South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Friday 1 May 1857, page 2


EXPLORATION OF THE INTERIOR.

The Government have taken time by the forelock, and have actually organized an expe-dition for exploring the north-western interior of this colony. The Hon. Commissioner of

Crown Lands, in moving an address to His Excellency for £2,000 to defray the expenses of the expedition, stated that, presuming upon the concurrence of the House, arrangements had already been completed for dispatching the exploring party whilst the season was favourable. The House unanimously sanc-tioned the application of the Government, the only objection being that the sum asked for was so small. Capt. Hart bore testimony to the admirable shelter afforded in Streaky Bay, and to the great value which that convenient har-bour would attach to any pastoral lands that might be discovered in its vicinity. Mr. Bab-bage availed himself of the opportunity to vin-dicate the policy of his own recent trip, and Mr. Waterhouse eulogized the enterprise of the squatters as discoverers of new pastures. In the course of the debate the Government were recommended to equip a separate expedi-tion northward, but the Commissioner of Crown Lands contended that the northern districts of the colony were being thoroughly explored by private enterprise. That hon. gentleman also stated that whenever new country was discovered at the public expense, such country would not be granted to private applicants, but be submitted to public compe-tition; on the other hand, when new country was discovered by private agency, the Govern-ment would feel disposed to show some pre-ference to such discoverers.

We are surprised that no hon. member asked information of the Government relative to the leadership of the expedition, the time of its departure, or the regulations under which it will be conducted. On these points, however, we have since obtained a little additional in formation. The expedition will be headed by Mr. Stephen Hack, who will be accompanied by six persons, amongst whom is Mr. J. M. Stuart, one of Capt. Sturt's companions in the last exploratory journey undertaken by that gentleman. The expedition will start in less than a fortnight, and a vessel will be chartered to proceed to Port Lincoln with stores and equipments. We are happy to find that this most promising portion of our territory is now about to be fully and properly examined.