376 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



Of William Hann's abilities as a bushman there can be no 

 question. His courage was only kept in check by his sound judg- 

 ment. On the other hand, he was sometimes petulant and some- 

 times overbearing in manner, and, in a word, was not " easy to get 

 on with." He himself confesses to occasional loss of temper and 

 injustice done to his subordinates in the heat of the moment. No 

 doubt the temper of an angel would be tried at times by the 

 alternating hardships and ennui of a long exploring expedition. 

 Hann definitely charges Taylor with two acts of reprehensible 

 carelessness of the safety of the horses and Tate with a want of 

 consideration for the other members of the party. It is obvious 

 that both of these gentlemen performed their own special duties 

 zealously and with a full appreciation of the opportunity they 

 enjoyed. 



The principal items of the EQUIPMENT consisted of " 25 pack- and 

 saddle-horses, 20 sheep and 5 months' supply of flour, tea, sugar 

 and other necessaries." 



The mobilisation of the expedition took place at FOSSILBROOK, 

 an out-station belonging to Mr. Firth of Mount Surprise (lat. 

 i82'S.; long. 144 30' E.). 



The record is contained in (i) Copy of the Diary of the Northern 

 Expedition under the Leadership of Mr. William Hann. Brisbane, 

 by Authority, 1873 ; and (2) Report from Mr. W . Hann, Leader of 

 the Northern Expedition Party. Brisbane, by Authority, 1873. 

 The " Diary " is accompanied by a route map on the scale of 

 8 miles to an inch. The " Report " is reproduced almost in its 

 entirety in the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society , Vol. 

 XVIII, p. 87. 



Before the start of the expedition, and to fill in the time 

 occupied in communication with the Minister for Public Works 

 and Goldfields, Hann, accompanied by Taylor and Tate, traversed 

 the country between the ETHERIDGE AND FOSSILBROOK and 

 established the fact that the creek on which is Mount Surprise 

 Cattle Station (now a stopping-place on the railway connecting 

 the Etheridge with Cairns) runs into the Jardine Brothers' 

 " Parallel Creek," an anabranch of the Einasleigh River. 



The whole EXPEDITION LEFT FOSSILBROOK (old) station on 26th 

 June, 1872, and after travelling 9 miles down the creek N. by W., 

 camped on its left bank, CAMP I. (SEE MAP K.) For the first 

 6 miles the creek is described as running over a LIMESTONE bed 

 with BASALT on both banks. 



About midway on this day's stage is the modern cattle station 



to Daly Waters Telegraph Station, to seek relief for Nation. Under instructions from 

 Adelaide, R. R. Nuckey, an Overseer of the Overland Telegraph Construction party, 

 promptly set out to the rescue, accompanied by de Lautour, who by this time had 

 arrived, minus his cattle. On i2th June, 1874, Nation's remains were found at the camp 

 where Elvoy had left him. He appeared to have been dead about ten days. Nation 

 Range and Nation River were named to mark the scene of the tragedy. 



