NEW GUINEA EXPLORATION. Achievements of the Late Expedition.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 131, 5 December 1885, Page 4

NEW GUINEA EXPLORATION. Achievements of the Late Expedition.

From Australian papers to hand to-day wo glean the following particulars :— The party ascended a previously unexplored branch of the Fly river from its junction about forty miles above Ellangowan Island. This branch of the river, which Avas named tho Strickland, avus about tho same size as tho Fly river, and Avas followed up to the vicinity of tho British boundary, in latitude odeg. 20min. and longitude U'JUlog. lOmin. The highest summit reached Avas 700 foot above tho level of the Strickland river, Avhicn at the place rcforred to was probably 300 feet above the level of the sea. The uortuorn coast range was sighted. No such range as that known in somo of the missionary maps as tho Sir Arthur Gordon range Avas seen on this route of the Strickland. The party ascended in a Avhaleboatfor eighty miles, where they left tho Bonito, and at ttio farthest point reached tho stream was exceedingly rapid, rushing through breaches and rocks. The natives of the country through Avhich the expedition passed Avere doscribed as a line, comely, clearskinned, light-coloured race, very numerous, but oxcocdingly shy and hostile. It Avas found impossible to have any friendly communications Avith them. It Avas also found impossible to p\ish into the country any distance from the river. Tho iunglc Avas so dense that ovcry l'oofc of tho road had to be cut, and in no place did tho party succeed in cutting a track more than five or six miles from tho placo of operations. Tho Malays proved to bo vory useful in dragging tho Avhaleboat up tho dilhcult rapids of the Uppor Strickland.

Origin of the Report of Massacre. Tho Cooktown special correspondent of the TOwnsville Bulletin telegraphed to that papor that Iho report of the rnassaoro originated as follows :— VVlicn 300 milos up tho b'ly River tho expedition was attacked Toy a large party of natives, who showered spears and arrows on tho Bonito. Two Hampton Islanders who wore on board became panic-stricken ; and, watching an opportunity, they got into a canoe, effected their escape.and, hearing tho firing after leaving, they, on thoir arrival at tho mission station, roportod that the whole party hud boon massacred. Tho Cooktown correspondent of tho Sydney Neioa wired:— On tho arrival of tho steamer Alexandra about 1 o'clock on Monday, with tho lionito in tow, Captain E verill and several members of tho expedition dined with Mr John Douglas, who gave thorn a cordial reception. The members of the party wore very roticent; but from what was gleaned from them it would appear that the origin of the reported massacre was an attaok mado by the natives whon tho expedition entered tho Fly River, when two natives who accompanied the expedition were so terrified that they loft in acanoo, and reported at Bainpton Island that tho wholo party were raassacrod, having been overwhelmed by tho natives armed with arrows and spears. One of the members of the pariy returned in the lugger from Thursday Island to stop the ketch Wild Duck which had started on a aearchSexpedition.