Reports of Committees. xxxvii 



also considered that the view in which the deputation had put the 

 question, was one of so much advantage to the commercial community, 

 that the Government would not hesitate to assist them. His Excel- 

 lency then stated that, if the deputation thought that it would be of 

 any benefit to the object, he should be most happy to communicate 

 with Mr. Babbage, who was about to start from Adelaide on a similar 

 expedition. 



After this interview with his Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, the 

 Hon. Secretary transmitted a copy of the resolutions of the public 

 meeting to the Hon. W. C. Haines, then Chief Secretary, and 

 requested the favour of an interview on behalf of the deputation, 

 but previous to the day appointed for receiving the deputation, Mr. 

 Haines was unexpectedly called out of town. At the next meeting 

 of the Exploration Committee, held on the 8th February, it was 

 resolved that the Hon. Secretary should communicate with the Hon. 

 the Chief Secretary, and again solicit an interview with him, in terms 

 of the resolution of the public meeting. The deputation waited by 

 appointment upon the Chief Secretary, who, after listening to an 

 explanation of the objects of the deputation, pleaded the inability of 

 the Government, at this late period of the Session, to place money on 

 the Estimates for the proposed expedition. He thought the object 

 not more pressing than many others, that the Government had been 

 led into a much greater expenditure than had been contemplated, and 

 that it would be impossible for any Government to conduct the 

 affairs of the country if the expenditure was not limited to the 

 ordinary revenue. He thought when the colonies were united under 

 a federal government, that would be the best time to undertake the 

 exploration of the interior by a combined effort. The Government, 

 however, would be open to consider the expediency of the proposed 

 expedition next Session, and Parliament woidd be in a better position 

 to vote the necessary funds. He would place the arguments of the 

 deputation before his colleagues, but he did not anticipate a more 

 favourable result. 



The deputation was also favoured with an interview with the 

 Hon. C. H. Ebden, the late Colonial Treasurer, who listened with 

 much attention to the objects contemplated by the Philosophical 

 Institute, and thought it very desirable that Victoria should contri- 

 bute towards the exploration of the interior, but considered it a very 

 inconvenient time to get the necessary funds. He should like to 

 see Victoria combining with the other Australian colonies in a sys- 

 tematic exploration of the interior, or that she should undertake it 

 alone if the other colonies declined. He thought it not right that 

 the colony of Victoria should send an exploring expedition into New 

 South Wales territory, without communicating with the New South 

 Wales Government on the subject. He advised that the Exploration 

 Committee should put itself in communication with Mr. Gregory, 

 with a view to ascertain if he would be willing to undertake 



