The History of Tasmania Volume II Part 36

_Lakes_--In the south-eastern part of the county of Westmoreland lay several large lakes,--Great Lake, Crescent Lake, Arthur's Lake, Lake Sorell, and Lake Echo. The first has a circ.u.mference of about 90 miles; the others vary from 10 to 30 miles round. They are situated on high land, amidst magnificent and picturesque scenery. They are frequented by innumerable quant.i.ties of black swans, and game of every kind, and large flocks of kangaroos and emus are found in their vicinity.

_Lake River_--a considerable stream which rises among the lakes in the south-eastern part of Westmoreland, and joins the South Esk at Longford.

_Launceston_--in the parish of Launceston and county of Cornwall, is the second town of the colony, and is in lat. 41. 24'. S., and lon. 147.

10'. E. It stands at the confluence of the North and South Esk rivers, which here discharge their waters into the Tamar. It is 121 miles from Hobart, and 40 from the sea at Port Dalrymple. On the east and west it is bounded by hills, and on the north stretches the valley of the Tamar.

The town is well laid out, and viewed from the hills which overlook it, or from the Tamar, it has a picturesque appearance. The wharves, which afford accommodation to vessels of large tonnage, extend along the river which forms the northern boundary. Farther up are numerous s.p.a.cious stores and other commercial buildings. There are two large episcopalian churches, a handsome presbyterian church, a Roman catholic church (all built in the Gothic style), a Wesleyan chapel, two congregational chapels, a free church, a baptist chapel, and a synagogue, all neat and commodious buildings. The court house, the gaol, the house of correction, female factory, and several other government establishments, are large and well-built. Many of the shops, offices, inns, and private buildings are of considerable size and respectable appearance. On the hill which bounds the town on the eastern side, and commands a splendid view of the town and river, are many private residences and gardens.

There are four banks, four insurance offices, three printing establishments, and two bi-weekly newspapers. The princ.i.p.al public offices are the police office, the custom-house, the post office, and the port office. The population of the town is 10,855, the number of houses, 2,181; 798 of which are of stone or brick. There are an episcopal grammar school, a Wesleyan day school, an infant school, three episcopal day schools, a catholic school, seven Sunday schools, and numerous private schools. The public inst.i.tutions, besides the banks and insurance offices, are a mechanics' inst.i.tute and reading room, a library society, several circulating libraries, two horticultural societies, a benevolent society, auxiliary bible society, two masonic lodges, odd fellows society, rechabite society, and a teetotal society.

There are 70 vessels belonging to the port, their collective tonnage being 8,564 tons. There is also a floating dock. Richard Dry, Esq., the hon. the speaker of the Legislative Council, is the first member for the electoral district of Launceston.

_Leipsic_--a township in Cornwall, at the St. Paul's River.

_Leven_--a river which rises near Mount Gipps in the county of Devon, and falls into Ba.s.s' Strait, about 10 miles east of Emu Bay.

_Liffey_--a small stream in Westmoreland which falls into the Meander or Western river, a short distance north of Carrick, which stands on its banks.

_Lincoln_--a village in Somerset at the junction of the rivers Macquarie and Isis, about 95 miles from Hobart, and 30 from Launceston. It contains an inn and a few houses.

_Little Swan Port_--a boat harbor at Oyster Bay, on the eastern coast. A stream of the same name falls into it.

_Llewellyn_--a small village in Somerset, on the road from Campbell Town to the eastern coast, near the South Esk.

_Longford_--a town prettily situated at the junction of the rivers Lake and South Esk, in the parish of Longford and county of Westmoreland, 115 miles from Hobart, and 14 from Launceston. The population of the town and district is 3,829, and the number of houses 595, half of which are of stone or brick. It has a resident police magistrate, (who is also deputy chairman of quarter sessions and the court of requests,) a postmaster, and other officers. It contains a neat episcopal church, built in the Gothic style, several schools, a Wesleyan chapel, a court house and gaol, several large inns, a brewery, a mill, and many substantial buildings. Longford is also an electoral district, for which Joseph Archer, Esq., is the first member.

