By way of postscript to my journal, I append a letter from Mr. Randell, the enterprising owner of the little Mary Ann.
Adelaide, October 21, 1853. A. KINLOCH. Gumeracka Mill, October 17, 1853.
Sir,—In answer to yours respecting the character of the River Murray, above Swan Hill, I beg leave to state, that for some distance above the Point the Lady Augusta reached (Campbell’s), the flats by the river side improve in quality, and are more extensive. I observed many which were not flooded, which looked beautifully green and thick with herbage as far as the eye could reach. Many of the flats, as usual, were entirely covered with water; and even those that I before spoke of are very low, being only a few inches above the level of the river. For the last three days before reaching Maiden’s Punt (the highest point we attained), the river begins to narrow, and to be particularly sinuous, though not so incommoded with fallen trees or overhanging branches as many parts we had passed, both above and below Swan Hill. The banks begin to rise rather suddenly, and are clothed in many places with thick jungles of the mimosa or wattle; though of a different kind from any in the Adelaide district. I am told the kind is plenty at Rivoli Bay, also in Van Dieman’s Land. The bark is as good for its tanning properties as the Adelaide wattle. Gum and box trees abound as below. The depth of the river at Maiden’s Punt we found to be thirty feet, and forty to fifty yards broad; the river rose two feet while we were there, and was still rising when we left. I consider Maiden’s Punt to be a much more important place than Swan Hill, from the fact of its being much nearer all the diggings than that place (fifty-five miles from Bendigo, forty from Goulburn, and 100 miles from the Ovens), and from its being on the high road from Melbourne to the Murrumbidgee, Edwards, and indeed all the country northward. Maiden’s Punt is situated one and a-half miles from the junction of the Goulburn; and, from information I received, I consider that river navigable for small boats, like ours, within twelve miles of the Goulburn diggings.
I was informed, by Mr. Maiden, the proprietor of the punt and inn, bearing his name, that some short distance above his place, at the junction of the Edwards and Wakool—or rather where these rivers leave the Murray—that, at flood time, the channel of the river is lost among large reedy lakes, and that its course could not be found without native assistance—that the country is quite destitute of trees for a considerable distance. After leaving this part, the timber becomes plenty again, and continues so; the banks keep high, and continue to improve in quality; the river becoming more sinuous still, and the current much stronger. I do not think I have anything more of importance to mention, but should anything strike you, on which I could render you any information, I shall be most happy to do so.
I remain, dear Sir, Yours respectfully, WILLm. RICH. RANDELL.
Arthur Kinloch, Esq., Clerk Executive Council.
APPENDIX.
Enumeration of the quantity of sheep to be shorn in the present year (1853), upon the Rivers Murray and Lachlan, as far as Swan Hill, in the Provinces of South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.
| Owners. | Sheep. | |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. | Pyke | 20,000 |
| Westmeath | 40,000 | |
| Messrs. Sylvester & Smith | 15,000 | |
| Mr. | Lintott | 6,000 |
| Grierson | 3,000 | |
| Messrs. Phelps & Connolly | 12,000 | |
| Mr. | Beveridge | 10,000 |
| Hamilton | 5,000 | |
| McCallum | 13,000 | |
| Grant | 6,000 | |
| Ross | 7,000 | |
| Morey | 7,000 | |
| Gibbs | 5,000 | |
| McPherson | 6,000 | |
| Keane | 16,000 | |
| McGrath | 10,000 | |
| Jamieson | 10,000 | |
| Messrs. Crozier & Rutherford | 13,000 | |
| Mr. | Paterson | 7,000 |
| Bagot | 5,000 | |
| Chambers | 6,000 | |
| Mr. | Walker | 6,000 |
| Coomar | 5,000 | |
| Hart | 6,000 | |
| Walsh | 6,000 | |
| Haywood | 3,000 | |
| Scoott | 4,000 | |
| Fletcher | 12,000 | |
| Scott | 7,000 | |
| McLennan | 7,000 | |
| McLean | 6,000 | |
| McFarlane | 4,000 | |
| Cameron | 4,000 | |
| THE LACHLAN. | ||
| Mr. | Peters | 10,000 |
| Messrs. Phelps & Co | 20,000 | |
| Mr. | Wentworth | 50,000 |
| Laing | 15,000 | |
| Firebrace | 6,000 | |
| Messrs. Firebrace and Brown | 10,000 | |
| Mr. | Nyne | 40,000 |
| Total number of sheep | 443,000 | |
To this number may be added an unestimated amount of sheep upon the Darling River, amounting certainly, to 17,000; which at a very low calculation will give 460,000 sheep; yielding a supply of wool—at 2 lbs. per sheep, and an average of 250 lbs. weight per bale—of 3,680 bales; or, at a rough estimate of £20 per bale, £73,600; or, at the not unusual yield of 2¼ lbs. per sheep, £82,080.
| This estimate extends no further than Swan Hill, about 1,300 miles from the sea. To give a correct idea of the probable amount of wool to be derived from Swan Hill and north of the Murray, onwards, is not easy, but including the runs to Albury and Gundegai, and from thence again to near the junction of the Lachlan, it may be estimated at | 280,000 | |
| Again, on the north bank of the Murrumbidgee there may be set down twenty stations, depasturing each 4,500 sheep, or | 90,000 | |
| In Victoria, and on the south side of the Murray, from Swan Hill to Albury, not embracing the stations at the Campaspe, Goulburn, or Ovens, excepting those at their respective junctions | 220,000 | |
| Total | 590,000 | [31] |
In this calculation, out of 124 stations, seventy only have been put down as cattle stations, or unlikely to send their wool to Adelaide.
A third estimate of produce likely to go to the Adelaide market, and taking Swan Hill as a depôt, would bring in a very large quantity of wool, via Lake Lalbert to Swan Hill.