April. 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 249 



of the Yarra, and commences in a fairly thick forest of moderate- 

 sized eucalypts, winding round spurs, up and down, into gullies, 

 sometimes at the river level, more often a hundred feet or so 

 above it. Very few flowers were seen as we passed along ; 

 Lomatia ilicifolia (white), Lobelia simplicicaulis (blue), and 

 Candollea serrulata (pink) formed nice contrasts, but we were too 

 late for most of the flowering plants. Presently some flat ground 

 near the river presented a pretty scene — Tree Ferns, Dicksonia 

 hillardiera, were very numerous, with many square yards of 

 Lomaria discolor, L. procera, Polypodium punctatnin, &c. On 

 the other side of the river well-wooded hills rise sharply up. The 

 river is fringed with a dense growth of wattles, prostanthera, dog- 

 wood (Pomaderris), &c., and we get many delightful glimpses of 

 it as we pass along. 



In about three miles we reach Alderman's Creek, coming in from 

 the south. Up this a branch track runs to the crest of the divide 

 between the Yarra Valley and Gippsland, and, joining Whitelaw's 

 track, gives access to the head waters of the Latrobe, and thence 

 to Neerim. We were told that very fine timber is to be seen 

 towards the head of this creek. Here was situated, when Mr. A. 

 J. Campbell made his visit to the falls in December, 1904, the 

 highest — i.e., the furthest — house on the Yarra, but now the 

 miners' houses at Contention Creek, some four miles further, can 

 claim that distinction. 



We pass along through somewhat tame scenery, crossing many 

 little streams, and having some little trouble in getting past 

 fallen trees, till at length we come to a rough fence with a slip 

 panel across — evidently signs of man. A little further on we cross 

 Contention Creek, and the mining camp of Bromley's Reef comes 

 into view. Our arrival took the miners by surprise, and I have 

 since learned that they thought a circus had arrived for their 

 edification. The mine has been worked now for some two years, 

 and has produced some good returns. In some respects the 

 working is inexpensive, for no shaft is required, the reef being 

 reached by tunnelling into the hillside, while the battery is worked 

 by water power derived from the Yarra close by. The expensive 

 part is getting the machinery there. This is carted by horse 

 teams some ten miles up the Wood's Point road from Yarra 

 Bridge, then through the bush for about three-quarters of a mile 

 to the top of a very steep hill, where it is placed on sledges and 

 lowered by means of ropes to the river bank. 



Having rested for an hour or so, we again made a start, and 

 plunged into the uninhabited country beyond, with still nearly 

 eight miles to go to reach the Falls Creek junction. The 

 vegetation improved a little as we proceeded. We passed 

 through a fine growth of young Native Laburnums, (?oo(im lotifolia, 

 springing up after a bush fire. Several fine fern gullies were 