_Macquarie_--a river which rises in the northern part of the county of Monmouth, and flowing through Somerset, by Ross and Lincoln, joins the Lake after receiving the waters of the Elizabeth, Blackman's, and Isis.

The district through which the Macquarie flows, is one of the finest in the island, and on its banks are the residences of numerous settlers. On the eastern bank, about five miles from Campbell Town, there is a presbyterian church, having a resident minister. There is also a post station.

_Macquarie Harbor_--a large bay on the western coast, into which fall the rivers King and Gordon. There was once a penal settlement here, but it has long been abandoned. The country along this part of the coast, and to a considerable distance inland, has not yet been opened up, and is little known. It is high, and in some places rocky and mountainous.

Pine of good quality is procured in the neighbourhood.

_Macquarie Plains_--a district in c.u.mberland, on the northern side of the Derwent. It contains several sheep and agricultural farms, and the village of Macquarie, 39 miles from Hobart, which contains a church and post station.

_Maitland_--a township on the Isis.

_Maria Island_--(so named by Tasman), an island off the eastern coast of the county of Pembroke, about 7 miles from the main land. A narrow sandy isthmus connects the northern and southern parts of the island, and has on its western side Oyster Bay, and on the eastern Reidle Bay. The scenery is romantic and picturesque. The northern and southern coasts are high and rocky. In the northern part there is a remarkable mountain, 3,000 feet high, on the summit of which are two rocks projecting one above the other, called the Bishop and Clerk. The base is composed of petrified sh.e.l.ls. Near here on a small stream is the penal settlement of Darlington, at which are several government buildings, the residences of a commandant, magistrate, religious instructors, and other officers, and a post station.

_Marlborough_--a village in c.u.mberland, near the Ouse. The a.s.sistant police magistrate of Hamilton holds a court here, and at the bridge on the Ouse once in a week.

_Meander_--a small stream which rises in the western mountains, and, pa.s.sing Deloraine, falls into the South Esk at Hadspen. The Dairy, Quamby, and Liffey rivulets fall into it.

_Mersey_--a considerable river in Westmoreland, which rises in the western mountains, and falls into Ba.s.s' Strait, about 10 miles west of Port Sorell. Its mouth forms a small harbour, called Port Frederic.

There is a village called Frogmore at this place, where timber is cut and exported. Coal has been found in the neighbourhood.

_Montague_--a small stream falling into Ba.s.s' Strait, in the north west corner of the island.

_Morven_--a northern electoral district. It consists of agricultural farms, and Evandale is the chief town. The town and district contain 2,311 inhabitants, and 372 houses. James c.o.x, Esq., is the first member for the district.

_Mountains_--The princ.i.p.al mountains are the western range in Westmoreland, of which the highest point is Quamby's or Dry's Bluff, 4,590 feet above the sea; a high rocky range in Cornwall, of which Ben Lomond and Ben Nevis are the highest points, and the Eldon range. A range extends along the western coast, and another farther inland, of which the highest points are the Frenchman's Cap, 3,800 feet above the sea; Mount Arrowsmith, east of the former, 4,075 feet high; Mount Humboldt, 5,520 feet; Cradle Mountain, 4,700 feet. St. Valentine's Peak, on the Van Diemen's Land Company's estate, is 4,000 feet high; Mount Wellington, near Hobart Town, 4,195 feet.

_Neville_--a township in the parish of Abergavenny and county of c.u.mberland, on the Clyde.

_New Norfolk_--a town in the parish of New Norfolk and county of Buckingham, on the Derwent and Lachlan rivulet, 21 miles from Hobart, and 119 from Launceston. It has a resident police magistrate and post master, and contains an episcopal church (St. Matthew's) and school, a Wesleyan chapel, and another place of worship, a police office, a government house, an asylum for insane persons, and several inns. The population of the town and district is 2,226, and the number of houses, 389. The district contains several fine farms. Coaches run daily to New Norfolk from Hobart, and communication between the two places is also carried on by means of boats on the Derwent. New Norfolk is also an electoral district, for which M. Fenton, Esq., is the first member.

_Newtown_--a town in the parish of Hobart and county of Buckingham, 2 miles north of Hobart, and 119 from Launceston. It contains an episcopal church (St. John's) and school, a handsome congregational chapel, the Queen's orphan schools, two inns, a post station, and several handsome private residences.

