YORKE PENINSULA TOWNSHIPS.

Thu 10 Aug 1905, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Trove

(By a Travelling Correspondent.)

Yorke Peninsula forms one of the State's most valuable assets. With its deposit of copper ore at its northern end, the extent of which is not yet accurately ascertained, its inexhaustible supplies of salt in the south, with gypsum, magnesia, pipeclay, petroleum, and numberless other mineral deposits yet to be worked, the peninsula is no mean portion of the State. But of late years the farming industry has progressed so rapidly that after all agriculturists hold pride of the place as the 'backbone of the country." With the splendid winter rains just experienced, the crops all over are look-ing magnificent, and everyone agrees that the peninsula has never had such fair prospects before it as at present. Leaving Moonta the road runs south down the peninsula through some excellent farming country. For years the land from end to end was covered with scrub, and was only considered fit for pastoral occupation, but the recent advance in farming methods revolutionised the settlers', ideas, and now mixed farming is the rule. The land was extensively cleared and brought into cultivation, till now almost all the scrub to be seen is what has been left growing along the roadsides, making pleasant avenues of traffic. A good metal road runs for 22 miles from Moonta to

Maitland,

a thriving little township with several stores, the largest of which are those of Messrs. J. 0. Tiddy & Co., A. Whitelaw, and E. Edwards & Co. The Major carriage factory is an up-to-date establishment, with all the latest appliances for turning out first-class vehicles of every description. In addition it does furniture, upholstering, and cabinet work, employing in, all l8 hands. Maitland business people are energetic and go-ahead, with their eyes open to the pos-sible development of local industries. Just ;now' they are actively, developing a good copper show in the vicinity. The York Valley Copper Mining Company is the name of the syndicate prosecuting the work. The lode was discovered 18 years ago, and a shaft put down for 100 ft.; but was then for some reason abandoned. The new company sunk an additional 25 ft., and then drove inwards for about 104 ft., finding good ore all the way. Then a new shaft was put down, and good ore found. Fossicking in the old shaft revealed a vein of ore about SO ft. from the surface, and a drive in from this towards the new shaft follows a vein of high-grade yellow ore about 4 ft. 6 in. wide.. This seems to prove the property a valuable one, and doubtless it will soon be on the " market for capitalisation, and should eventually give good results. From Maitland a beautiful ijoad leads past more thriving farms, through, the German settlement of South Kilkerran to'

Port Victoria,

on the west coast of Yorke Peninsula, as pretty and attractive a watering' place as is to be found anywhere. A good jetty gives access to deep water, while ai a shovt distance from the shore excellent fishing is to be had. There is also good shooting in the neighborhood, and for those on the lookout for 'some new place for a summer vacation Port Victoria is well worth a trial. Twenty-four miles pleasant travel-ling back towards the centre of the peniasula brings one past the first salt lake en 'countered, through the embryo township of Wauraltee and Mount Rat "to

Minlaton.

The country around here is park-like. The larger scrubs have mostly been left standing, when the undergrowth was cleared, and now the rich grass and growing crops, with their carpet of vivid green stretching in endless vistas under the spreading trees, make up a most pleasing scene. Minlaton itself is another go-ahead township, having in recent years added several fine stores and dwellings to its rateable value. A fine large hall has just been completed as an annexe to the institute, and its appearance both inside and out reflects credit on builder, architect, and township. Messrs. Treherne, Matthews, Odgers, and Marlow are the principal storekeepers, and the fact that ali' do good business is sufficient guarantee of the district's prosperity. Following the main road down we come to

Yorketown,

"where the salt comes from;" at least Yorketown, besides being the capital of southern Yorke Peninsula, is about the centre of the now famous salt lakes district. These freaks of nature are scattered all round for miles, nearly every farm counting one or more within its boundaries, varying from a hundred square yards in extent to as many acres. . When the district was first settled these water-filled hollows were the despair of the settler, and considerably affected land values. Sections containing a salt lake could hardly be given away, and were taken up grumblingiy. Now he is cçjmted a lucky man who has a really good salt lake on his property, for the rent received from salt companies for the right to scrape salt, in many cates exceeds the original rent asked for the whole farm. A curious thing about these lakes is that not all of them produce salt. Adjacent lakes, though similar in appearance, surroundings, and depth, do not give the same results, for no hitherto discovered reason, Yorke-town has a most attractive thriving appearance, and during the salt season, when hundreds of men find casual employment, a brisk ti ade is done by the various store-keepers, while the two hotels find it dimcult to cope with the demand for accommo-dation. Mrs. Stockings, of the Melville Hotel, is having an extra story added to a portion of her house, to contain six bed-rooms. 'A fine hall is being built on to the local institute. Mr. M. Erichsen is one of the poioneer business men on Yorke Peninsula, and is still well to the fore, his fine, commodious store being one of the most up-to-date in the State. Messrs. Woods and McFarlane run him very close, and between them visitors and residents can rely on securing goods equal to city supplies. The Catholic Church of Yorke-town is a handsome stone edifice, and stands out prominently in the landscape. It would do credit to a larger city, and speakg well for the community responsible for its erection. From Yorketown to

