138 AUSTRALIAN PICTURES. 



bright summer's day is both extremely dazzling and hurtful to the eyesight. 

 The Swan, which runs from Fremantle to Perth, is a noble river. It opens 

 out into splendid reaches of varying width. Its banks are fringed with 

 veteran gum-trees, whose rugged outlines are reflected with mirror-like 

 sharpness in the clear waters beneath. The misfortune is that such a fine 

 stream cannot be made practical use of without considerable expenditure ; 

 but all entrance to it from the sea is barred by a ridge of sandstone, which 

 stretches, some six feet under water, completely across its mouth. 



The southern portion of the colony is singularly unfortunate in possess- 

 ing very few harbours. Fremantle is now an open roadstead, but the 

 State proposes by the expenditure of a large sum of money to give effect 

 to a scheme formulated by Sir John Goode, the eminent engineer, which, it 

 is believed, will render the port perfectly safe in all weathers. King 

 George's Sound, however, has been exceptionally favoured by nature. The 

 entrance to it is by either of the two passages which surround the massive 

 rock, appropriately named Breaksea, that rises up with rugged abruptness in 

 the centre of the channel. At the rear of Breaksea the inlet opens into a 

 grand harbour, where the largest ships can lie with perfect safety in the 

 roughest weather. The scenery along the shores is diversified and beautiful, 

 and no more charming place of call could be found for the ocean mail 

 steamers, which anchor there regularly every fortnight. The little town of 

 Albany is situated upon the rising boulders of granite at the head of the 

 sound ; but its isolated position has told against the prosperity of the place. 

 The harbour has been aptly stated to be the front gate of the colony, with 

 a blank wall behind it. That blank wall consists of the long tract of dismal 

 country lying between Albany and Perth ; but the colonists hope, with the 

 aid of an English syndicate who have contracted to construct a railway to 

 join the Government system at Beverley, to abolish the barrier which now 

 cuts them off from Albany. They will then be able to utilise the harbour 

 and to elevate it to the position it should occupy. Of late years the 

 strategical importance of King George's Sound in case of warfare has 

 commanded the attention of Imperial and Colonial statesmen. 



The climate of Western Australia is decidedly salubrious. For years past 

 the residents have sought to induce the Indian authorities to make it their 

 sanatorium for invalid officers, but so far nothing definite has resulted from 

 their representations. Sport is plentiful in every part of the province, and 

 the homely hospitable character of the people renders a visit to the colony 

 a most enjoyable experience. The great pride of Western Australians is in 

 the wild flowers that cover their plains in the spring time. The surface of 

 the earth is then carpeted with an endless variety of the most beautiful 

 forms of the floral creation. Every crevice and cranny is filled with 

 blossoms, whose bright colours contrast vividly with the more delicate hues 

 of the ' everlastings ' that abound in the more level country. 



