1 June, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 421. 
and cut timber. Beyond that, people know nothing of Northern industries 
nor of the great development of the various districts in agriculture, sugar, 
coffee, and rice growing, mining, timber-getting, &e. 
I cannot do better, to enlighten our Southern friends on these and other 
matters connected with the North, than by describing the country and the 
industries of one of the grandest agricultural districts in the far North 
extending from 
CAIRNS, 
on the coast, to Kuranda, Mareeba, Atherton, and Herberton inland, and from 
Cairns to the Mulgrave and Russell Rivers, and so on to the Johnstone River, 
Geraldton, Ingham, and the Herbert River. = 
The town of Cairns is situated on an inlet of the sea, on flat country 
surrounded by mountains. It is well laid out with wide streets bordered with 
fine shade trees, and possesses several very fine hotels and public buildings. The 
inlet is sheltered and deep enough to allow the largest coasting steamers to lie 
at the various wharves. ‘There is direct steam communication between Cairns 
and Townsville and the intermediate ports of Geraldton, Mourilyan Harbour, 
Cardwell, Halifax, &e., also northwards to Port Douglas and Cooktown. 
The name of the Barron Falls is no longer new to Australian ears, 
hundreds of southern tourists having been attracted to the district by the 
fame of their beauty and magnificence. There is no need therefore to describe 
them minutely here. There is one matter, however, in connection with these 
falls which has long since been mooted, but has come to nothing. That is, the 
utilisation of the falling water for the purpose of motive power, either directly 
through the force of the water, or for the production of electric power. 
A very small stream falling upon or passing under a water-wheel will 
suffice to turn it, and set mill machinery in motion. When we consider what 
has been achieved in other countries, notably in America, in the way of 
utilisation of the power of waterfalls, it seems surprising that the people of 
Cairns, with three exceptions, have as yet done nothing with this natural power 
at their very door. There are fine long stretches of the river above the falls. 
Here, as was once proposed, a large dam could be constructed, from which turbines 
could be driven, and no loss of water ensue, as it would pass into the river again 
after doing its work. Even during the present dry season, the upper and lower 
reaches of the, river are full of water, although no very large body passes 
over the falls. There is always sufficient supply in the high ranges to keep the 
river perpetually running. In addition to the Barron Valls there are others, 
notably one passed on the railway line—the Stony Creek Falls—which descend in 
three beautiful, foaming cascades, passing under a spider-web-like railway bridge 
to join the Barron. 
The scenery along this marvellous railway line as far ag Kuranda is most 
beautiful, and to a certain extent awe-inspiring. The line, cut out of the side 
of the mountain, curves and winds in numerous sinuosities along the edge of 
fearful depths a thousand feet below. The mountains through which the line 
asses are clothed from base to summit with scrub of great height and density, 
but the whole country is a mass of rock and loose stone which, in addition to 
the steepness of the declivities, must render it useless for agricultural purposes. 
Still the richness of the volcanic soil is demonstrated by the quantities of wild 
pepe trees, mangoes, oranges, &c., which grow in profusion along the edge of 
the line. 
At Kuranda and a mile or so further on, at Myola, there is a fair amount 
of land under coffee. Frost, however, occurs which does some damage. 
Nevertheless, I saw several plantations of well-grown trees in full bearing, and 
promising to yield crops of from 6 ewt. to 10 ewt. per acre. One grower, 
Mr. Street, has a splendid crop ready for picking. He manufactures his coffee 
on the farm, and puts it up in very attractive form in tins, which meet with 
ready sale. The township of Kuranda is over 1,000 feet above sea-level and 
enjoys a delicious climate ; indeed, at the time of my visit (March), the air was 
keen enough to make it desirable to dispense with light clothing and substitute 
Some warmer wearing apparel. 
