Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 26 November 1887, page 8


THE GOVERNOR'S TRIP TO THE

MURCHISON.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

No. 3,

We are now at the station which on all hands is admitted to be the first on the Mur-chison. The Berringarra country, 400,000 acres in all, was purchased by Mr. Darlot senior, a few years ago. Mr. Darlot was a squatter in Victoria. When making his way up the country to view the Berringarra coun-try he was, I am told, often tempted by the hopeless look of the country through which he travelled for the first few days, to turn back. He kept on, however, until reaching Murgoo, where his hopes began to rise, and, pushing on again, a glance at the Beringarra country satisfied him, and he turned back to take up the land. Soon after this, Mr. Darlot died, and the station passed into the hands of his three sons, Mr, Everard Darlot, Mr. L. H. Darlot, and Mr. H. Darlot. No station on the Murchison has been better worked than has Beringarra in the hands of these three young squatters. They had the advantage of being possessed of plenty of capital to carry on their business, and they have not been sparing of it in the making of improve-ments. Altogether, I believe, they have spent £10,000 upon Beringarra, and it is now the model station on the Murchison. They find that 400,000 acres with fencing is far better than a million without fencing. By means of paddocks and well sinking they have upon their station as many sheep as the stations

which have an acreage from a million to a million and a half. In addition, they obtain, as a rule, the highest prices in the market, owing to the wool of the paddocked sheep being better grown, denser and brighter than that of the shepherded sheep. There are many reasons which account fur the super-iority of the wool of the padocked sheep over that of the wool of the shepherded sheep. The shepherd takes his sheep to the well, which is sometimes a good distance away, in a flock of perhaps a thousand, and the dust they raise settles into the fleece. Then sheep moving in a flock push roughly through the scrub and the fleece gets torn about. The feed too in then neigbourhood of

the wells becomes impoverished by these visits of the flocks. On the other hand, paddocked sheep will move to the wells when they feel inclined and will not crowd together, so much when feeding as shepherd-ed sheep. The paddocking of sheep, too, re-duces the cost of management. On a station where there are, say, fifteen thousand sheep in flocks of about a thousand, all shepherded by natives the staff of white men have hard work to, keep things going right. They have to keep the sheep moving from well to well, have to count them repeatedly, and every now and then have to hunt for sheep which the natives have allow-ed to stray away. When the sheep are with in fences, most of this severe work will be unnecessary. These facts are realized by all the squatters on the Murchison, but none of them have gone in so extensively for pad docking as have the Messrs. Darlot. The

latter have put a large amount of money into fences, but most of the other sqatters through lack of capital are fain to be content with, putting back all their earnings into improve-ments. On Beringarra there are at present 91 miles of five wire fencing, making in all eight paddocks of varying size. These eight paddocks carry 9,000 sheep. They intend pro-ceeding with the erection of fences until the whole of the 400,00 acress of land is broken into paddocks, and when that is done, the Messrs. Darlot expect that instead of the 17,500 sheep which they have at present, they will be able to run about 80,000. The clip on the station during the past two years has been an excellent one and the highest

prices have been obtained in the London market. All their wool is scoured. Last year a large proportion of their bales fetched 21 ½d. per lb. They have a stud flock of 100 imported ewes from New South Wales and 150 rams. They have imported four stud rams from the flock of the Messrs. Dixon Bros, of Riverina. Indeed, they are at infinite pains to improve their flocks and herds. The shearing shed is built on exactly the same plan as the Milly-Milly shearing shed, but the timber in it is not squared, and the work manship and finish are not so good. There are in it stations for twenty shearers. The last clip was an excellent one and the highest prices have been obtained in the London market. In addition to the sheep, the Messrs. Darlot have upon their station 80 head of cattle and about 75 horses, including several thorough

breds. Amongst their blood horses are the bay horse Esca by Sussex out of the Ferry-man mare, Agitation, Myamba and Winilya. In their herd they have Lord Red Rose the 6th, bred by the Hon. W. McCullock of Vic-toria a highly bred bull of grand stamp.

