430 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



On yd September, Mulligan went 18 miles up the HODG- 

 KINSON, south-eastward, passing the infall of the EASTERN 

 HODGKINSON. Up to this camp he describes the valley as " fertile " 

 and " comprising the best and richest soil I have seen anywhere." 

 He got " colours " of GOLD on the bars. 



Proceeding on the same course up the river on ^th September, 

 he found that in 2 miles it branched. Presumably, this was where 

 CALEDONIA CREEK, and another creek rising west of MOUNT 

 McGANN, fall in. Following the river itself for 5 miles SE., he 

 camped " at another junction," i.e., at the infall of the creek fol- 

 lowed to-day by the DIMBULAH-MOUNT MULLIGAN RAILWAY. 

 This CAMP was about 2 miles south of the site of THORN BOROUGH, 

 which afterwards became the centre of the HODGKINSON GOLD- 

 MINING DISTRICT. Here they saw NATIVES, " but," says Mulligan, 

 " they soon hide from sight. They are wilder than kangaroos. 

 They run from their camps, and leave many little things behind." 



Next day ($tb September), all hands prospected the neighbourhood 

 for ALLUVIAL GOLD. " Colours " and " shotty specks " were the 

 only reward of their labour, and the verdict was that " there was 

 NO PROSPECT FOR ANYTHING PAYABLE HERE only for fattening 

 cattle." An amusing instance of how Mulligan's views were 

 coloured by his disappointment, or perhaps of his habitual attitude 

 of being bored to the point of incoherence by mere scenery, occurs 

 in his observation : " We are disgusted with the sight of such nice 

 round hills and mountains passed by, and yet no show of gold or 

 even quartz." 



In the beginning of 1877, attention began to be directed to 

 the HODGKINSON as a REEFING DISTRICT, and it may be mentioned 

 incidentally that Mulligan was one of Thornborough's earliest 

 business men. Exceedingly rich crushings were obtained from 

 numerous narrow shoots, but after ten or twelve years the industry 

 languished. It never, however, quite died out, and recent indica- 

 tions appear to promise for it a renewed lease of life. Details of 

 the geological structure and output of the field will be found in 

 the reports quoted below. 1 



On 6th September, 1874, tne P ar ty left tne Hodgkinson proper, 

 and struck NSW., camping on " a large tributary," probably the 

 " LITTLE HODGKINSON " RIVER. Next day (jth September) " a 

 few miles to the SW." brought them into very difficult country 

 between the Hodgkinson and the Walsh. " I never beheld such 

 rough country before," says the Leader. (SEE MAP K.) 



On the 9^, the party scrambled up a spur which they had 

 discovered after much anxious search, and were at last on the 

 southern, or Walsh side of the watershed. On the loth, although 



* " Report on the Hodgkinson Gold Field, with Two Maps," by R. L. Jack, Govern- 

 ment Geologist. Parliamentary Paper. Brisbane, by Authority, 1884. " Notes 

 on the Present Condition of the Hodgkinson Gold Field," by R. L. Jack, Bull. No. 4 of 

 Geological Survey. Brisbane, by Authority, 1896. 



