464 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



A SIXTH EXPEDITION 



TWU of the documents recently discovered by Mr. Brady 

 among the records of the Department of Works show that Mulligan, 

 accompanied by Warner, made a sixth exploration between 2ist 

 October, 1875, and 2jih March, 1876. 



" COOKTOWN, zist October, 1875. 

 " SIR, 



" I do myself the honour to inform you that I have not been able to draw 

 the charts of Mr. Mulligan's expedition here, from want of paper and instruments 

 in the absence of Mr. Reid. I also regret to state that I am unable, through want 

 of funds, to proceed to Brisbane, as I intended. 



" I have therefore thought it better to accompany Mr. Mulligan on a further 

 prospecting trip for two months, which will, I believe, be the means of supplying 

 the Government with further valuable information. 



" I have, etc., 



" F. H. WARNER. 



" L.S. 

 " H. E. KING, ESQ., 



" Minister for Works, Brisbane." 



" COOKTOWN, 2jth March, 1876. 

 " A. O. HERBERT, ESQ. 

 " SIR, 



" Mr. Warner is going to Brisbane in a few days : he, being our Surveyor, 

 will be able to furnish you with all the information required, and plot a chart of the 

 whole route, as well as that of the new goldfield just discovered by us. 



" I have, etc., 



JAMES V. MULLIGAN." 



No report of the prospecting trip referred to has ever come 

 under my notice. It is certain that none was officially published. 

 The " NEW GOLDFIELD " was the HODGKINSON. A few particulars 

 are given in Heaton's Australian Men of the Time. 



" They [Mulligan's party] then applied for a further grant of 500 to allow them 

 to prospect the Hodgkinson, a river he found and named after one of the northern 

 representatives, then in the Legislative Assembly. Mulligan was refused the request, 

 so he and two others set out with full supplies necessary at the time, as the Mitchell 

 River, which they had to cross, was much swollen, and not crossable again for four 

 months, so that they were during this time cut off from civilisation. A few of their 

 old mates also came to a branch of the Hodgkinson the same time, and, after being 

 there about six weeks, came upon them one evening at twilight, and opened fire 

 upon them, thinking they were blacks, neither party realising the proximity of the 

 other. After this they became friends and then returned to Cooktown, where they 

 reported PAYABLE GOLD, March 9, 1876. The Government again gave the party 

 1,000 reward." 



It is generally understood that the party found by Mulligan 

 on the occasion referred to by Heaton consisted of Robert Sefton, 

 W. McLeod and Hugh Kennedy. Terms were arranged whereby 





