, 04 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



plain,, and the millions of kiirrajongs, myalls and mnlgas had never been cropped on 

 their lower boughs by the cattle in seasons of distress. Nature's reserves were sufficient 

 -land the severest trials, and the only anxiety of teamsters and bullock-drivers, even 

 in the driest M-a^ons. was to make from water to water. Still a little farming was 

 successfully carried on, the grain was carted thirty tedious miles to the Wellington mill, 

 and back again as (lour. Hut after the Land Act of 1861 many selectors settled on 

 the fertile soil. In 1X72 the town hail become so considerable that it was proclaimed a 

 municipality, and stores, hotels and banks followed in the wake of the settlers. For a 

 few subsequent years there were abundant rains ; the country was prosperous and rich 

 in promise ; sheep and cattle multiplied on the land. Not only frontages and fertile flats, 

 lull hack-blocks, naturally waterless, were taken up and fully stocked. The fat years 

 passed, a long lean time succeeded a monotonous drought, broken only by one interval, 

 and lasting for ten years ; and yet, in spite of heavy losses, the occupation of the 

 country has survived the test. 



The town of Dubbo is a busy one, with enlarging industries, and about it are all 

 the indications of stout-hearted occupation and steady advance. Nor is this surprising, 

 for it is not a village set in a pastoral wilderness, but the farthest western outpost of 

 prosperous agriculture. All down the Macquarie anything from maize to wheat, and from 

 cotton to potatoes, may be grown abundantly. For many miles along its farthest course 

 the River consists of a series of basin-like depressions, sliut in and divided by bars of 

 rock ; at varying distances below its present bed extends a stratum of loose drift or 

 gravel, which, touched by a shaft or boring-tube, yields a pure and never-failing supply 

 of water. The township of Dubbo lies within one of these basins, and numerous wind- 

 mills in ever green gardens irrigate the thirsty soil. The Dubbo basin was probably at 

 one time a lake or marsh, similar to those still existing lower down the River, and 

 this was gradually filled up by the detritus brought down by the higher levels, a 

 narrow channel only being kept open. The surface-river is but the visible drainage- 

 channel ; the permanent waters lie below, saved from pollution and heat by the easily- 

 pierced coating of over-lying earth. This under-ground supply of water has an important 

 bearing on the future of the district; as, in addition to meeting all domestic demands, 

 it will furnish enough for a limited irrigation. Every settler can have his well and his 

 wind-mill, with not only a full supply for domestic luxury, but for all the requirements of 

 garden, orchard and paddock. The area capable of irrigation is large, and the agri 

 culture of the future will have wide scope in providing provender for the pastoral 

 stations on either side. Xor does the future prosperity of the town depend on 

 agriculture and pastoral work alone. Coal crops up in the neighbourhood, and on the 

 Baltimore Mountain one seam nearly six feet in thickness has been opened out. The 

 country to the north-west is known to be rich in copper ore, and it is reasonable to 

 look forward to the establishment of a large smelting industry. At present, however, 

 Dubbo is little more than a pleasant village, with comfortable cottage-homes and the usual 

 commercial and public buildings. The district is healthful and the children thrive, though not 

 with such promise in their limbs, or roses in their faces, as are seen on the table-lands. 



the traveller follows the line of the railway more to the north-west, he notes 

 that the aspect of the country gradually changes. The trees fall back, the plains 



