84 STOKES. [June 9, 1856. 



sea or land, it was seldom oppressive." This evidence is confirmed by observa- 

 tions taken daily, at sunrise, noon, and sunset, during the months of Novem- 

 ber and December, in Weymouth Bay, York Peninsula, by Mr. Carron. 



For the temperature of the remaining part of the year, or from April to 

 November, there is the evidence of Dr. Leichhardt, who was engaged with a 

 party during three months in traversing the southern shores of Carpentaria. 

 He speaks very highly of the country, and describes the influence of the climate 

 on himself and his companions in these words : — " The state of our health 

 showed how congenial the climate was to the human constitution, for without 

 - comforts, without flour or salt, and miserably clothed, we were yet all in 

 health." (Page 299.) As to his cattle, he states that they were in capital 

 condition while passing round the gulf ; and further, that cattle, driven by 

 easy stages from the Darling Downs to the Gulf, would fatten on the road. 



Captain Stokes' own surveys in Carpentaria, which led to his discovery of 

 the fine country which he named the Plains of Promise, were made during the 

 months of July and August, and were perfectly confirmed by Leichhardt's 

 subsequent journey. The thermometer in those months was observed as low 

 as 50° ; and Leichhardt, in drawing the special attention of his readers to the 

 frequent complaints made by his party of cold nights, says, " in fact, we 

 found the air so bracing that we are all in good health." Captain Stokes ex- 

 pressed the opinion that a selected class of convicts might be employed on a 

 system of dispersion, with great advantage, in forming a new settlement in the 

 Gulf of Carpentaria. 



With regard to the thick, rainy, and boisterous weather, which Captain 

 FitzRoy seems to fear would impede the navigation of Torres Strait during the 

 western monsoon, it does not appear, from all the evidence Captain Stokes had 

 been able to collect, that there was any cause of apprehension. Thunder 

 squalls occur with rain, but the strongest winds. Flinders found during the 

 season of the westerly monsoon, were from the eastward. 



It would almost appear that, perfect as our charts now are along the pro- 

 posed route, there must be some motive in continuing the brand of great danger 

 to the navigation of Torres Strait. The losses that have occurred on the 

 Barrier Eeefs may be attributed to hazardous attempts to make Eaine's Islet 

 and similar narrow passages, where there are no soundings to guide the navi- 

 gator, and the currents are generally strong. 



Captain Hoseason is the only naval officer who has taken a steamer through 

 Torres Strait. He was delighted with the passage, and compared the reefs 

 and islets to so many natural beacons, as he steamed H.M.S. * Inflexible ' 

 through them at the rate of 10 knots an hour. 



An increase has been made in the subsidy from Melbourne, raising it to 

 75,000?., since this subject was brought on at the last Meeting ; rendering it 

 still more apparent that there should be two lines, as already stated ; one to 

 Melbourne by the S. coast, and the other to Sydney by Torres Strait. This 

 would allay agitation, and meet the wants as well as gratify the wishes 

 of all the colonists. 



Captain the Hon. H, A. MtiKEAT, k.n., f.r.g.s., next read a letter from 

 Captain J. C. Hoseason, r.n., who was u.navoidably absent, and who expressed 

 himself in favour of Captain Stokes' route via Torres Strait, not as being the 

 best line of communication from England to Australia, but as being the best 

 line across the Indian Seas, supposing that it was determined, in the first in- 

 stance, to send the mails by way of Suez. As a means of direct communication 

 between England and Australia he gave a decided preference to the route via 

 Panama, using the railroad, such as it now existed, across the Isthmus ; but 

 if hereafter an inter-oceanic canal should be constructed free from locks, and 

 navigable for large steamers, that route would in his estimation be incompa- 

 rably superior to all others. 



Captain Hoseason mentioned that he had been for three years Nautical 



