beche-de-mer, eucalyptus oil, wine, gum, leather, turtle shell, and tallow were exported. The export of horses was, in 1889, £5,196; in 1890, £5,052; in 1891, £1,476; and in 1892, £2,450. Sheep, cattle and dogs were exported in small numbers. Skins afforded large sums; in 1889, £28,337; in 1890, £24,207; in 1891, £39,248; and in 1892, £36,657.
There are still large stretches of the interior of Australia unexplored. In the barren country, remote from settlement, no traveller has gone; there the prizes from a pastoral or agricultural view are few. In 1891 one of the best equipped expeditions ever sent out in Australia started from Adelaide. In August, 1890, the branch of the Geographical Society at Adelaide accepted a munificent offer from Sir Thomas Elder to furnish funds necessary for the equipment and maintenance of an exceptionally well organised party. It was desired that scientific men should form a conspicuous feature of this party, whose first duty was to attempt to traverse the unknown regions in South and Western Australia, between the tracks of Forrest, Giles, Gosse, and Warburton. They had to examine an immense tract west of the transcontinental telegraph line to the Murchison River, in Western Australia; a tract between the Murchison and the Fitzroy River, and territory between the South Australian telegraph line, the Victoria River, and Sturt Creek, in the north. They were also to look for traces of Leichardt's expedition. David Lindsey, an Australian traveller and explorer of considerable experience, was placed in charge of the party, which consisted of L. A. Wells, F. W. Leach, Dr. F. J. Elliott, V. F. P. Stretch, R. Helms, R. G. Ramsay, A. P. Gwynne, C. A. Dowden, and A. Warren. On 22nd April, 1891, these men left Adelaide for the Peake with forty camels, and six months' provisions. When the interior was reached it was found that there had been a long drought, and that extreme difficulty would be experienced in carrying out even the least part of the enormous undertaking. The further Lindsey went the more serious were the effects of the terrible dearth. He shaped a course for the Victoria Springs, in Western Australia, which provided such a timely succour to Giles, but even these were dry. The men were placed on short allowance of water, and the camels had to traverse the dreadful waste for many days without a drink. In endurance they outdid those of Giles' and travelled 560 miles without obtaining sufficient to quench their thirst. From Victoria Springs Mr Lindsey led his party to Fraser's Range, where he was able to rest the animals on fair pasture and good water. Leaving the main body there he proceeded to Esperance Bay, whence he communicated with the Adelaide Geographical Society. He declared that it was impossible to follow the route originally laid down owing to this drought, and offered, if water could be found, to proceed to the Murchison. His proposal was accepted, and he returned to Fraser's Range and struck a course thence towards Hampton Plains, with the object of completing, as far as possible, the examination of one block of the territory the party was commissioned to traverse. But the absence of water compelled him to take a more westerly route, and he went over country (Dundas) soon afterwards discovered to be rich in minerals, and arrived at Southern Cross. In his map Lindsey marked down a mineral belt, and subsequent prospecting proved his conclusions to be correct.
From Southern Cross Lindsey went to the Murchison, and he proposed to explore unknown country towards the Fitzroy, but dissension between him and the scientific members of the party culminated in the resignation of the latter. Certain charges were made against Mr. Lindsey, who was recalled to Adelaide. Mr. Wells took command of the remaining men, and while the charges were being examined into in Adelaide he made a flying trip into the country to the west. Upon his arrival in Adelaide Mr. Lindsey gave evidence before the council of the Geographical Society. The dissatisfied members subsequently gave evidence, and the leader was eventually exonerated from all blame. While the deliberations were proceeding the party was disbanded. Owing to this unfortunate climax the value of the work done was comparatively slight.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE GOLDFIELDS.
