On the Fringe of the Harbor by John Arthur Barry

I don't know whether Captain Arthur Phillip ever had the Sirius brought up as far as Farm Cove. It is quite probable that he did, and that the old warship of one hundred and ten years ago and her consorts of the First Fleet swung to their anchors on the very same spot where now crouch the steel dragons of a later day. Be that as it may, could the shade of our first Governor once more revisit the scene of his early adventures he would find as much difference between the features of his former ''Farm'' and "Garden, " compared with the Botanic Gardens and the Garden Island of today, as existed between the old Sirius and the Royal Arthur.

Without a doubt Farm Cove is conspicuous amongst the beauty spots that so plentifully stud the fringes of our harbor. And few will deny that, when taken at its best, under a blue sky, in pleasant sunshine, backed by the flowers and greenery of the Gardens, white-winged yachts flitting over its placid and sheltered surface, across which music from the bands of the Squadron comes gently to the ear, there are few more picturesque bits of water in the world. Perhaps the best view of the scene is to be had from a certain spot on one of the terraces of the Botanic Gardens. A friend of mine used to take strangers there and descant for a long time on the lovely prospect, invariably winding up with "The island you see yonder is called Garden Island, and is remarkable for possessing the tallest pair of shear-legs in existence." I don't know whether this is a fact or not. They certainly look big enough and ugly enough. But Garden Island has other claims to notice apart even from the historical interest attached to it as the spot upon which the first settlers tried, with more or less success, to grow vegetables. In a small way it is to the ships of the Imperial and Auxiliary squadrons what the naval yards of the United Kingdom are to its vessels in home waters. Stores of all descriptions, including munitions of war, are here received and kept in readiness. Certain repairs can also be effected in the Island workshops, and enormous weights lifted in or out of the ships by the big derrick. From the island, too, if Britain were to go to war to-morrow, the subsidised boats of the Peninsular and Oriental Company would receive their naval stores and armaments with which to act as flying cruisers, or transports, as the case might be. Not the least interesting, by any means, among the sights of Sydney, although one very seldom frequented by country visitors, is the scene at Man-o'-War Steps, at the western extremity of the Cove, between the hours of 9 and 12 a.m. Then, if the Squadron is in strength, dozens of boats come racing for mails, meat, milk, and necessaries of every description for their respective messes fore and aft; caterers, paymasters, lieutenants, stewards, marines, blue-jackets, gigs, cutters, yawls, dingeys, steam launches going and coming, crowding into the steps; boathooks working, and tars "praying; " sails flapping, and all hands bustling, make up--especially with a stiff easterly blowing--a sight well worth watching.