The History of Tasmania Volume II Part 34

_Arthur's Range_--a chain of mountains in the south-western part of the colony. The most elevated point is 3,900 feet above the sea.

_Arve_--a branch of the river Huon.

_Asbestos_--a range of hills extending inland from Port Sorell, in the county of Devon. Some of the elevations are 1,700 feet high.

_Auburn_--a village on the Isis, in the parish of Hill and county of Somerset. It is about 10 miles from Campbell Town, 40 from Launceston, and 75 from Hobart. Not far from Auburn is the remarkable hill called Jacob's Sugar Loaf.

_Avoca_--a township in the parish of Avoca and county of Cornwall, near the confluence of the St. Paul's and South Esk rivers. It is 99 miles from Hobart, 62 from Launceston, and 19 from Campbell Town. It is on the road from Campbell Town to the east coast, and contains a small episcopal church (St. Thomas') and school, a post and police station, and two inns. The police magistrate holds a court at Avoca once in a week. At the entrance of the township the St. Paul's river is crossed by a small substantial stone bridge of one arch.

_Bagdad_--a small township in the parish of Strangford and county of Monmouth. It is on the main road, 20 miles from Hobart. The country near Bagdad is fertile, and the road pa.s.ses by numerous farms. On the northern side is a beautiful valley, the cultivated part of which is two miles wide, bounded by lofty hills thickly wooded, and through which flows the Bagdad Creek.

_Barrow_--a lofty hill, about 13 miles east of Launceston.

_Bayford_--a village in the parish of Spring Hill and county of Monmouth, about 40 miles from Hobart.

_Bellerive_--a township nearly opposite Hobart, in the parish of Clarence and county of Monmouth.

_Ben Lomond_--a mountain in Cornwall, 5,000 feet high, about 45 miles from Launceston, and 15 from Fingal. A rivulet of the same name rises here, and falls into the South Esk, about 30 miles from Launceston.

About 15 miles north of this mountain is Ben Nevis, 3,900 feet high.

During winter these elevated points, which are named after celebrated mountains of Scotland, are covered with snow, and seen from a distance, they present a magnificent appearance. They form parts of a chain of mountains extending inland from St. Patrick's Head to the northern coast.

_Beverley_--a township on the Ben Lomond Rivulet, in the parish of Beverley and county of Cornwall, about 30 miles from Launceston.

_Bishopsbourne_--a village in Westmoreland, about 8 miles from Longford and 26 from Launceston. It contains a post station, an inn, and a school. Christ's College is situated here.

_b.o.o.byalla_--a small river in the county of Dorset, flowing into Ringarooma Bay, in the north-eastern corner of the island.

_Bothwell_--a town in the parish of Grantham, and county of Monmouth, 44 miles from Hobart, and 104 from Launceston. It is situated on the eastern side of the Clyde, in the midst of a level and excellent pastoral country, well watered. There are a church, (occupied alternately by English and Scotch congregations), a church of England day school, a library society, three inns, some small shops, a police office, and post station in the town. It has a resident a.s.sistant police magistrate. The population of the town and police district is 1,045; the number of houses 200, of which 72 are of stone or brick.

_Boyd_--a small river on the western side of the island, falling into the Gordon.

_Blackman's River_--a stream which rises in Somerset and falls into the Macquarie, about 4 miles south of Ross.

_Blythe_--a river rising in Devon and falling into Ba.s.s' Strait, about 5 miles east of Emu Bay.

_Break o'Day_--a stream watering plains of the same name, in the south-eastern part of the county of Cornwall. It joins the South Esk about 6 miles east of Fingal. The country here is from 500 to 800 feet above the sea, and is well adapted for grazing purposes.

_Bridgewater_--a village and post station on the Derwent, in the parish of Wellington and county of Buckingham, 12 miles above Hobart. The Derwent, which is about three-quarters of a mile in width at this place, is crossed by a bridge of wood, which forms a part of the main road from Hobart to Launceston, and is said to be the largest work of the kind in the Australian colonies. The river is spanned to a length of 2,300 feet by an earthen causeway, and the length of the bridge from the end of this to the northern sh.o.r.e is 1,010 feet, with a breadth of roadway of 24 feet; the whole length of the work being 3,310 feet, or nearly three-quarters of a mile. The navigation of the river is preserved by means of a moveable platform near the northern sh.o.r.e. The timber was procured from Mount Dromedary, 7 miles from the bridge, which was begun in January, '48, and opened in April, '49. The cost was 7,580.

_Brighton_--a town in the parish of Drummond and county of Monmouth. It is on the eastern side of the Jordan, on the main road, 17 miles from Hobart, and 104 from Launceston. The country around Brighton is cultivated and fertile, and was early occupied. On the right is a branch road to Jerusalem and Jericho, districts on the Coal River. On the left is the district on the Jordan, called the Broadmarsh. Brighton has a resident magistrate, a post station, several inns, small stores, and retail shops. The church (St. Mark's) and police office are at Pontville, near the town. The population of the town and police district is 2,582, and the number of houses 427, half of which are of stone or brick. Brighton is also an electoral district, for which John Walker, Esq., is the first member.