The Beringarra station lies along the Mur-chison river, and has a double frontage of about seventy miles. No station on the Murchison has so large a proportion of first class feeding country upon it. Along the river banks are fine flats laden with waving grass knee deep. One of these flooded flats

is 23,000 acres in extent, and horses and cat-til feed upon it all the year round. Back from the river are fine open salt bush plains

and mulga country. Water is got, as a rule, at various depths up to 18ft. and then a bore is put down until a supply for 3,000 or 4,000 sheep is obtained. The deepest well on the station is 25ft. The water is raised at some of the wells with Flood's 3 inch waterlift. It is intended to have one of these lifts to every paddock, and, if necessary, two, in order that

the water supply may be reliable even in the most droughty season. In all the paddocks

the natural water supply is sufficient for six or seven months of the year, and the wells and bores will provide for the dry months. In order to make assurance doubly sure, the Messrs. Darlot are, in conjunction with Mr. James Aitken, putting down a bore for an artesian well. They have gone down 90ft., and the water rises to within 8ft. of the surface. The work of boring is being con-tinued, and and it is hoped that an artesian well giving 4,000 gallons a day will be ob-

tained.

The homestsad of the station used to be about five miles from its present site, but it was washed away by a flood in 1884. The present homestead is superior to anything we saw at the other stations. When within the house it was difficult to realize that we

were more than three hundred miles from a town. There is a 10ft. verandah, shaded with the inevitable seven year bean, all round. A garden lies in front of the house, and be-hind it is a bed of lucerne. The home-stead forms a square, the kitchen being di-rectly at the back, a few yards away, the store room to the right, and to the left bachelors' quarters. All these buildings are of the most substantial character. About a hundred yards from the house at the back is the vegetable garden and farther away the stables, cart shed, stock yard, blacksmith's shop and men's hut. The whole forms a big establishment. The management of the station is divided amongst the three brothers, Mr. Everard Darlot having charge of the stock and being generally "boss; Mr. H.

Darlot in managing the commercial part of the, business, and Mr. L. H. Darlot superintend-

ing the making of the improvements. Though men of wealth, they are hard workers, squat-ting being evidenty their hobby. They are

just the sort of men needed in a new coun-try, and it is to be hoped that more of their

stamp will find their way to this colony.

While having a look round the homestead 0n the morning after our arrival, I noticed a large number of natives. Both the men and women are tall and well formed. I noticed one dusky Amazon apparently nearly 6ft. high, with broad shoulders, large limbs, stalking away as straight as a grena-dier with a child upon her shoulders. The natives seemed well fed and happy. After breakfast, the men began to play at a game something like " hunt the hare." One man was made the hare and the rest chased him and pelted him with chips of wood, while the women stood by scream-ing and writhing with laughter. A na-tive lady mouth when, she laughs re-minds me of the American newspaper's de-scription of the mouth of Miss Emily Soldene, the operatic singer, when she sang. The critic wrote, " And she ope'd her massive marble jaws." A native lady does not laugh in the conventional style. She has no re-gard to European etiquette, to the irksome restraints of society. She does not pucker her mouth into a smile, but discloses her soul and screams wildly, bends back, clutches her knees, holds her sides, and sometimes rolls in the dust. She does not simper—she laughs with all her might, like a true child of the forest. We came upon a little picture which would have pleased on artist fond of little rustic scenes. It was a dark faced beauty skinning a sheep's head at the foot of a stack of firewood. She had flashing, ex-pressive and mischievous eyes, and goes by the name of Judy. She is the native coquette, and, like Helen, has her Paris. She belongs to a tribe resident near Mount Labouchere, but the handsomest native at Beringarra lost

his heart to her, invaded her country, and. stole her away from her rightful lord. It is expected that some day Judy, like her proto-type, the ancient Helen, will be the cause of much bloodshed.

