846 
The TROHI 1CAL AQRIOULTUmST. 
■ [May 2, 18 92. 
-(Af The propoied Skook Tex to be put on all stock 
imported into Viotoria. 
At the late diaouasioD on Federation in the Sj’dney 
Farliamont, no one aeemed really anxiona for its 
speedy anital, The fact ia Federation means a 
smoothing over of interoolonial jealouaiea, forgiving 
the past, and altogether starting a sort of ideal Millen- 
ninm, hand in hand, offering the cheek to the 
smiler, and one's coat to the robber. But that ia 
not real solemn Federation that was brought about 
In the United States by the hard ooment of blood- 
shed. It it a stern foot that Federation will never 
come nntil all Australasia ia ronsod to a common 
sense of danger in the panic of a oommon cala- 
mity ; as in England, the Unionists, the Irish Party, 
the Conservatives, though all in antagonism, will all 
oombine against a common foe. But here, there being 
no ontslde foe, save the British money-lender ; the 
individual Sulonios ere all taken np with interoolonial 
jealonties, Viotoria says that Queensland and New 
South Wales shall not flood the country with cattle 
and horses. New South Wales, on one side, sneers 
atA’ictoria's proteotive precautions and sohemes ; and, 
on the other, objects to Queensland employing black 
labour. She also wants to claim the whole of the 
Murray. South Australia objects to Victorian unem- 
ployed labourers flooding her labour market ; while 
poor Western Australia is straggling to maintain its 
difijnity as an independent colony. I have already 
written to you about “ Kanakas " and black labour 
for Qaaensland. This etock tsx deserves mention. 
At a late meeting the farmers and graziers have 
insisted in leagning themselves in favour of the im- 
position of a tax of £2 per head on all imported 
oettle, 2l or 3s per bead on all sheep, and £i on 
all horses. The go-ahead Vietorians, who are a match 
for the other colonies in the 'outooess and push, not 
eonteot with being tho only colony which insisted 
Froteotion, are now going farther ; and the graziers 
and fsimcri want to benefit too. Great beros of 
cattle and mots of sheep and horses have been 
pouring in from New South Wales, but Queenslaml 
aspeoially. The groat tuus in tbs uurth pour their 
huge wild cattle, fattened on the way, into Victoria, 
and the farmers and graziers find that breeding 
oettle and horses and also abeep, does not pay at all ; 
SO they ate going to keep out imported etock by 
heavy taxes, and thns raise the prioo of food. But 
now the buieber comei in, and other interested parties, 
who say " Bet 's have the ad valorem duty (that is 
duly according to value) ; others say, “No, let 'a have it 
by weight and weigh on tho American weigh -brnlge 
system.^ But the majority says: “ llsther value; 
look at all the valoating experts required to dia- 
tiognish between ‘ store cattle,' and ' fot oattle' 
and also other viei^ht ; look at the expense, time, 
and trouble in weighing up bnge herds of wild Queens- 
landers.'' Thus they are goiiigto tne general eleotim . 
No, that “ National OaUmity '' must come and reduce 
all to a common level of juutual protecliou, and not 
‘t I’rotiction " against each other. “ In union there ii 
itrength." Vou liavehoard that remark before,! daresay. 
My. experience of station life continuee. My bands 
healed all right In time, and I am more comfort- 
able when sitting down. The wild careering on a 
fiery “ mustang " champing the bit and tieok- 
ing its flanka with tho foaming spume from 
its month. The Orimean ahirt, and noekerobier 
loosely tied, broad palm-leaf hat, huge spurs, end 
dreed stockwhip. The bearded tauued face and stern 
voioa full of strange oaths, the oimpfire, tho “ billy,” 
tho “jumper,” tho blaokfellow. No, that ia not 
the real picture. Ordinary English dress, not ever 
riding breeches. Quiet smbling along f'enced paddocks 
or a perfectly broken trained elation borso that almost 
knows how to open a gale or cut out some rams. 
Deep tbonght, anxious tbonght furrowing the brow, 
as toe rider slowly ambles along under a fierce sun. 
No wonder be is silent and grim. Itshbils; tanks 
drying up; and sheep and cattle getting “bogged” in 
the still, soft mud ; foot-rot ; market afleoied by 
Melbourne depression ; absenoc of rain ; bush fires ; 
cost of rabbit-proof fencing round the run; and so 
on then a rousing lip and a 'smart center to leave 
aira cura a little way behind. Now we will see a 
number of graceful emus muviug rapidly there the 
liiiibor with a peculiar indulitiug body fixed on long 
stretching legs; now wo tee a number of those ridi- 
culous kangaruos who always excite my derision. 
