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on the Royal Hotel, and within a month they had brought it from Mt. Margaret and re-erected it in Mt. Morgans. They were also the builders of the Mt. Morgans Hotel, and constructed the first hotel property put up at Laverton. Their premises at Mt. Morgans are not only extensive, but are fitted up with all the most modern machinery and plant for expeditiously and efficiently executing all kinds of work. Their sign is unique, the framework being of iron piping, while the letters are formed of scrap-iron, which has been soldered together in an artistic manner.

THE ROYAL HOTEL, of which Mr. George T. Davis is the popular proprie. tor, was the first hotel erected in Mt. Morgans. Originally it was situated at Mt. Margaret, but when the Mt. Morgans mine was opened up the building was transferred from that place to its

ROYAL HOTEL.

present site, and so expeditiously was the work executed that it was accomplished in the space of a month. The hotel is excellently appointed, and as Mr. Davis is an enthusiast in all descriptions of sport, the house is not only

the rendezvous for all sportsmen, but is the headquarters of Tattersall's Club. Mr. Davis was the organiser of the Mt. Morgans Racing Club, which body in June, 1901, held a most successful inaugural meeting. Besides every convenience for visitors as regards bedrooms, parlours, and dining-room, there are suitable stables and stalls, and in every respect the Royal Hotel is one which cannot fail to give satisfaction to all classes of the travelling community.

TATTERSALL'S HOTEL, of which Mr. P. Byrne is the proprietor, is one of the leading resorts in Mt. Morgans. The building is constructed of bricks, with a verandah round the frontages to the two streets, and has a fine and imposing appearance. There are eleven large and well-ventilated bedrooms, furnished comfortably and in a manner suitable for the climate, and contiguous to these are the bathrooms. There are also comfortable and well-furnished sitting and commercial rooms, and the dining hall is large and well arranged, the tables being tastefully laid out; while the daily menu would do credit to a large metropolitan hotel. The public bar, behind which is a parlour containing a first

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miles north-east of Cue. The average annual rainfall for the district is about 3 in., but in 1900 there was a phenomenal fall of 12.45 in. This nearly a'l fell in the month of June; consequently the flat country for miles around was converted into a bog, mail coaches could not travel, and teamsters had to camp with their loads for weeks until the spongy soil had hardened. Lake Annean was then a sheet of water thirty miles long and twelve miles broad. The inhabitants developed aquatic tastes, boats were built in the district or brought up from Perth, and regattas were the popular amusement. The oldest residents had no recollection of such a watery visitation, and the native chronology failed to fix the date of the last flood of similar extent. Another pleasant result of the heavy downpour was that the whole face of the country was thickly carpeted with everlasting flowers of varied tints.

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The principal streets of Nannine are two chains wide, and two of them-Marmion and Macpherson streets-are planted with pepper trees. The township was declared in 1893, a Board of Health was established two years later, and in 1896 the municipality was declared. Mr. L. J. F. Masterton was the first Mayor, and in 1901 he was again elected to the position. The net annual rateable value of the municipality is about £6,000. A general rate of 6d. in the £ is levied, but the health rate is 9d. in the £. At the date of the last census-March 31, 1901-the residents in the town and district numbered 400, but this census was taken soon after some of the more important mines had closed down under exemption, and when, in consequence, an exodus of some hundreds of miners had taken place.

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Besides the Government buildings in the town there are a hospital, a Miners' Institute (with a library of 600 volumes), a public school, and a Roman Catholic church. The construction of a line of railway from Cue to Nannine is now in progress, and when it is completed the importance of Nannine will be considerably enhanced. The mining industry in the neighbourhood has been seriously hampered by the difficulties of cartage. The trouble and expense of landing machinery and other requisites have been great, but the advent of the railway will, of course, put an end to such drawbacks. A Mining Registrar is located

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at Nanninę. A Warden's Court is held monthly, and a local court is held at regular intervals. The town has postal and telegraphic communication.

