McILWRAITH AND MACROSSAN RANGES 715 



next crossed, and the BATAVIA RIVER itself was reached (CAMP 15) 

 about 20 miles from Mein. Fox's OLD STATION was on Frog Hollow. 



The Batavia was apparently struck only a short distance above 

 the rich alluvial goldfield of PLUTO VILLE (which was to be discovered 

 in October of the same year). Above the crossing of the river, 

 a bark hut was seen, the temporary dwelling of WILLIAM PARTRIDGE, 

 a prospector who, it is mentioned, had, " with others," a few 

 months previously, got 30 ounces of GOLD in the Batavia. 1 



In about 2 miles up the river to the east, the infall of Sefton 

 Creek was seen on the right, or northern, bank. The Sefton was 

 followed up to the NE. for about 8 miles, where the party must 

 have crossed my track (between Camps 30 and 31) of 26th January, 

 1880. 



The travellers then followed SEFTON CREEK to the east for about 

 15 miles until the creek was obviously near its head. The creek 

 was prospected all the way, but only " fine colours " of GOLD were 

 obtained. Near its head they " came in sight of JACK'S NOB and 

 MOUNT CARTER," peaks which had been named and located by 

 Mr. Embley. Dick's description of the view from Mount Carter 

 (which he ascended on his return journey) proves at least that 

 Mount Carter and my "View Hill" of 20th January, 1880, are 

 distinct. 



GOLD (" colours ") was first met with on 5th July, between 

 Camps 1 7 and 1 8, in a creek falling into the Sefton. " Fine colours " 

 were obtained in the SEFTON itself next day. 



Near the head of the Sefton, Dick observed an old tree branded 

 W.L., which was taken to mark a visit by WILLIAM LAKELAND, prior 

 to his discovery of the Rocky Goldfield in 1893. (Lakeland assisted 

 Embley in his surveys of 1884-5.) 



Owing to the steepness of the rocky slopes and the density of 

 the SCRUB, Dickie and his party experienced insurmountable 

 difficulty in trying to cross the backbone of the MC!LWRAITH RANGE 

 by the head of the Sefton, which had turned to the north-west. 

 They were turned back again and again, had to hew their way 

 through the scrub, and nearly lost their horses, but finally got away 

 to the south-east and CROSSED THE RANGE on I4th July. On the 

 same day they lighted on a fresh horse-track, which they believed 

 to have been made by PARTRIDGE. They then dropped down into 

 the valley of the LOCKHART RIVER by a TRACK which had been cut 

 i by sandalwood-getters, and which led them, through a long scrub, 

 over steep and rugged ground, and lastly " over flat pastoral 

 country and numerous water-courses " north-eastward to a landing, 

 on TIDAL WATERS, on the left bank of the river, where there was an 



This casual reference acquires an additional interest in the light of a statement 



ide by M. W. Shanahan in " With the Cape York Prospecting Party, being an Account 



Di a Trip from Cape York to the Carron Range, with various Peninsular Sidelights," in 



.Queenslander of igth September, 1896. The statement is that Partridge is " now a 



semi-millionaire " and making a figure " in London Society." 



