This stream turned the great wheel of the flour mill, and from it the beer was made in the early days. But the brewery now possesses a dam and pipehead way up towards the summit of the mount. It is from this point that a track leads up the side of Wellington. I am told that this is of much more interest than the ordinary road previously described. But it is by far the hardest point of ascent. To attempt this you must gird up your loins, for much exertion will be demanded of you before you reach the summit, and, lying down in the luxury of rest after labor, are possessed by -
The solemn rustling sweep
From wings of silence, and the earth's great psalm,
Intoned forever by the mountain's calm.
The malt floors are a wondrous sight at the Cascade Brewery. Everything here is on a grand scale. The 3-feet stone walls, the massive blue gum posts, as firm and solid now as when they were erected nigh 70 year ago — everything shows that this brewery was made to stand. The cooperage ad the coopers are very interesting. But most interesting to me is the assemblage when the bell rings at 3.50 for "beer time." Then work is suspended, and the hands all flock in with their billies, and each man has his pint of beer, which, he drinks as he smokes until the bell rings again at 4 o'clock. The same promramme takes place in the morning, and at midday and evening the men can each take home a pint of beer to their meal. There is no muzzling of the oxen which treadeth out the corn. They all look well and hearty. There is one old man over 70 who takes his ale with the relish of a youth. But it is all the effect of climate. A I tell Mr. Todd, in the South Seas the beer drinkers die, and the gin drinkers live. In Tasmania it is different. The mixture known to the London police officer as "dog's nose" is reputed to be a safe drink.
Inside the gates we are received by Mr. Todd, the brewer and manager, a gentle man still young in years though old in the art and mystery of his craft. His house is an eyrie on the hillside above the brewery, the sort of place & Switzer might inhabit. But Mr, Todd thinks nothing of this, walking to and from his home several times in the day. When he proposes that we shall ascend to the top floors of the buildings, I explain that I am not a Highlander, and that my ancestors did not develop muscular legs by running away from the Glasgow Bailies. But the Cascade Brewery possesses lifts which run from cellar to loft, and with ease one inspects the vats and mashes and inhales the fragrance of the hops in brew, which is considered to be a splendid tonic and cure for influenza. Down in the cellars there are, as it seems, miles of casks of all sizes. I sample both ale and beer, at first with a reluctance only overcome by a sense of duty, but afterwards because I like it. In Tasmania, as in England, several classes of malt liquor are turned out from the same brewery, generally divided into ale and beer. The latter is a light drink, very like English harvest beer. The former is like harvest home ale. This Cascade brew is nothing if not English in flavor. It reminds me of the Stratford-on-Avon ale, in which I have often drunk to the memory of Shakespeare. The bottled pale ale here is like the best Burton bitter.
Butter has not the place in the commerce of Hobart which it occupies in Victoria. There has been little exported, and the factories are few and far between. But dairying, to be carried out in a systematic manner, is occupying the attention of agriculturists. The epoch of the cream separator is at hand in Tasmania. There are few inventions during this century of inventors that have had a greater influence on industrial progress than that of the Laval cream separator. The change in dairying is so great that it may he said that a new era has begun. The man who can make two blades of grass grow where one grew before has truly been called the benefactor of his species, and Dr. De Laval, although he has not fulfilled this condition literally, has caused 4 lb. of butter to appear where only 3 lb. were obtained under the old system prior to the invention of the separator, and by so doing has added 33 per cent, to the national wealth so far dairying is concerned, besides saving a like amount of labor. This, although not so attractive as an heroic performance by flood or field, is a great gain in wealth and solid comfort. The De Laval separator is the invention of Dr. Gustaf De Laval, of Sweden, one of the most practical scientists and prolific inventors of the time, and often fitly termed the "Edison of dairying." Since its introduction — within these few years — the cream separator has fairly revolutionised dairying methods, and there are now some 60,000 De Laval machines in use, scattered far and near over every civilised country of the world. "There can he little doubt that an era is fast approaching when, as steadily and surely as the steamship has superseded the sailing vessel, centrifugal force — cream separators — as applied to the dairy, will displace the old dish setting system." They have made their way by intrinsic merit, and in spite of the most determined opposition there is scarcely a dairy but looks forward to the time when the separator will be included in its equipment. Messrs. J, Bertram and Son, of Melbourne and Launceston, are the sole agents for these machines.
Art and music as well as commerce have their followers in Hobart. There is no Mr. Bernard Hall here, neither is there any Professor Marshall Hall. Madame Major has no equal in Hobart. But the young people have plenty of musical literature. One of the very best piano tutors ever issued is the Popular Rapid Method for the Piano, by Florence Wickins. The great advantage of this tutor is that it enables students to read music at sight in a very short space of time, and is written in such a concise and interesting manner as to be specially suitable for young pupils How I regret that I was born before the time of Miss Florence Wickins and "Rapid Methods" generally. But in my youthful days the generation thought it unmanly of a boy to learn music. If I had been taught the piano instead of Greek, which I have forgotten, it might have been a solace to me in my old age. What wonderful advantages children have nowadays in musical as in other education. Hobart is as musical a most Australasian cities ; the members of the Orpheus Club say more so. All this is apropos of my meeting Mr. Robert Young, one of the best amateur musicians in Australasia. But Mr. Young was not brought up on "Rapid Methods" and "Tutors." He received his first instruction in music from a lady I know very well at St. Kilda, in a house where an able young amateur is kind enough to often play to me. I count it unto him for righteousness. Mr. Hubert Young is the George Grossmith of Tasmania. He has been in the Savage Club at London, and knows many of my old friends there, I rejoice to hear him play and sing one of my friend Brandon Thomas' drawing room ditties which I remember the author of Charley's Aunt evolving as he sat at the piano in the Savoy. The souvenirs of Art are universal.
