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Report on the Examination of Crown Lands etc. in the County of Wellington
Appendix I. Exploration, County of Wellington - From Roger River to Marrawah Plain
Appendix II. Exploration 5700 acres State Forest Reserve - Parish of Lerunna
Appendix III. Parish of Warra
Appendix IV. Parish of Marrawah
Appendix V. Parish of Lerunna
Appendix VI. Parish of Riengeena
Appendix VII. V.D.L. Co's Woolnorth Block
Appendix VIII. Parish of Williams
Appendix IX. Parish of Togari
Appendix X. Parishes of Malompto and Terragomna
Appendix XI. Parish of Mowbray
Appendix XII. Parish of Ford
Appendix XIII. Parish of Poilinna
Appendix XIV. Parish of Gibson
Appendix XV. Parishes of Trowutta and Meryanna
Appendix XVI. Hunters Islands
APPENDIX I.
Exploration, County of Wellington
From Roger River to Marrawah Plain.
This exploration was commenced from a point 34.30 ch. west
of the north east angle of the northern lot of 1,000 ac. in the name
of C. V. Boote in the parish of Malompto on an old line by E. C. Lovell
bearing 360 degrees. This line appeared to end at about 20 chains
and was not again noted. Commencing in poor country growing stringy
bark and peppermint a few chains of horizontal scrub and pine
was passed between 10 and 20 c. From 20c. to 57 c. poor peppermint
country, generally with bauera scrub was met, then [illegible] of horizontal
scrub, and again into bauera which ended at 73 c. and the country
changed to good first class land carrying man fern, cathead, myrtle,
big stringy bark and good blackwood to the one mile peg. The land
from 0 to 73 chains is apparently almost valueless either for land or
timber, and is flat and even, no point probably rising more than about
30 feet above the Montagu River. A few pines were noticed, but no
other commercial timber was noted in payable quantity.
This line was continued North, crossing a small permanent
creek at 200, and at 500 ran again into poor bauera and peppermint with
a few stringy bark which changed at 22 chain into fair second class
country carrying myrtle and blue fern, rather swampy which continued
to 34½ chain where the South boundary of Brittons Bros. 1,000 ac.
timber lease was met 16½ chains west of the N.E. corner. This line
is shown over 20 chains too far north on the chart, and my line was
overrun for about 50 chains through good country. No commercial
timber was noted between five chains and 34½ chains, the stringy barks
being old and rotten. This country was also almost flat.
Again running east from the mile peg through good land for
10 chain and crossing the creek I went through poor peppermint and
stringy bark country to the creek re-crossed at 23 chain, thence over
a poor gravelly bank with stringy bark to heavy horizontal at 45 chain.
As the country in this direction was not encouraging I proceeded no
further.
Commencing the main line westward on a bearing of 270
degrees from the mile peg, I passed through a good flat of fairly dry
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APPENDIX I.
From Roger River to Marrawah Plain (2)
country to 50 ch. crossing and re-crossing the creek flowing west at
2490 and 3010 respectively. This flat was here carrying very large
stringy bark and gum, myrtle, sassafras and blackwood. The land
though still first class now became more swampy carrying small sassafras
to 70 chains, where poor land was met with a little horizontal cutting
grass and titree, changing into bauera at 76 chains, the mile peg
being in heavy bauera and peppermint with a few good pine. The first
sixty chains of this line should average about 2,000 feet of blackwood
p.a. but practically no other commercial timber was noted. From the
1 mile the line was continued through dense unbroken bauera, with a
few peppermints and titree etc. to the 3 m. 23 ch. where a small strip
of fair sassafras swamp extended for 7 chains. At the 1 m.27c. to
1m. 36c. flowing water was noted a few inches deep, running northerly,
probably the creek following the line which had crossed in the swampy
land from the 50c. to 70c. Another similar swamp from 2m. to 2m.10ch.
flowing north westerly, represented the Montagu River, which spread out
to this width and averaged about 6 in. deep at time of crossing.
No marketable timber was noted up to the 3m. 30ch. where the country
was poor second-class flat carrying camel fern, peppermint, titree
and a little pine timber to 3m. 60ch. where the land improved into
fair class, carrying gum titree, sassafras, blue fern and a little
cathead and blackwood. The 4 mile tree was in excellent swamp
with 5000 to 10000ft of blackwood to the acre on the best patches.
