Northern District of Queensland. 199 



against the real settlers in the hands of absentee speculators, 

 from whom it must be purchased. No man of small means 

 can become a squatter there, as he could in the early days 

 of Victoria. I have no doubt there are many runs yet un- 

 claimed, but no man can say what country is and what is not 

 already held under lease. All is darkness and confusion 

 from one end of the country to the other. A vast region is 

 all unoccupied, yet nearly all held on speculation, and if a 

 man of small means happens to find a run, and goes to settle 

 on it, he takes up a position perfectly isolated, for those who 

 ought to be his neighbours are all absentees. Not only has 

 he to contend single-handed against untamed savages, but 

 also the want of labour and all those neighbourly offices 

 and kind acts which those who have lived in the bush, as its 

 first occupants, know how to appreciate. 



If northern Australia is to be settled, the system of tender- 

 ing for runs must be abolished, because it is the greatest ob- 

 struction to the settlement of a new country that can well be 

 devised. • 



If young men intent on actual settlement could proceed to 

 that really good pastoral country, and, in my opinion, excel- 

 lent climate, taking their stock with them, certain of getting 

 a run by simply going beyond the farthest out occupants, 

 the whole country would soon be settled ; that, in short, 

 would be done in two or three years, which, under the pre- 

 sent system a quarter of a century will not accomplish. 



Perhaps it may not be considered out of place here to sug- 

 gest that the time has now come when a settlement should 

 be formed on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Such a 

 settlement would form another link in the golden chain of 

 Australia. It would be situated on the highway of nations, 

 and command eventually an extensive intercourse with 

 India, China, and the rich and gorgeous islands of Borneo, 

 and others of the Archipelago. 



