The History of Australian Exploration from 1788 to 1888 Part 52

M'Millan, Angus-- Finds his way through the Snowy Mountains on the search for country.

Discovers a river running through fine grazing plains and forest. This territory was called Gipps Land. The rivers discovered by him were afterwards re-named by Count Strzelecki, and retained, whilst those given by the real discoverer were forgotten. 1840.

M'Minn, Gilbert, and A. W. Sergison-- Equipped by the South Australian Government, to ascertain the course of the Katherine. 1876.

M'Phee-- Explorations east of Daly Waters. May be said to have concluded the list of expeditions between the overland telegraph line and the Queensland border. 1883.

Neilson, J. and Brothers-- From Mount Ranken, on the Darling, to Cooper's Creek, in search of pastoral country. 1861.

Nares, Sir George Strong-- Commander of H.M.S. SALAMANDER, surveyed the east and north-eastern part of Australia and Torres Straits. 1866-7.

Nuyts, Captain Pieter-- In the GULDE ZEEPARD. Accidentally touched on the south coast. Followed it for about seven or eight hundred miles, and gave to it the name of Pieter Nuyts' Land, 1627.

Oakden and Hulkes-- To the west of Lake Torrens. 1851.

Overlanders-- "The first overlanders with stock from Sydney side to Port Phillip were Messrs. Ebden (afterwards treasurer), Joe Hawdon, Gardener (of Gardener's Creek), and Captain Hepburn. This was in 1837, one year before Mr.

Mackinnon arrived in the colonies. In 1838 Captain Hepburn made a second overland trip, starting from Braidwood, New South Wales, with sheep purchased from Captain Coghill of that place, and in January same year (1838), Mr. Gardener started on second trip with 460 head of cattle purchased from my father, the late Dr. Reid. of Inverary Park, in Argyle; delivery of same made by myself at Ya.s.s end of January month. This trip with Mr. Gardener so far imbued me with the love for adventure that I followed with stock the June following, and formed stations on the Ovens River, near where the town of w.a.n.garatta now stands. The first overlanders with stock to Adelaide were Joe Hawdon and Eyre, the latter afterwards celebrated as an explorer. Well can I remember the excitement caused by the then so-called race, who should be first to Adelaide, Hawdon or Eyre, but Hawdon was too good a bushman for Eyre and had more experience, and was a better judge of the season (it was a dry one).

Hawdon wisely followed the course of the Murray right to Lake Alexandrina, and consequently had food and water in abundance. Eyre crossed from Goulburn to go over the Wimmera Plains--no doubt a shorter way had the season been propitious, but as it turned out dry he had to retrace his steps, and follow the track of friend Hawdon. Hawdon by this time had a long start, and arrived in Adelaide two weeks before Eyre, and had his stock disposed of. I may remark very few of us overlanders are now left, but should this meet the eye of any such of 1837 and 1838, I make no doubt they will remember the facts above stated."--Extract from "Answers to Correspondents," from Mr. David Reid, Moorwatha, Victoria, in the AUSTRALASIAN, May 4th, 1888.

Orr, John (and party)-- Expedition through Gippsland. Confirmed the previous glowing reports.

1841.

Ovens, Major-- With Captain Curry, started on an exploring trip south of Lake George.

Discovered Morumbidgee River and Monaroo Plains. 1823.

Oxley, John-- With Lieutenant Charles Robbins, in the cutter INTEGRITY, examined Western Port, with a view to settlement; opinion unfavourable. 1804-5.

Surveyor-General of New South Wales. Second in command, Mr. Evans.

Accompanied by Mr. Allan Cunningham, King's botanist, and Charles Fraser, Colonial botanist, William Parr, mineralogist, eight men, and two boats, for the purpose of tracing the Lachlan and Macquarie. Return in 1817. The following year again started, discovering the Castlereagh River, Liverpool Plains, Apsley River, and the Goulburn Valley. Following down the River Hastings, they discovered and named Port Macquarie. 1817-18.

Accompanied by Messrs. Meehan and Hume, made a short excursion to Jarvis Bay. Oxley returned by sea his companions overland. 1819.

In the MERMAID with Messrs. Uniacke and Lieutenant Stirling, left Port Jackson to investigate the coast north of Sydney, with the view of forming a penal settlement. They examine Port Curtis, Port Bowen, and Moreton Bay. Discovered the Boyne and Brisbane Rivers. 1823.

Died near Sydney, 1828. He had been a successful explorer, although in no case attaining the objects aimed at, had always brought his men through in safety, and had opened up vast tracts of country. [See Appendix.]

O'Donnell and Carr Boyd-- From the overland telegraph line to Western Australia, finding good country, but no new geographical discovery. 1883.

O'Donnell (and party)-- From the Katherine Telegraph Station, overland telegraph line to Western Australia. 1884-5.

