Report of Exploration Committee. xv 



formation as to the fate of Dr. Leickhardt (who it was said had 

 fallen, with his party, into the hands of the natives, near the sources 

 of the Maranoa.) By adopting the Darling as a starting point, Dr. 

 Mueller said, a new and large portion of country in close proximity 

 to the northern gold-fields of the colony of Victoria, and probably in 

 part available for pastures, woidd be opened. Further, it seemed 

 preferable to explore a new tract of country on the route to the Vic- 

 toria River (of Sir Thomas Mitchell), and situated between the Dar- 

 ling, Grey Range, and the Wan-ego, than proceeding over the well 

 known country to the Victoria River from the eastward. 



Mr. Blandowski objected to this alteration in the proposed route, 

 on account of the greater distance to be traversed ere a position on 

 the Victoria River would be reached. He explained the difficulty of 

 obtaining horses fit for an exploring party in the northern parts of 

 this colony, and referred to the existence of poisonous herbs on the 

 Darling as dangerous to such animals. 



Dr. Mueller contended that poisonous herbs were not restricted to 

 some portions of the country near the Darling, but had proved de- 

 structive to horses and other animals near Lake Torrens, in Western 

 Australia, Arnheim's Land, and other parts of this continent, and 

 would probably be encountered on many other lines of the country. 



Dr. Mackenna, considering that already New South Wales and 

 South Australia were engaged in new enterprises of a kindred nature, 

 moved that Victoria should cany out the objects in view without the 

 co-operation of the neighboring colonies. This proposition received 

 the sanction of the Committee. It was also agreed to establish, in 

 the event of the plan of the exploration, in its fullest extent, meeting 

 with the approbation of the Government and the colonists, a depot, 

 as had been previously urged by Edward Wilson, Esq., on the junc- 

 tion of the Thomson with the Victoria River, in lat. about 25° S. 

 and long. 143° E., and to convey provisions, &c, to that locality, suf- 

 ficient for the party during the space of two years. The decision on 

 the best route for accomplishing this object was postponed on the 

 motion of the Hon. Mr. Hodgson, M.L.C., until a reply would be 

 received from Mr. Gregory. 



At the fourth meeting of the Committee, held on the 7th Decem- 

 ber, the Hon. Secretary, Dr. Macadam read the answer in reply to 

 the communication to Mr. Gregory, which the Committee deem it 

 necessary to insert verbatim in this report, as an important document, 

 based on unrivalled experience. 



66, Macquarie-street, Sydney, 



25th November, 1857. 

 Dear Sir, — I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 16th 

 inst., referring to the proposal of the Philosophical Institute of Vic- 

 toria to initiate proceedings for the formation of an exploring expe- 

 dition, having for its object the determination of the character of that 



