AROUND AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1013, 31 December 1910, Page 3

AROUND AUSTRALIA.

' 13,500 MILES AWHEEL. Francis Birtles, tho cycling overlander, was due to arrive in Sydney on iuesday evening last week, at '5.45 o clock, and _ lie turned up to . time. He has certainly had a bail time with the malaria fever,.'but (says tho "Herald ; lie looked bronzed and sunburnt and in the best of health when, he was sighted in Sydney. ''Birtles has secured the Perth to bydney record, 3350 miles, and has covered 13,500 miles all told on this trip, At his start, tho wanderer anticipated that he would learn some new theories about the Northern Territory/' ;and says that lie has some extraordinary facts to put before tho Dcfence Department of tho Commonwealth as to the actual state of affairs in the'far north coast belt. . Birtles, in, his quiet stole, said, "I can tell you'a lot of things that would/surprise you, hidden settlements, made roads unusued, and maiiy signs that lead one to believe that there was civilisation, and r yet there was no one about. I will talk about this later; but I have seen some new country, and will have some detailed information later. At present I' am tired."

Birtles also-stated that lie had secured _ some excellent photographs of what is practically unknown territory. Ho was welcomed at the rooms of the Sydney Bicycle; and. Motor Cvcle- Club, where he had ■ his send-off on March 5, before starting his'ride around the continent. Three motor-cars accompanied the adventurer to tlie official reception, the * leading car carrving Messrs; Anthony Hordern,'R. S'Yfillett, and G: 7. Rouse. At the club rooms of the Sydney Bicycle and Motor Cycle Club Birtles was welcomed by a lot of enthusiasts. The treasurer of the club, Mr. It. Patrick stated that he had seen Birtles off when he started his hard ride, and he admired the ;pluck of the wandering .cyclist-, who looked better physically, after a journey lasting ten months'and fifteen days on the bicycle, than- when he started. Tho toast of Birtles's health was supported by Messrs. ,F. Handle, G. J. Rouse, and R. S.,Gillett.

Birtles, in responding, stated that ho did not have any prepared speech, at tho time all his thoughts were jumbled up, but ho said, "I have kept a record of every road, track, or water-hole, and will bo able to give a full account in a day or two. I have covered a lot of now country, and when I go through my notes I will have #ae interesting , nows about new developments in the Northern-Territory;"