Shortly before midday the party left for Mileara, the station of the Messrs. Walsh. His Excellency was driven by Mr. H. Walsh and our four-in-hand was in command of Mr. L. H. Darlot. The road we took is in a rude state, being only used by the Messrs. Walsh in their visits to Beringarra. It took out of the Beringarra paddocks to Mount Matthew and Mount Hale, passing between these two hills. The way through the hills proved the roughest bit of travelling I have experienced. The buggy went jumping and jolting over a promiscuous mass of stones, and it seemed

that every moment the wheels must be

wrenched off. Those hills consist of laminated ated quartz rocks and an experienced miner

who was with us expressed the opinion that gold should be found here. Dr. Elliot dis-mounted and picked up a few stones, and upon one of them, we found what appeared to be gold splashed over the surface. Some said that it was mundic, others that some one with brass nailed boots had trod upon the stone, but the more it was examined, the stronger became the conviction that it was gold that we saw. Dr. Elliot pre-served the stone, with the intention of having it tested. Silver has been found in this part of the country, and a syndicate, consisting, I believe, of Mr. Walsh, the Messrs. Darlot, Mr. Aitken, and Mr. Carlyon, are taking steps to have specimens assayed in Mel-bourne. Gold exists in various parts of the Murchison, but as yet it has not been got in payable quantities. If this country were thoroughly prospected, however, it is believed that valuable mineral deposits would be dis-

covered. After about three hours' driving, we reached Mileura, which lies about twenty miles from Beringarra. The country forming the station belonged originally to the Messrs. Wittenoom, and the homestead was the head quarters of an out station. There are nearly a million and a half acres belonging to the station. It is owned by Messrs. Walsh & Sons, of Melbourne, and the sons, Mr. H. B. Walsh and Mr. F. Walsh, have the management. These two gentlemen,

and then sold two or three stations in the Eastern Colonies. There are upon the station 9,000 sheep, 900 head of cattle and 50 horses . Mr. H. B Walsh is general manager, and takes charge of the sheep, and Mr. F. Walsh looks after the cattle. The river runs right through the station, and there are grassy flats and large salt bush plains upon this country. There is also plenty of top-feeding scrub on parts of the station. The Messrs. Walsh have had the station only about two or three years, but in that time they have made large improvements. They have put up no less than 53 miles of fencing, and within an-other twelve months expect to have increased this mileage to 100. The paddocks are about seven miles square, having 31,360 acres in each. A mob of cattle was sent to Perth from this station last year and another will go this year. Cattle do very well on the station, being on the grassy flats during a portion of the year. The Messrs. Walsh are spending large sums of money upon their station, and will, no doubt, in a few years, have made their country able to carry flocks and herd in great numbers. The Mileura homestead is a humble one. The residence is a small thatched cottage, and the shearing

shed and other buildings are of a rude de-scription, but sufficient for all practical pur-poses at present. Water is got by sinking a few feet and is generally of good quality. We had an excellent lunch at Mileura, and, towards evening, returned to Nookawarra with the intention of beginning our return journey on the morrow.

When we had got to Mileara, we had reached the furthermost point eastward to which we travelled. There are, however, several stations further to the east, and when I was at Nookawarra, I managed to get some particulars with regard to them, which may be of interest. Amongst the settlers whom I interviewed at Nookawarra was Mr. Carlyon, who along with his wife and child, was returning to his station after a visit to Ger-aldton. Mr. Carlyon came to the colony in 1881, and for a time was employed upon the station of Messrs. Dempster at Esperance Bay and also upon their station at the Fraser

Range. Leaving the South, Mr. Carlyon came up to Fremantle, adjoined the survey party of Mr. Crossland, who was about to visit the Murchison. During this trip the silver mine of which I have already spoken was found at a point about eighty miles from Nookawarta. An assay made in Melbourne, returned 12 oz. 8 dwts. of silver to the ton, but it is believed by the discoverers that they sent their worst sample of quartz, believing it to be their best. The assay report said that it was a very good yield considering the amount of ironstone that had been sent among the specimens. The country where the silver ore was found has been taken up for mining purposes. While he was with this surveying party, Mr.Carlyon heard from Mr. Frank Wittenoom, and also from the natives of good country further to the eastward, and when his engagment with Mr. Crossland was concluded, he determined to go and have a look at it. Taking three pack horses, and accompanied by one white man, Michael Tooney from York, Mr Carlyon started upon his long exploring journey. Owing to the horses being in very poor con-dition, they were three weeks in getting from Champion Bay to Nookawarra. From Nook-awarra he went on to Beringarra, where he recruited his horses, and then on to Morari, where he received great kindness from Mr. H. G. B. Mason, who at that time was man-ager. He then pushed on to the Eastward, and came close to the spot near Mount Labou-chere, where Giles fixed his camp when pass-ing through to this colony. Not far from Mount Labouchere, he struck the Gascoyne, and followed it up to the north of the La-bouchere. The latter river he followed up for about sixty miles, when it took a bend in a Southerly direction, and led to a well called by tha natives Mibbinganna. Here the native that Mr. Carlyon had with him ran away. This man Mr. Carlyon had doctored and nursed through an atttack of measles. He told Mr.Carl-yon that he knew of no more water-holes, and he was given provisions and a tin whistle with which to tempt some wild native to the camp. I do not know whether, like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the native hoped to lure the wild native with his music, but perhaps the notes

