34 NOTES ON THE RIVER GORDON. 



meiidou5 velocity, racing to the Gordon at 20 miles an 

 hour. 



Returning now to the Gordon. Above t^he Franklin 

 the Gordon is obstructed by numerous rapids. For 10 

 miles its course is through low country, about' fifty 

 rapids being met with in that distance. Following up 

 the river, deep gorges are met with up to the Wilmot 

 Range, 25 miles from Gould's Landing, and expert boat- 

 men are ab'e to reach this point. 



Tlie source of the Gordon is in Lake Richmond, 

 under the shadow of the King William Range, whence 

 it flows ttirough picturesque surroundings in the 

 Rasselas Valley, making a long and graceful sweep 

 round Mount \V^right, which is known as " The Great 

 Bend." From here its course is past the Thumbs Range 

 in deep ana rugged gorges to the eastern side of the 

 Wilmot Range, 20 miles distant, the last few miles being 

 throvigh low button-grass country. From Lake Rich- 

 mond to tiie Great Bend is about thirty miles, and the 

 total length of the river from its source to Macquarie 

 Harbour about 95 or 100 miles. 



Floods on the Gordon occur in April generally, and 

 are usually heavy. There is a break of frosty weather, 

 in June particularly, t'hen, from July to Noveni'ber, floods 

 are always prevalent. In heavy floods the river rises to 

 30 and 40 feet, and in ordinary floods to 20 feet. These 

 heights apply above Gould's Landing, where the river is 

 narrowest. From the Landing to the mouth of the 

 river, the flood waters reach the 'height of from 16 to 

 8 feet. Below Gould's Landing the current attains a 

 speed of approximately 8 to 10 miles an hour, although 

 in the narrower parts the velocity is very much greater. 

 At the second rapids, for instance, where the river is 

 narrow, and has an acute bend, as the waters career 

 down they dash into the bank at this bend, producing a 

 scene of the wildest confusion. 



Apart from the aesthetic side of the Gordon's attrac- 

 tions, its scientific aspect, as contributing a unique dis- 

 play of our West Coast flora, must become apparent to 

 all, and should alone warrant beyond question its rigid 

 protection against axe and fire. It is necessary that 

 urgent measures be taken in bringing about this pro- 

 tection, for already whispers of the erection of a saw- 

 mill arc in t'hc air, and this, if once established without 