They “loop'' away. Tho Hootch word for leap is 
more suggestive. After a little wo draw rein among 
a fine lot of cattle who stare at ua with bright honest 
but not altogether pleased eyes; or perhaps wo may 
fiod ourselves in a head of haraes who are decidedly 
more inquisitive and demonstrative and make ad- 
vances literally and figuratively. Then out of tho 
timber with the cool waters (?) of a mirage! Thou 
back to the comfort of the station, where cool drinks, 
and bunches of delicious grapes, and a oold shower- 
bath, refresh and brighten the dusty Buubumt ridor. 
Rahblta a o truly a curse. I have been wan- 
dering ou foot with mv gun; and though told 
that they are not worthy of powder and shot, 
aud though I fully iuteud to shoot ducks or teal, 
yet, the noblusbiug effrontery of the rabbit octually 
washing its complacent month with its paw» or 
peeping calmly ont of a barrow, or waiting at the 
entrance of a burrow till the very last possible moment. 
I say though I did not inten.l to waste ammunition, 
yet I was wroth like old Noah (no it was Jonah who 
waa angry with the creepat). Slop— Why is .Tonah like 
[■'» "lenager of a Ceylon Tea Eitate ? Give it up f 
Well, because — hs I hs ! he was angry with the 
creeper ! ! You can see that I made this up, by the 
coiiteit, as the padres say. To return to our sheep- 
1 foi.nd 5 ram among tho owes one day, but that whs 
not all. I fiiund eight ewes among the rams. That 
was very wrong anl forbidden, but still though naughty 
:t was nice aud natural. It'.s the way all over the 
world. When all tho romance and gilt wears off what 
do you find station life to be ? The gentleman-appren- 
tice or “ jackoro) ” works with the men, wire fencing, 
post-hole digging, or any /oh going. Ho gets what the 
men get, a pound a weik, and his “tucker;'' but that 
is only whi n ho has picked up somo experience and 
DM bis baQiifl ia & proper “ liortiy ” ootidition. He 
is called “ilister,’’ and fs respected by the men, if 
ha does not pitch to {anylice yarn with) the men, and 
get familiar aud exchange stories and jokes. He may 
ride out with one of the ham 0 with a small hoe like 
a “ quintenny ” over hie sheu'der and dig up ” burrs” 
(plants obnoxious to a ool grower ou aooount 
of the burrs) in the heat from 7 to 12. This 
“ knocks the creasea out,” as you will believe. 
Some youths pay £200 a year to do this, and gam 
“eolonial experieoce.” In a big station there will be a 
number of •' jeckeroos,” who live in the barracks and 
call at the “ hou'o ” on Sundays. Ttie station bauds' 
motto is “Go day, come day, God bring Sunday." 
Sunday is a day of test to man and beast. The men 
wash their shirts and moleskins, or read np news- 
paper arrears, or visit the township for a " droppy," 
or to have a “ pitch" (yarn). Only ihe Cliinaniau 
works. It is enough to give one fever to watch this 
man. Ue is of course the gardener. He begins st 
daybreak, and loaves off with t sigh of regret st 
night, when it gets too dork. I have an idea be 
splits firewood for the pumping engine at night. B® 
swears in Eaglish at the township boys who coni® 
(or mulberries and figs. These boys are as wild *® 
kangaroos, and provoke poor “ Faddy.” Then h® 
swears in Chinese at tho fowls who are slwsl* 
getting ill somewhere through the ftnoe, and th®'’’ 
working all the time, he begins to sing. I riro 
go away, and the slumbering possum almost 
from its branch, and the wild ducks flsp noisily “.P 
the creek. It Is far worse than Mark 'Tw®’® ‘ 
gondolier ; but it cornea from a happy heart. Solo®®“ 
had not studied the ant eufliolontly, end tookthtoB" 
for granted, when he told the sluggard to " K® 
the ant.” Why, some ants have slaves, and others 
hire sweet white bugs from which they mok nectar, 
and get quite Iszy and stupid. Salomon should 
said; “Go to the Chinaman, thou sluggard.” The 
Auetraliao workingman is down on the Chinaman 
on iiocouut of his clieap industry, but I have dis- 
