A FORTNIGHT IN TASMANIA.

BY SNAP-SHOT.

A party of four, including myself, arranged for a tour round the mining districts on the West Coast of Tasmania, and on Tuesday, 14th April, we left Melbourne bound for Strahan direct by the s.s. "Australia," an intercolonial trader of 500 tons. We determined to secure a few "shadows" before we returned, and with that object in view, one of our party armed himself with a kodak, and the writer carried a plate hand camera, both doing good service during the trip.

A theatrical company, en route for Zeehan, were saloon passengers by the same boat, and while pleasantly steaming down the bay we were all made happy and jolly by the musical strains of several members of this company who were monopolizing the "Social Hall," the best and most comfortable part of the ship.

Everything went well until nearing the Rip, when the music suddenly ceased and the curtain fell, as our little steamship began to roll. Most of us came to the conclusion that it was "time for disappearing," and made for our berths, with no desire to leave them until we arrived at our destination.

One Thursday morning before daylight we arrived at Hell's Gate, the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, and owing to the danger in navigating the narrow bar, our skipper preferred to remain out to sea until daylight. We had no option, so quietly submitted to the additional torture of being "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep" for another hour or two.

Everything comes to those that wait, and at last we were quietly steaming up the harbour, arriving at Strahan Wharf about 8 a.m.

We were not long in finding out the best hotel, and enjoyed a good breakfast, the first meal since Tuesday afternoon. As is the custom at this house, the jolly landlord quietly located himself in an easy chair by the door of the dining-room, and with a happy smile which we interpreted "pay here," willingly accepted payment as we passed out.

Sail, Tent, Tilt, and Tarpaulin Maker, MOORABOOL ST., GEELONG.

THE OLD SHOP. .

During the morning we arranged several excursions for the coming week, and before we left Strahan I exposed. two or three plates to secure a view of the Town and Harbour. Mr. Lyell was selected for the first excursion, and at 2 o'clock we left Strahan in a small steam launch for Tepukana, a distance of 6 or 7 miles up the King River. Upon entering this river an attractive picture presents itself. The mountains on either side are very high and steep, and the tall forest trees, ferns, and undergrowth, with their beautiful reflections in the calm stream, have already made the King River famous. Tepukana is the terminus of the Mount Lyell Mining Company railway line, and here we boarded the contractors train to proceed as far as the line is constructed, where we arrived at 5 o'clock. We then started off on a walking tour along the unfinished railway track, and arrived at the company's telephone station at dark. As we could not get accommodation for the night at this place we borrowed a lantern, and made for the Queen Hotel, 5 miles distant. We arrived at 8 o'Clock and found comfortable quarters for the night. On Friday morning we were up and off to the Mount Lyell mine, which we reached at mid-day, after a 10 mile walk through the mountains. The scenery here is simply majestic, and as the weather was perfect, we were able to expose a few plates and take several snap-shots with the kodak. We passed one individual on the road to Lyell who emerged from a bush track, and when asked by us what he was doing in this part of the world, he dryly replied "prospecting or any otherthing." He spoke as if he was out of luck, so tipping him a coin we wished him good luck and trudged on.

We dined at the Mt. Lyell Hotel, and after we had photographed the building, we visited the now famous Mt. Lyell copper mine. The manager (Mr. L. Clark) kindly escorted us over the mine and through the various tunnels, which satisfied us that a great future is in store for the district when operations are in full swing. Here we exposed two or three plates to secure a view of the mountain scenery in this locality. After leaving the mine, we proceeded to the Company's smelting site where the "great show" is. works are designed on a very gigantic scale, and the chimney stack for carrying off the fumes from the smelter is a landmark standing out in giant-like proportion above all the other structures.

W. B. WILTON,

The

LEATHER MERCHANT & IMPORTER OF GRINDERY, RYRIE STREET, GEELONG. A

CASH Purchaser in any quantity of Rabbit and Opossum Skins, Hides, Calfskins, Sheepskins, Horsehair, Beeswax, Tallow, and Wattle-bark. Highest Cash Prices given.

We left this place at dark on our return journey, and made good use of our lantern to guide us over the muddy railway track, which brought us to the Queen Hotel, where we again camped for the night. As I had exposed all the plates my hand camera held, I re-loaded with the aid of my ruby lamp, which I found very useful for that purpose.

We left Strahan for Zeehan by the evening train, arriving about 8 p.m. This is a busy mining centre, with a population of about 5,000, and the recent revival of silver mining on the Zeehan fields has given a fresh lease of life to this place.

We spent Monday in visiting some of the mines, and through the courtesy of the manager we viewed the underground working of the Silver Queen Mine. We had to dress. for the occasion in the orthodox "oilers" before descending the mines, and were amply rewarded for that extra trouble by the interesting sights we saw below.