Parry, S.-- Government Surveyor, examined the country round Lake Torrens. 1858.

Paterson, Colonel-- Intending if possible to cross the Blue Mountains, rowed up the Hawkesbury, and named the highest point reached "The Grose." 1793.

Pelsart, Francis-- In the BATAVIA. Wrecked on Houtman's Abrolhos. 1629.

"Pera" (The) and "Arnheim"-- Yachts commanded by Captain Jan Carstens, touched on the north coast.

Pera Head in the Gulf of Carpentaria a memorial of this visit. 1623.

Perouse, Jean Francois Galup de La-- At Botany Bay with the ASTROLABE and BOUSSOLE. 1778.

Phillip, Governor-- Arrived at Botany Bay with the first fleet. 1788.

Pool, Captain Gerrit Tomaz-- In the KLYN, AMSTERDAM, and WEZEL, from Banda, was murdered on the New Guinea coast--the same spot where Captain Carstens met his death. The supercargo continued the voyage, re-visiting Arnheim's Land. 1636.

Poole-- Second in command in Sturt's Great Central Desert expedition died of scurvy; and was buried at Depot Glen. 1845.

Port Essington-- Founded by Sir Gordon Bremer, 1824, and re-settled, 1838.

Portlock, Captain, Nathan, and Captain Bligh-- In the PROVIDENCE AND a.s.sISTANT. Through Torres Straits. 1792.

Portuguese-- The claim to the discovery of New Holland in 1540 is doubtful.

Prout Bros.-- With one man started out from South Australia looking for country across the Queensland border. They never returned. Some months afterwards some of their horses and the bones of one of the brothers were discovered by Mr. W. J. H. Carr Boyd. It was evident, from the fragments of a diary found, that they had met their death by thirst on their homeward way.

1878.

Quiros, Pedro Fernandez de-- Being second in command to Luis Vaez de Torres sailed from Callao with two wellarmed vessels and a corvette. After minor discoveries came to a land supposed by Quiros to be the continent they were in search of, and named it Australia del Espiritu Santo. 1606.

Ranken, John C. L.-- One of the Queensland pioneers. Following closely after the explorers he formed a station upon the Isaacs, and afterwards took up Afton Downs, on the Flinders. He then with a party struck north-west, and crossed the unmarked boundary of South Australia, and finally formed stations on the head of the Herbert River. 1857-70.

Receveur, Father le-- Died at Botany Bay while with La Perouse in the ASTROLABE. Feb. 17th, 1778.

"Recherche" (The) and "L'Esperance"-- Under command of Admiral Bruni D'Entrecasteaux, in search of the fate of La Perouse, anch.o.r.ed on the south coast of Australia, 1792.

"Research" (The)-- Under command Captain Dillon; on the south coast 1826.

Ridley and 0. C. Hunt-- To the De Grey River. 1863.

Robbins, Lieutenant Charles, and John Oxley-- In the cutter INTEGRITY, examined Western Port, with a view to settlement. Opinion unfavourable. 1804-5.

"Roebuck" (The)-- Under William Dampier, sent out by the English Government, visited the west coast of New Holland. 1688.

Roe, Surveyor-General-- Started from York; reached the Pallinup, the last stream crossed by Eyre before reaching Albany on his Great Bight expedition. After suffering great hards.h.i.+ps, arrived at Russell Range, from there returning to Perth.

1848-49.

Roggentier, Commodore-- Started for New Holland. Discovered the Thousand Islands. 1721.

Ross and Son-- With an equipment of camels and horses, started from the neighbourhood of Peake Station, on the overland telegraph line, to endeavour to cross the desert, but were obliged to return; a second effort being alike unsuccessful. 1874.

Ross and Harvey-- Explorations around Charlotte Waters, South Australia. 1877.

Russell, Stuart and Sydenham-- Followed the Condamine for a hundred miles from below Jimbour, the northernmost station on a Darling Downs Creek; an extensive tract of rich grazing country found; since known by the name then bestowed on it--Cecil Plains. 1841.

Russell, Stuart-- Journeyed from Moreton Bay to Wide Bay in a boat, and made an examination of some of the streams there emptying into the sea. During the same year Stuart Russell explored the country from Wide Bay to the Boyne (not Oxley's Boyne) and opened up much available pastoral country. 1842.

Saunders, Philip, and Adam, John-- Accompanied by a third man, successfully crossed from Roeburne, in Western Australia, to the overland telegraph line. 1876.

Scarr, Frank (Surveyor)-- Attempted to cross the line to the south of N. Buchanan's track, but was prevented by the waterless strip of country existing there. Finally made north, arriving at Tennant's Creek Station, and, owing to the dry season, did not extend his researches further. 1878.

Scott and Lieutenant Lawson-- Attempted to reach the Liverpool Plains. Discovered the Goulburn River.