AUSTRALIA'S BACK DOOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2185, 14 September 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

AUSTRALIA'S BACK DOOR.

THE PASTORAL INDUSTRY IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY. MERINOS IN THE TROPICS. "WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES OF IMMENSE AREAS. (Dnlgoty’s Roviow.) During tho recont months tliero has heoli a decided quickening of interest in tho Northern Territory. A short timo back this vast northern province was a terra incognita to 95 per cent, of Australians. Most people knew absolutely nothing about it. Since Lord Northeoto’s visit to Port Darwin, however, all oyos have been turned in that direction. Tho GovernorGoneral’s tour was no ordinary gubernatorial trip. To somo extent it. was an official visit to the citizens ot that State, soon, somo hoj)o, to bo taken over by tlio Commonwealth. But the number of parliamentarians and journalists in tho vice-regal party seemed to indicate that an earnest effort 1 is to be made to solve the question—“ What shall wo do with our north;” No greater problem than this can occupy tlio attention of Australian statesmen. Beside it, all other questions sink into insiguificanco. The very existence of tho Commonwealth, it is asserted, depends on its answer. The Northern Territory is a far larger place than most people imagineIts area is not less than 523,600 square miles. It extends from tho Queensland border to "West Australia, and from tlio Arafura Sea down past tlio Tropic of Capricorn. It has five largo navigable rivers, the names even of which were up to a. month ago unknown to 99 per cont of Australians. It has jungles as impenetrable as those of Ceylon. Its waters abound with,alligators and crocodiles; buffaloes inhabit its forests; and 20,000 wild natives add to the risks of pioneer life. The events which led up to tho South Australian Government being granted provisional juriiliction over the territory make interesting reading. Tho record of Adelaido ailminstration from 1861 till now is a long record of heroic efforts anil dismal failures. For several years the population hus been steadily declining; now only 3300 persons (exclusive of aboriginals) inhabit the

land. Of these, 1100 only aro whites, including women and children. A study of tho finances reveals an annual deficit and a debt of nearly three million sterling. If the Commonwealth Parliament decides to take over the Territory it will no doubt endeavour to stop tho retrograde movemnet, and transform this decaying State into a land where the primary producer, the artisan, and merchants shall dwell in content, reaping a fair reward for services rendered to the community. The Northern Territory can only proper if the primary industries are sound. Every item on last year’s list of exports with ono insignificant exception showed a decline. This should not be. If new energy is to be infused into the producing interests, there are four distinct avenues open—agriculture, mining, marine pursuits anil grazing, all offer a fair reward for labor expended. It would take too much space to devote attention to each of these, but a few facts, therefore, relative to the pastoral industry should not bo inopportune. The Territ-oit has 400,000 square miles of country suitable for grazing purposes.

Tho northern half is well watered by permanent waterways. Into the Gulf of Carpentaria flow the Roper, and the McArthur; to northward run the Goyder, tho Alligator and the Adelaide. The last named i.s a magnificent river, navigable for 80 miles inland for big steamers. Westward, towards Cambridge Gulf, flow the Daly and the Victoria. The latter is the finest river in the Territory. West, the geologist to Gregory’s expedition writes: “In no part of the

world have I seen such luxuriant grasses.” Captain Carrington said that “as a commercial highway the Victoria was superior to tho Thames, the Mersey and the Hoogly.” This one river is tlic natural outlot for 57 million acres of agricultural and pastoral land. So far as tlio rainiall is concerned, the samo conditions exist as in all tlic States. The further from the coasr, tho less tlio rainfall. Port Darwin gets 62 inches, Charlotte Waters only 6. In the south tlio country Is well adapted for grazing, though droughts are always to bo expected. In tho coastal country it is too moist and tlio grass too rank for cattle-raising. Paddocks were recently seen with feed six and eight feet high, yet the horses were very poor. Further inland, however, the country is admirable for grazing. Tho grasses includo Mitchell, Landsborougji, Flinders, bluegrass, barley-grass, and many other, well-known, grasses. It was the rich pasture lands that first attracted the pioneer squatters to the north. At the present time thoro are about 300,000 head of cattle in the Territory. Since 1901 tho pastoralists have exported 120,000 head, 'valued at about £600,000. Yot the increase has been so satisfactory that the number of cattle in tho Territory now is greater than’ in 1901. Cattle-raising must eventually he a big factor in building up the north. Millions of acres of good country arc lying idle. It must soon bo taken up, and then the herds will he numbered by millions.

there are 60,000 sheep in the Northern Territory. It seems strange that the merino should flourish in the tropics, but the following statement, by Mr. J. Costello, given before the Northern Territory Royal Commission, is sufficiently convincing: “There is a large area of country from Newcastle Waters to the Queensland border at Camooweal. This magnificent belt of country, known as the Tableland, may be said to be the cream of the pastoral lands of the Territory. I have travelled over most of the sheep-raising country in Queensland, and can safely say that in no part of that colony have I seen country hotter

adapted to woolgrowing than this splendid Tableland.” When one gets a mutton chop in tho north, however, he is very probably eatiim goat. There are 12,000 goats in the country, and they are good doers. The wethers weigh as much as 80 or 901 b., and are very fair eating. But the flocks in the Tableland must- continue to increase till the wool exports become an important item in the trade of the Territory. 11l the coastal districts along the big rivers the horses suffer greatly from the attacks of mosquitoes and other insect pests. Round Palmerston tho niggers light fires and pile on grass and herbago to produco a good volume of smoke. The poor!

horses thrust their heads right into tho firo to escape—the stings of tho insects. But in tho interior tho, dryor climato suits tho horsobreeder, .and several stations aro increasing their mobs. Given average seasons tho Territorial! horsobroedor must do exceedingly well, and ovontunlly secure almost a monopoly of tho Indian market.

