Christian Colonist (SA : 1878 - 1894), Friday 17 September 1886, page 3

It fell to my lot last week to visit Wallaroo. I left town on Saturday morning by the first train, and was again charmed with the country between Adelaide and Hamley Bridge. I never before saw such a profusion of wild flowers as was to be seen in the railway reserve between Gawler and Wasleys. At Hamley we changed to the narrow-gauge, and in consequence of this a delay of half-an-hour was involved. Frotn this place there is a straight run of thirty miles down to Balaclava, through what was once a mallee scrub, but is now a cultivated country dotted over with homesteads and- smiling with promising crops. Balaclava is the junction with the Blyth line, and is a nice township with a number of churches, hotels, mills and other places of business. The river Wakefield, whose course is marked by a line of gum trees, flows close to Balaclava, and adds to the

pleasantness of the situation. From this place the line runs through level country to Port Wakefield. The soil is of the best. To the south of the line are cultivated farms on which the crops look healthy and promising. On the north side of the line lies the sheep run of Messrs. Bowman, of Watervale, a splendid well-watered estate, through which the Wakefield flows. The prospect here northward to the bold Hummocks range is very fine. Port Wakefield, at the head of Spencer's Gulf, is a nice but quiet town. After a short delay of fifteen minutes weare again on our way, travelling over perfectly level country, only seventeen feet above the sea to South Hummocks. Here the line begins to ascend, and before Kulpara is reached we have climbed more than 350 feet. The line winds in a picturesque manner up the sides of the Hummocks, which are now well grassed and carpeted with flowers, a white daisy predominating. At some points fine views are obtained of the plain, Port Wakefield and the Gulf, while to the south-west the high cultivated land of Yorke's Peninsula is seen. From Kulpara the line runs through alternate scrub and open plain to Kadina. The plains look well and vegetation is flourishing. Kadina is quiet, and is suffering from the decline of copper mining. There is, however, a great deal of agriculture in the neighbourhood, which creates some trade. Kadina is a clean, well-built and well-kept town, with many good buildings. The public square is well-planted with trees. The tamarisk thrives here, and in summer adds much to the beauty of the town. From Kadina you descend 100 feet in seven miles to Wallaroo. On either side of the line there are farms and healthy-looking crops, which, however, are rather backward here. Wallaroo lies on the bay of the same name. Here are the celebrated smelting works in connection with the Wallaroo Mines. From the cluster of great chimneys volumes of yellow sulphurous smoke are emitted unceasingly day and night. The smoke is fatal to vegetable life, and consequently the streets and reserves of the town are treeless and bare, and private gardens are almost nil. Here, too, is the best jetty in the colony, alongside of which the largest ships can lie, and where there are the best facilities for loading and unloading. Wallaroo also boasts a hospital, a mill, a good institute, quite a number of churches, and many good shops and dwellings. The cliffs round the bay are of tertiary formation, and many interesting marine fossils can be found. On the north side of the bay, which is sandy, good cowrie shells may at times be obtained. I preached in the Welsh Church, of which the Rev. John Lloyd is pastor. Mr. Lloyd's name is a household word on the Peninsula, and no anniversary meeting is complete in which he does not take some part. Mr. Lloyd is much beloved by his congregation, and though he has received many tempting offers he has hitherto refused to leave them. The Presbyterian Church is at present vacant. The Primitive Methodists, from lack of support, have sold their church to the Roman Catholics, who have surmounted it with a cross and turned it into a schoolroom. The return journey I need not describe. Suffice it to say that I reached home