_Brown's River_--a stream rising near Mount Wellington, and falling into the Derwent about 10 miles below Hobart. The land on its banks is fertile, and is divided into many small farms. There is a village and post station here, 8 miles from Hobart, containing an episcopal church and day school, and a Wesleyan chapel. This district is celebrated for the fineness of its potatoes.

_Brumby's Creek_--a small stream rising among the Westmoreland mountains, and joining the Lake River, about 12 miles south of Longford.

Several streams rising near the Western Lagoon fall into it.

_Bruni_--an island lying between D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Storm Bay, at the entrance of the Derwent. It was named after the French admiral who discovered it. It is about 50 miles long, and varies in breadth from 4 to 15 miles. It consists of two parts, connected by a long and narrow neck of land. There are a township called Lonnon and several farms in the northern part of the island, and in most of the bays many fine kinds of fish are found in abundance. There is a light-house on Bruni Head, the south-western point of the island, and off one of the southern capes is a remarkable rock, closely resembling in its form the pedestal and shaft of a monumental pillar.

_Buckingham_--a southern county and electoral district. Hobart is in this county. R. W. Nutt, Esq., is the first member for the district.

_Buckland_--a village at Prosser's Plains, in the county of Pembroke, on the eastern coast, 34 miles from Hobart and 155 from Launceston. It has an episcopal church, and a police and post station. The a.s.sistant police magistrate of the district holds a court here once in a week.

_Buffalo Brook_--a beautiful stream rising under Ben Lomond, and joining the South Esk near Eastbourne.

_Burford_--a village in the parish of St. Alban and county of c.u.mberland, about 60 miles from Hobart.

_Burgess_--a township at Port Sorell, in the county of Devon, on the northern coast, 157 miles from Hobart and 60 from Launceston. It has a resident police magistrate, a small episcopal church and school, and a post station.

_Burghley_--a village on the Leven, near the Surrey Hills, in the county of Devon. It is on the road through the western district, about 60 miles from Launceston. The Van Diemen's Land Company has a station here.

_Burnham_--a village in the parish of Cambridge and county of Monmouth, about 40 miles from Hobart.

_Cam_--a river rising in the Hampshire Hills, and falling into Ba.s.s'

Strait a few miles west of Emu Bay.

_Campbell Town_--a town in the parish of Campbelton and county of Somerset, 89 miles from Hobart, and 42 from Launceston. It is situated in a level pastoral country, on the Elizabeth River, and the main road from Hobart to Launceston pa.s.ses through it. The town consists chiefly of one long street, in which are four large inns, a brewery, some stores, small shops, and an a.s.sembly room. There are in the town an episcopal and presbyterian church (St. Luke's and St. Andrew's), a Wesleyan Chapel, and schools. The river is crossed by a bridge or causeway, 200 yards long, and on the southern side are numerous fine farms. The road to Avoca, Fingal, and the eastern coast here branches off from the main line. In the town there are also a gaol and police and post offices. There is a resident police magistrate. The population of the town and police district is 2,319, and the number of houses, 255 of which are of stone or brick, is 386. Campbell Town is also an electoral district. It is considered to be the middle district of the colony, and the Midland Agricultural a.s.sociation originated here. R. Q. Kermode, Esq., is the first member for Campbell Town.

_Carlton_--a village and post station on the stream of that name, in the parish of Carlton, and county of Pembroke, about 35 miles from Hobart.

The Carlton falls into North Bay, below Pitt.w.a.ter.

_Carrick_--a township and post-station on the west bank of the Liffey and western road, in the parish of Carrick and county of Westmoreland, 113 miles from Hobart and 10 from Launceston. The Liffey is crossed by a bridge at the township. There are a small episcopal church and day school, a mill, a brewery, and three inns. Annual races are held near the township.

_Catemara_--a small stream falling into Recherche Bay, in the county of Kent.

_Circular Head_--a bold promontory, 500 feet high, forming part of a small peninsula in the north-west corner of the island, about 30 miles east of Cape Grim. It is seen at sea at the distance of 10 leagues. It is 280 miles from Hobart, and 160 from Launceston, and here the western road terminates. The town of Stanley, which stands on the eastern side, contains an episcopal church, a Roman catholic chapel, a post station, a custom-house, three inns, and some substantial buildings. It has also a benevolent society, and schools. There is a resident police magistrate.

