54 RosENHAiN,y4 Thuusand Miles on River Murray. [vd."^xxxiv 



Creek. I might mention the mile trees commence from Allniry. 

 Chalka Creek had a special interest to me, as it tiows into 

 Lakes Mourni)ool, Lockie, Brockie, and others. Two and a half 

 years ago tlie late Mr. O'Donoghue and myself walked along the 

 bed of this creek for several miles — it was then dry ; now it 

 is a fine creek full of nice, clear water. We took in fuel and 

 landed a little cargo for the one fisherman, his wife, and four 

 children. They were all very shy. People who can live in 

 these places year in and year out are real heroes. The only 

 vegetation was stinging nettles and lignimi bushes, besides 

 some fine eucalypts ; otherwise the country is dry and parched. 

 The nearest neighbours were at Ouyen, i8 miles away. 

 Mosquitoes were troublesome during our stay of i^ hours. 

 The dwelling showed little comfort, and the weather was hot. 

 We bought 68 lbs. of fine live fish here ; cost, 6d. per lb. One 

 Murray perch weighed g lbs. ; half the fish were perch and the 

 other half cod. The fisherman told me he gets 6d. a lb. there for 

 all he catches. The fish are caught in nets and kept in 

 enclosures in the Murray. Buyers come from Ouyen in carts, 

 take the fish away, and send it to Mell)ourne. Left here at 

 10.30 a.m. Next stop was Bonnie Doon Junction, near 

 Caradoc Hut, about 6 p.m. Took about 60 bales of wool on 

 board under difficulties ; left at 7.45 p.m. The mosquitoes 

 here were awful. At 10 o'clock that night we reached Mildura. 

 All of you know of Mildura, so I need not dilate on it. We 

 left again 1^ hours later. Much grumbfing was occasioned by 

 the tourists at the captain losing time in taking in cargo 

 en route, so that we arrived in Mildura 12 hours late. 



Wentworth was our next stop. We discharged most of our 

 cargo. Here the Darling junctions with the Murray. The 

 Murray water is now dirty and thick ; this is caused by the 

 Darling waters, which are always dirty — in fact, the Darling 

 is unlike its name — it is an uninteresting stream as far as 

 scenery is concerned. Wentworth is one of the oldest towns 

 on the Murray. In the palmy days of pastoral industry, and 

 before the advent of railways, a big business was done here. 

 High rivers have more than once threatened to submerge the 

 town. From Wentworth down-stream the shee})-runs are 

 noted for the excellence of tlic wool i)roduced. Many large 

 stations or runs are passed on either side of the rivet . At Ned's 

 Corner woolshed, 625 miles from P2chuca, we took in 178 bales 

 of wool. This station has a frontage of 80 miles to tlie River 

 Murray, and is the projMirty of the Barr-Smith family, of South 

 Australia. It is noted for its merino wool, (he annual clip 

 running into about 1,500 bales. Tluic was a strike on at the 

 station at the time of our visit. Tlie homcsteafl is abtnit 20 miles 

 from here. We next pass Kufus Creek, whi( h llovv^ into Lake 