Edithburgh

is a distance of about nine miles-taking a straight line over the surface of,-the road, but following the endless accession of rues and holes, it must be quite double that distance. This section is the only break in the otherwise excellent roads. Of course it is inévitable, for this porlion of the road carries most of the heavy carting from the various salt lakes to the Edithburgh refineries. A harder quality of stone is necessary to stand the severe strain, 'and render the road-at all pleasureable for lighter traffic. Edithburgh owes its prosperity to the salt industry, and pre-sent land values make one wish mightily that one's progenitor had invested an odd. £50 here when the State was young. The salt refineries employ a large number of hands all the year round, and during the summer months, when the harvest has to be gathered from the various lakes, hun-dreds of men" are required. This is an industry that wants protecting, and de-serves it. A duty on imported salt would keep out the stuff now dumped on our mar-kets by vessels that bring it out as ballast, without raising the price of the local ar-ticle to the consumer, as there is enough salt available on the peninsula and else-where to supply all Australia, and the quality is good enough for anyone. Edith-burgh is a popular seaside re-ort as well as a manufacturing town. It has a bracing, breezy atmosphere-the wind coming up fresh from the billows of the gulf, and putting vigor into vitiated lungs. Mount ijofty can bo dimly seen across the tossing miles of sea the hovering cloud of .smoke over Port Adelaide, and in the foreground Troubridge lighthouse and island.

Coobowie,

lying a few miles north, up the shores of St. Vincent Gulf, is another pleasant little watering place which attracts its quota of --unimer visitors. For those who like a retired spot, easy of access, yet out of rho usual beaten track of holidaymakere, Coobowie is an ideal spot.

Stansbury

is also an attractive seaside resort, and offers ' allurements of its own to visitors, le possesses a beautiful stretch of curving, sandy beach, while the new jetty recently built should develop trade and make it more nopular as a resort. It only re-quires" a little energy and co-operation among its business men to make Stansbury oue of the most popular seaside resorts in the State. Its situation is in its favor, as from it radiate good roads to the principal towns of the Peninsula, and enjoyable ex-cursions by cycle, motor, or carriage can be made from here.

Port Vincent

lies still farther up the coast, and though consisting only of a short jetty, hotel, small store, and come farmhouses, is. a popular place during summer. Yachting parties from Port Adelaide are fond'of a run over to Port Vincent, as deep water allows of a near approach to the shore, and the hotel accommodation is frequently heavily taxed. Recently the channel approach to the jetty has been deepened, and a'deck added to the wharf.

Curramulka

is the centre of a highly successful farmi district, and 'though not attractive in

outward appearance, is a good busin town. In this vicinity there is a rema: able cavp or hole- in the ground, fr< which an underground channel runs, it said, "for miles." No one is 'known

have penetrated to its end, and it is si posed to be one of the many presumed v derground watercourses that drain Yor Peninsula. A peculiar feature of the Pen sula is the entire absence of creeks or wat' courses. Not once does the road cross creek of any sort, and one never sees ditch. Where the surplus water runs.

is a mystery. Even during this exceedii ly wet winter no créeles are to be seen, a: very few pools of water even along t roads. ' The sub-strata is a porous lin stone, and probably the water soa through this and finds its way by undi ground channels to the sea.