of his humble instrument, shrill and sharp, drove the unsentimenental wild man to spear him. However, he did not return, and Mr. Carlyon and Toomy were obliged to push on without a native guide. They struck off in a south easterly direction for about thirty miles, but, getting no water, had to return to Mibbinganna. Mr. Carlyon went out to ob-tain the help of natives, but failed, and then Toomy tried with a similiar result. Go-ing the next day in a more southerly direc-tion and they came to the Toondinya Spring. From here they struck out in an eastward direction and came upon water in the soak-age. They pushed on from here in very hot weather, but finding no more water and their horses becoming very weak, they were obliged to return to the soakage. Here, however, they got only a pannikin of water for each of the horses, and a drop for them-selves. As they were returning to Mibbin-ganna, Mr. Carlyon noticed some open country in the distance, and riding twenty miles in a southerly direction came upon a very good pool. Soon after this Toomy became ill of dysen-try and Mr. Carlyon treated him with pills made of gum from the flooded gums and flour. When Toomy had recovered, Mr. Carlyon struck again to the South towards the Wind-ich Spring, which Mr. John Forrest named after one of his natives. After travelling in this direction for fifteen miles, he came to a kind of watershed, and after following this for five miles the country widened into beautiful plains. Here it was that Mr. Carlyon came upon a remarkable blow hole, into which, it appeared, water rushed during

storms. He went to the brink, but could not see the bottom. This pit was thirty

yards in diamater and all the water courses seemed to converge into it. Provisions were running short now, however, through delays in trying to get natives who would show them the water holes, and Mr. Carlyon determin-ed to return to Mr. Smith's station on the Gascoyne. He had decided to come back and push on through the spinifex country in the neighborhood of the blow hole. As he was returning, he come upon lot of natives, who told him of a fine country called Mib-bian, a few days journey away. Ac-companied by these natives, Mr. Carlyon and Toomy started from the Toondinya Spring in a North Easterly direction and came to the Mibbian country. The country has an abundant supply of water from springs, and the feed consists of grass intermixed with saltbush, low mulga, and edible weeds. Mr. Carlyon describes it as good feeding country, and there is no poison upon it. It lies at a point about 150 miles east of Nookawarra, or about 450 miles from Geraldton. Mr. Carlyon, on seeing this country, at once returned to Geradton, and took up 600,000 acres in his own name, and another 500,000 acres jointly with Mr. Frank Wittenoom. The Mibbian station is bound-

ed on the North and North-East by spinifex. A great part of the spinifex is the soft kind, which horses eat readily. A good substan-tial station house was erected in the old pioneer style of Egyptian bricks and thatch-ed roof. It is now nearly three years ago since Mr. Carlyon started out to begin the Mibbian station with Toomey and another white man. When they got to Nookawarra, Messrs. Davis Brothers had just come across from the Gascoyne with reports of the trou-blesome conduct of the natives. A young fellow named Jackson, who had come across from the Gascoyne, reported that he had shot

