CHAPTER LXXIV 

 THE AUTHOR'S EXPLORATIONS, 1879-80, continued 



SECOND EXPEDITION, continued 

 WITH CROSBIE'S PROSPECTING PARTY 



"FIRST PRELIMINARY REPORT," A SUMMARY OF 

 OPERATIONS BETWEEN COOKTOWN AND TEMPLE BAY 



GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. PLANS FOR RETURN JOURNEY AND FURTHER OPERATIONS. 



[The " First Preliminary Report," written at Camp 42, and sent via the Piper 

 Island Lightship, is given here for the sake of continuity and chronological sequence. 

 It was our first communication with the world and was apparently given to the news- 

 papers at once, although it was not " laid upon the table of the House " till 5th July, 

 1881, when it was issued, together with the " Second Preliminary Report," written 

 at Townsville, I4th April, 1880, the " Third Preliminary Report," written at Brisbane, 

 24th April, 1880, and a " Report on the Wild River Tin Mines," dated Thornborough, 

 27th October, 1880, under the title of " Further Reports on the Progress of the 

 Gold-Prospecting Expedition in Cape York Peninsula." I have a press cutting of 

 the " First Preliminary Report " as it appeared in the Cooktown Courier of 7th 

 April, 1880.] 



ANNOTATED REPRINT 



1881 

 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NORTHERN QUEENSLAND 



PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BY COMMAND 



ON THE PROGRESS OF THE GOLD-PROSPECTING 

 EXPEDITION IN CAPE YORK PENINSULA 



FIRST PRELIMINARY REPORT 



WE arrived last night at the " REMARKABLE RED CLIFFS," 

 noted on the coast chart opposite the PIPER ISLAND 

 LIGHTSHIP, and a boat has come off this morning 

 by which I send this short account of our progress 

 up to this date. 



We reached the PEACH RIVER in longitude 142 50' E. and 

 latitude 13 23' S., having found " colours " in the gullies from 

 the Coen northward to the Peach. [SEE MAP C.] 



570 



