EXPLORATION OF NEW GUINEA

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 236, 7 January 1888, Page 5

EXPLORATION OF NEW GUINEA

Mr Theodore Bevats, who returned to Thursday Island from New Guinea, reports that he crossed over from that conn try, distant over 100 miles, in 14 hours, steaming in the small open launch Mabel. He arrived at New Guinea in the beginning of November, and ab once started to re-survey his former discoveries up the Aird and Jubilee Rivers. Mr Hemmy, surveyor, appointed by the Queen and Government, who accompanied Mr Bevan, authenticates the discoveries, and found that Mr Bevan had mapped the new rivers fairly accurately on the charts. During the trip now concluded an equal territory of new country has been surveyed and explored. Altogether the launch 'steamed over 1,000 miles in New Guinea waters. The immediate cause of Mr Bevan's return was the sickness of half of his crew through the arduous nature of the work. Mr Bevan, however, brings everybody safely back, and they have now recovered their health. There were no collisions or casualties with the natives, though every form of vicissitude and danger were experienced. Among the original worlfdone by Mr Bevan's expedition he mentions the following: — Tne outside arms of the two main rivers from the heads of their deltas to the sea were explored and also the previously unvisited country between the Aird and Jubilee Rivers, embracing one degree of longitude. He also ascended above the highest point of the Victory expedition up the Aird River, until owing' to a sudden fall in tho river, the launch was left high and dry on pebbles for one week. He also made important discoveries west of Cape Blackwood and elsewhere. Mr Bevan was in excellent health throughout, and he is ready to return to New Guinea at once, without going south, providing sufficient money is forthcoming. It is understood he has wired to the colonial Governments and his committees to ask whether they desire that ho shall return to New Guinea immediately to resume his exploring work. The surveyor is much pleased with the splendid river systems discovered by Mr Bevan, which form a series of natural highways 1 to over 10,000 square miles of agricultural country.