Exploring The Fly.

Expeditions Listed In Chronological Order.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, Nov. 20.

YOUR contributor, Mr. Nixon-West

wood was wrong when he stated in the October P.I.M. that Sir Rupert

Clarke’s prospecting party discovered

the source of the Fly.

Actually, the Fly River above Palmer Junction was not traversed until 1924, and then by Mr. Leo Austen, Assistant Resident Magistrate, when exploring the Tully River district in company with Patrol Officer Thompson.

The source of the Fly was discovered in 1928 by Messrs. Karius and Cham pion, Assistant Magistrate and Patrol Officer of the Papuan Government. Sir Rupert Clarke’s party reached a point above Sir William MacGregor’s 610 mile limit on the Palmer, a tributary of the Fly, in 1914.

The dates of the main explorations of the Fly since the earliest exploits by Signor D’Albertis in 1875-6-7, until the last effort in 1928, when Messrs. Karius and champion made their famous patrol from Fly to Sepik over the main range and down to the northern coast of New

Guinea, are;

The dates of the main Explorations of the Fly since the Carliesh Exploits for Signor D’Albertis in 1875-6-7, until the last effort in 1928, when Messrs. Karius and Champion made their famous patrol from Fly to Sepik, over the main range, and down to the northern coast of New Guinea, are: 1. Royal Geographical Society’s Expedition, in 1885, under Capt. Everill, with party, consisting of Messrs. A. J. Vogan, Froggatt, and Dr.

Haacke, sen. Capt. Hemsworth took charge upon death of Capt. Everill. A tributory of the Fly was discovered, ascended, and named the Strickland, after Sir Edward Strickland (Presi dent of the N.S. Wales branch of R.A.G.S.). 2. Government Expedition in 1890 under Sir William MacGregor (Administrator) accom panied by Messrs. Cameron, Douglas and others, ascended 610 miles from the mouth —up the Palmers River, a tributary of the Fly (named after Sir Arthur Palmer. Administrator of Queensland. 1883). Sir William named the junction of the Strickland with the Fly, Everill Junction; and that of the Alice with the Fly, D’Albertis Junction, after the discoverers. 3. Government Patrol, in 1913, under Mr. G.

Massey-Baker, Magistrate of the Western Division, discovered a lake between Strickland and Fly and named it Lake Murray, after the present Lieut.-Governor of Papua. 4. Judge (now Sir Hubert) Murray, Lieut.- Governor, ascended the Alice River in 1914, discovered by D’Albertis in 1876, and steamed 35 miles above its junction with the Fly. 5. Government Patrol, in 1914, led by Messrs.

Ryan and Burrows (Magistrate and Patrol Officer), in the Elevala, discovered a tributary above D’Albertis Junction; stranded 6 months: named the river Elevala. 6. Private prospecting expedition, in 1914, under Sir Rupert Clarke in the Kismet, in charge of the well known prospectors, the Pryke Bros., reached a point on the Palmer above Sir William Macgregor’s 610 miles limit. 7. Government Patrol, in 1922, under Mr.

Leo Austen (Assistant Resident Magistrate) and Patrol Officer Logan, explored N.W. district be tween the Dutch boundaries and the Fly. Mr.

Austen reached Star Mountains, to height of 1,930 feet, and returned from a point on the Alice, 630 miles from the mouth of the Fly 8. Government Patrol, in 1924, under Mr. Leo Austen (Assistant Magistrate), reached a point on the Main Fpper Fly, 605 miles from the mouth. Patrol Officer Thompson, who accom panied him, traversed the Tully, a tributary of the Palmer, to the Junction, while Mr. Leo Austen discovered the source (of the Tully), and from there reached the Main River and traversed it back to the junction with the Palmer The Junction was named Thompson’s, by Leo Austen.