MR. STUART'S EXPEDITION.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 18, 9 January 1863, Page 2

MR. STUART'S EXPEDITION.

Adelaide, 18th December. Mr. Stuart has given his diary to the Government, and it will at once be printed with all possible despatch, and forwarded to Europe by the first mail. Pending the production of the full diary, the following particulars will be interesting: — The expedition proceeded along the previous route until they reached the point attained by Mr. Stuart in 1861, from which he was obliged to retire in consequence of inability of his small party to penetrate further. Up to this point nothing particular occurred, except a few slight skirmishing encounters with the natives, who on a former occasion, were too powerful ; but on the present expedition, with his well equipped party, their attacks were easily repelled, and formed very little obstacle to his progress ; as they invariably decamped when a few shots were fired over (heir heads. The dense scrub that had in 1861 formed an insurmountable barrier, was penetrated after six weeks' incessant labor, and the other side was reached in safety and without loss. On getting into clear country again, and taking observations, they found themselves in latitude J6° 40. 10 further on, or lat. 16 ° 50' they struck on a large river, apparently a branch of the Roper river, which they followed down until its confluence with the main stream known as the Roper River. They followed the Roper River. They found it took its source in some rocky and hilly land, through which they crossed several creeks running in a N. E. direction, until .'icy reached the table land in lat. 13 ° 50' and in long. 332 ° 30. They croised this table land and came upon a lr .ge river wi'h a strong current, running through well grassed country admirably adapted for grazing and agricultural pur- ]/. SPS. This river ran in a N. E. direction, and the party followed its course for a considerable dv ;ance, until in lat. 12 ° JO' and long. 131 ° 40' the river's course changed to due north. On this course they travelled for about 30 mile™, and then struck due E. for a!:out 10 to 15 miles. Then due north to the scapoi tin Van Die-men's G\ilf, which was reach lon the 24th July, 1862, and on the following day planted one flag on the beach amid great cheering from the party. The point on the coast reached was a promoatoiy marked on the Admiralty charts as b.in^ 30 miles c st of Cape Hotham. The river followed as bud down ran about 40 miles parallel with a river marked on the map as the Adelaide river, the difference in the longtitude being only from 6 to 12 miles. The river struc k by Stuart is probably indentical with tha Adelaide, as it appears to have the same characteristics. The chief portion of the country which has now been traversed by white men for the first time, is sc-r.bby and separating Newoatle water from Mr. Gregory's tracks, which Stuart ciossed to south of the lloper lliver, and well knov:n to G. egory and the ill-fated Loichardt. The route ta'" ':n by the present expedition from IToper's Fiver to the sea coast is almost parallel with that of Leichardt's, Stuart has passod through much good country well fitted for agricultural and pastoral purposes, which Leich.irdt saw and noticed; and he speaks equally as favorable of it. Even in the scrub water appears to have been found ii sufficic it qua i ties to satisfy the wants of all fie party, including the horses, and totally obvia .■•d the necessity for carrying a supply forward from camp to camp bej'ond Newcastle Water— a fact which agreeably surprised Mr. Stuart and which he did not imagine at all would have b;. on the case at startinT. Some of the country V 3yond the scrub Mr. Stuart describes as being of the most excellent character, and suitable in every respect for the squatter or farmer ; whilst the rocks with which it is here and studdied. are in appearance similar to £,old bearing formations sen by him in oi'ier localities, and giving p-.'o.nise of being auriferous if closer exaruinai'on were to be mad?. He pushed rc-osz from Van Diemen's Gulf to the Gulf of Carpentaria unattended by any of h'S comp.- lie is, and the fatigue and anxiety induced by this perilous journey have preyed seriously upon his health. He is completely exnausted, and his physicians have given it as their opinion that it vril! take a long period of rest and relaxation before he reg.rns his ordinary health. During the whole of the outward expedition the party found plenty of water at every camping place, c 'ept on two occasions : but I'iey w.e not nearly so fortunate on their return journey, being Tor two whole days and p.>rt of a third before they succeeded in obtaining a nee ?sary supply ; this was the only occasion in ■which they were inconvienced by itc- want. They were equally as fortunate with their provisions, which held out well till the latter part of the journey, when they were competed t > spcr "cc three of their horses to supply their wants. After leaving Jie boundary line of South Australia the country rapidly improved. Mr. Stuart met M'Kinlaj at the Kapunda srr:ion; and, at the Adelaide station, Mr. Howitt's party were among the first to welcome him home, after his laborious but successful mission. — Geelong Chronicle.