THE TOWNS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



245 



Rivers " District, and comprises all the fertile basins of the Richmond, the Clarence, the 

 Bellingen, the Nambucca, the Macleay, the Hastings, the Manning and all the country 

 north of Cape Hawke. South of this point the rivers flow south and south-east, instead 

 of east, and empty into the salt-water lakes along the coast and into Port Stephens and 

 Port Hunter, which constitute a middle-district between "The Rivers" and the South 

 Coast. The South Coast is similarly shut off from the interior by the main range, and 

 forms a district peculiar in its climate, soil and 

 products from country lying in the same parallels 

 of latitude on the other side of the Big Divide. 

 The Southern District pro- 

 per trends away along the 

 railway route from Parra- 

 matta to Goulburn, from 





KKMPSEY AND THE MACLEAY RIVER. 



Goulburn on to Murrumburrah, Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga and Albury, taking in the 

 few branch-lines that diverge from it en route. Beyond lies an enormous tract of country, 

 in shape an irregular tetragon. Its two towns at the extreme points of its bisecting 

 line of railway are Bathurst and Bourke. Between these lie many important centres 

 Orange, Wellington, Dubbo and Nyngan. On its southern boundary, and leagues apart, 

 are Hay and Wentworth. On its western edge is Silverton ; nearly in its centre is 

 Cobar. This vast territory is known as " The West," and out towards Wilcannia, and 

 beyond it, " The Far West." It is bisected in a curved line by the River Darling, 

 which, after a course of many leagues over the boundless plains of the interior, empties 

 itself into the Murray just below Wentworth. This splendid territory has been closely 

 identified with the development of the colony from its very beginnings. When once the 

 barrier of the Big Divide had been crossed the great industry founded by Macarthur 



