot, be doubted that a great future awaits this portion of the Continent of Australia. Nature is lavish and prolific, to an Ainafeirig degree! On the rich river flats of the north, th'ousautls of buffalo ronni in grass from three b six feet high. On the drier ridges one meets .-Iroves of kangaroo. livery pond and lagoon is tho homo of uuuunerablo water-fowl mid fisli. Tho open torests through which one may drive without further road-innking than easing the slope in an occasional creek b"d is a sportsman's paradise, where quail, pigeon, fowi, and turkey, abound. Wild life of every kind thrives on the luxuriant vegetation,' so that there is a rever-failing food supply, both vegetable and animal. Adelaide to Darwin. "Owing to its geographical position, Darwin is tho natural point of contact between Australia and the rest of the world. It is to be hoped that the agreement already entered, into with South Australiawill be'adhered to, and that no consideration, political 'or otherwise, will be allowed to deflect the direct bisecting line of the Continent from Adelaide to Darwin. Were this (railway) line open, giving access to the splendid country oi' the M'Donuell Ranges and the healthful uplands of Central Australia, bringing Darwin within three days, of Adelaide, there would bo no problem of the empty north facing tho Commonwealth Parliament. I The people from the south, as far as New Zealand even, would swarm over the wholo of the Territory like locusts. \So far the agricultural and pastoral developments of tho Territory havo been mainly confined. to the establishment of cattle stations, from which stock have had to be driven hundreds of miles to the nearest market, and to various 'experiments in agriculture, mostly on unsound lines, and under conditions which could only lead to certain failure. A New Era. "But with the beginning of the year 1912 \ tho Territory entered upon a new era. In frfll the Federal Government secured tho services of Mr. W. S. Campbell, ex-Director of Agriculture for New South Wales, to report upon the northern half of the Territory, and advise them. During the same year a scientific expedition was appointed to visit the Territory, and report on conditions and possibilities there. This expedition consisted of Ptof. Baldwin Spencer (anthropology and ethnology), Dr. J. A. Gilruth (Professor of Veterinary Pathology in the University of Melbourne), Dr. Wootnough (geology), and Dr. A. Breine (Director of the Australian Institute of Tropical Diseases). Early in 11)12 Dr. Gilruth was made Administrator of the Territory; two of the four experiment farms recommended by Mr. W. S. Campbell were established,* one on tho railway GO miles from Darwin, and the other on the Daly River; and a system of perpetual leases was adopted, calculated to encourage settleriient bv genuine farmers and home-makers, wtiero befora the country was largely in the hands of the absentee landlord. These perpetual leases are granted in . the case of pastoral lands, according to the class of land of maximum areas of 300, 600, or 1500 square miles; in tho caso of mixed farming and grazing lands, according to class of 12.500 or 38,400 acres; in tho caso of cultivation farms according to class of'maximum areas of 1280 acres or 2500 acres. Conditions requiring fencing and other improvements are inscribed in the leases. No rent will be payable for the mixed or cultivation farms for ten years, while 5000 pioneering leases will bo granted in different parts of the territory, and under these no lent will be payable during the life of tho lesseo or for 21 yoars, whichever is the longer. In the case of town or suburban lands, provision is made for rc-valuation every M years; in the caso of pastoral and. agricultural leases, tho revision of rental will bo made every 21 years. Personal Observations. "Early in- September last I arrived in Darwin in order to be able to furnish from personal observation this report to the Welsh settlers in Patagonia, who aro contemplating emigration in large numbers, to some place under the British Cnlwn offering better conditions and more congenial environment than their present situation all'onls. I visited the two Government. experiment, farms mentioned, tlv? Bachelor, some (ill miles along the railivav from Darwin, and tho Daly, or I he Daly niver, which is approached either overland or by sea. I made the journey from Darwin 'to the Daly Farm by rail to Brooks's Creek Ifoj), th«noc V.jbuggy over Nature's roads ("0 rauos). I no .railway piasw through th« poowrt.

laiul that I saw (hor,;, but n fo\v miles from Brooks's Creek one leaves this inetaliferons . belt.. and strikes into open forest lands sparsely timbered, very lew of the trees reaching a diameter exceeding twelve inches. I found the tract in excel lent condition, and though September is the sixth month of the dry season, there was ail nlmndanee of water ill the creeks and billabongs, and plenty of grass for (he horses wherever we chose to camn. Thoro are a few patches of splendid land without any Umber on them, ami exteneivo areas of equal value, some of which present' the appearance of enormous English park*-, and others of deserted orchards. Taken altogether, there fs a very small percentage of p-jor land in the whole 70 miles, and that occurs ill tile form of dry, sandy ridges, providing camping ground for stock in the season when, much of this country is water-logged. The sour-looking patches ore very lew, and there are no peat swamps to'be seen. It must be understood that I am describing the land in its virgin condition, that there is neither road nor drain anywhere. . . .

I had on this trip from Darwin to the Daly my first introduction to that teeming wild life which is so characteristic a feature of the territory. Buffalo are fairly numerous in the district, kangaroo and wallaby abound. Doves, pigeons, quail, ducks, geese, and many other, species unknown to me were constantly in evidence, and occasionally turkeys and native companions. Of grebes olid cranes I sawmany, and, indeed, one is never out of the company of living creatures of some kind. This journey from Brooks's Creek to the Daly Farm was completed in three and a half days. The sun was very hot by day, but the nights were cool, and really bracing after midnight', blankets being a necessity before the dawn. As mightjx; oxpected, considering we camped in the" shadiest spots beside watorholes, niosqv.itoas were exceedingly and I found if nccassary to retreat within my net at sundown, "and remain there until sunrise."

