EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 5 December 1861, Page 3

EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA.

THE CONTINENT CROSSED. DEATH OF MESSRS. BURKE, WILLS, AND GRAY.

The Bart brings us advices from Sydney of the fate of Mr. Burke’s exploring; expedition. For some months past the most painful interest has been felt, and relief parties have been despatched to its assistance. Air. Hewitt’s party succeeded in finding; Air. King, the only survivor, who, much exhausted, had been three months living with the blacks and by his aid were able to discover the remains of Mr. Burke and Mr. Wills, so as to inter them decently. The journals and maps were secured, and are now in possession of the Society under whose auspices the exploration was started. TmtJONTIXIXT HAS BEEN CIIOSSKD, and this fact will be an imperishable monument in memory of the bravo men whose lives it has cost, though we arc happy to find that their remains are to be fetched in, and a public monument erected over them at Melbourne. We extract from the Melbourne Argus the following particulars : Late on Saturday night (Nor. 2) information reached Melbourne from Sandhurst of the arrival of a messenger—Mr. Brahe—from Mr. Ilowitt’s searching expedition, with a despatch from the leader, conveying the'melancholy intelligence that Burke and Wills had perished at Cooper’s Creek, in the month of June last, of exhaustion from fatigue and want of proper food, and that a third member of the party (Gray), had died some time previously. The fourth (King) was found on the Creek, living with the natives, by whom he was treated kindly, and, we are happy to say, is now restored to health. In his possession were the journals of the expedition and Mr. Wills’ maps and notes (which are now in the possession of the Royal Society), which show that Burke and his companions successfully accomplished the crossing of the continent to the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria, which they reached on the 12th of February. The chart kept by Mr. Wills shows that the party followed Stuart’s track to its furthest point, in latitude 21, when, finding the country to the north utterly impracticable, a course was struck direct cast to the 140th parallel of longitude, which they followed north, almost in a straight line to Albert River. They rested three days at a point on the river, in latitude 17-53 south, within the tidal influence, thus accomplishing the great feat of crossing the continent from sea to sea; and then turned back almost by the same route, travelling for the most part of the way on foot, killing their horses and some of their camels for food, and suffering much from hunger. They reached Cooper’s creek on the evening of the 21st April—the very day on which Brahe and the depot party under his charge left the creek to return to Menindie. A small quantity of-provisions hidden by the dcpst party was found by Burke and his companions who feeling themselves too weak to travel to Menindie (about 400 miles,) made two successive attempts to reach the South Australian settlements, and were driven back on both occasions by want

of water. In these attempts the month of May was spent; the provisions that remained were rapidly becoming exhausted, the food they wore able to prepare from a native plant which they discovered was insufficient in quantity to recruit their failing strength, and late in the month of June—just as Mr. ilowitt’s Party began its journey in search of the missing party —poor Burke died while in the act of making a last attempt to obtain succour for himself and Wills from the blacks; and "Wills, alone in his hut, and about the same time as his friend Burke, breathed his last. From June till the 15th September, when bo was found by Hewitt, King, the last survivin’ of the part}', lived amongst the natives of Cooper’s Creek, by whom he was kindly treated. Ho was originally a soldier, and is a young, strong man. His narrative wsll be found extremely interesting. Melancholy interest attaches to the last despatch written byMr. Burke, briefly but comprehensively announcing the success he had achieved, and to the last few lines traced despairingly bv the hand of poor Wills. ‘ “ The following is Mr.Howitt’sdospatch. announcing the results of bis mission. It is dated from a camp on the return journey to Menindie, where no doubt he has now arrived : Poria Creek, Oct. 10, 1861. Sni, —T have the honor to report my arrival here with the Contingent Exploring Party, on my return journey, having, on .September 15th, in latitude 27 deg. 14 min., and longitude 110 deg. 10 min., found John King, the only survivor of Mr. Burke’s party, living with the Cooper's Creek natives. Mr. Burke and Mr. \v ills had died some time previous to my arrival, from hunger and exhaustion, and Gray died before reaching Cooper’s Crock, on their return journey from the Gulf. King" was in a very weak, exhausted state when fount?, but I am happy to say has recovered wonderfuly since, and Mr. Wheeler has just reported him to mo as being out of his hands. The full particulars will be found in my diary, which, with King’s narrative, is enclescd. I may state regarding mv diarv, 1 only transcribed that portion subsequent’ to our reaching this place on our out ward journey, as np to that time we had following the expedition track, and nothing of interest had occurred. It may suffice for me to say that from leaving Mcnindie we had travelled without meeting with* any particular hindrances, finding splendid feed almost the whole way, and sufficient water for use, with the exception of three nights, when our ’horses were without. The rain had been very partial and in places we only found just sufficient for our immediate use.—'Torowoto and Carripundy swamp and the mud plains were perfectly dry, and no water that could long be relied on, without subsequent rain, from Xuntherungee Creek to this place a distance of about 180 miles. I had intended leaving the Expedition track at Carripnndv, but was deterred from doing so by (he very dry appearance of the country ; and therefore followed the track to this creek, which is permanent. lam happy to be able to state, that the party are and have been in perfect health, and that the horses are excellent working order. The camels are, upon the whole, in as good condition as when they left Menindie, and may bo pronounced cured of the scab, which I cannot he’p attributing in a great measure to the bad management of the sepoys. So far, I have met with no loss or accident of anv kind, and the natives, whomever Tliave seen them, have been friendly, I expect to be down at Menhulie in throe weeks, and may probably spend two or three day s at Torowoto to endeavour to find permanent water, as I know of none there that can be relied on. I forward these despatches by Mr. Brahe and "Weston Phillips, with four of our best horses. I consider that (hoy will have no particular difficulties in going down, excepting as regards water, which would not be lessened by a larger party, and I cannot well spare more men from the number of camels and pack-horses to look after. Should there be horses at Menindie for the journey down, I have instructed Mr. Brahe to proceed at once to town, taking with him the documents and field books belonging to Mr, Burke and Mr. Wills, and relating to the journey to and from the Gulf. King I sis all send down on mv arrival at the darling. I beg to urge on the committee (he necessity of sending mo immediate instructions to Menidic respecting the further disposal of the party and equipment. I have the honor to bo Sir, Tour most obedient servant, -A. W. Howitt, Leader cf the Contingent Exploring party.