The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-06
IN THB land OF PLENTY.
[Conlinued frcm Fir.l Paqe.l

IlN I'LL lAND Ut flENll
CONTINUED from First Pagel
The drivers handled the reins and drov,
at a more rapid rate than | ever dreameC
horses could travel with safety. w
came down the mountain, some fifteel
miles, in one hour, all the party greatly
exhilerated by the rapid drive and beau
tiiul scenery. The ladies here have rosy
con- plexions and are well formed, espe
cially the Tasmanian ladies'. have
had good opportunity to see many
thousands ut the Exhibition at Mel
bourne, and it is the exception to see {
thin, sallOw.looking lady. The men are
stout and strong, and seem never tc
have known what II is to be sick.
There is great amount OF tea used in
the colonies. Among the ladies latter.
noon tea drinking" Is the custom in al
most every household. / may safely say
that there is freer use OF spirits there
than in any country it has been my
fortune to visit. Colonial wines, Scotch
and Irish whisky, porter, beer and ale
are almost as free as water. Still, there
is very little drunkenness to be seen in
the cities and towns. 1t is said there is
more tobacco used in Australia per
capita than in any country in the world.
There is very little chewing, hut the
pipe is in constant use indoors and out.
They use the strongest quality OF to-
bacco. This country has been remarka-
bly, free from all kinds OF troubles. II
has never had war of any kind. The
natives were harmless and never give
the early settlers the thousandth part OF
the trolble our Indians gave. Cholera
or yellow fever have never visited these
shores. Good health is universal in al-
most all the colonies. There is some
little fever in Queensland and the north
ern territory. Tho inhabitants ot-this
colony are mostly English and Scotch.
They are hospitable and kind and many
OF them remind me OF the farmers OF
Kentucky and the planters OF Louisiana.
They are more law abiding, and human
life is better protected than in many OF
our States. They are free liyers and
have more holidays than would be con.
sidered profitable in our pountry.
THE WOOL INTERESTS.
Sheep shearing in the colonies is
theme and matter of great importance,
both to the station owners and to the
shearers. The season OF shearing begins
in Queensland ut least two months in i'd
vance OF South Australia, and coming
on through the northern part OF South
Australia aud, New South Wales, the
shearers wind up here in the month OF
October.
Having been appointed by our Com.
mission to prepare report on the sheep
and wool interests OF these colonies, and
OF the surgar interests OF Queensland,
every facility and great kindness has
been shown me by the owners OF sta
tons and sheep runs in the colonies,
and will mention u few recently Wis.
tied which will be OF interest TO 'our
wool growing friends ut home.
We were requested by a number OF
station owners in South Australia to
Visitthcm during this month when their
sheep would be collected and shcaring
would be in full operation. According.
ly, on the 18th OF this month, by invita-.
ton OF the Hon. G. c. Hawkcr, NJ. p,
and accompanied by him md my wife
left the Adelaide depot ut 7:l0a. ~,
over the Northern railroad, for Saddle
worth, station some sixty miles up the
road, where we were met by his car
riages, which took us twenty-nine miles
to "Bungarce, our point OF destina-
ton, in Just three hours to The minute.
The roads in this country are laid out
1872 feet wide and are rs smooth as the
"a pian Way" The art OF man could
not make them more perfect. The stones
Of which they are lnacadamized seem to
cement and become us smooth US M
asphalt pavement. Our drive was
through an undulating country with
Just timber enough scattered over the
fields (catied paddOcks, here, to make
shade for the sheep. The timber is
mostly of the Eucalyptus lalDily-red
and blue gum, and shelak. The trees
in the distance vely much resemble IN
shape the live oak OF Louisiana, aud
scattered over the hills make the views
beautiful aud are a great relief to the
eye. All the country is carpeted with
native grass, which seems to be such Us
sheep delight in, and which produces
the greatest quantity of the finest wool |
have ever seen grown OH merino sheep.
Bungaree is one Of Mr.. HaWker's es-
tates-a "freehold," actual ownership
by purchase, much OF the land here;
being leased from the government and
is said to be one Of the finest in the colo
MES. 1t contains eighty-six thousand
acres, all enclosedin different fields with
substantial wire fences, and iron gates.
This country is the home OF the wire
fence and corrugated iron roofing. All
the houses, barns, stables, sheep sheds,
&C., are built OF stone and covered with
corrugated iron roofing. Mr.. Hawker
informed me that he had put up 1000
miles OF this fence at cost OF G2j, or
about sl25 per mile. The posts are sub
simultaneously gum, with ircn posts
in the centre OF each panel. The resi-
dence at Bungaree is an imposing cdr
fee, surrounded by many acres OF fruit
trees and flower gardens.
Besides cattle and horses necessary for
this estate Mr.. Hawker carries $4,000
sheep the year round, and in two other
places further north 100000 more. This
year on Bungaree he has raised 27,0UO
lambs, and on the other places 80, 900, OF
total OF G2,OO0. Mr.. Hawker kindly
drove us one day through the place
twenty miles by one route and back by
another, aud next day fifteen miles in Il
different direction and back through u
beautiful park. We drove through 5000
acres OF wheat just beginning to head.
a GIGANTIC Farm.
Taking the whole estate over, more
beautiful and picturesque country, and
one SO suited for pastoral purposes could
not be found. IsPent paFtUfthree days
in the sheds, with the shearers, and
noticed closely the whole operation Of
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