Tuesday's programme was a trip to Mount Reid on horseback. We were accompanied on this trip by Mr. H. Marsh, a Zeehan resident, to whom we are indebted for this day's enjoyment. We were in the saddles by 8 o'clock, and off for a 26 mile ride along a road which made all the bad road previously passed seem good. We did not average over 5 miles an hour, and it was nearly 2 o'clock when we arrived at our destination. We spent about an hour at the mines, and then left for Zeehan, arriving about 8 p.m., fully rewarded for the rough ride.

On Wednesday we returned to Strahan, and experienced an amusing incident in railway travelling on our journey, which is worthy of record. When our train was approaching a very steep gradient, the pace gradually slowed until it came to a standstill. We were backed down the line for about mile, and a second attempt made to ascend the mount, which failed. Back we went again, and after sand was put on the rails a third attempt was made without success. "Never say die " is the driver's motto, and a fourth attempt was made with successful result, and off we went at full speed, arriving at Strahan hour late, which is nothing out of the ordinary for the Zeehan express.

We left Strahan by the s.s. "Australia" at daybreak on Friday, and after a very stormy passage arrived at Devonport on Saturday evening. We here bade farewell to our skipper, deciding to drive through to Launceston, and on Sunday morning started off behind a pair of very good horses. We changed horses at Deloraine, where we lunched, and after a very beautiful drive arrived at Launceston in time for tea. We met 2 gentlemen at Deloraine who were going through to Launceston on a tandem, and cyclists will be able to judge this road for a spin by their performance, who gave us 1 hour 20 minutes start, and passed us at the 24th mile post.

We left Launceston on Monday afternoon, arriving in Melbourne next day, with a strong desire to repeat the trip at some future date, and upon another similar trip I will not consider myself fully equipped without my hard camera.

THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHY.

SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL OPERATION.

ON Friday the Melbourne Hospital staff saw the first of what is hoped will be a long series of successful operations rendered possible by the now celebrated "X" rays. The patient was a man who had accidentally run a needle into the palm of his right hand. The needle was rusted somewhat, and it rapidly set up inflammation half way along the forearm. The location of the needle could not be determined by ordinary means, and Professor Lyle, who has experimented with the Röntgen process, was invited to photograph the hand, and if necessary the arm, of the patient, and on Tuesday last he did so. The result was quite satisfactory. The shadow photograph revealed the needle lying across the bones in the palm. Mr. G. A. Syme, one of the honorary surgeons, in the presence of the staff, on Friday made an incision at the point shown on the photograph, and the needle was successfully extracted."Argus."

A. E. BRATLEY, (From London, and late with

McBean & Son, Melbourne.)

Practical Chronometer, Watch & Clock Maker, Jeweller, Optician. and Silversmith,

467, Moorabool St., S. Geelong, near Barwon Bridge. Watch Work a specialty. All kinds of Horological Work done on the Premises.

A Twelve Months guarantee given for all Watch and Clock Work.

SOME CASTLEMAINE BIRD NOTES.

By F. S. BIllinghurst,

(President of the Castlemaine Field Ramblers' Club).

BIRDS are plentiful round Castlemaine, too plentiful some people say. Last summer the parrots were a perfect pest to the orchardists, so were the sparrows. Last month (May, 1896) I made a start to investigate the ornithology of the district and take a few notes, and having been asked to write something for the "Wombat," it struck me that perhaps these notes might be of some interest, although only those of a novice.

As I mentioned before, birds are plentiful here, and there seem to be a fair number of species. I shot specimens of 31 different birds, and saw a good many more during the month. They range in size from Aquila andax, which soars round Mount Alexander, to Acanthiza nana-dignity and impudence. I may say I did not shoot the aquila, I only saw him, and a fine sight it was too. Talking of acanthizas, the bush is full of them. They go about in little flocks, and the flocks often appear to consist of more than one species. They are so much alike, that one really often cannot tell which is which until they are shot, which is a nuisance, as I don't like killing birds I don't want, and at the same time I wish to get a specimen or two of every species. So far I have obtained Acanthiza pusilla; A. lineata; A. nana; A. pyrrhopygia; Xerophila leucopsis; Geobasileus chryssorhea and G. reguloides.

I have a large white gum tree in my back yard, which flowered during the month, and attracted numerous honey-eaters, mostly Ptilotis auricomis, sometimes as many as twenty at a time. Not so common is the P. fusca. Then there is P. leucotis in the bush, which I have only seen singly or in pairs, also P. penicillata, the "dick" of the local youngsters, which generally goes about in small flocks of four or five. chæra carunculata is very much in evidence with his harsh note, they always come round the town in the winter. Myzantha garrula may be seen in flocks of ten to twenty in the bush, and a fuschia tree in my garden which was in flower, was a great resort for Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris, four

W.

ANNEAR,

CABINET MAKER,

Antho

Y.M.C.A. Buildings, Ryrie Street, Geelong, (opposite Post Office.)

Furniture made to any Design. Pictures Framed in any Style.

Venetian Blinds made to Order.