JAUNTS AND JOTTINGS. 157 



On one occasion I went to Toowoomba^ on the 

 Darling Downs, to the Agricultural Show. There 

 was a fine display of horses, cattle, and sheep, and 

 some excellent jumping. The zigzag railway up the 

 range to Toowoomba passes through magnificent 

 scenery. This is the overland route to Sydney, 

 Melbourne, and Adelaide. The train winds along tho 

 edge of the rocks, and a look out of the carriage 

 window gives one a shock. The train is on the verge 

 of a precipice, and a glance back will show that half the 

 carriages are hidden fi-om view by a curve in the line 

 round the rocks. Vast stretches of forest are to be 

 seen. The line is a triumph of engineering skill. The 

 Darling Downs is a famous pastoral country, and there 

 are some large stations there. The German settlers 

 are generally most industrious and thrifty, and make 

 excellent wine. They are very hospitable, and nothing 

 pleases them better than for a visitor to call and 

 sample the contents of their cellars. Queensland can 

 boast of having the richest man in Australia, the 

 millionaire, Mr. James Tyson. Many curious stories 

 are related of James Tyson. He commenced life 

 when a lad as a station hand, and by dint of hard 

 work and thrift he worked his way upwards until at 

 the present time he is richer than he is probably aware 

 of. I believe, when the Queensland Government at 

 one time were about to negotiate a loan, he offered to 

 lend them half a million or so just to tide over any 



