VISIT OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Western Mail, Perth, Saturday 18 June, 1910.

THE NORTH-WEST.

VISIT OF COLONIAL SECRETARY.

THE MARBLE BAR RAILWAY.

Port Hedland, June 12.

The Colonial Secretary (Mr. J. D. Connolly), 

who is making an official visit to the

North-West in company with the Chief Har-

bourmaster (Captain Irvine), reached Port

Hedland yesterday in the steamer Koombana

after an enjoyable trip up the coast. Rough

weather was encountered on Sunday, June

5, but thereafter the wind and sea moderated, 

and the ship was as steady as an excursion 

boat gliding over the lazily-placid waters of a 

sheltered bay.

At Denham, which was reached on Monday 

afternoon, the residents came out to bring 

under the notice of the Minister certain 

grievances in connection with the Sharks 

Bay pearl fisheries.

See:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearling_in_Western_Australia

On Monday night the Koombana moored

alongside the Carnarvon jetty, and there

being a large quantity of cargo to discharge

the opportunity was afforded Mr, Connolly

and party of riding up to the town on the

primitive tramway and meeting the Mayor

(Mr. Angelo) and other prominent.towns-

people.

Encouraging Pastoral Prospects.

At Carnarvon, and subsequently at the

later ports, the visitors found the towns-

people elated over the certainty of an ab-

normally good pastoral season. Rains 

have fallen copiously throughout the whole 

country, and previous averages have been 

greatly exceeded. The pastures are likely to 

be exceptionally good, and the whole North-West 

is ringing with the joyous laughter. 

Onslow Requirements.

In the gathering dusk of Wednesday night 

Mr. Connolly went ashore at Onslow, and 

was entertained at dinner by the chairman 

of the Roads Board (Mr. Hope). Subsequently 

the host and his friends resolved themselves 

into a deputation and asked that a new jetty 

should be provided in order that Onslow might 

get the advantage of its back country's trade. 

It was pointed out that much of the wool now 

shipped at Carnarvon comes from stations inland 

from Onslow, and it is, therefore, the legitimate

trade of the latter port, but that the squatters 

prefer to send it to Carnarvon rather than pay 

lighterage at Onslow.

Onslow is approximately 230 miles from Carnarvon. Adequate jetties were an important component of the development of the Nor'west and lighters, an expensive alternative. 

Mr. Connolly promised that an engineer should 

report on the subject.

At Point Samson the Koombana landed a

large number of passengers, including several

big squatters, who are making the regular

winter migration northwards. 

Contrary to the movement south in the previous post, people returned to the Nor'west during the cooler, winter months, again making use of the coastal service. The term 'squatters' belies the fact that these good people were making plenty of money and buying tickets on the illustrious Koombana.

The cranes dropped ashore also a diminutive 

locomotive, which is to be the pioneer of steam 

traction on the tramline to Roebourne. Certainly it 

seemed a possible improvement on the horsedrawn 

express, which overloaded with baggage and 

passengers clattered down the jetty into the midnight 

darkness of Thursday night on the 24 hours' jog trot to 

Roebourne.

The industrial revolution in action.

The Mayor of Cossack (Mr. Aubrey Hall)

was the only person down at the boat to

welcome the Minister, but it was arranged

that Mr. Connolly should go ashore on his

return trip and investigate the requirements

of the district.

The Marble Bar Railway.

Port Hedland was reached yesterday 

forenoon, Captain Rees bringing the 

Koombana alongside just as the steamers 

Paroo and Charon were taking advantage 

of the high tide to make their exit through 

the tortuous channel. The Minister was 

welcomed by the Resident Magistrate and 

leading citizens.

By the courtesy of Mr. Teesdale Smith,

who was a passenger on the Faroe, Mr.

Connolly was able to arrange with the rail-

way manager (Mr. Murphy) for a trip along

the Marble Bar line in a galvanised iron

carriage. - The party, which included 

Captain Irvine and Captain Rees and a 

number of ladies and gentlemen, left Port 

Hedland in the afternoon and proceeded at 

a leisurely pace along the line as far as 

Tabba Tabba Creek some 35 miles out.

Captains Rees and Irvine reunited outside the formality of an Inquiry. That issue of leniency still comes to mind...

Built on the same principle as the light

developmental railways in the agricultural

districts, the line is laid right on the surface 

and follows the natural contour of the country. 

Statement by Mr. Connolly.

Mr. Connolly, after yesterday's inspection, 

said that it was too early to judge how the 

line would work, as the contractors had not 

yet finished their work, but in the face of the 

damage done by the late rain it seemed 

possible that the standard of line would have 

to be raised in the direction of greater formation, 

side drains, and culverts over the creeks.

The ship was regained At 10 p.m. This 

morning a deputation waited on the 

Minister and made requests for various 

local requirements.

I think we now have a better picture of the Nor'west, its stage of development, challenges and promises for the future. The coastal steamer service was paramount to the success of this 'work in progress'. Tidal jetties were a significant limitation but with each ministerial visit the infrastructures these small 'shanty' towns were given State attention and could only benefit with time. The Nor'west was going from strength to strength. 

Koombana was right there, a witness to momentous change. 

Port Hedland - 1910 - courtesy State Library of Western Australia.