NORTH AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1926, Page 1

NORTH AUSTRALIA.

EXPEDITI ON A H RANGED. AUCKLAND, April 20. An investigation of the natural resources of the north-west of tho great Australian Continent is shortly to bo undertaken by an expedition of fifteen members under the leadership of Ali. Douglas Stuart AVylie, of Auckland. Air. AVylie, who has previously conducted investigations in the South Pacific, has been offered tho leadership of the Party, because of his experience and liis geiicit.il organising capacity. Interviewed to-day, Air. AYvlie said that, two New Zealanders had been appointed to accompany him. They were Air. Frank Burnett, F.R.G.S.. who will represent the Royal Geographical Society, and AD. J. Alaiden. Regarding the territory to he investigated, AD. AVylie said that for many years much speculation had existed amongst- pastoralists and others as to the natural resources of this little known expaiiso of country. It had always been looked upon as a land of romance, and many strange stories bad been told of the forbidding character of the wilderness. Important business interests bad been considering the necessity of sending a properly organised scientific expedition to tho hitherto unexplored regions of the Commonwealth, and after many deliberations finality had been reached. The purpose of the expedition, which will traverse tho vast areas between Broome, West Australia, and Port Darwin, Northern Territory, is to report upon not only the pastoral resources, but the mineral wealth as well. and before the expedition entered upon its territorial investigation some time will he spent on inquiring into deep sea fisheries and trawling interests on the north-western sea coast.

The arrangements for the expedition had been in progress for some months, and distinguished Australians had been included in the personnel. This part of the work was in the hands of Mr. O. G. Collins, the expedition’s representative at Perth. Tt is proposed in the beginning to motor from Perth to Carparvon, and fly. from there to Broome, where a pearling lugger that has been chartered to work along the coast as far as Darwin, will be waiting to take the party aboard. “It is very difficult for me to say how long our work will take,” observ-

ed AD AVylie, “but I think wo should complete the investigation in three months from the time of starting out. AVe propose to go inland at Collier Bay, a place 200 miles north of Broome. The expedition has aroused wide interest, and it is expected that the project will mean a great increase in the knowledge of this part of the Australian continent.