IN September, 1867, James Nash, a miner, was wandering in the Wide Bay district, scarcely in search of work, for employment was not to be obtained, but in search of gold. A cedar-getter, at whose camp he had passed a night, and who was an ex-Victorian digger, indicated to Nash a locality which he had fancied as "likely." Accordingly, Nash turned his steps in that direction, and, halting to boil a pot of tea at a gully near the beaten track he was following, "tried a prospect" while the water was heating. The first essay showed "colours" of gold; the next, made with awakened interest and special care, yielded a neat nugget and some coarse dust. The pot was left to boil over, and Nash had an ounce or so of gold ere the night stopped his excited labour. In that solitary spot he was little liable to interruption. His simple outfit of blanket and quart-pot being removed out of sight of the track, he was tolerably easy in his mind. In a day or two he had washed out gold to the value of some two hundred or three hundred pounds, and he knew that he had discovered a rich field —perhaps a new Bendigo. A secret of that sort would not keep; the very birds of the air would carry it; so ere long the discovery was formally announced to the authorities. Nash led the gold commissioner and almost the entire population of Maryborough to the scene of his labours, and, having been allotted his "prospector’s claim," set to work amidst all the turmoil of a new rush. All Queensland was in commotion instantly. The impoverished settlers, who had been since 1866 existing on hope, and little else, rushed in thousands to the place where gold was to be had for the pains of scratching the surface. The unearthing of the Curtis nugget, containing three thousand pounds’ worth of gold, set the neighbouring colonies in a flame, and when this was followed up by the discovery of reefs that yielded specimens in which the quartz was fairly hanging together in bands of gold, a tremendous influx of diggers set in from all parts of Australia and New Zealand. The town of Gympie sprang into existence. Fresh localities were happily discovered all around which yielded alluvial gold. Hope reawoke in Queensland, and with this reawakening of hope came the revival of confidence which has never since faltered.

In the following year a new land Act gave enlarged facilities for settlement, and lent additional impulse to the renewed progress of the colony. The sugar industry began to assume decided importance, and compensated for the decadence of the cotton plantations, which had practically been extinguished as soon as the bonus was withdrawn. By the end of 186 there were twenty-eight sugar mills at work. The discovery of gold at Gympie had imparted great activity to the researches of prospectors by removing the pre-existing impression that Queensland, like Southern Australia, was not an auriferous territory. Discoveries followed in rapid succession, and continue, with little intermission, to the present hour. The digger followed, and sometimes ventured to precede the steps of the pastoral pioneer. Even to mention the localities where gold was found to exist would unduly occupy space; but Ravenswood, the Cape River, the Gilbert, the Etheridge, Charters Towers, and Cloncurry are all fields, still being worked, which were opened at this period. In the year 1872, immense deposits of tin were discovered near the border towards New South Wales, and almost simultaneously attention was directed to extensive lodes of copper ore in the Mount Perry run, in the Burnett district. These discoveries led to others, and Queenslanders were awakened to the fact that their colony was dowered with an extraordinary variety of mineral wealth, which lay scattered in all directions. A heavy fall in the market price of tin and copper sobered the imagination of the people, which had become extravagantly inflamed by this series of revelations. Heavy losses were experienced by a multitude of persons who had too indiscriminately invested money in companies hastily got up to work mines without sufficiently distinguishing really rich from merely trifling deposits. The finances of the colony were, however, restored to an equilibrium, and the Palmer Ministry, which had taken office in 1870, was able to announce a surplus. Railway construction was pushed on, and by 1871 there were two hundred and eighteen miles open to traffic.

THE growth of the sugar industry had created a demand for a class of labour suitable for plantation work. Mr. Robert Towns, an old South Sea whaling skipper, who had settled in Sydney, and who by trading with the South Sea Islanders and other enterprise had accumulated great wealth, was among the earliest to embark in sugar-cane growing on a large scale in Queensland. He started a plantation on the Logan River; later, established Townsville. In the former instance, he quietly conveyed to his plantation a shipload of South Sea Islanders to work in the fields. His example was quickly imitated, and in 1868 the attention of the colonists having been directed to what appeared a system of slavery, an attempt was made to legislate restrictively. By this time, however, the sugar interest had acquired political influence, and the outcome was an Act which did not quash but merely regulated the traffic. Serious scandals were not prevented by this measure, and the introduction of South Sea Islanders, although since subjected to severe scrutiny by cruisers of the British Navy, continues to be regarded with suspicion and disfavour by a considerable section of the white colonists of Queensland. It 15 impossible to deny that kidnapping, murder, and other abominations, were at times not uncommon on the part of shipmasters of the "labour vessels" which carried out what was euphemistically termed "recruiting" among the islands of the South Seas. Some idea of the proportions attained by this traffic may be acquired by consideration of the fact that in 1868, when official statistics first became available, six vessels brought four hundred and thirty-seven males and two females from the islands; in 1869 five ships brought two hundred and seventy-six males and two females; and in 1870 nine ships introduced one thousand two hundred and ninety-four males and eighteen females. The labouring white population generally resented the intrusion of these savages, and alleged that their cheapness constituted their sole attraction in the eyes of those who employed them. The capitalist, on the other hand, generally supported the contention of the planters that there was work to be done which Europeans could not endure, and that the employment of the Kanakas enabled an industry to be carried on which would not otherwise be possible, and which furnished occupation for large numbers of white labourers in other departments than the field.