Photography is now in Tasmania, as in other ports of the world, a very popular amusement. Young people are led to it by the contemplation of the glories of nature amidst which they live. There is in a picturesque country like the island colony, a land of mountain and lake, of valley and field, such bold and striking contrasts of scenery that unbounded opportunities are offered to all those who are possessed of artistic instincts, and are animated by a love of nature. In old days enthusiasts wrote verses about forest and stream and hill and dale. Now they photograph them. The result is more pleasing to their friends. The Tasmanian Photographic Association of Hobart was established in 1887. It holds its meetings monthly, at the Royal Society's rooms, and modestly discusses all subjects connected with photography, science and art. The association is under the patronage of his Excellency Viscount Gormanston, Sir Lambert Dobson and J. W. Agnew, M D. Then president is Mr. R. Henry, and the secretary Mr. H. J. Buckland. Many of the amateur members are very capable photographers. Messrs. H. J. Buckland, G. Yeates, A. L. Butler, F. J. Paterson, H. Clayton and N. Oldham have contributed illustrations for this publication. The manufactures of Messrs. Watson and Sons, of Melbourne and London, are largely in evidence at Hobart. Most of the views in the present supplement were photographed with the aid of apparatus manufactured by this firm.
"Westella," private family hotel, is about the best of it's kind in the colonies. It was founded by Mrs.W. Westgarth 17 years ago. This mansion commands on of the finest positions in the city, and is within easy access of Government House, the public buildings, and places of amusement ; and embraces extensive views of the beautiful surrounding scenery of Mount Wellington and the River Derwent. The rooms are large, lofty and elegantly furnished, including handsome public drawingroom, dining hall, smoking room and billiard room, with one of Alcock's best tables. Westella possesses large flower and fruit garden, fernery and tennis lawn. Adjoining the main building, and facing the lawn and fernery is a neatly erected 'chalet,' containing11 bedrooms, with bathroom, verandah and balcony ; also, in the garden is a comfortable 'bungalow' of five rooms and bath. Amongst the "distinguished visitors" whose names are entered in the archives of Westella, I find many English travelling lords and colonial celebrities. I spend a pleasant evening at Westella, and hear Funiculi Funicula on the mandolin. I thank Miss ------ for bringing to mind happy souvenirs of Naples and Vesuvius. Also I see a little lady give an exhibition of skirt dancing which her youth and perfect unconsciousness make most pleasing.
O'May's steamers leave Hobart to cross the Derwent for Bellerive every half hour during summer months. There is a splendid view of Hobart to be had from this place, and a nice sandy beach for a pleasant pasear about 10 minutes' walk from the steamer's wharf. Mount Rumney, Sorell, Seven Mile Beach and Fredrich Henry Beach are all to be approached from Bellerive, and will well repay a visit from pleasure seekers. Fares are 4d. each return ticket to Bellerive by any of O'May's steamers. Leaving Bellerive by rail at 10 a.m., and halting at Dunally for lunch at 2 p.m., Carnarvon can he reached about 7 p.m. But by making the first stage to Dunally only, on the second day visiting The Neck, Tesselated Pavement, Blowhole and Arch, and reaching Carnarvon in the evening, the visitor can return on the third day by land or steamer without fatigue. Consult Cook's agency for round tickets.
The general manager of the Tasmanian Government railways is Mr. Frederick Back, a gentleman who has had his railway training in the colonies, and is all the better for it. When Mr. Back courteously calls on me with Mr. Patterson, formerly engineer in chief of the South Australian railways, the latter gentleman tries to "bluff" me. "You don't know who I am, and when you saw me last" says he. "Patterson, Fleet-street, London, 1886," is my short reply. Mr. Back is quite up to date in railway matters. His latest stroke is ex officio taking Cook and Son's agency for Tasmania, and so retaining the percentage as well as getting the colony advertised. The clerk in charge at the head office in Hobart is Mr. William Horne. That gentleman, as the mouthpiece of Cook, tells me:— "Tasmania is now linked into our world-wide organisation, and the commodious offices in Lord's-building, occupied by our Hobart agency, are largely availed of by visitors to the island colony. The list of Tasmanian Tours now published monthly in the Traveller's Gazette covers the greater portion of the island, and tourists desirous of visiting districts for which tours are not yet completed — such as the Lakes and West Coast — can obtain full information as to distances, transport, accommodation and cost from the principal agency in Hobart or the sub-agencies at Launceston, Devonport and Strahan. In utilising our system of tours for visiting the principal scenic attractions of Tasmania the visitor will obtain the benefit of many concessions that we have been able to secure."
A previous version of this