Revieip of Rerietc/t. l/StOC. 



Distintiuished Early AustraliariS. 



129 



Hamilton Hume. 



missioned to examine the hithi-rto unexplored coast 

 of New Holland from the west point of the Gulf of 

 Carpentaria to the North-West Cape. In a teak-built 

 cutter, built in India, named the '' Mermaid,' pur- 

 chased in Sydney, Captain King left on his first 

 voyage on Etecember 21st, 181 7. In three voyages 

 in the " Mermaid," and a subsequent one in the 

 " Bathurst," King surveyed 850 miles of the coast 

 of Australia, and gave names to many headlands, 

 inlets and islands. In his opinion one of his most 



important discoveries was that of Port Essington, 

 one of the finest of Australian harbours. He was 

 the first to survey Macquarie Harbour, on the west 

 coast of Tasmania. After his discoveries on the 

 Australian coast Captain King did important sur- 

 veying work on H.M. ship " Adventure " on the 

 coast of South America. 



His last years were spent in Australia. He was 

 for many years associated with the management of 

 the Australian Agricultural Society's properties in 

 Xew South Wales. He attained to the rank of Rear- 

 Admiral, and was for a number of years one of the 

 Legislati\e Councillors of New South Wales. He 

 accompanied Governor Bourke when he came to lay 

 out and name Melbourne. During his stay in Vic- 

 toria on that occasion he went to the top of Mount 

 Macedon and verified the correctness of the posi- 

 tions as given by Sir Thomas Mitchell, when he 

 made his ob.ser\-ation on the mount some time be- 

 fore. Astronomical pursuits occupied much of the 

 Rear-Admiral's leisure time in his later days at the 

 obsen-atory, which he had built on his estate at St. 

 Mary's, near the old New South Wales town of 

 Windsor. The last night of his life was spent in 

 the company of the naval officers of H.M.S. 

 " Juno." 



He died somewhat suddenly in Sydney, and was 

 buried in the graveyard at St. Mary's, the site of 

 which had been given bv his mother to the Anglican 

 Church. Australians of the present day may think 

 of him with pardonable pride as an earl' • Australian 

 native who, as a skilful navigator and an observant 

 and enterprising explorer, added much to the world's 

 knt)wledge of the geography and natural history of 

 .Australia. King's Sound, in West Australia, and 

 Lakt- King, in Gippsland, were najiied after hinv 



The Remains of an Old Temple. (See Article on Page 188.) 



