Trade: Exports: cattle and cattle products, £503,500 (Darwin exports £29,800, mainly cattle to Manila; this trade in cattle has since been discontinued). Imports £36,800. Communications: Railways (3 ft. 6 in. gauge), from Darwin to Emungalan (199 miles), now being extended to Daly Waters (36o miles). Bush tracks: c. 3,500 miles. Telegraph and Cables: Darwin overland line southwards (to Adelaide), also cables (3 lines) to Java, Singapore, etc. Wireless: Darwin and various cattle stations. Steamer: Darwin to eastern (Australian) States, monthly; to Western Australia, every two months. Inland mail services: 6 weekly (pack horse).
Darwin (pop. c. 1,400), the temporary seat of the administra tion, is well built and well laid-out with wide streets, has stone buildings and amenities (Botanic Gardens, etc.) and a natural harbour capable of improvement. The recently appointed North ern Australian Commission, as a result of careful and dispassion ate investigation, report (Dec. 1927) : "The reason that North Australia is not more developed than it is to-day is . . . certainly not attributable to a lack of natural resources. . . . Portions of the pother States . . . which are now thriving centres, had not, as a foundation, country of as good a class. . . . It is regrettable that people, many of whom are not competent to express an opinion, . . . should decry (it)." There is now hope that a policy of sober, scientific, and consistent development is being inaugu rated. It is significant that the first recommendations of the Commission should be directed towards the improvement of communications—railways—particularly the linking of the Dar win-Daly Waters line with the Queensland system via Camooweal —motor roads, stock-routes, ports—notably a port on the Gulf coast at the Sir Edward Pellew Islands to serve the Barkly Table land and farther interior—besides increased telegraphic, wireless, aerial, and coastal shipping services; towards improved water supply, and hygienic and social facilities (e.g., broadcasting), and towards the initiation of organised scientific research. (See also CARPENTARIA, GULF OF.) Central Australia (236,40o sq. miles) is an oblong area lying between latitudes 20° S. and 26° S. and longitudes 129° E. and 138° E. The flat-lying sediments (sandstones, etc.) which were the floor of an ancient (Mesozoic) sea were subsequently elevated and denuded and now form a plateau, highest (c. 2,000 ft.) in the centre and sloping down gently eastwards and south eastwards to the Eyre-Diamantina basin in Queensland and South Australia. In the north an extension of the West Australian "plat
form" stretches eastwards. (Cf. Murchison and Davenport "ranges," c. 1,000 ft.) Across the centre lie the Macdonnell Ranges (Mount Heughlin, 4,800 ft.), a series of parallel ridges and troughs composed partly of hard folded (Palaeozoic) rocks, the uptilted edges of the above-mentioned plateau. The main drainage lines originate amidst, and north of, the Macdonnell Range and run south-east (Finke, Todd, etc.) towards Lake Eyre. These streams, during a former rainier epoch, incised their courses to keep pace with the uplift (v. sup.) and have sawn through the hard ridges remarkable transverse gorges valuable because of the facilities they offer for routeways and for the impounding of water. To-day the beds contain streams only after rains, the lower courses being normally long tree-lined tracks of water-bearing sand and gravel. The climate is transitional between that of northern and southern Australia and shows continental extremes (Alice Springs [alt. 2,000 ft.] : ay. ann. temps. 84°-52.5° F with cool and bracing winters ; rainfall occurs throughout the year with summer maxi mum and variations from 28.5 in. to 5 in.). Mainly steppe country with sparse scrub (mulga, etc.), low scattered growths, and grass in good seasons, the earth lies bare and dust-swept in times of drought except where stream-courses, soaks, and water-holes afford a little moisture. Clay and stone desert patches occur and in the little-known north-west and south-west, and again in the east, are areas of sandridge, spinifex, saline flats (Lake Amadeus), and some scrub. In the more humid north-west are areas of sea sonal swamp. (Cf. North Australia.) After rains the country is transformed as by magic; flowery grasslands spread like seas to the horizon, streams and pools sparkle, life awakens and flourishes for a space. Apart from a little agriculture for home needs— some of it possibly by irrigation—the economic future seems to lie mostly in the direction of pastoralism and mining. Minerals— gold (e.g., Arltunga), mica, nitrates—a recent discovery—exist, the mica deposits being particularly valuable. Erratic rain fall, rabbits and dingoes are the bane of the pastoralist and little stability can be obtained until water-resources—superficial and been tested and supplies assured. Some 76,00o sq. miles have been let under pastoral leases or grazing licences but as in North Australia the conditions of land tenure seem to need revision. Given water—horses, sheep, cattle, and live stock generally thrive, as do also human beings, in the climate. (Live stock : c. 117,000 head—including 85,000 cattle, 15,00o horses.) But costs of all necessities—including fencing and mining machinery—have been prohibitive. Transport has been by camel, horse or mule train, but motor traction is possible and is increas ing. The overland telegraph line traverses the heart of the area and along it—with its Government wells—lies the chief route for stock and men. Apart, too, from a few mining, cattle, and mission stations and blacks' encampments, practically all the population (Whites: c. 410; aboriginals : c. 4,000) lives in telegraph stations along this route. The railway line (3 ft. 6 in. gauge) from Oodna datta (South Australia) is under construction and this will bring Alice Springs (q.v.) within 6o hours (c. I,000 miles) of Adelaide. Another line may ultimately be built from Alice Springs to the proposed port at the Sir Edward Pellew Islands (Carpentaria, Gulf of, q.v.) thus giving the area a northern outlet as well. Central Australia should not be regarded as a desert. With im proved conditions of water-supply, transport, fencing (against dingoes, etc.), and land tenure its stock-holding capacity, though it will never be high, will probably be very considerable in the aggregate. In particular new sheep areas await development here and facilities for movement (railways, stock-routes, etc.) will help to combat drought. The mineral wealth is a further asset and Central Australia will prove a valuable possession.