The Portland daily press., 1896-07-04
AUSTRALIAN FARMS.
They Are Called Stations and Arc
Bigger Than States.
ONE sQUATTER WHO OCCUPIES
THREE MILLION ACRES.

A Recent Drought Killed 100000 of His
Sheep, and He Had Only About 1,OoO,-
600 Left-Life ON the Great Station"
(From the Morning Oregonian,)
Sydney, N. S. W., May 4. In the East,
Middle, and Southern States of America
sheep are raised on the FARM" in
the West they are raised on the ''ranch,"
while in Australia they are raised on the
"station." AS the ''rauoh" of our great
West is but the extended pasture of the
Eastern, Middle State, or Southern farm,
so the "station" is really but an enlarged
rauch, though the social and business
Importance Of the great "station" owner
of Australia is neither shared nor ever
dreamed of by the active. intelligent,
and Industrious sheep raiser Of any por-
ton Of the United States. Of course, the
whole "estate," or land devoted to pas
toral use by the head or management,
comprises the Station, and yet the
idea conveyed in the word "station" Is
the central point or what may be regard
ed as the capital.
! The stations" in Australia are as
largs as the municipalities of the middle
ages, or as many modern dukedoms. I
incline to think that ten of the largest
Australian stations, If united, would
equal the whole of Belgium.
One James Tyson has about 1900, 600,
acres, or a territory nearly As large as
three States like Rhode Island, ono and
one-half Delawares. OF even one-third
the size Of Vermont, or one-seyenteenth
| the size of Iowa. He has nearly ], ZOO, 600
sheep or the equivalent In cattle. One
Mr.. McCaughey has one station of !, a14,
S77 acres, with some 500, 900 sheep.
James Wilson has $40, 000 acres, or just
1000 square miles, in one station, and
over 400, 900 sheep. I have friend in
the interior. whom I visited recently,
who has 500, 900 acres and 800, 900 sheep.
One can drive 100 miles on straight
line on his estate. OF this &c., 900 acres,
10000 are freehold, and the rest is leased
from the government of New south
Wales on long time, for definite annual
rental. have another friend, mem Der
of the New South Wales Parliament, who
holds 240, 900 acres in Queensland, on
long lease, at an annual rental of one
| farthing, one one-half cent, per acre.
Recently the government sunk an artesian
well on this land that throws 5000, 900
gallons per day, according to newspaper
reports. Most of this station, am in
formed, is good land.
All these stations, like the petty duke
doms Of Europe, are named, and the
names. when pronounceable, are not
easily forgotten. But their names ssrye
better purpose than mere ornament.
AS there is considerable difference in
altitude, lati tude, soil, vegetation, breed
or care of sheep, there is very notice
able difference in the wool, and the
reputation of the station has no influence
on the price of the respective clips. In
the English trade reviews, or prices our
rent, the names Of the stations of Aus
tralia become rs familiar to large bus1-
ness class as are the names OF the nations
OF the globe to The average educated man.
We see such quotations from the Eng
lish papers as Wannaminta, X. Z. $50
at I'D. ia cents per pound for $50 bales
| (of course, it is secured woody. We see
Mmubledool, 80 at 3D., "a pcs. at Sd. !;
Boorsondara, 40 at I'D; Webolabola,
1877 at Cd. % pcs, at 3d.; Canyawerri,
155 at I'D, "a pcs at I'd. Then we see
i such aristooratlc and euphonious names
as Noondoo, Warrambool, Gnoolooma,
Caiwarra, Albilbah, Yarrabee, and the
like These names seem musical moth
ings to the uninitiated, but when the
first clip from the 800. 900 sheep on Can
nonbar reaches London, or the splendid
merino WOOL taken from the Vermont
sheep imported from Mr.. McCaughey's
small stud farm" Of As, 900 acres in the
famous Riyeriuae called Tooralie, the
trade regards the names of some import
ance.
The Minister of Lands is now-April 20
making tour through the interior.
In his party there are several reliable
newspaper men, and the following is an
extract from the Daily Telegraph, very
reliable journal, of Thursday, April IS.
The communication is from one of Mr..
McCaugheys's stations, and follows:
e"Mr. McCaughey is II lsviathan among
squatters, the king of sheep owners, the
largest shearer of sheep in tho whole
world. Including freehold and lease
hold he has 1000, 600 acres of land. This
big station in the Riverina he calls a
mere stud farm. 1t is only a trife of
| 40 000 acres Of freehold and 5. COO of lease
hold. The rest of his land Is on Darling,
where be has two stations, Tooralie and
Dunlop. A million of the acres are near
Hughenden, in Queensland. In the last
drought OF eighteen months in the west
his losses in sheep and lambs totallsd no
fewer than 100000. All the same, he can
still boast Of that he shears his million
a year. This is the record, not only
for Australia, but for the world. Mr..
McCaughey can claim to be the greatest
| single sheep owner on earth. Ont of