A rough track was broken to the north here, through heavy blackwood
for about 15 chains and fair blackwood for another 15ch. and then
through cutting grass, titree and a few small blackwood to 40ch., and
similar country appeared to extend much further. From the four
miles westward the country was medium quality swamp at 4m. 18c.,
with a poorer bank to the north. This changed to poor second
class flat at 4m. 40c. with some fair peppermint timber and blue
fern, with patches of bauera to 4m. 75c. where stringy bark country
was met, but of poor quality gradually improving to the 5m. 5c.,
where a bank was met.
About the 4m. 12c. a rough line was cut to the N.E. end
of Brook's track through flat or swampy land of fair general quality
Back to Harrisson 1928 introduction
APPENDIX I.
From Roger River to Marrawah Plain (3)
except at the West end, where there was a poor bank. The scrub
was generally sassafras, titree, cutting grass, myrtle and a little
blackwood timber.
From the end of Brooks track (300.00 by chainage)
one of his cross lines north westerly was opened out, extended,
and chained, intersecting the main line at 4m. 72c. 80l. at a
distance of 56.70ch. From Brook's track to 15ch. was bauera
thence fair 2nd class crossing a creek at 26.80c. running N. which
crosses my main line at 4m. 34c. From the creek to the main line
the country was poor second class flat with blue fern, sassafras,
stringy bark and peppermint of which some of the stringy bark was
fair milling timber.
From 5m. 5c. to 5m. 16c. 70l. fair stringy bark
spar running into a good sassafras swamp a few chains to the
north; thence swamp to 5m. 24c. and up a steep hill from 5m. 27c.
to 5m. 31c. about 200ft high carrying stringy bark (not very good
timber) musk, dogwood, cathead and blue ferns. This hill
is a divide between the Roger - Montagu country and the
Welcome - Salmon River country and commencing near the S.W. angle
of the Arthur River Sawmilling Coy's lot on that river aims at
fairly uniform height and of similar quality, and carrying similar
growth for about ten miles at least, probably ending on the
Southern edge of the Welcome Swamp.
This hill falls gently to the West where the
quality is not as good as the eastern side which is grey soil of
very good quality. At 5m. 60c. the foot of the hill is reached
and a flat of fair quality carrying stringy bark, gum, titree
and sassafras extends to 5m. 70c. a fair creek being crossed at
67c. 80l. which runs out of 4006. The 6Mile tree is on a small
barren peppermint ridge which appears to run to the South east.
At the 5Mile a rough exploration north showed
poor stringy bark for about 10c. then titree and sassafras swamp,
with some blackwood timber and cutting grass, fairly wet, all
fair to good swamp, to about 70 chains where similar country still
continued.
At the 6 mile rough exploration south was through
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APPENDIX I.
From Roger River to Marrawah Plain (4)
peppermint and a little bauera for about 8chains then 1st and 2nd
class flat with bluefern, sassafras, big gum, leatherwood etc,
sandy loam to about 70 chains where similar country continued.
At the 6 mile going north crossed creek about 4 chains,
poor gravelly ridge for about 20 chains then hill of stringy bark,
musk, cathead, and manfern with some good blackwood, grey soil,
again reaching the flat about 60 chains with similar swamp at at
the 5 mile section. This fair swamp country still continued north.
Continuing westward the poor ridge ends at 6 miles 2½c.
where a flat of good 2nd class and some first class land, timbered
with gum, stringy bark, sassafras and titree extends to 35c. 60l.
The creek is again crossed at 6m. 21c. 40l. and 6m. 35c. 60l.
From 35c. 60l. a low hill rises to 43c. and again falls on the flat
at 6m. 50c. – it is about 150ft high, of good grey soil, carrying
old stringy bark, musk, cathead and sword grass and is apparently
isolated, the creek running round to the north and again crossing
the line at 6m. 53c. 40l. in good swamp with ends at 6m. 57c, where
it changes into poor flat. The poor land which carries peppermint
and patches of bauera ends at 6m. 75c. 40l. where the creek finally
crosses to the north flowing very slowly. Another little low hill
of grey soil carrying stringy bark musk and cathead now occurs and
extends past the mile tree to 7m. 5c.
At the 7 mile rough exploration south showed good
blackwood for about 30 chains, then gum, paperbark, titree, bluefern
etc, fair class flat to about 70c, similar country still continuing
south. No bauera noted.
Going north from the 7m. peg, horizontal scrub from 5c.
to 10c, thence big gum, small sassafras, titree, bluefern etc on
flat country, a little wet, first class land to about 70 chains,
and similar country continued north. No bauera met. From
7m. 5c. to 7m. 10c. good flat changing to poor bauera country with
peppermint and gums, and at 7m. 28c. changed into fair first class
flat, rather swampy with gum, sassafras, titree and a little blackwood
– about 3,000 to 4,000 per acre, the ground then rising slightly
to 7m. 45c. into stringy bark, myrtle, musk etc, grey soil over a
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APPENDIX I.