_Nile_--a small river which rises near Ben Lomond and falls into the South Esk, about 10 miles south of Evandale.

_Nive_--a river which forms the western boundary of the county of c.u.mberland, and falls into the Derwent.

_Norfolk Plains_--a fine district in the north-eastern part of Westmoreland, between the rivers Lake, South Esk, and Liffey. It consists chiefly of small agricultural farms, and contains the towns of Longford and Carrick, and the villages of Bishopsbourne and Cressy.

Cressy is on the estate of the Van Diemen's Land Establishment, and has a small episcopal church, a Wesleyan chapel, and an inn.

_North Esk_--a river which rises in the Ben Lomond range, in the eastern part of the county of Cornwall, and falls into the Tamar at Launceston.

The St. Patrick's river, a small stream, falls into it.

_Oatlands_--a considerable town in the parish of Oatlands and county of Monmouth, 51 miles from Hobart, and 70 from Launceston. It contains an episcopal (St. Matthew's) and Roman catholic church, a Wesleyan chapel, several schools, a gaol, police and post offices, a military station, several inns, and other large buildings. It has a resident police magistrate, and courts of request and quarter sessions are held in the town. The supreme court sits twice in a year. The population of the town and police district is 1,873, and the number of houses 279. Oatlands is also an electoral district, for which H. F. Anstey, Esq., is the first member.

_Orielton_--a village in the parish of Sorell, and county of Pembroke, on the eastern side of Pitt.w.a.ter Bay.

_Ouse_--a considerable river which rises in the western side of the county of Westmoreland, and falls into the Derwent in the southern part of c.u.mberland. At the bridge on the upper part of the river, there is a village, containing a church and school house, and a post and police station. The a.s.sistant police magistrate of Hamilton holds a court here once in a week.

_Oyster Bay_--a harbor on the eastern coast. The rivers Swan and Little Swan Port and other streams fall into it. The road from Prossor's to St.

Paul's Plains is along its western side, and on the eastern side is Shouten's Island, where coal of good quality is procured. The bay has several boat harbors. There are several farms on the western side. There is a bay of the same name on the western side of Maria Island.

_Patterson's Plains_--a district in Cornwall, lying south-west of Launceston. It is watered by the North Esk, on which are two flour mills, and a bridge. The district has a small episcopal church and school, and a Wesleyan chapel.

_Pedder_--a lake and river on the western side of the island, named after the Chief Justice.

_Perth_--a town on the northern bank of the South Esk, in the parish of Perth and county of Cornwall, 110 miles from Hobart, and 11 from Launceston. It has an episcopal church and school, a Wesleyan chapel, three inns, and a police and post station. The South Esk is crossed at this place by one of the best stone bridges in the island.

_Picton_--a township in the parish of Dysart and county of Monmouth.

_Piper's_--a small river in Dorset, which falls into Ba.s.s' Strait, near Stony Head.

_Plenty_--a small stream in Buckingham, falling into the Derwent above New Norfolk.

_Port Arthur_--one of the penal settlements on Tasman's Peninsula.

_Port Dalrymple_--the entrance of the Tamar, so called by Captain Flinders, in honor of the hydrographer to the admiralty.

_Port Davey_--a large harbor, lying on the south-western coast.

_Ramsgate_--a village on the sh.o.r.e of D'Entrecasteaux's channel, in Kent.

_Richmond_--a town at the mouth of the Coal River, in the parish of Ulva and county of Monmouth, 15 miles from Hobart, and 100 from Launceston.

It contains an episcopal and a catholic church, a congregational chapel, a police office, post station, a gaol, and court house, and several inns. It has a resident police magistrate, and the population of the town and district, which consists of farms, is 3,144, and the number of houses 545, nearly half of which are of stone or brick. The Coal River, which here falls into the bay of Pitt.w.a.ter, is crossed at the town by an excellent stone bridge of six arches. Richmond is an electoral district, for which T. G. Gregson, Esq., is the first member.

_Risdon_--a village at Clarence Plains, nearly opposite Hobart. There is a ferry at this place, which was the site of the first settlement in the colony.