224 



A USTRALASIA ILL USTRA TED. 



roots, striking down to the water-level, get nourishment from the under-soil without the 

 need of any deep ploughing. Five or six crops are obtained in the year, and year after 

 year, without any fresh tillage. The husbandman's labour is that of perpetual harvest. 



At the head of navigation is the town of Morpeth once the great shipping-port, but 

 whose trade has been largely diverted by the railway. It is, however, one of the 

 prettiest towns on the Hunter River, and is reputed to be one of the healthiest. A 

 branch line of railway connects it with the town of East Maitland, and it has daily 

 steamers to and from Sydney. Near it are some coal-pits, but the business of the town 

 rests mainly on the fertility of the flats that fringe the river. Morpeth is well laid out, 

 and contains several fine buildings, the Anglican church being one of the most picturesque 

 structures of the kind in the colony. Along the river-banks are the wharves of two 

 steam-ship companies which connect with the railway, the Hunter being navigable as far 

 as Morpeth to vessels of eight hundred tons burthen. The Government has here a 

 coal-staith to accommodate one of the main industries of the district. . The population 

 is nearly fifteen hundred, and the ratable property of the municipality close upon one 

 hundred and twelve thousand pounds a year. 



But the town for this district, or rather the double town, is Maitland, divided by 

 the water of Wallis's Creek. East Maitland, laid out on high and dry ground, is the 

 Government town ; but West Maitland, laid out on the alluvial flat by the river-side as 

 a private town, took the public fancy more; and, though occasionally liable to floods, 

 has become the principal business place. Expensive works, however, have been undertaken 

 to prevent the Creek from encroaching on the main street, which runs along the rich 





THE TOWN OF EAST MAITLAMi. 



alluvial flat, and which has on either side many interesting relics of the old order, and 

 some good specimens of the new. Patriarchal verandahed hotels look out from their 

 small-paned windows, burdened with many memories, and fine new four-storeyed buildings 

 of stone, brick and cement have arisen which would not discredit Sydney. Yet there is 