A Source of' Wonder. After quoting Mr. Campbell's report' of the farm, Mr. Williams says: —"On the second day of my arrival at the Daly, I visited tile farms of Messrs. Thomas and liohorts, who on a very small capital and tho hard work of some three years have cleared 10 acres of jungle land, built two excellent houses, and grown some very fine tobacco, maize, and sugar-cane. Samples of tobacco and maize that I brought away with me from thsir farm have been a source of wonder to many, when they are told that they are in both cases a. second crop, tho uiai/.e having actually never received a drop of rain since it came through the ground. Maize and tobacco are their principal crops, but the sugar-cane is doing remarkably well, affording a very high saccharine test. Messrs. Thomas and Kobc-rts have great faith in sugar-cane growing. Bananas <lo well on the farms; paw-paws exceptionally so, bearing at eight months, and needing no cultivation. This is a most valuable product, boing a most excellent vegetable, resembling a pumpkin in its green (unripe) stage, and a delicious and wholesome fruit when ripe. Grenadillos (a giantpassion fruit) do remarkably well. Fowls, liorsss, pigs, and goats do well, the lastnamed often giving birth to triplets. While at the Daly River I met Mr. John C. Palmer, Inspector of Leases, an old Otago (N.Z.) farmer, who had 'just returned from an exploring expedition for GO miles up the Daly Hiver, from tho farm and then acroos 'the river 'and south towards Anson Bay. 110 had many incidents of great interest to report cancerning _ tho rich plains on both sides of tho river. One I may specially mention was the find-, ing of hot springs and a lako of splendid hot water. His account of the country on tho south side of the river was' most glowing. He. saw thousands of. acres of rich meadow lands, and large and exceptionally fertile tracts requiring only drainage of a simple and inexpensive nature to make them available for agriculture. In the neighbourhood of Table Mountain ' lie passed through thousands of acres of open plain knee dec-pjn sweetlooldng native fsscuo—enough if cut and preserved in tho proper Mason to supply the whole territory with hay and ensilage. In his'opinion there is no better land in any other part of Australia. Among the Alligators. "On Saiurday, September 21, I left Darwin again jne oi a party ct iis, for the Adelaide Kiver by liie launch Don. \Ve landed on tlitf "Weolmer .\adve lieserve, at what is known locally as Council i! Limning, on u.i unnamt.a mangrove creek, swarming with atiigators, distant about 11) miles lruin the mouth of the Adelaide River. Mr. Council, the buffalo hunter, was to meet us hero with horses. W'e camped in an opening in the mangroves, and consequently the mosquitoes were troublesome. .W'e had difficulty in finding the channel leading into • this creek, anil were stranded on tho mud tor a time. Tho presence of a large alligator basking on a sand-spit near-by tempted the bulk of our party to tako the dinghy and go sporting. They fired their two .wneiioti.'is lino the :,aurm, who took to the water. Meanwhile our crew (one Chinaman) had gone overboard from the launch with the anchor in his arms to look for the channcl. He had only, just got safely on board again when a shark, some eight feet long, jumped clean out of the water within ten feet of the boat. In all probability lie was beating a retreat from'the angry alligator. After hauling in the loose cable, tho old Chinaman,' quite undisturbed by the fear cf either shark or crocodile, re-entered tho water to carry tho /anchor further on, which lie did 'successfully. As he was drawing his legs into the launch again there was a moment of great excitement; for the movement of the water and the 'swish' of a big tail within a boat-hook's length told how narrow the escape had been. On the Adelaide. "The soil oil the Adelaide flats is a rich deep black loam for the most part,, with here and there tongues of lighter sandy soil, carrying pandannus palms, etc. There occur, also, patches of 'jungle soil,' which seems, to Ijo black soil, plus tho vegetable deposit and leaf mould of ages. It is the richest of soils, and t_he most tractable, being always in a friaClo condition whether ivet or dry. Tho belts of timber are found largely on a poorer siil, a soapy blue clay, which bakes und hardens in> tho dry season. "Unless one is accustomed td a large country containing great distances, it is impossible to form any idea oi the vast extent of the grassy plains of Northern Australia. Round this Adelaide, River, for instance, there are hundreds of square miles jising only a few feet above tho river bank, broken by one lonely spur, the Beatrice Hills, which rise to a height of some 200 ft. What thesE. plains can produce in the future is indicated by tho splendid condition of tho buffalo which at present roam over the country in hundreds. The grass, where it has not been burnt off, is three to four feet in height, occasionally it reaches six feet in height. Burning off was a custom of tho natives before the advent of the white man, who has continued the practice, for it renders travelling over the country easier, and also provides fresh and nutritious horse feed."

Tho report (the foregoing are only a few extracts) concludes in the following words:—

"In concluding this report I cannot emphasise too strongly the immense advantages and opportunities which this country is now ottering to those such as yourselves, who aro seeking to live by agricultural .and pastoral pursuits under'exceptionally good climatic and other conditions. I feel that I. would be wanting ill duty and patriotism if I did not urge you with all my might to abandon your inhospitable home under an alien flag and lose no time in availing yourself of the wonderful offer now before you. Never in the whole history of British colonisation have such inducements been held out to the white settler. Australia noeds to people her vast spaces of the north. Her need is your opportunity!" \ .