Herald (Fremantle, WA : 1867 - 1886), Saturday 1 May 1880, page 3


THE GASCOYNE RIVER. To the Editor of the Herald. DEAR SIR,--As very little appears to be known about this part of the country, I should feel obliged if you would find space for the following remarks :Last year we had an unusually good season and of course the country looked splendid, grass everywhere as far as the eye could reach. The stock too, all looked well, and we had a good increase of lambs and a good clip of wool. Several persons who left here and went south, fancying no doubt, that the country would always look the same, and not having seen it, as I have in a less favorable season, spread abroad a most exaggerated account of it, which induced a number of people to apply for land in a most reckless manner, without knowing in the least what they were getting for their money. In a good season the Gascoyne is undoubtedly a fine sheep country, but it is very badly watered, the only permanent water being in the river. The country is very flat and consequently there are no springs. I have sunk six wells on my runs, in four of which the water is as salt as the sea, the other two are fresh, the fresh wells being about 28 feet below the surface. We have lately been visited by Captain Walcott in the Revenue Cutter, who sentenced and took away two natives for sheep stealing. The police are at present up here having a look round, but I am happy to say that everything is very quiet. The natives as a rule are a good lot, honest and willing to work, but there are a few bad ones among them who give us some trouble, and it would be a great boon to the settlers here to have a policeman stationed at or near the port Gascoyne. I would also suggest that Mr. Robert Macneil (now a settler on the Gascoyne), should be made a Justice of the Peace being in every way a fit and com-petent person to discharge the duties. The total number of sheep now on the Gascoyne is about 20,000, and I understand there are several other lots on the road up. The country is capable of carrying a very large number of sheep, provided sufficient water can be found. The climate is cool and healthy. There is also a great extent of land here suited for corn-growing, seasons permitting. I must not forget to mention that we have one of the best and safest harbours in the colony, of which I believe Captain Walcott has made a survey. I remain, sir, Yours truly, CHAS. S. BROCKMAN.