Ardrossan

is another small seaport, and serves as ti outlet of a large and prosperous, farmi: district. Its progress during the pa twelve months has been most marked,

bank and several houses have b&en créete and substantial additions made to businc premises.* Those of the Clarence Smi toundry and' implement works have had

be extended to cope with the increasii business. Ardrossan is destined to be o; of the most successful townships on ti Peninsula. Its business men work well an amicably together, and have the gencr welfare of the town at heart. As mention! in a previous description of'Ardrossan, tfa is really an ideal place for a summer ho day. The cliffs along the beach afford most grateful shade from" boiling suinrn suns, and invalids could sit enjoying ti sea breeze here, who could not stand ti fierce heat that beats onJsand and,shing in some seaside towns. -1- t -

Port Price

is unfortunately not one of the beauty sp'ot being merely called into existence by reson of the shipping facilities afforded by creek which runs through the mangrove growing on the flats at the head of St. Vii cent Gulf. It is a good district for shooi ing, and its atmosphere is warranted t raise 'a good appetite in the most hardene dyspeptic. A substantial hotel providt good accommodation.

Arthurton

is another place which cannot boast a beat tiful situation, but ics inhabitants are de ing their best to remedy this oversight o Nature, and have planted young trees dow, each side of the principal thoroughfare. Th hotel is comfortable, and Mr. Crosbie, th principal smrekeeper, is an energetic, up-to-date business man.

This practically comprises all the Penisula townships, r excluding Moonta, Wallaroo, Kadina, and Paskeville. The whol district reminds one of some parts of th Scotch lowlands. For instance, the linu stone boulders that once covered the lam have been industriously collected and buil into houses, sheds, and. fences. These divi sious are very reminiscent of the "dykes,' as similar structures are called in Scotland St. Vincent Gulf, -with its pretty shores am many embryo watering-places, is not unlik the Firth of Clyde, where are such famou watering-places as Rothesay, Dunoon, Bute Greenock, Dumbarton, and others, betweei which and Glasgow ply fleets of beautifu fast steamers, crowded with holiday-maker; every day of the week in summer, and al ways on holidays. The gulf is bound to bi Adelaide's chief health resort, and it is no too wild a fancy to believe that at somi future date it will be dotted over with < fleet of pleasure steamers.

Another, thing reminiscent L of Scotland ii the brand of weather in general use on the Peninsula this winter, lf cis the Scotchies! ever encountered out of the land of the "Scotch mist." It is generally believed however, that the supply is exhausted, and a better kind will be available during summer.

The roads right through the Peninsula are better than excellent. There are no creeks, and practically no hills, so cycling or motor-ing is a delight. Motor cars are growing very popular in the district, and a good in vestment for an enterprising hotelkeeper at some seaside town would be a motor foi hiring out to visitors. Care would require to be exercised in selecting a car from somt approved strain, in order to avoid the expe-rience of a certain Peninsula doctor, who is said to start off on a sudden call in his motor, followed by his man with a trap and a pair of horses in case the motor fails to "get" the whole distance. It seldom does, so rumor says, and the buggy invariably comes up opportunely. (This is not guaranteed.)

Somewhere between Arthurton and Paskeville lies the region familiar to all 'Advertiser' readers as Green's Plains. I tried to locate the Green's Plains correspondent. but would not recommend anyone else to try the same experiment. There are too many of him. The first one I met was mending a fence. After passing the time of day I asked 'if this was Green's Plains? 'Well, yes it is.' 'Do you know clie Greens Plains correspondent?' I asked eagerly. 'Guess I do,' he replied. 'I'm him.' 'Delighted .to meet you,' I cried. 'Do you care for a whisky?' 'Don't mind,' was ? the prompt answer, and we had. one. 'Good whisky, that/' says he. 'It is; have another?' He did. After a little conversation, in which I vainly tx'ied to see a joke, I asked him bluntly 'What was his latest joke?' 'You'll see it in the paper to-morrow— that's. good whisky: what brand is it?' he eaid rapidly, I told him, and he sampled it again. It was time ' (o go if I wisfted to save a drop, so we parted. Later on in the day I struck another likely-looking chap, and asked him if he knew the Green's Plains correspondent. He whispered, 'Keep it dark! I'm the man.' 'You don't say so,' I said, asj: tonished. 'Fact!' eays he. 'Here's my latest,' and lie produced a cutting of the last Green's Plain yarn. That was proof positive, so I shook his horny hand and offered him the last of the whisky.. He took the lot. Farther on I met an old man who. looked the soul of honor, so I .asked him if . the man I last met was the famous correspondent. 'Not him!' he replied contemptuously. 'Well, is it Mr. ? ? , near Arthurton?' 'No!' he said with some heat. 'Did that old rascal say ho was? I'll have to put a stop to this. He's claimed that several times now, but I am the Green's Plains correspondent, and I ? ' but I was tiled, and my whisky all done, so I left. Now I am credibly Informed that the G.P.C. is a Rechabite ! ?