1893 TO 1897.
TRUTHFULNESS OF REPORTS—DIFFICULTIES OF NARRATIVE—WATER QUESTION—STAMPEDE FOR COOLGARDIE, 1893—DESULTORY DISCOVERIES—BAYLEY'S—POPULATION—NINETY MILE—MOUNT YOULE—HANNAN'S RUSH—CASHMAN'S—SIBERIA AND DEATHS—QUARTZ AT DUNDAS, SOUTHERN CROSS AND COOLGARDIE—WATER SUPPLY—MURCHISON MINES—NEW TOWNS—CRUSHING—A BONUS—PILBARRA, KIMBERLEY, AND ASHBURTON—1894 DEVELOPMENTS—MOUNT JACKSON, PINNACLES, KURNALPI, I.O.U., ETC.—LONDONDERRY DISCOVERY—WEALTH OF NATIONS—OTHER FINDS—MENZIES—YIELDS AND PRINCIPAL MINES—CUE MUNICIPALITY—RETURNS FOR MURCHISON—CHIEF CLAIMS—NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS RETURNS—DEPARTMENT OF MINES—E. H. WITTENOOM, MINISTER—CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT—NEW GOLDFIELDS PROCLAIMED AND NEW TOWNS—SOUTHERN CROSS RAILWAY OPENED—RAILWAY EXTENSION—COOLGARDIE MUNICIPALITY—MULLEWA RAILWAY COMPLETED, AND EXTENSION—1895 DEVELOPMENTS—WORK ON COOLGARDIE FIELDS, AND DISCOVERIES—LAKE DARLOT—LAKE COWAN—REEFS SUCCESSFULLY EXPLOITED AT MURCHISON AND EASTERN FIELDS—PROCLAMATIONS—NORSEMAN—GOLD YIELD—"BOOM" IN COMPANIES, AND RESULTS—INFLUX OF POPULATION-CLASS OF MEN—DESERT TRACKS—CAMEL CARAVANS—HORSES—BICYCLES—GOLDFIELDS TOWNS—IMPRESSIVE EVIDENCES—EXCITEMENT IN TOWNS—PRICES—DUST STORMS—PROSPECTORS EXPERIENCES—BUSH CAMP LIFE—ROLL UP CALL, AND LYNCH LAW—A SACRED CLAIM—DEATH SCENES—TYPHOID—WATER SUPPLY AGITATION—GOLDFIELDS ACT 1895—1896 EXCITEMENT AND INFLUX—GROWTH OF PERTH AND FREMANTLE—RUSH FOR THE GOLDFIELDS—INCREASE OF POPULATION—WATER CRISIS—GIGANTIC GOLDFIELDS WATER SUPPLY SCHEME—GOLD OUTPUT, 1896—DEVELOPMENTS ON VARIOUS FIELDS—COMPANIES—AGITATION—COOLGARDIE, CUE, AND OTHER RAILWAYS—REMARKABLE EXPANSION IN 1897—STATISTICS—COMPARISONS—POPULATION—OTHER MINERALS—POLITICS—THE GOVERNMENT—FINANCIAL CRISIS IN EASTERN COLONIES—CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, ELECTIVE COUNCIL—PARLIAMENTS—FINANCES—ABORIGINES BOARD—CHANGES IN MINISTRY—GOVERNOR ROBINSON LEAVES, AND GOVERNOR SMITH ARRIVES—BUDGET, 1895─TARIFF AMENDMENTS-CONGESTION IN TELEGRAPH POSTAL, AND RAILWAY DEPARTMENTS AND AGITATIONS—PUBLIC MEETINGS ON GOLDFIELDS—VISITS OF SIR JOHN FORREST AND MR. WITTENOOM TO GOLDFIELDS, AND RESULTS—MEETINGS IN PERTH AND FREMANTLE—SIR JOHN FORREST AND H. W. VENN—A SENSATION—F. H. PIESSE, COMMISSIONER OF RAILWAYS—REMOVAL OF CONGESTION IN DEPARTMENTS—CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, 1896, AND GOLDFIELDS REPRESENTATION—ELECTIONS, 1897, AND MINISTERIAL CHANGES—FINANCES, 1897—FEDERATION—CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, AND PATRIOTISM—EXPORT AND IMPORTS—WOOL—HOMESTEADS ACT AND AGRICULTURAL BANK ACT—INDUCEMENTS TO SETTLERS—LAND RETURNS—TIMBER INDUSTRY—GUANO AND PEARL SHELL—PUBLIC WORKS, RAILWAYS, AND HARBOURS—GENERAL—EXPLORATION.
