South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Thursday 26 March 1891, page 6


SOME PARTI CULARS OF THE PARTY.

The commaader of the Expedition is a son of the late Captain John Lindsay, and was born at Goolwa, South Australia, in June, 1856. Edacated at a pubiio school and by the

late Rev. John Hotham, he entered the Civil Service in 1873 as chainman in the Survey Department. He then became a cadet, and was appointed a surveyor in 1875, and went to the Northern Territory in 1878. He surveyed and reported upon the Mount Wells Tin Mine , and during the absence of Mr. McMinn acted as Senior Surveyor and Supervisor of Works. Having explored the Mary River be proved that this was the stream which John McDouall Stuart was following in his memorable journey across the Continent. Mr. Lindsay remained in the Territory until May, 1882, and during that time rendered invaluable service to the cause of exploration. He advised the route of the Northern Territory railway from Palmerston to Pine Creek, alto-gether distinct from that surveyed in 1878, and which, although slightly longer, it was said, would reach the agri-cultural land and the vicinity of the known gold and tin discoveries. Resigning his connection with the Government service, in 1883 Mr. Lindsay came to Adelaide and undertook private business, but in 1883 he was

commissioned by the Government to explore Arnhem's Land. The expedition, comprising six men all told, including a couple of blacks, took five months to complete the work. The travels represented the traversing of nearly 2,000 miles of unexplored country, and were associated with most exciting incidents. The expedition, led on by Mr. Lindsay with much intrepidity and skill, was very successful, and the information given as the outcome of the trip resulted in the country being sold and stocked. Mr. W. Cuthbertson of New Guinea fame was second in command. Among important dis-coveries made by the explorers was that of the Gwendoline Falls, upwards of 195 feet in height, on the Baker Range, some 60 miles from Southport. During 1884 and 1883 Mr. Lindsay was engaged in surveying on behalf of the Water Conservation Department in the Murray districts and on the West Coast. In November, 1885, he started on an expedition, undertaken on his own ac-count, to explore the country between the Dalhousie Springs and the Herbert. It was on this trip that he discovered the ruby fields in the MaoDonnell Ranges, and reported upon auriferous deposits there. At the Herbert River Mr. Lindsay, who was accompanied by a party of seven, com- menced the survey of 550 miles of run boundaries and connecting with the Overland Telegraph line north of Powell's Creek. Thenoe he went down the Macarthur River to the new port of Boroloola. On this expedition eight camels were lost, and this was his latest journey of exploration. He returned in December, 1886, and during 1887 and 1888 was engaged in surveying and pro- specting, chiefly in the MaoDonnell Ranges, and among other things discovered the first marketable mica in Australia. Since Decem-ber, 18S8, Mr. Lindsay has been in Adelaide principally engaged on the Stock Exchange, Mr. Lindsay is a Fellow of the Royal Geo-graphical Society, and is associated with the branches of the Society in Australia. He is also a member of the South Australian Insti-tute of Surveyors. Dr. Elliott, who is about thirty-six years of age, has been engaged in praotice in Queensland for a long time, and has been connected with Guy's Hospital, London. It is said that the doctor has given up a splendid appointment in order to accompany the expedition. He is a capable botanist, and skilled in photography, and altogether is a gentleman of high attainments. ' ~; . Mr. Helms holds a good position in connection with the Sydney Museum. Through being out on ' collecting' expeditions in connection with the special science to which he has devoted himself ' and in other ways Mr. Helms has acquired considerable experience which will serve him well in the forthcoming' trip. Mr. Streich, who has been engaged as geologist and mineralogist, is about thirty-one years of age, and is regarded as one of the very best men whose services coold poisiWy be secured. At least four of the colonies have been ' picked' in order to get the mostcompe*test explorers and scientists. Mr. Streioh- is an expert from Freiburg, Germany, and on Bevenl occasions' has reported for Messrs. Hamld Brothera-on various mineral propertiesin vfce interior. Messrs. Harrold Brothers. have released him from their service during. the carren-?y of the expedition, -and this act on their part testifies- in a great measure to their very considerate and patriotic motives;