148 



AUSTRALIAN PICTURES. 



interests were not permanent, and the attention of investors has long since 

 been diverted to finer fields. 



Launceston is connected with Hobart by one of the finest macadamised 

 roads — 120 miles in length — in the world, and by a narrow-gauge railway 

 of 132 miles. The railway is a comparatively new institution, but the road 

 has stood for years, and will stand for ages. In ' the old days,' as the past 

 is happily and conveniently termed in Tasmania, there were only two settle- 

 ments — Hobart and Launceston ; and it became as necessary to establish 



others as to connect 



them. At that time 



hundreds of convicts were 



being landed from England, 



and the additional necessity to 



find employment for them 



induced the governing authorities to embark upon the enterprise of making the 

 road and making new towns. It cost more than a railway would cost now- 

 adays, for prison labour has always been expensive. But it is thoroughly 

 substantial, and has the great advantages of passing through the richest 

 agricultural and pastoral lands of the colony, and the great charm of 

 running over many bold hills and of crossing many of the most beautiful 

 streams of the island. Thirteen hours were required to perform the journey 



