Graham guardian., 1914-02-13
A TROPICAL LAND
Missionary David P. Kimball
Writes an Interesting Let
ter Of His Travels

hltluS VI N'N'
Tasmania, in the south, where snow
falls, to Queensland, in the north, q
tropical land.
My companion and have just
returned from an extended trip to
northern Australia, or the land OF
the tropics. While there we had
the privilege Of seeing some of the
wilds of Australia. From Brisbane,
the capital and largest city Of Queens
land, located on the Brisbane river
and about 750 miles from Sydney,
the place of landing, we took the
train to Rockhampton, 400 miles up
the coast, a city known to the world
as the Three S." sin, sorrow and
sweat land it is rightly named). 1t
has a population of about $4,000,
and is the main seaport town of
central Queensland.
Our work called us to a stay of
two months in this city. While
there we visited the "Fitzroy" meat
works, one of the largest establish
ments of its kind in Australia. 1t is
an English concern, but the man at
the head is an American, and thru
his courtesy we were taken thru the
works by a guide. Beginning at
the stock yards, we, followed the
process of killing and preserving the
meat, until it was boxed or frozen
ready to be loaded on the boat.
We met great opposition in our
work, but being given the same OPP
portunity as our opponents thru the
daily paper, we were successful in
making our claims. The outcome
was we made hundreds OF friends,
Leaving Rockhampton we made our
way thru the country to Mt, Morgan.
Our way to Mount Morgan was
not by rail, but thru the country;
by going this way we would pertake
of and see real bush life. Our way
was thru some of the greatest graz
ing country of Australia.
In the early days of Queensland
the government gave large tracts of
land to men to encourage the settle
ment of the country. These grants
are called stations" and they in
clude many square miles. Each
station is a little village to itself,
generally the home of the owner, or
foreman, and several log buildings
occupied by the employees and their
families. Everything is complete.
The station has Q gardener that does
nothing but work in the garden, 50
that vegetables of all kind can be
had fresh from the garden. A small
store and pub Tor saloon), and a
school for the children. The herders,
fence riders and all station hands
are home for the night, and to see
them come in and unsaddle, reminds
one of a cattle ranch at home.
We managed to make these stations
each night. Two days out from
Rockhampton, we stopped for the
night at the Jones estate, it being
one of the largest in that vicinity
It is 16 miles square and they have
25,0O0 head Of sheep and some cattle
While in this place we had the
privilege of going out to see the
flocks. The grass was waist higf
and it was a grand sight to see the
sheep feeding (most of them being
of very good breed. Our guide
was very pleasant and told US al
about the way they did things at thu
station. He told US it cost but yer.
little for herders, as the place wa
fenced with net wire. A fenc'
rider and a few shepherds wer'
their regular working force.
The shearing is contracted by th'
company and the busy time for tn
holder is lambing time.
The day thru the station was yer.
educational to US, as well as pleasan
days outing. The evening wa
spent in listening to the stories o
the early days, how the blacks woul'
steal and plumber from the nev
settlers and the cannibals that a
times made raids on the little villages
The people were very hospitabI
and did everything to make our sta
pleasant,
Leaving the little town we travele
all day within the fence of tn
station. The scenery along the wa
was beautiful. We were a week !
the bush and it was one of the mo:
interesting weeks Of my life. W
finally reached Mount Morgan. on
of the great mining towns of Au
tralia.
Mount Morgan resembles one {
our western mining towns. 1t
located about 40 miles inland frol
Rockhampton and is connected wit
that city by rail. AS we entere
the valley leading to the tow
we passed through several camp
located on the small river, pannir
for gold. They make pretty goo
money at this and understand
few have made their fortune.
The history of this camp and /
development is famous throuRho,
the world. More iree sold has be'