BY NEW METHODS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 407, 25 October 1911, Page 7

BY NEW METHODS.

The newest method of invading Australia's little known Northern Territory is by motor-car. The first traveller to enter the Territory in a motor-car was Mr F. B. Powell, a mining engineer, who has just completed a prospecting survey in the neighbourhood of tbeMcArthur River, nearly 500 miles from the Queensland border. Mr Powell was sent out to inspect some silver-lead deposits, and his methods form a striking contrast to those of an expedition which visited the Territory only a year ago for a similar purpose. The earlier expedition travelled from Queensland by sea and had a most unhappy experience, the small sailing vessel employed being buffeted about for some days in the Gulf of Carpentaria. An arduous river voyage and a slow journey with pack-horses added to the troubles of | the party. Mr Powell met no such difficulties. Following a mail track, which provided a fair road, he accomplished comfortably within a few days an undertaking which would have occupied months if he Bad adopted the old methods of travelling. Leaving the Queensland border he travelled north-west for 350 miles, passing through a region which he describes as geed stock country. Sub-artesian water ia found at a depth of 250 ft. The country is stocked lightly with cattle, but Mr Powell says that the few settlers are convinced that it could be made ideal for sheep if it were opened up. Within a radius of fifty milea of the McArthur river there is promising mineral country, which requires systematic prospect ing. Zinc and lead are found in large and continuous outcrops, but the metal values are small on the surface, though Mr Powell thinks that extensive prospecting would be well repaid. The Northern Territory Mines and Exploration Company holds leases of large areas in the McArthur river district, and the expert has urged the company to test its properties thoroughly. It is probably that the company, which hag its headquarters in Melbourne, will adopt the recommendation. Access to its properties could he made fairly easy, and if its tests prove satisfactory the prospects of the development of the mining industry in the Northern Territory will be improved.