230 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



th'e south-west lies Gungal. Of these north-western towns, however, Merriwa undoubtedly 

 occupies the first place. It is situated on the ' Merriwa River and on the main north- 

 western route to Bourke, and is in a very thriving condition. At Worondi Hill, in its 

 vicinity, gold has been found, and at Portmantle coal and kerosene-shale. Throughout 

 the district iron-bark, box, pine, gum, cedar and stringy-bark flourish, and the soil is well 

 suited to the cultivation of wheat, maize, potatoes and the vine. But the country about 

 Merriwa is neither entirely mineral nor agricultural, pastoral pursuits claiming a fair share 

 of the attention of the settlers. The scenery near the town is exceedingly fine ; moun- 

 tains surround it, and their stern grandeur is softened by the: numerous streams that 

 have their rise in the Liverpool Range. A feature of the place is the fine bridge which 

 spans the River near the recreation-ground. Merriwa is famous for its merino sheep, 

 and the names of Brindley Park and Collaroy are well known to Australian breeders 

 and wool-brokers. Cassilis, on the Munmurra Creek, to the west of Merriwa, is the chief 

 town of a large pastoral district. The soil is very rich, being composed of basaltic 

 detritus. Beyond Cassilis is Denison Town, and still farther west Cobborah, which 

 belongs properly to the Dubbo District, being reached by coach from the Western 

 Railway. Cobborah is the last town of this north-western route, which stretches through 

 a broad expanse of highly fertile pastoral and agricultural country. 



North of Muswellbrook lies Aberdeen, situated on the Hunter River, and touched 

 by the main road stretching between Muswellbrook and Scone. Aberdeen is over six 

 hundred feet above sea-level. The country around it is both farming and wool-growing, 

 though the latter predominates. This town is also a railway station on the Great 

 Northern Line. Eight miles farther on the railway passes through the old settlement of 

 Scone. Although the elevation is seven hundred feet above the level of the sea, the 

 climate is genial in winter and warm in summer. The country in the neighbourhood 

 consists of well-wooded plains and gently undulating ground, for the most part occupied 

 as pasture - land ; but on the Kingdon Ponds, a tributary of the Hunter, wheat is 

 cultivated with success. The ugly cactus bush, known as the prickly-pear, has unfortunately 

 been allowed to overrun many fields, and completely beats the farmer, the cost of 

 clearing being more than the land is worth. From Scone the spurs of the Liverpool 

 Range may be seen in the distance, and about ten miles in a northerly direction is the 

 one burning mountain of the Continent Wingen. Closer to the town is a highly 

 romantic and wildly picturesque bit of scenery known as Flat Rock, a never-failing 

 attraction to northern tourists. Scone has the character of a sanatorium, and its climate 

 is as healthful as the scenery of its mountains is grand. Gold is found near the town, 

 though not in large quantities, the district being more a farming than a mining one. 

 Pastoral and agricultural pursuits are successfully conducted, the main products of tillage 

 being wheat, maize and tobacco. Wingen, the next important station on the railway line, 

 is situated on the Kingdon Ponds Creek, at an altitude of a thousand feet above sea- 

 level. Kerosene-shale and coal of good quality are found in the neighbouring hills, but 

 the village is very small, and is chiefly known from the proximity of the burning hill 

 of the same name, some three miles distant. After leaving Wingen the railway traveller 

 passes some miles of plain-country, till the train plunges once more into a mountainous 

 region, and passing through the mineral village of Blandford, rich in silver, copper and 



