outside world and between the different centres of population is regular
and frequent; in fact, in all the coastal and coastal tableland
districts of the State one is kept daily in touch with all the important
matters that are taking place in the world. In the home life there is a
freedom not met with in older countries; there is an almost entire
absence of artificiality--people are natural, and are interested in each
other's welfare. They are certainly fond of pleasure, but at the same
time are extremely generous and hospitable. The writer can speak of this
from a large practical experience, as for some years past he has
annually travelled many thousands of miles amongst fruit-growers and
others who are settled on the land, and, without exception, he has
everywhere been met with the greatest kindness from rich and poor
alike--in short, a hearty welcome--and the best that the house affords
is the rule, without exception. In brief, should any of my readers
decide on coming to Queensland, the only difference that they will find
as compared with the older countries is, that our climate is somewhat
warmer in summer, but to compensate for this we have no severe cold in
winter. There is more freedom and less conventionality, life to all who
will work is much easier, and there is not the same necessity for
expensive clothing or houses as exists in more rigorous climates. The
people they will meet are of their own colour and race, no doubt fond of
sport and pleasure, perhaps inclined to be a little self-opinionated,
but solid grit at the bottom. As previously stated, Queensland offers
exceptional advantages to the intending fruit-grower, and the following
may be quoted as examples. The ease with which fruit can be produced,
when grown under conditions suitable to its proper development, is often
remarkable, and is a constant source of wonder to all who have been
accustomed to the comparatively slow growth of many of our commoner
varieties of fruits when grown in less favoured climes, and to the care
that is there necessary to produce profitable returns. Here all kinds of
tree life is rapid, and fruit trees come into bearing much sooner than
they do in colder climates. In addition to their arriving at early
maturity, they are also, as a rule, heavy bearers, their fault, if
anything, being towards over-bearing. Fruits of many kinds are so
thoroughly acclimatised that it is by no means uncommon to find them
growing wild, and holdi