THE PATHFINDER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 11

THE PATHFINDER

DR GILRUTH’S 1200-MILE TRIP

THROUGH NORTHERN TERRI-

TORY

MELBOURNE, January 19.

Tho report of Dr Gilruth, Administrator, on bis first extensive tour in a motor-car through the Northern Territory, lias been published by the External Affairs Department as a bulletin. The route taken was from Pine Creek to the Katherine, thence by the old Elsey station to Newcastle AAaters. Here tho telegrajih line was left. Afterwards he travelled to Borroloola via Anthony's Lagoon, and from Lorroloola returned to Fine Creek by way of Bauhinia Downs, Tanurabermi, Nutwood Downs, Hodgson Downs, and McMinn’s Bar stations. The distance covered was 1200 miles. Though the trip is estimated to be the roughest ever made by a motor in Australia, yet the car passed through the ordeal admirably. Tho country was found to be very badly watered. For five months Kfva Downs station had to bo abandoned, and tho manager had to remove his stock to Toil Springs—l2o miles away—in order to get supplies. Before the plains become a valuable asset, an enormous amount of money will, says tho Administrator, have to be spent on boring. Water in gullies is found in ample quantity between 250 ft and 350 ft depth. The average cost per bore—including engine, beam pump, and making ready to start, is from £I4OO to £ISOO. Ho recommends that a number of bores proposed by Captain Barclay should bo put down this year. A GOOD HARBOUR. At Borroloola Dr Gilruth met Captain Barclay. It is considered by Captain Barclay that there will be no difficulty in making a good harbour on the north side of Ore Pollew Island, nearest the mainland, with easy access by railway and practically no engineering difficulties. Tlris, if found to be substantiated by further investigations, should, in the opinion of tho Administrator, do much towards assisting the settlement of the eastern portion of the territory. With a good harbour, the erection of freezing works would bo warranted.

A visit to tho spot where, in the last forty years, shale has been reported to exist, did not reveal any visible outcrop. Portions of shale have always been found at the northern end of a deep lagoon on McArthur river. A further search is being made for indications.

At all the stations the Administrator was hospitably received. He comments on the Jack of attempts at water conservation. Between Darwin and Edith river, and on to the Daly there is magnificent feed, with hardly a hoof grazing upon it. Within 200 miles, cattle are dying for want of it. If the railway was extended to Katherine, or, better still, to Bitter Springs, traffic in these cattle going north to bo fattened would—if there were freezing works at Darwin—be enormous. HOT SPRINGS.

_ Between Borroloola and the Roper there are several hot, springs. One of them—known to the natives at Ereklni—rushes out of the ground, and forms a largo stream, which travels for about three-quarters of a mile down a rocky gorge. At tho end it forms a waterfall, and leads thence into a huge pool, forty or fifty yards in diameter, fir cm the pool, it tumbles as another waterfall into another gorge, and flows as two streams across the plain. The supply is l permanent and invariable, whether the season is wet or dry. Tho temperature of the water, when the Administrator bathed in it, was almost unbearably hot. He looks to a time when the spring—situated as it is only fifty miles from Borroloola—will become a resort of tourists and invalids.

At present he is not prepared to recommend any particular area as a horse-breeding station. A patch of country widen, however, struck him as favourable was in the vicinity of Top Spring. The report makes a number of recommendations for improving the mail services, and draws attention to the great cost of overland carriage. Motor lorries with solid tyres would, he thinks, bo. invaluable for haulage. THE RAILWAY ROUTE.

Discussing tho railway route, the Administrator expresses the opinion that, after the Katherine is reached the line can go as far as Litter Springs and iidsey Lagoon without difficulty, and with little expense. Between Klsey and Daly Waters there should be a deviation towards Anthony's Lagoon, cutting through the tablelands or downs country, and supplying what he regards as a very fertile area. From that point the railway could gradually return to tho telegraphic route, until it reached it at some point near Alice Springs. Tho importance of the divergence to Anthony's Lagoon is that a branch line could be readily made to Borroloola, Which ho expects to become a valuable port, while another branch could ultimately link up with tho Queensland system via Camooweal. NEW CAPITAL SUGGESTED. An important suggestion in the report is tnat the capital should be renioved from Darwin to a point ‘‘fairly" equi-distant, between the various ports of tho future, such as Victoria river, Adelaide, Alligator, Liverpool, Roper, and McArthur river-mouths. Tho. best site, h© considers, would be about the headwaters of the Roper, in the vicinity of Bitter Springs, where the soil is of excellent quality, and there is a largo and permanent water supply. Tho locality' is practically on tho overland telegraph line, and is almost certain, ho assumes, to bo on the route of the transcontinental railway. MOTOR TRANSPORT. Dr Gilruth becomes enthusiastic on tho subject of motor transport. A light motor lorry should bo employed by the Postal Department on one of its routes, especially during tho long dry season. This year ho hopes to cross tho continent by motor from north to south. If thq experiment should prove successful, the Territory and the postal authorities might, he suggests, combine to establish a through service between Pino Creek and Oodnadatta.