From Roger River to Marrawah Plain (5)
low bank, and down on to the flat again at 7m. 57c. The good
flat was crossed by creeks (or two branches of the same creek)
running north at 7m. 65c. 70l. and 7m. 68c, forming part of the
Welcome. From 7m. 70c. to 8 m. poor peppermint bank with a little
pine and bauera.
Rough exploration to the south at 8 miles proved
heavy bauera and gum for about 30 chains in poor country.
Going north from 8 miles, bauera ran out about 5ch,
thence swamp and flat of good quality carrying titree and small
sassafras, and a few smallish blackwood for about 80 chains,
similar country apparently extending further north.
Continuing west from 8 miles very good swamp was
reached at 8m. 7c. and 2nd. growth country occurred at 8m. 15c.
the country becoming 2nd class about 8m. 25c. to 8m. 50c. carrying
titree and acacia, 2nd growth with little or no rejuvenation of
useful timber. At 8m. 50c. land changed to 1st class loam
and at 8m. 52c. 90l. the Salmon River Tram was passed. From here
some good Blackwood swamp extends to 8m. 65c, into rising
ground with a few stringy bark and some cutting grass, a small
creek running north east being passed at 8m. 76c. 30l, and the
9 mile reached on a small hill of basaltic land carrying cathead,
musk and dogwood.
The top of the hill was reached at 9m. 3c, and thence
along similar country to 9m. 15c. where the good land ran out,
and two chains further the plain was met and continued to the
9m. 40c, crossing a small creek running N.E. at 9m. 28c. 70l.
From the 9m. 17c, the open country ran about 180° for about 30ch.
and the general bearing of the plain from there for about a couple
of miles would be about 136°. From the 9m. 40c. a line of 30ch.
across the heath and button grass, bearing 321°30' brought me
to the S.W. angle of the southern section of Duffs.
Having nearly a day on hand I made a rough compass
traverse of the tramline for about 130ch. south of my line and
also for about 40ch. north of that Coy's lease, and have plotted
it on litho together with the information obtained.
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APPENDIX I.
From Roger River to Marrawah Plain (6)
General Topography.. The route followed by me was in absolute
flat country except for the Lunta Tier of about a couple of hundred
feet in height which proves the remarkably level nature of the
country. The one or two low banks on the west of that Tier were
evidently only small and local. All creeks east of the tier
would fall into Montagu River, and all on the West would probably
fall into the Welcome.
Timber. Hardwood was generally confined to the higher ground
and was usually old and of no commercial value. With the exception
of a few small patches all the peppermint noted was old and
rotten. Practically the only stringy bark of commercial value was
noted about the 5m. and 6m, and in no case would there be sufficient
to warrant a tram being constructed to remove it. A few good pine
logs were noted in the poorer flats but in no great quantity –
in no instance would more than a dozen trees be noted in the same
patch. The poor country would therefore probably be of little
use for improvement for grazing, but of still less value for forestry
purposes. Right through the track, except on the poor country
blackwood was noted, chiefly in small quantities but in some
instances small patches might run into 10,000 or 15,000 to the
acre, and I have no doubt that the whole of it will eventually
find its way on to the market especially if the country is opened
by gradual settlement of the better land.
Soil: The soil on the flat is chiefly sandy loam on the better
country and sand on the poorer country. The line cut by me proves
to be in the very worst section across this country, the lines both
to North and South being almost uniformly good, and even the rough
cross sections showing better country than along the line. The
country is very changeable and the flat country frequently carry
apparently poor bank, which are probably much better than they appear
to be. In Mowbray Swamp instances have been noted where the flats
are proving excellent clover land, yet the little banks between carried
peppermint and even bauera scrub. At a conservative estimate 50
per cent of my east and west line is on good useful country either
first or second class.
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APPENDIX I.
From Roger River to Marrawah Plain (7)
The track has been well cut out and blazed suitable for packing but
is of necessity very rough in the heavy bauera, although suitable
as a base line if closer exploration is needed. The bauera scrub
made progress slow, and the isolation and difficulty of packing stores
increased this. The track will enable sawmillers to locate much
valuable blackwood and it is only reasonable therefore that the Forestry
Department should load any leases in the vicinity with the small
amount towards defraying the cost of the exploration.
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