Overland Expedition of The Messrs dine from Rockhampton to Cape York, Northern Queensland | Page 7

same source. Already have our hardy
pioneers driven their stock out as far as the Flinders, Albert, Leichhardt,
and Nicholson Rivers, the Flinders and Cloncurry having been stocked
along their length for some time past. On the South and West, the heads
of the Warrego, the Nive, Barcoo, and Thompson have also been
occupied, some of the stations being between four and five hundred
miles from the seaboard, whilst the surveyors of the Roads Department
have extended their surveys as far as the two last-named rivers, for the
purpose of determining the best and shortest lines of communication.
The Government, with wise liberality, has facilitated the access from
the seaboard to the interior, by the expenditure of large sums in
constructing and improving passes through the Coast Range on four
different points, and by the construction of works on the worst portions
of the roads, have largely reduced the difficulties of transport for the
out-settlers. Bowen, a town which had no existence six years ago, has
been connected with Brisbane by the telegraph wire, and ere another
twelve months have elapsed the electric flash will have placed
Melbourne, in Victoria, and Burke Town, on the Gulf of Carpentaria,
"on speaking terms," the country between the latter place and

Cleveland Bay having been examined and determined on for a
telegraph line by the experienced explorer Walker for that purpose.
Of the six new settlements that have been called into existence, two,
Bowen and Townsville, have been incorporated, and are now, together
with Mackay, straining in the race to secure the trade of the western
interior. Cardwell has experienced a check, in consequence of an undue
haste in the adoption of a line of road over its Coast Range, which is
too difficult to be generally adopted, and will probably be abandoned
for a better since discovered; but its noble harbour is too good, and the
extent of back country it commands too extensive in area, for it not
ultimately to take its place as an important port. Burke Town is but
starting into existence, but already supplies the settlers of the Flinders
and other Gulf rivers with which it has opened communication. Mr.
William Landsborough, the well-known explorer, has been charged
with the administration of its affairs, and a survey staff has been
despatched to lay out the lands. Vessels now trade direct from Brisbane
with some regularity, which services will, no doubt, soon be re-placed
by steamers.
But it is with Somerset, Cape York, that we have more especial concern.
In the August of 1862, Sir George Bowen, Governor of Queensland,
being on a voyage of inspection to the Northern Ports, in Her Majesty's
Steamer "Pioneer," visited Port Albany, Cape York, and on his return,
in a despatch to the Imperial Government, recommended it for the site
of a Settlement, on account of its geographical importance, as harbor of
refuge, coaling station, and entrepot for the trade of Torres Straits and
the Islands of the North Pacific. The following year the formation of a
Settlement was decided upon, the Home Government sending out a
detachment of Marines to be stationed there, and assist in its
establishment. The task of establishing the new Settlement was
confided to Mr. Jardine, then Police Magistrate of Rockhampton, than
whom, perhaps, no man could be found more fitted for its peculiar
duties. An experienced official, a military man, keen sportsman, and
old bushman, he possessed, in addition to an active and energetic
temperament, every quality and experience necessary for meeting the
varied and exceptional duties incident to such a position. It was whilst

making the arrangements for the expedition by sea, which was to
transport the staff, materiel, and stores of the Settlement, that Mr.
Jardine, foreseeing the want of fresh provision, proposed to the
Government to send his own sons, Frank and Alexander, overland with
a herd of cattle to form a station from which it might be supplied. This
was readily acceded to, the Government agreeing to supply the party
with the services of a qualified surveyor, fully equipped, to act as
Geographer, by noting and recording their course and the appearance of
the country traversed, and also horses, arms, and accoutrements for four
native blacks, or as they are commonly called in the colonies,
Black-boys. Although the account of poor Kennedy's journey from
Rockingham Bay to Cape York, in which his own and half his party's
lives were sacrificed, was not very encouraging for the intended
expedition, Mr. Jardine never for a moment doubted of its success, and
looked forward to meeting his sons at Somerset as a matter of course.
In the prime of youth and health (their ages were but 22 and 20), strong,
active, and hardy, inured to the life and habits of the bush, with an
instinct of locality, which