The Van Diemen's Land Company has an extensive establishment here, and a considerable trade is carried on between the settlers in the neighborhood and Victoria, to which large quant.i.ties of timber, potatoes, and other produce grown on the fertile farms on the coast, are shipped in small vessels belonging to the port. The town and district of Stanley have greatly advanced during the last ten years, under the intelligent management of Mr. Gibson, the company's agent. The failure of the previous management may be traced to those general causes which have always prevented the success of similar companies, when they have attempted cultivation and grazing. Mr. Gibson urged upon the company the importance of establishing a tenantry, and succeeded in attracting a considerable rural population by offering advantageous terms to small farmers. The arrangements made with them, from the depression of prices, proved unfavorable to the company, but the prosperity of their tenants has probably firmly fixed a population on their estates, which will ultimately indemnify them for all their losses. Occupying a geographical position highly favorable to trade, and in the vicinity of extensive forests of valuable timber, there can be no doubt that within a few years their settlements will become of great importance. Within a few hours' sail of Port Phillip and South Australia, their timber will find an increasing market, and enable their settlers to turn to good account what often elsewhere proves an inc.u.mbrance. The population of the district, which is called Horton, is about 900, and the number of houses 137.

_Clarence Plains_--a cultivated and fertile district on the east bank of the Derwent, nearly opposite Hobart. It contains the villages of Rokeby, Kangaroo Point, and Bellerive.

_Cleveland_--a village in the parish of Cleveland and county of Somerset, on the main road, 91 miles from Hobart, and 30 from Launceston. There are a small chapel, two inns, a post and police station, with a district constable. The police magistrate of Campbell Town holds a court here once in a week. A branch road to the eastern coast breaks off at the township, and Epping Forest is a short distance on the Launceston side of it. The country near Cleveland consists chiefly of grazing farms.

_Clyde_--a river which divides the county of Monmouth from c.u.mberland, and falls into the Derwent above the township of Macquarie, about 40 miles from Hobart. It waters, together with the Dee, Ouse, Shannon, and Jordan, a fine district of the same name.

_Coal River_--a stream rising in the northern part of the county of Monmouth, and falling into the bay of Pitt.w.a.ter, at Richmond. The Wallaby and Kangaroo rivers fall into it.

_c.o.c.ked Hat Hill_--a name given to a hill on the side of the main road, 8 miles from Launceston. A fine view of the Tamar is obtained from its top. There are a post and police station, a small church, and an inn in the village at this place, where the roads to Perth and Evandale separate.

_Colebrooke_--a village in the parish of Ormaig, and county of Monmouth, about 30 miles from Hobart. It has a small episcopal church and school.

_Cornwallis_--a village in the parish of Cornwallis and county of Somerset, about 80 miles from Hobart.

_Cornwall_--a northern county and electoral district. Launceston is in this county. J. W. Gleadow, Esq., is the first member for the district.

_Cullenswood_--a small village and post station at St. Paul's Plains. It has a small episcopal church.

_c.u.mberland_--a midland county and electoral district. Bothwell is the princ.i.p.al town. W. S. Sharland, Esq., is the first member for the district.

_Deloraine_--a township and post station on the Meander, in the parish of Calstock, and county of Westmoreland, 132 miles from Hobart, and 30 from Launceston. It contains a small episcopal church and a Wesleyan chapel, and three inns. There is a police station with a district constable, and the a.s.sistant police magistrate of Westbury holds a court twice in a week. About 15 miles from Deloraine, in the Western Mountains, are situated the great caves, which, in extent and beauty, perhaps equal subterranean wonders of more celebrity. They have not often been visited; but those who have seen them describe them as being extremely grand and beautiful. The entrance of the princ.i.p.al cave, which is considerably more than two miles in length, is in the limestone rock, at the upper extremity of a narrow ravine, down which flows the stream which issues from the mouth of the cave, and extends throughout its whole length. The opening is thirty feet high, and fifty or sixty in width. At a considerable distance from the entrance light is admitted by two openings in the roof, the only ones throughout the whole extent of the cave, and when these are pa.s.sed the full beauty of the scene breaks upon the view of the visitor. Stalact.i.tes of every form, hang like icicles from the roof; some presenting the appearance of inverted cones, others that of glistening semi-transparent tubes, about the thickness of a pipe stem, and several yards in length. In some parts, the stalact.i.tes, meeting with their opposite stalagmites, form pillars in appearance supporting a roof of immense height. In other places they a.s.sume the form of elegant and flowing drapery thrown over the huge rocks that project from the sides of the cavern. The fringes of this drapery, when struck by any hard substance, give forth a ringing sound, and every variety of note, high or low, according to their respective lengths. The floor is covered with stalagmites of every form, and it sparkles as if paved with diamonds. If the visitor extinguish his torch, myriads of glow-worms are seen to cover the roof and walls, emitting a faint blue light, and making the surrounding stalact.i.tes appear like spectres in the gloom. As the spectator proceeds, new objects of wonder appear. In some places the stalact.i.tes, shooting out in all directions, into innumerable small fibres, appear like fret-work along the roof; in others like ma.s.ses of elegant drapery, extending fold above fold, to the height of thirty or forty feet, from the floor to the roof. Near the entrance of the cave they are of a grey or brownish color, but in the interior they are of a pure white. There are several chambers, some of great beauty, which branch off from the main pa.s.sage, and have been formed by the rivulet which pa.s.ses through the cave. Others will probably yet be discovered in the Western Mountains.