Part 14 (2/2)

Western Australia, Surveyor-General's Office,

Perth, 17th March, 1874

SIR,

The arrangeanized for the purpose of proceeding on an exploratory expedition to the north-eastern division of this territory having now been coenerally in the objects and the intention of the Governard to it

The chief object of the expedition is to obtain infor the ine, Ashburton, DeGrey, Fitzroy, and other rivers falling into the sea on the western and northern shores of this territory, as there are rounds for a belief that those rivers outflow from districts neither barren nor badly watered

Mr AC Gregory, co from the northwards by Sturt's Creek, discovered the Denison Plains, and itnorthwards there are to be found, near the heads of the rivers above alluded to,at the success which has already attended the stocking of the country to the eastward of Chah River and Murchison, it will be most fortunate for our sheep farmers if you discover any considerable addition to the present known pasture grounds of the colony; and by this means no doubt the ht eventually to light Every opinion of value that has been given on the subject tells one that the head of the Murchison lies in a district whichup this river fro other rivers to and froenerally your course will be north-east until you are within the tropics; it will then be discretionary with you to decide on your route, of which there is certainly a choice of three, besides the retracing of your steps for the purpose, perhaps, of ood country you may have found

Firstly, There is to choose whether you will go ard, and fall back on the settlements at Nicol Bay or the De Grey River, on the north-west coast

Secondly, To consider whether youto the ard of Gregory's track

Thirdly, To decide whether or not you will go eastward to the South Australian telegraph line

Possibly this latter course may be the raph stations, taking either Watson's Creek or Daly Waters, are not more than 300 miles fro you do this successfully, the reraph line to Port Darwin is a ement can be made with the South Australian Government to have a supply of provisions at Daly Waters

In the event of your going to Port Darwin, the plan probably will be to sell your equip with your party by sea, but in this and in other matters of detail there is no desire to fetter you, or to prevent the proper use of your judgment, as I am fully aware that your sole object is in co to a satisfactory result the work to be done

I hope that before you individually leave we shall have the pleasure of welco Colonel Warburton, and I have no doubt will be able to obtain soenerally on the objects of the expedition, I will go more into details

Your party will consist of yourself as leader, Mr Alexander Forrest as surveyor and second in command, James Sweeney (farrier), police-constable James Kennedy, and two natives, To six in number and twenty horses The party will be well armed; but by every means in your power you will endeavour to cultivate and keep on friendly relations with all the aborigines you may fall in with, and avoid, if possible, any collision with theed for are calculated to serve the party for eight months The expedition will start from Champion Bay, to which you will at once despatch by sea the stores to be obtained here; and the men and horses should proceed overland without delay You will be probably able to charter carts or drays to take es's farthest out-station on the Murchison; this will save you 200 th of your horses for that distance

Having the assistance of Mr Alexander Forrest as surveyor to the party, you will do as much reconnaissance work in connexion with the colonial survey as itcelestial observations at all convenient ti the natural features of the country you pass over, add ical and natural history specimens you can collect and preserve will bethe physical foret the agreened by the whole of the party

I am, etc,

MALCOLM FRASER,

Surveyor-General

DEPARTURE OF THE EXPEDITION

On the 18th of March, 1874, the expedition quitted Perth Colonel Harvest, the Acting-Governor, wished us a hearty God-speed, which arenerally The Surveyor-General and a party acco the road Ten days afterwards we reached Cha settled to coh to do in preparing stores, shoeing horses, and starting a teae to a spot about fifty miles inland On the 31st March ere entertained at dinner by Mr Crowther (Meislative Council for the district) at the Geraldton Hotel It was from that point we considered the expedition really commenced, and my Journal will show that we numbered our camps from that place Our final start was not effected without sonorant of the troubles which awaited the away, so that it was noon before ere fairly on the ht us to a place naes, where we re Good Friday On the 4th ere again on our way--a party of friends, Messrs E and F Wittenoo us as far as Allen Nolba We caht at a well known as Wandanoe, where, however, there was scarcely any feed for the horses, who appeared very dissatisfied with their entertainment, for they wandered away, and several hours were spent on the following ether