two natives in self defence. They had

robbed the station house of Mr. Smith on the Gascoyne of everything that they required. Both the Messrs. Davis and Jackson advised Carlyon not to ven-ture upon his journey to Mibbian, without at any rate a stronger force. As his party now consisted of three white men, two na-tives and himself, and as they had a splendid outfit, including rifles and revolvers, he de-cided to go on. They had a wagon with them, but after getting about forty miles from the Murchison River, Mr. Carlyon came to the conclusion that a dray would be better than a four wheeler. So they camped at a rock-hole and converted the wagon into a cart. Twenty or thirty miles further on they came to a creek, and as the horses were get ting very much fagged with pulling over new country, Mr. Carlyon decided to leave one blackman and one whiteman behind with half of the load. Then with the other white man, he went on a stage, and after spelling the horses, sent the teamster back to the creek for the other man and the rest, of the goods. Mr.Carlyon had cautioned the white man left at the creek to be careful of the natives. While he was there a number of natives from the Lower Gascoyne had a big corrobaree within three hundred yards of his camp. Two or three stragglers came over in the evening to his camp, but one of them was seized by a collie dog he had with him and they fled. Mr. Carlyon's party was at this time about fifteen or twenty miles beyond the creek. As they were busy mak-

ing hobbles, it was noticed that a number of' natives were about. They formed into order in the shape of a half-moon with a view ap-

parently of surrounding Mr. Carlyon and his party. Mr. Carlyon spoke to them, but the only reply they made was "Yanma, " which they cried out repeatedly. " Yanma " means

" go away." They then began to throw their

spears and to close upon the party. Upon this, Mr. Carlyon and the other whiteman began to fire with Winchester repeaters, and it was only after one native had been killed and several wounded that they began to retire. None of the white party were struck, but one spear went very close to Mr. Carlyon. A few days, after this, Mr. Carlyon and his men saw fires lighted on prominent ground in the distance, and it was believed that this

was the "fiery cross" summoning the various tribes to join in an attack. In the meantime, however, the teamster and the other white man and native arrived from the creek. Dur-ing the night the collie was very uneasy and

Toomie went out to reconoitre. At day break nine or ten natives were seen standing in line at a distance of about ninety yards. Other natives seemed to be on the move in all directions, and it was evident that a great attack was meditated. Mr. Carlyon then sent his natives for the horses and he brought them in. Leaving the teamster in charge of the camp, Toomey, a man named Lovebridge and Mr. Carlyon rode out to see what the natives were doing. Before they had gone half a mile, they found the natives, all armed with shields and spears, drawn in line like a half moon. They ad-vanced to meet the party of white men. Mr. Carlyon called ont to them " Yamagee yanma", " blackfellow go away ": and they replied "Nyanda yanma ", which means " Whitefellow go away." They now began to throw their spears, and the mare that Mr. Carlyon was riding was struck in the shoulder. They kept coming on and trying to get round to the camp and then Mr. Carlyon gave the word to open fire. Mr. Carlyon saw one man drop but the man standing alongside of him still came on, with others behind. He came on near and was in the act of delivering his spear at Mr. Carlyon, when the latter shot him. In this battle several of the natives were shot, but it was not until so many had fallen that the natives retreated. The particulars of these attacks were fully reported to the Govern-

ment by Mr. Carlyon. Since that time the natives have never attacked the whites, but

they have killed a few head of cattle. As a protection to the men at the station, Mr. Carlyon built a turret in a tree, into which they could retreat if an attack was made upon them. To throw a spear into this turret, the natives wonld have to stand back fully two hundred yards and at that distance they could do no harm. At the present time there are about 50 head of cattle upon Mibbian station and 30 or 40 sheep, the lat-ter being kept only as a food supply. Mr. Carlyon hopes to create Mibbian into a sheep

station as well as a cattle run.

Mr. Carlyon has travelled one hundred miles to the East of Mibbian. He found a good deal of spinefex country, but after that he came upon good country. Good feeding country lies between the Ashburton and Weld's Springs. During this trip and in a south easterly direction from Mibbian, at a distance of ninety or a hundred miles, he saw clumps of flooded gum trees. He made towards them and on his way travelled over fifteen miles of excellent country, thickly grassed, and with patches of salt bush of all heights upon it. The gums marked a river down which Mr. Carlyon travelled until he came to samphire country. Here they found salt pools and then they came upon a lake about four or five miles wide, and about twenty miles long. The country on the north and north-east of the lake is good, but elsewhere is bounded by spinifex. Near the lake he found an excellent spring, which the natives, call Millaroontha, and not far away

another spring callad Adjimerdine. Within three or four miles of the lake Mr. Carlyon and Tommy marked a tree "R.J.C., M.T., 1885". The party camped at a large pool supplied by a spring, called Pinryuyah. From here Mr. Calyoa rode out in various directions, and found good country. At a later date, Mr.

