102 
Letters, Announcements , §c. 
leaving Sydney on the 15th of August, arrived at Port 
Moresby on the 28th. Some delay was necessary for final 
despatches, and for assisting Mr. H. O. Forbes, so well known 
for his explorations in the Malay Archipelago, in his pro¬ 
posed journey to New Guinea. The passage from Cooktown 
was finished in thirty-eight hours, the fastest on record over 
this unfrequented sea. 
“ The harbour of Port Moresby may claim its name from 
the protection of the barrier-reef, which prevents any heavy 
seas doing damage. Even with this safeguard, however, it 
may more truly be called a roadstead, the inner, or Fairfax 
harbour, being the real haven. But at present the inner 
harbour is seldom used, for the outer harbour answers general 
purposes and boasts of the chief settlement. Two long 
tongues of land almost encircle it, the hills rising up tier 
upon tier, like an amphitheatre, from a narrow belt of man¬ 
grove trees. The hilly nature of the country will always be 
a great hindrance to the advance of Port Moresby. For 
many miles inland the whole land is covered with barren sun¬ 
burnt hills, sparsely covered with a few gum-trees and occa¬ 
sional patches of grass or miserable plantations of bananas. 
Such poor soil can never be valuable for grazing or cultiva¬ 
tion, and, except as an outlet for produce of the interior, Port 
Moresby can never be a great centre. 
“ Mr. Forbes is going to attempt to reach the summit of 
Mount Owen Stanley, 13,205 feet high, and hitherto un¬ 
trodden by the foot of man. He was unfortunate in losing 
many stores and damaging instruments by the sinking of a 
lighter at Thursday Island, which delayed his arrival for 
some time. Sir Peter brought him over to New Guinea, and 
his carriers, thirty Malays, are following in the ‘ Herbert/ 
Mr. Forbes will form a depot-camp at Sogeri, twenty-five 
miles inland, and survey, collect specimens, &c., in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the lower ranges. Next spring, when the 
weather will be suitable, he will make the attempt to climb 
to the highest point. He may spend several years in New 
Guinea, for his wife is following him, and his heart is 
thoroughly in his work.” 
