“The Press” In 1866

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 16

“The Press” In 1866

June 16 NORTHERN TERRITORY.—The recent departure of the Ellen Lewis, with eleven passengers, and a quantity of supplies, for the Northern territory, should remind our readers that the work of attempted settlement in that country is still going on. Mr. M'Kinlay pointed out in bis letter, dated November 29, that if sheep were landed at Port Darwin instead of Escape Cliffs, they would probably do tolerably well, as the country was open and much more suitable for sheep than the neighborhood of the Adelaide River. He also suggested that as several teams of working bullocks would be necessary to go on with the survey of lands whenever the time arrived, and that as a number of staunch horses ought to be on the spot in good working order, it would

be wise to send them at once, so that they might become somewhat acclimatised. The Government have therefore sent by the Ellen Lewis, 250 sheep, 6 horses, and 21 oxen. Forty pigs, too, have been made to cast in their lot with these four-footed pioneers; for Mr. M’Kinlay remarked that, although It did not in any way concern his expedition, he might mention that a lot of a useful breed of pigs forwarded to Escape Cliffs would amply supply with good fresh and sound provisions all the people likely to be there for the next twelve months, and “their food would cost literally nothing, as at present there is upon this establishment eight to ten tons of condemned flour, perfectly suitable for the purpose of pig fattening.”—“South Australia Register.”