Clarence Brown came out in search of country, and as Mr. Carlyon had sufficient for his purpose, he informed Mr. Brown of the country round the lake he had discovered. This lake is called by the natives Ngabaroo. Mr. Brown visited this country, and in con-junction with Mr. Francis Burgess has taken up 200,000 acres, which forms one of the compactest stations in the colony. Since taking up this country, Mr. Brown has ex-plored beyond the lake and found more good

country, with springs upon it. I have given at such length, Mr. Carlyon's pioneering career, in order to give an idea of what a settler in a new country has to do. First he must explore and risk his life as Mr. Carlyon did; then, having found suitable country, he must take it up and en-dure the labour and hardships of get-ting provisions, building materials and stock through to it. Having done this, he has before him years of isolation, and hard work, and rude fare, before he can say that his station is definitely established. His re-ward comes, however, for these few years of self-denial and labour —if he is a man of judgement, and understands his business— will make him a rich man. There are a large number of young men on the Murchison passing through this ordeal, but them seem to be made of the right stuff, and doubtless will come out of it with their worldly wealth

multiplied twenty fold.

Mount Clare station is on the Lower Gas-coyne, and belongs to Mr. J. S. Davis. It consists of About 900,000 acres, the feed consisting of salt bush and grass.. The stock is watered at permanent pools. Upon the station are 16,000 sheep, 14 head of cattle, and about 30 horses. The station lies about eighty miles to the north-east front Nooka-warra. The station was started in 1871 with 4,000 sheep, and the present flocks are the

product of the original flock, and besides a large number of store sheep have been sold, and the station kept in meat supplies. Mr.

J. S. Davis has also a station at Mullawar, consisting of 200.000 acres, and upon this

he runs 4,000 sheep.

Tho Mount Joubert station belonging to the Messre. Nairn & Sons, is 320,000 acras in extent and lies on the Wurrumal, a small river which takes its rise between the Mur-chison and the Gascoyne, The stock con-sists of 9,000 sheep, 80 cattle and 40 horses Water is got at a depth of 15ft. The station was started four years ago with 2,000 sheep more have been bought since and others sold. The country on the Lower Wurrumal is very suitable for cattle, that at the head

of the river is good for sheep. No fencing has been done on the station. The natives have given no trouble and the Messrs. Nairn have not had a dozen sheep killed by them in the four year« they have had the station. The wool from this station is at présent taken the long route to Geraldton, but, as it is only 100 miles from Sharks Bay, the squatters living in that direction are trying to find a good route through to there. One of the Mr. Nairns has made a trip through the bush to Carnar-von to find a route, and when we were at Nookawarra was about to set out again on a similar errand. He believes that a good road will be found. The country on this station consists chiefly of salt bush and mulga, One salt bush plain is 2.5 miles long with a vary-ing breadth of from 7 to 15 miles.

Yarra Yarra station lies fifty miles to the westward of Nookawarra and contains 350,000 acres. It belongs to Messrs. R. J. Gooch and Co. There are upon it 9000 sheep, 50 horses and a few cattle. The coun-try is watered by wells and pools. Water can be readily got by sinking 8ft. or 10ft. No fencing has been done. - The country consists of saltbush and mulga and provides good feed. Erivilla station, belongs to Messrs. R. & H. O'Grady, lies about sixty miles to the north of Beringarra. I tis 360,000 acres in extent, and originally formed part of Mr. James Aitken's Milly-Milly station. The Messrs. O'Grady bought it two years ago, along with 4,000 sheep. Their flock now numbers 9,000.

The country consists of salt bush and open grassy plains, and has a» river frontage of 15 miles on the upper Gascoyne. There is suf-ficient surface water upon the station for nine months in the year, and wells need only be dug from 5ft. to 10ft. The first season of the Messrs O'Grady was a bad one, and they

lost sheep. The past season, however, has been a good one, and the lambing per centage

has been 75. Native shepherds are used.

