148 ON AND OFF THE TURF. 



The racecourse of the T. R. C. is prettily situated, 

 and from the stand the silvery winding of the river 

 Derwent can be traced as it flows on its placid way 

 from New Norfolk. Some good race-horses have 

 been bred in Tasmania, but sheep are the particular 

 animals it is famous for. Some of the finest flocks 

 in the world are to be found in Tasmania. Hundreds 

 of guineas are paid for a good ram at the Annual 

 Sales in Sydney and elsewhere. If I want to explore 

 a town thoroughly I find it is a good plan to seek 

 out a detective. In Hobart I was introduced to 

 two members of the detective force, and one of 

 them, Inspector Franklin, showed me round the 

 curious parts of the city. There are some slums 

 in Hobart, and the lower parts are decidedly not 

 inviting. The Superintendent of Police, Mr. 

 Frederick Pedder, is an entertaining gentleman, and 

 many pleasant chats I had with him. There are 

 some lovely drives around Hobart. The Huon 

 Road is one vast panorama of superb scenes, and 

 the orchards are an enchanting sight. I never saw 

 such immense apples anywhere as in the Huon 

 district. They are as large round as the crown of 

 an ordinary sized hat, and luscious to taste. Tasmania 

 is a veritable Garden of Eden. The inhabitants lead 

 a very easy-going life. They appear to leave every- 

 thing to nature, and she does very well for them. 

 It amused me to hear that cattle were actually 



