LOST PAPUAN EXPLORERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3173, 20 March 1911, Page 5

LOST PAPUAN EXPLORERS.

RETURN TO THURSDAY ISLAND. GREAT PRIVATION AND EXTRAOR-" DINARY ADVENTURES. THRILLING NARRATIVE OF THE TRIP. LUNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT.! (Received March 18, 6.40 p.m.Vl SYDNEY, March 18. Staniforth Smith believed that the river they were descending was ill© Strickland, and'they were much surprised, on arriving at the old camping ground, to find that they had been €n the Kikiri all the time. They found . the food depot of the search party and secured a- boat, in which they travelled to Daru, from where a lugger brought them to Thursday Island. The search parties are unaware of the safety of the explorers. THURSDAY ISLAND, March 18. Staniforth Smith’s party suffered the most extreme hardships and privations, and experienced extraordinary adventures. They ascended the river Kikori for 50 miles and then struck into the north-east over an unknown country. They crossed three large rivers, and followed one of them for 250 miles up from the coast. They encountered * many rapids. Food supplies ran short and the only sustenance was palm pith. The party turned back and constructed rafts to make the downward journey, shooting the rapids. Several carriers were drowned, and they finally came to rapids which, extending for 150 miles, forced them to abandon the river and make their way through rought country. The natives supplied them with, food, until they reached the river again, when they utilised rafts once more, completing the journey. The surviving members of the Staniforth Smith party are all well. (Received March 19, 5 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 19. Mr Staniforth Smith in a message to Mr Batchelor, Minister for Internal Affairs, states that in the early part of their journey they crossed a high mountain range, and rushed down, expecting to reach the alluvia] country drained by the Tumari and Mamu rivers. On January 24th they reached, what they believed to be the upper" waters of the Strickland river. They had then walked more than 254 miles, covered with exceedingly rough scrub, through which the party had to cut their way. They found the river impassable. with rapids running through gorges 1200 feet high, and it was quite impossible to cross. Proceeding along the banks, they made a raft and started down the river. The rapids became worse, and the raft was dashed to pieces, some carriers being killed. They lost their food supplies, tents and baggage, and after five days the members of the expedition, who had scattered on to both sides of the river, got together. After that, being without food, they decided to travel along the river bank, until the rapids ceased. They continued to travel and covered 120 miles in 34 days. Frequent stoppages were necessary, as the supplies of sago were very precarious. They then made rafts, and reached the coast, finding that the river they had been on. was the Kikori, which they had followed for 300 miles. Tlie message continues: “'Owing to the privations suffered, we could not have got through without the splendid eo-operation of Messrs Bell and Pratt.” A FURTHER MESSACE. DISCOVERY OF LARGE COALFIELDS. (Received March 20. 12.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 19. Mr. Staniforth Smith, in a further message to Mr. Batchelor, says that the expedition! returned to Goaribari on the sth Inst, and from there crossed to Thursday Island. They visited the upper waters; of the Sirikland river, returning along the north-west of the Kikori, and travelling for 374 miles on foot and 150 miles by river, through totally unexplored country. They completed the major portion of the exploration of this territory, and the most important information lias been gathered They found a small coal creek near the lower Kikori and a large field of excellent coal near the upper Kikori. The western division, instead of being low-lying and alluvial, consists for the greater portion of ail elevated plateau, the lowest valey being 2000 feet above sea level. The country is one vast upraised mass of coral. The upper waters and the watersheds of the great rivers emptying into the gulf are now fairlv defined, completing itlie knowledge of tlie river systems of the territory. The explorers have now also obtained the data for estimating the population with some accuracy. They re-established friendly relations with the buslmien everywhere, and there was no fighting. They found sago growing inland at an elevation of 3500 feet. CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE MINISTER. MELBOURNE, March 19. Mr. Batchelor lias congratulated Mr. •Staniforth Smith upon liis safe return-