The only fencing on the station is that en-closing a horse paddock, The natives have been very troublesome on the station, and have not only killed sheep but have thrown their kylies at Mr. Robert O'Grady. Horse breeding is carried on at this station, and among the stud are ten well-bred cart mares imported from Adelaide for breeding pur-poses. The owners of this station intend to begin paddocking whan the natives have be-come quieter. The homestead consists of a very good house, store, carriage shed, and mens' hut. The wool shed is a temporary

structure.

The stations of which I have given particu-lars above are in their pioneering condition, and will, with permanent improvements in the way of paddocking and well sinking, car-ry many times more sheep than they do now.

The start from Nookawarra was made

early on the morning of Tuesday the 25th October, and before we began the return journey from here, there was a great deal of hand shaking. Farewell was said and no doubt most of us bid an everlasting farewell to Nookawarra, unless indeed goldfields should be discovered on the Murchison. In that case—and it is not beyond the ken of pro-

bability—Nookawarra might grow into a thriving town, with its railway and tele-graphs and perhaps a newspaper bearing the title of the Murchison Daily Flute. It is certain that gold and silver indications are to be found in the Murchison country and perhaps an Anstey will some day give it a

fair trial.

"His Excellency the Governor travelled again with Mr. L. H. Darlot's four-in-hand, Mr Perks and Mr. Lacey went together, Mr. Inspector Rowe, Dr. Elliott and myself were in another buggy, and Mr. James Aitken owing to repairs being needed, was a day be-hind us. Captain Phillips and Mr. Hare rode in the police carriage. We camped again at Kaluaiydgina and reached Murgoo on the Wednesday night. It had been ar-ranged that His Excellency should make a detour on his journey back to Geraldton in order to visit Warra Warra, the station of Messrs Lacey. Relays of horses

had been placed on the road for His. Excellency and for the Commissioner of Pol-ice and Mr. Hare, but the other teams be-longing to the party wera unable, unfortun-ately to make this journey. Mr. Rowe, Dr. Elliot and the Rev. Mr. Louch started for

Geraldton direct on Thursday morning and I waited at Murgoo until the following day for the caravan to which I belonged that of Mr. Aitken. His Excellency the Governor, travelling in a light buggy and driven by Mr. A. G. Lacey started for Warra Warra. on the Thursday moring and Captain Phillips and Mr. Hare started half an hour

later. Our party consisting of Mr. McKenzie. Grant, Mr. Booker, Mr. Hubert O'Grady and Mr. Gordon Shaw (of Milly Milly) and myself started for Murgoo on Friday and by steady travelling reached Newmarracarra on Tuesday night. In a future article, I shall give some account of our trip down. His Excellency the Governor started from Warra Warra early on Sunday morning driven by 'Mr. A. G Lacey and did a phenomenal jour-ney that day. By means of changes of horses, His Excellency reached Newmarracarra--a distance of no less than 147-in the evening. He reached Geraldton early on the following morning.

Warra Warra was the second station started in the Murchison district. It was originally established by Messrs Howard & Shenton, and consisted of 200 000 acres. Some time afterwards part of the present station was held by Messrs. Howard & Hare. The station, as now hold by Messrs, Lacey, consists of 1,250,000 acres of salt bush, mulga and grassy country. It is well

watered by 56 wells and permanent pools. There are at present about 25,000 sheep up-on the station, and yet no fencing has been done. The Messrs. Lacey have had the station about twelve years. There is a very good homestead upon the station, pleasantly situated upon rising ground. The residence has a verandah 100ft. long ronnd it. and there are a store, kitchen, cart shed &c. During the last season the clip was a good one, consisting of 300 bales—the largest in the district. Specimens of wool sent from this station to the Indian and Colonial Ex-hibition were well reported upon by experts, The shearing shed is at Gabyon-forty miles from Mullawar. While at Warra Warra, the Governor witnessed a corroboree, given by about 25 smart young natives in excellent style. The Governor made the natives a present of a bag of flour, and advised them to-be "good fellows" and said he was pleas-ed with their intelligent manners On his departure, His Excellency was cheered by about forty natives.

(To be continued).