28 
GOYDER’S REPORT ON THE COUNTRY [Nov. 9, 1857. 
is destined to attain ; doing away, at tlie same time, with an incon- 
venience and expense known only to those persons residing in or 
near the township, and supplying a desideratum to the inhabitants, 
the value of which it is impossible to overrate. 
During the journey I made numerous observations on the direc- 
tion of the magnetic meridian, measuring with the utmost care the 
general and diurnal variations of the compass, at different altitudes 
on the same meridian,* and in different longitudes on the same 
parallel ; but, being desirous of connecting these with observations 
made in the vicinity of town, which have been delayed by the un- 
favourable state of the weather since my return, I withhold the 
result for the present. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
G. W. Goyder, 
Assistant Surveyor-General. 
Colonel Gawler. — Tt appears to me Lake Torrens is now the most im- 
portant feature of Australian geography, and the great key to the still unknown 
interior. I look upon this remarkable discovery, so far to the northward and 
eastward, as calculated to stimulate our President, and all who are interested 
in this important subject, to push on with systematic and vigorous exertions. 
It is almost incredible that so close to Eyre’s barren route there should be a 
beautiful country, with fresh water, when he had given up all hopes of dis- 
covering it. This, I think, should lead us to form more favourable anticipa- 
tions with reference to the character of the interior. In Australia, oasis and 
desert do alternate in such an extraordinary manner, that although Sturt 
found desert on the east, Eyre desert to the south, Gregory the same feature to 
the north, and Austin again to the west, yet we cannot at all say that the 
whole of that immense interior, of more than 800 miles in width by above 1400 
miles in length, may not contain extensive, well watered, and fertile districts. 
Eyre’s expedition went out with a view to penetrate into the centre of Aus- 
tralia, as a step towards opening a communication between the south-eastern 
provinces and the north-western coast. The' political and commercial advan- 
tages of such a line would, of course, be immense. It would at once connect 
Australia with India and with England, and open a route by which possibly a 
line of rail might be run, or, at least, stock might travel, to the rich islands of 
the Indian Archipelago, and the south-eastern provinces receive the produce of 
those islands and of China and of India in return. The south-eastern provinces 
have just what the Indians want, — horse's, wool, copper, and stock; and Asia 
just what the south-eastern provinces want, — tea, sugar, coffee, rice, silks, 
and cotton. 
I really trust that this good land is a genuine discovery. The fresh 
water lake to the north is a very singular feature. I have no idea that that, 
or any portion of that immense lake Torrens, has been formed or can be kept 
up under a sun of 30° from the equator by mere local rains. I believe that the 
greater portion of the water is produced by extensive river and lake systems 
which drain the great interior. 
Picture to the mind the dimensions of that lake. To judge of it by looking 
at home, let us place ourselves on Highgate Hill, and, if possible, stretch the 
eye to Gravesend or Chatham — that is the breadth of it near its south-western 