DANIEL DOWNIE was one of the earliest arrivals at Nannine, and has profited largely by his residence there. He is a native of Ireland, and owner and licensee of the Pioneer Hotel. In 1886 he left the land of his birth, and, after spending a few years in Victoria, came to Western Australia in 1890, where he has acquired extensive property and mining interests. He is the owner of the Gabinintha store, three and a half miles from the Star of the East mine, and the Pioneer mine at Meeketharra. Work at this mine began in March, 1901, by sinking on the underlay. In June of that year a depth of 40 ft. had been reached, and prospects below were very encouraging. A crushing of 11 tons yielded 97 oz. of gold. Mr. Downie is the holder of several other mining interests, in which he has great faith. He is a member of the local Municipal Council,

NANNINE.

E. M. DIXON is well known in connection with the stock agency business at Nannine. It is an important business in Nannine, for all fat cattle from the North-West have to reach this town before distribution in the surrounding districts. This business is locally controlled by Mr. Dixon, who is a native of Victoria, where for eleven years he was a member of the mounted constabulary. He afterwards went into cattle-dealing in that State, and came to Western Australia in 1894. For five years he was manager of the Perth Omnibus Company, and then came to the Murchison district to superintend the coaching business of the late Mr. Jules Gascard, whose teams travelled between Cue and Nannine. After winding up the affairs in that gentleman's cstate, he started in the stock business with Mr. E. Lee Steere, which business is carried on at Nannine under the name of E. M. Dixon and Co. Mr. Dixon was elected a member of the local Municipal Council in 1901, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace a year previously.

JOHN JUDGE, a member of the firm of Bennett and Co., is well known in Nannine. Mr. Judge saw a great deal of life before West Australian country He taking up his present vocation. was born at Geraldton, and in early life was engaged on Messrs. E. and F. Wittenoom's Nookawarra and Murgo stations. In his youth he assisted to bring the first mob of cattle into the Upper Murchison district, which mob formed the nucleus of the stock on Mr. Judge the Nookawarra station. managed that property for ten years, and when it was sold, he, with some assistance from his old employers, started a hotel at Mullewa. He sold out in 1899, and bought into his present aerated and cordial manufacturing business.

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a member of the local Council, has a seat on the Hospital Committee, and takes a prominent part in all local sporting matters.

NORTH MURCHISON HOTEL. Travellers in Western Australia ar often much troubled by the inadequate

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hotel accommodation met with as the larger towns are left behind, particularly in the goldfields districts. Visitors to Nannine, however, need be under no apprehension on this score, for they will there find the North Murchison Hotel, situated in Marmion-street, the principal thoroughfare. These premises were built in 1898, and the main building occupies a frontage of 50 ft., but there are many out-offices and conveniences requisite for the conduct of a large hotel business. Twenty airy bedrooms, removed from the more busy parts of the house, provide all the necessaries for travel-wearied visitors or permanent residents. Close by is a plunge and shower bath, supplied from an overhead tank of considerable capacity.

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connection with the erection and decora

tion of the hotel. Mr. James Bond, his brother, is a joint owner, and carries on a bakery business adjacent to the hotel. Messrs. J. and J. Bond have, however, done much for the district of Nannine besides providing a well-kept hostelry. Notably, they have shown that by the judicious use of proper appliances the rich chocolate soil that extends for hundreds of miles in all directions around Nannine can be turned to profitable use.

In 1892, when they first determined to settle in the district, they fenced in, trenched, and planted two acres of land four miles out of the town, and this is now an oasis in the Murchison desert. This change from desolation to productiveness was, of course, only brought about by means of irrigation. On the garden site a well has been sunk to a depth of 18 ft., with a chamber and a drive at the bottom to increase the underground storage capacity. From that well abundant sup

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JOHN BOND.

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ply of water, equal to about 3,000 gallons per hour, drawn can be during nine months of the year, when irrigation becomes necessary.

A windmill forces most of the liquid supply into elevated tanks, and thence it flows by gravitation over the garden, or is distributed by sprays wherever it is required. The results obtained are marvellous. Vines, apricots, peaches, and oranges do well, particularly the first named. Vegetables of all kinds attain great perfection. Cabbages grown there

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