THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8140, 18 May 1906, Page 3

THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA.

.Considerable discussion baa taken place recently with regard to the discovery of Australia. The earliest discovery and mapping of Australia needs to bo supplemented by some reference to the well-authenticated voyage of Willem Jansz down the eastern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1606. In November, 1605, the Duyfke, commanded by Willem «janßz set sail to explore the isiand of New Guinea. The terin "island" ia nsed, but at tnat time it was quite unknown whether it was isiand or continent. This yacht, a small vessel of about sixty tons, was sent by order of Frederick de lioatman, Governor of Amboyna, of infamous memory, and called at Bantam on her way, where she received further instructions from •the company's president, Jan Willemsz Verschoor. She then proceeded on her voyage of discovery, the primary object of which is said to have been the fabled gold of New •Guinea. It was on November 18 she left, Bantam on this quest, and March of the succeeding, year found 'Sue adventurers still cruising down 'the coast of what they supposed to be New but what was in reality the» western shore of the promontory of Cape York. Having, like all bis eucoessors of th 6 same nationality, passed the opening of the northern scrait unseen, the commander kept a southern oooise," till he reached 13%deg taouth latitude; then, his provisions running short, and his vogage proving apparently fruitless, he turned bis humble little yacht's prow homeward, and departed. Janßz "Mdnd this extensive country for 4be greatest, part desert, but in some places inhabited by wild, 4jrael, black savages, by - whom•fome of the crew were murdered."

Cape Duyfken preserves for Australians the memory of tbe voyage. The first actual rceord of a white man landing on Australia, however, as Mr Ernest Faveuo states in tbe Sydney Morning Herald, belongs to 1616, when Dirk gHartog, or Hai'» toohsz, landed on the west ooast, erected a post aud nailed to it a tin plate bearing a record of bis visit.