Page:Australia, from Port Macquarie to Moreton Bay.djvu/42

 occasioned by its great altitude above the level of the sea. In fact it is now considered as part of the New England country, and its features are exactly similar to the New England streams, flowing west to join the Peel river; smaller trees sparingly scattered over pasturage of quite different aspect to that on the lower MacLeay, and scrubs of Acacia pendula, now characterizing the scenery. There are several sheep stations on the upper branches of the MacLeay and Apsley rivers, but such is the rugged mountainous country intervening between them and the lower MacLeay, that they have never had any communication with it, or the settlers on it. They have, consequently, communicated with Sydney by way of Liverpool Plains and the Hunter; the land journey they had to perform to reach Maitland being upwards of 200 miles. Mr. Ralfe, however, when Government Surveyor for the district of Port Macquarie, discovered a road from that place over the mountains to the table land of New ' England; and owing to the exertions of the inhabitants of Port Macquarie, aided by the Colonial Government, a road, practicable for wool drays, was completed last season; and the wool of the table land settlers brought down by it to the town, and conveyed to Sydney in the steamer, which makes weekly trips to Port Macquarie. According to Mr. Ralfe, some parts of the New England mountains are 6000 feet above the level of the sea. It is one of the best sheep districts in the colony;