412 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



west, this course was followed for 40 miles, crossing the MOSMAN 

 and the LITTLE LAURA, both tributaries of the Laura, and the 

 " LITTLE KENNEDY " was met with. The valley of this river, 

 coming from the south, offered a practicable course in the desired 

 direction, and 15 miles of good travelling brought the party 

 to a gap in the " GREAT DIVIDING RANGE," from which their 

 eyes rested with satisfaction on familiar landmarks in the valley of 

 the PALMER. 



Having descended to and crossed the PALMER, Hann struck 

 south, and reached the MITCHELL in 35 miles. The WALSH was 

 reached in 23 miles more to the south and followed (by the out- 

 ward track) for 28 miles to south-south-east. 



From the Walsh, a course was followed to south-south-east. 

 The TATE was crossed at the site of the modern TATE TELEGRAPH 

 STATION, some 13 miles above the outward track. The LYND 

 was met with, on the same course, in about 25 miles, and after 

 crossing that river, the outward track was retraced to the south, 

 up FOSSIL BROOK to the starting-point of the expedition, which 

 was reached on loth November, 1872. 



Hann's expedition, no doubt, owed a good deal to the fine 

 weather which prevailed all the time it was in the field, but its 

 successful issue was mainly due to the superior bushmanship of the 

 Leader. It resulted in important economic developments, as it 

 revealed the existence of an immense area of " GOOD COUNTRY," the 

 pastoral occupation of which quickly followed the publication of 

 the report. The indication of the presence of GOLD led the way 

 to the opening of the PALMER GOLDFIELD, with its far-reaching 

 influence on the settlement of Northern Queensland. Finally, 

 the discovery of the TATE and WALSH Rivers attracted a swarm of 

 prospectors, who opened out RICH MINERAL AREAS a few years later, 



William Hann was drowned while bathing in the sea, at Towns- 

 ville, on 5th April, 1889. Thomas Tate now (1920) resides at 

 Peak Vale, near Clermont. 



