NEW GUINEA EXPLORATION.
Tho proposod expeditions f o Now Guinon, of which wo have hoard n pood deal of Into through tho telogrnph mid otherwise, do not find favor with those who aro acquainted with tlio country. Mr Coloman Phillips, who is just now residing in i\\o but who possesses a good deal of information rcspooting tho country whioh just now appears to hold forth attractions to so many, strongly protests against thoso expeditions on various grounds, and adds t — •• New Zealand minors aro not tho. propor mon to oxploro in so dnngorous a climate. Tho Calmer, diggings aro sufficiently harmful to thoso. wljo lmvo tried them,. It w,ould be bottor, to allow, a small pnrty inured to tho climate of Northern Australia to first cxplpro Now Guinea, than for mon accustomed to so tqmporato a zono as Now Zealand to risk tho attempt. Thono acquainted, with theso insular tropical lands, know little of their climatic dangers, and I wish to rfriso a yarning voico against a gooro or, two of brnvo men needlessly throwing thoir Kvon away. Besides Iho.riak of tho climate, thoro will bo tho dungor of hostilo natives to cod* tcijd with, and, men ought net to trust thoir lives in such an attempt unless thoy aro well assured of a good loader. It will bo almost as difficult for a pnrty of 100, mon to penetrate tho intorior of Now Guinoa as \t, wa3 for Stanley to fight his way aorosa Africa. Tho ostimntod cost of tho expedition is also far bolow tho sum that in my opinion would bo required Each man will liavo to provide himself with suitable tropical clothing, No supply of food can bo roliod upon, ns the ( nativos aro not sufficiently provident to j resorvo muoh of their produce. It is well known that even our nativo missionaries aro very often short of food. Tho com* miß9arat will thoroforo lmvo to furnish tho expedition with supplies during the whole timo it is obsont from tho oolonios. Huiliciont money can doubtless bo found, for want of money was novor any bar whon tho auri sacra fames was tho object in viow tho climatic and hostilo dan^o™ arc, hpwoyur, tho most important, nnd the former I wish to press upon the notice of those who are proposing the expedition. I trust tho movers in ihi3 proj.vf will withdraw their proposal, for should they attempt to onrry it into effect, ami meet with disastrous failure, thon it will bo bo muoh tho worse for tho eventual opening up of tho coifntry. Rather lot our missionaries and traders first of all firmly establish tbomsolvos on tho son coast. Thoy will soon gain information upon tho subject of thoso repotted gold
'lepo^iiti, Iho iiulo steam Iniu.oh IClleu • gowan has alr-idy nsconded the Fly river lor some I',) :ui!m. Tuo very fi<>; of tliere being such a river in the c »untry "'i"iil.l mnko 'iifii psii^o, befori! al,t,eiyiiiu;' any overla^l |onrnoy.. ;\ny. o.s >c li« tion starl-ed for tho purpose of thoroughly exploring tho F,ly river, vyill prov.o tlio best motho'l of solving tho. question of tho New Guinea Roldu^ld*, for it h nvnt liko.ly^ thut the bunks of tl\«t river, or of its t"ib^tori.os will sliow the e^istpnoo of gold if it docs exist. Si\ch an. c.jfpodi. tion Hbould not oonsist of loss than IDO, practical minors, nnd it certainly coul<l not bo uudcrtaki'u for the sum proposed."
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Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 39, 17 April 1878, Page 2
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572NEW GUINEA EXPLORATION. Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 39, 17 April 1878, Page 2
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