THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2897, 9 October 1916, Page 11

THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

DR. GILRUTH'S OPTIMISM. "In spite of a visitation of malaria which we had on account of a large influx of newcomers, and-which we have now ia hand, I am still satisfied that neither soil nor climate bars .its development. by white people," said Dr. Gilruth recently, referring to the Northern Territory, of which he is the Administrator. Dr. Gilruth was as optimistic as ever as to.the future of tho Territory. The freezing works: that, wero being built at Darwin by Ycstey Brothers would be ready about March of next yesr. They would bo one of the largest in tho world. Tho buildings covered fully an acre of ground, and by tho timo the works were finished they would have cost about half a million. Everything

was right up to date. A great effort had been made to get the works ready this year, but various circumstances had prevented this, being done. ' If tho works could have been got going by May it' .woiild have meant that between 30,000 and 40,000 head of cattle would have been treated this year. Next year the cattle-raisers would have an outlet in the Territory itsolf, and this would make all the difference ill the world. Works such as these were of vital necessity. One man on the border of the Territory and Western Australia had started four months ago on a journey of 1500 miles to the Queensland market with 6000 head of cattle, which would only be in store condition when they, arrived. The pastoral industry was progressing. The chief difficulty was the stocking-up of the country. The advent of the freezing works meant that station owners could now improve their properties with the certainty of returns, and consequently they were keeping their female cattle. The rest of Australia, largely as tho result of the drought, liad not a great quantity of- females to export, and tlio Queensland Government would not permit export to another State of the Commonwealth.

"The mining industry is looking up," Dr. Gilruth continued. "Tlio Maranboy tin-Hold is about 20 square miles in extent, and a Government battery has been erected at aTcost of £20,000. Tlitf stone, so far put through, lias averaged about 5 per cent, of tin, wliich is extremely good.. The battery, is working two shifts per day, and it is hoped by next year to keep three shifts going. The present railway bead is 100 miles from the battery, and the cost of haulage is 2s. 9d. *per ton per mile, so that it is not profitable to put the lowor-grado ores through; but when the railway is. finished the battery will be only 40 miles away from. the terminus. Recently I inspected another tin-field (Hayes Creek) only about eight miles from the railway. ' A number of men are there, the Government has just put lip a small battery, and there is every prospect of the field being a successful one. There, are a number of copper and silver-lead shows which are very promising,' and one or two bigger propositions, particularly copper, which tho Government has subsidised, and where the results give every hope that they will develop into bifi nroducers.

"The railway extension tn the Kathorino is progressing slowly, mainly on accojmt of tho difficulties in Getting sleepers ami steel work up to Darwin because of the scarcity, of'shipping. As far as closw-settlement, is .concerned,; a.number of ; nicn are hanging on, but. tho liigh wapes ruling lmvo' temnted somo awav. On tlie Daily River recently a settler produced a nf rice which was sown and reaped in tlic same

way as crops of oats down, sojitli, without any transplanting, oi artificial irrigation. I had samples Sent to'the Java

Government '-"eXlwriniflrifc';'; •tfitiqii ;, r , iinci tho report was that the rice was-equal to aiiythinii; that tliet. produced on irrigated land in that country.' A. couple of tons of tho Northern Territory ricc a'o to be sent south to be treated at the local mills."