SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO NEW GUINEA.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1995, 27 May 1875, Page 3

SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO NEW GUINEA.

?^.\ On this subject referred to in recent telegrams, the Sydney Morning Herald of March 3 says :—" Although it is now '. considerably more ; than three centuries and a half ago ;since the large island of Papua, or New Guinea, was discovered by the Portuguese commanders D'Abreu and Serram, it appears somewhat surprising ', to reflect that, as a country, remains practicallyv unknown to ;< Europeans. ; , JNearly 60 years ago the Dutch, it is true, : attempted to form a^settlement at Fort Dv Bus, in Triton's: Bay; but they were soon compelled to abandon that low-lying spot, in consequence of the unhealthiness of the climate, which there appeared to be absolutely fatal to Europeans. Later (in 1835) an expedition fitted out by the same maritime people undertook to survey the supposed ' River Dourga'—beginning.lt about 100 miles to the -N.E. of False Cape, latitude. Bdeg. 24min. south, -and■longitude 137deg. 38min. east—but (beyond proving that the 'river' was a ''strait 90 miles long, and , defining the limits of Prince Frederick Henrick's 'Island) not much was then' c effected^ by _ the Dutch, who have \jV -peculiar facilities ; for •prosecuting their researches in this direction. French -expeditions, commanded by Duperrey and- Dumont D'CTrville, 1822-5, 1827-9, •1837-40) have also added to our knowledge of the southern, western, and northern coasts cf New -Guinea, but our own .countrymen have, more recently, •explored much of this terra incognita, so interesting to the geographer, the ethnologist, and the naturalist. .'ln 1845, Captain,. Black wood, of H.M.S. J?ly surveyed the Great Bight on the south-east coast, and after Captain Black wood. Captain Stanley, of the • B attle'siiake ; Lieutenant Yule, of the Bramble; and Captain Moresby, of the Basilisk, all made further discoveries in those parts. A scientific commission, sent by the Netherlands in 1858, also carried on tho work; and Signor D'Albertis (the Italian traveller and naturalist) has yet more lately laboured in the same field, and not without rosults honourable to himself and useful to science.'' In spite of all this, however, New Guinea remains still unknown, a country ' full of problems that yet await satisfactory «olution. It is to solve some of these problems, and (more especially) to add to the resources of natural history, as opened up in the vast island of New Guinea, that Mr William Macleay, of this city, has determined to fife^out.'at his own expense, an expedition to Papua to explore the coast, to visit the interior, arid systematically to collect'specimens of the flora and fauna of New Guinea. In preparation for this 'scientific'expedition, Mr Macleay has purchased ..the Chevert, . a fine barque of 350 tons, of which it is understood that Captain Edwards is-.to be the conimander. She is to be fitted up with every convenience for her appointed use and service, and will, it is"~expected, be' ready for sea in May next. The 'Chevert is to carry x Bteam launch on deck for the navigation of rivers-j for this expedition will be directed not merely to the 'pheasant and instructive labors'" of the naturalist, but to the exploration of the interior of the country generally, and to such an 'exploration' of its natural resource's as must'invest the cruise' of the Chevert with a very special interest and importance."