(By "Examiner's" Special Representative.)
Viewing the district from the train, the casual visitor is liable to form an erroneous impression of the extent and consequently of the agricultural and pastoral possibilities of Lebrina. Contrasting the past with the present is usually interesting, and the old settler's triumphant wind-up, "That's the way we used to win through in the old days," is only equalled in emphasis with his ensuing half jocular reference to the advantages which the present generation possesses. "We carried our furniture on our backs for over a mile uphill," remarked one old resident. "I carried the windows and doors further than that," quoth another. There was not even a pack track available in either case.
Mr. P. Long, father of ex-Senator Long, was one of the leaders of the way to settlement. A Mr. Butterfield was accustomed to walk to Lefroy, work on wages for a period, then return to his selection, and attack his heavy clearing until the funds thus accumulated were expended, then he'd repeat the process.
Folk talk of how children in baskets were sent on pack horses along the then extremely rough track from Lilydale. A loaded vehicle with seven horses attached took sometimes three days to come the 25 miles from Launceston.
Mr. Rees has paid as much as £5 for the cartage of enough bricks to construct a single chimney.
Amongst the early residents was Mr. Beauchamp's family, and Lebrinaites speak with a degree of pride because they were associated with Percy of that ilk, who afterwards became a champion sculler and athlete. Men such as Messrs. Rees, Keogh, Adams, and Beattie have gradually, at infinite labour, conquered the dense bush, until the landscape is brightened by smiling homesteads, mostly substantially and some also decoratively built, whilst all around is the green and gold of potato or cereal crops.
Lebrina after 90 years has about 1500 acres usable for the plough. and some 5000 acres grassed, on which a fair amount of cattle and sheep are raised, and a creditable effort at dairying being made. This will be a bigger thing in the near future. Mr. John Story, J.P., has one of the finest managed farms in the settlement. His dairy herd, too, is noted as always giving extremely high results. With the object of improving his herd, he has lately acquired an unusually fine Ayrshire bull Mr. Percy Adams is another solid worker, whose farm is in every way a credit. He has had particularly good yields of all crops this year. A field of potatoes looks especially well. His horse teams are in the pink of condition, and he possesses a trotter that may be heard of at some of the meets before long.
Adjoining is the farm (300 acres) of Lockhart Bros. They were unfortunate enough to lose by fire a barn containing 40 tons of hay. Undauntedly they are now constructing another, the building of which and the unloading of the sheaves were being carried on simultaneously. They, too, are grafters, but so also are several others, of whose deeds space alone forbids detailed mention.
Amongst the largest landholders are Messrs. Keogh, 300 acres; Rees, 250; Beattie, 200 ; Adams, 200. Mr. Rees this season experimented by turning his sheep (best four to six tooth crossbreds) into his hay crops. They ate it to the ground, and, judging by the present condition of the animals, it is thought that the innovation was quite a payable move.
Mr. Keogh, sen., the "G.O.M." of Lebrina, unfortunately is very ill. On all sides expressions of regret and hopes for a speedy recovery were heard. Another veteran pioneer is Mr. J. Rees, of "Resica',' who, although of such advanced age, is hale and in full possession of all his faculties. He is especially interested in orcharding. More extensive operations in this industry are sure to come locally. At present, besides "Resica," few other homesteads have gone on with it on a systematic scale. But it is to the credit of Lebrina people that the codlin moth pest has been industriously attacked, and so successfully that the orchards are clean. Mr. Rees' method was spraying with arsenate of lead.
Several properties have recently changed hands, returned soldiers being the chief purchasers. Messrs. Widdowson, L. Keogh (40th), I. Keogh (original 12th), L. Bosworth (40th), and Ellis (A.M.C.) are all doing good work under rather disheartening market conditions. Ex-Private Keogh deserves particular mention in this respect. In consequences of the ravages of the eel-worm last season a restricted area is now planted with peas, but such are generally successful this year, though somewhat light in places. Turnips have recently been grown, but for potatoes and cereals the verdict is "The best season we have ever known." If the market but were equal to the production complaints would be very few.
A peculiar feature about Lebrina is that though rabbits are not uncommon on either side of the settlement, yet here they are very scarce. Tiger cats, however, are abnormally plentiful. It is to this fact that is attributed the almost total immunity of the place from the furry pests.
Experienced men in Messrs. Keogh, Jun., Knight and Shipton, Haas, and Harrison have sawmill plants operating in the vicinity. The timber has been a great demand for building boards - quality good. This, like some other industries, is at present considered in the balance. Some sites which were easily obtainable have lately been dropped from contract orders. Judging by the freedom of the railway yards from stacked timber, the millers here have not the same difficulty in obtaining railway trucks as in some parts of the island.
Hopes are entertained of the old Lebrina gold mine being soon a going concern again, as it is believed the reef at the new discovery at Mount Brown is connected with the disused workings at Lebrina. It is sincerely to be hoped that this will turn out trumps.
The road through Lebrina to Scottsdale is increasing in motor traffic very fast, proving that the route is a popular one from the northern capital. Lebrina boasts of a general store, a Methodist and an Anglican Church, a public hall, football and cricket (H Traill captain) clubs, also a trotting and athletic club (Mr. Mace hon. sec.), whose initial meet last Christmastide was an immense success.
The state school is in charge of Mr. Mace (an ex-sergeant of the 40th battalion) and is doing well under his supervision, although the aggregate attendance has dropped somewhat in consequence of the removal of some families from the recently sold farms.
The cricket and football clubs both have creditable records.
The far-famed Denison Gorge is wlthin easy reach, and the sea at the mouth of the Pipers River (a very fine resort) is only 14 miles away along a good road. Piper's Brook and Denison River both wind through the settlement, and black fish are to be caught in both, and English trout up to 6lb. weight have been taken from the Denison Rivulet.
North-East Coast (1921, February 1). Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), p. 8 (DAILY). Retrieved August 1, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51109092