Buffalo hunting has its commercial side as well as its attractions for tho sportsman. Thousands of hides havo boon oxportod, and tho industry should be a permanency if tlio animals aro not ruthlessly- slaughtered. Tlio chief items in last year’s list of exports undor tho hooding pastoral are-

21,366 head oattlo, valued at £107,877. 378 hood horses, valued at £4,3G4. Skins and horns, valued at £1,150. Buffaloes, hides, etc., valued at. £l,500. so tho industry is worth something near £120,000 per annum. Notwithstanding tho enormous area of pastoral lands in tho Territory, only 160,000 square miles are held .under leaso or permit. Of this, only 112,000 square miles are declared stocked.

Squatting the north is no child s play. The graziers have to face many difficulties. While the coastal country is well watered, tho country inland is not so kindly treated. Dry spells* aro always to be expected. At present the understocked state of the country prevents serious loss. The chief trouble during droughts, is caused by tho stock routes being roudered useless. Tho creeks dry up, and tho stages from water to water aro too long. In an ordinary dry season tho only available route for stock is towards Wyndhum. Ticks aro not so dangerous as wo used to think; the losses from this source aro not serious. Tlio natives, of course, aro troublesome. Hundreds of blacks can bo found in the gaols from Roebourno to I’nlmfellow they continue to kill and eat. Now tho squatter will always give a beast to tlio natives that visit tho station. Evon if they killed a bullock whenever they needed meat tlioro would bo little harm done, but fired with the lust of killing, the blacks will often kill numbers of beasts and cut their tongues out,, and leave tho rest of tho beast to rot. Tlio stockmen resent this; collisions are frequent; whites are speared; erst-on who havo been incarcerated for spearing cattle. It is a vexed question whether tho white or the black is more to blame for the cattlespearing trouble. In tlio early days the niggers with their primitive, ideas of morality saw bullocks where they used to see kangaroos; they speared the beasts and found that tho flesh was good; but since they learned that the cattle belonged to tlie wliiteniggers are shot. The drovers say that in the early days they" could come overland with cattle and not trouble about tho natives, but now they harass the drover and spear his cattle whenever they got • a chance. This may bo in retaliation for the injuries inflicted upon them by other whites. There is no doubt that the black is always treacherous;

it is undeniably true that the white, is occasionally vindictive. Bo that as it may, the Territorian grazier for years to come must reckon with tho niggers.

Beside droughts, and ticks and niggers, the cattle-duffers are a source of loss to the squatter. A loading Kimberley grazier recontly said: “White, blackguards did more harm than black ones.” It is on record that a certain man took up land, and without buying a single hoof exported 500 head in six months. This is pretty strong, even in a country so wild and sparsely populated. Many men have taken up land, and yet have not the slightest intention of legitimate stocking. The Territorians hail .the proposed trans-continental railway as the summum . honum. They believe it will cure all the .ills that the Territory is liqir to. It;,wouldundoubtedly, open up. a largo tract of grazing. country at present unoccupied and reduce the price of transport, besides giving the pioneers communication with the outer world. Now they get their mails thrice, a year or so. With reference to tho railway, it seems hardly likely that a line will .be constructed to run right-, through, tho centre of tlio eontine,ut. A far better route, it is considered, would he that via Camooiveal, through south-western Queensland, and north-western Now South Wales. This lino would connect with , all the important Queensland ports, and with Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide..

The chief question to be solved by the grazier is, Where shall I find a market?”

At present the drovers do wonderful journeys overland. They go south to Adelaide, east to Queensland, south-east to New South Wales, and west to Wyndham. In drought time the threo first mentioned routes are barred. Drovers that have oomo in an ordinary dry season have suffered severe losses. When the closerin stations have stocked up, the Territoriaii will have to look elsewhere for a market. He will not: be able to afford a big percentage of losses. Then, when the northern herds have been increased to. millions, the south will only be able to take a small part ol the northern surplus. It. is not given to many to think in centuries, but. one thing is certain—Singapore is destined to be the terminus of a great trans-Asian railway; Palmerston seems equally sure to be tlio Singapore of Australia. One dare not. hazard a guess of the importance of Port Darwin 50 years hence. It must bo the port for an enormous area of grazing country. Factories for canning and freezing must be established. It must be the naval base for the North Australian-squad-lou. Tlic teeming millions of Asia are "ght at- hand; here must undoubtJ'flly be a good market for Australian >'eef and wool.