IN the year 1872, the Administration of Mr. Palmer-since Sir Arthur Palmer, K.C.M.G., and President of the Legislative Council —organised and despatched a party to explore and prospect for minerals the wild country outside the limits of settlement in the base of the Cape York Peninsula. Mr. William Hann, formerly a squatter and experienced in private explorations’ was appointed leader, and had associated with him Mr. Taylor, a geologist of established reputation, and Dr. Tate, a scientific botanist who had been among the survivors of the ill-fated brig "Maria" —despatched by the Hon. William Macleay, of Sydney, to explore New Guinea, and wrecked off the northern coast of Queensland, where her crew, drifting across on rafts, had lost most of their number by massacre at the hands of the natives. Mr. Frederick Warner, surveyor, a son of one of the three first surveyors sent by Governor Gipps to Moreton Bay in its earliest days, was also with Harm’s party, together with two other gentlemen and a black boy. Starting from Fossil Brook, on a branch of the Lynd River, the expedition plunged almost immediately into a rugged and difficult country en route for the Kirchener Ranges, which Leichhardt had noted as presenting auriferous indications. Pursuing a northerly course, the Tate and Walsh Rivers were discovered, named, and traced to their junctions with the Lynd, which in turn was traced to its confluence with the Mitchell. No gold was found, however, and to stimulate the zeal of his companions Mr. Hann promised to reward the first discoverer of the metal with a half-pound of tobacco. The character of the inducement is significant indicating the extreme abstinence to which Australian explorers, even when equipped by government without stint, had to submit in order to accomplish their objects and keep afield for any considerable period. After crossing the headwaters of the Mitchell, a large river was reached which Mr. Hann believed to be identical with the Ninety-yards-wide Creek of poor Kennedy. Here, in a gully, Mr. Warner found a little gold, and after due investigation Mr. Hann awarded him the promised prize. The river was named the Palmer, and thus the actual first discoverer of gold on what was destined to prove one of the richest goldfields ever worked in Australia thought himself fortunate in being rewarded by a half-pound of coarse fig-tobacco. The importance of the discovery was not realised at the time, however. "Colours" of gold are common enough over vast areas where payable deposits have never been proved to exist. Mr. Hann, in his report, on returning within the radius of postal communication, was hopeful, but extremely guarded, in his reference to Mr, Warner’s discovery and the results of the more extended prospecting by his companions which followed. They found actually nothing payable. "It was with great regret," wrote Mr. Hann, in his official report, that I felt I myself compelled to leave this river without finding something more substantial and lasting than flattering ‘prospects’… But it dose not follow that there is not gold in this region somewhere, and I believe it must be sought on the confines of the slate with some other formation, and in the sources of the Mitchell and Palmer. The gold found by me I believe to be lighter particles washed down ages ago from sources where it exists in larger quantities." And after some remarks respecting the difficulties presented by the nature of the country, he continued: "I wish to be very guarded in all that relates to, these discoveries. I trust that nobody will be led away by anything that I have stated to jump to the conclusion that it is here in payable quantities. My desire is to impress upon all that in this direction there is as good looking country to prospect for gold as any that I have before seen; but I do not promise its existence, and I would, moreover, caution any but well-trained and experienced bushmen to venture into this country, of whose outlets nothing is known-any but such might find themselves in difficulties out of which it would not be easy to extricate themselves. The horses would require to, be constantly kept shod and the men should be of self-reliant and courageous natures."

Mr. Hann and his party proceeded northward, penetrated to Princess Charlotte Bay, and turned southward by following up the Normanby River, where they beat off a formidable attack by natives, who indeed harassed them more or less throughout their journeyings. They made the Endeavour River, but found no traces of Cook’s visit. Thence they essayed to proceed southward along the coast side of the main range, but on arriving on the Bloomfield River found themselves entangled by thorny scrubs and hemmed in by mountains. They had to abandon the idea of progress in this direction, and retracing their steps crossed the head waters of the Normanby, and striking the Palmer followed their outward track back to their original point of departure, having been nearly five months beyond the cognisance of their fellow men.

THE "well-trained and experienced bushmen," the men of "self-reliant and courageous natures," whom Mr. Hann had indicated as alone justified in venturing to invade the savage and forbidding country where his party had found indications of gold, are not scarce in Queensland. Within a year, a little companionship of these knights errant of Australia —prospectors —had sallied forth, duly equipped for a contest with hunger, thirst, the bewilderments of labyrinthian ravines, and the treacherous assaults of the sullen natives. J. V. Mulligan was leader of this little band of four. They disappeared into the bush, and presently emerged laden with gold, and flashed along the telegraph wires a story of treasures unparalleled. The whole Australian continent was in a ferment immediately a rush unprecedented set in. The Endeavour River having been indicated as the nearest and most convenient point of debarkation, a fleet of vessels was speedily moored or anchored on the spot where Cook had in sore straits beached his shattered vessel in the dim old time. Diggers by thousands swarmed from the vessels; Cooktown sprung up; a stream of adventurers poured inland, their path haunted and harassed by the ubiquitous savage. The spear and waddy, fever and grog, smote down each its victims on the track, but still the crowd pressed on, and found gold in plenty; in fact, a very El Dorado. The far resounding clink and clam, of the sacred metal was heard throughout the world and even China heard the echo. Hordes of short, sturdy men, oblique of eye, yellow-complexioned, and with plaited hair-lock, invaded the colony and crowded the white adventurers. From this irruption of Mongolians, and the angry feeling which ensued when the diggers, having exhausted the richest deposits, sought to fall back upon the half-worked ground, or poorer "wash," and discovered that the Chinese, like a cloud of locusts, had stripped all bare, originated subsequent legislation which excluded men of that race from all goldfields until a certain period had elapsed after their first discovery. From this incident also ultimately resulted the present imposition of a poll tax upon every Mongolian arriving in Queensland. As usually happens, one discovery led to many others in the same neighbourhood. The diggers, scattering widely, greatly extended the field. Mr. Mulligan somewhat later made renewed expeditions —but on these occasions with countenance and subsidy from government —and discovered fresh fields, the Hodgkinson being among them. The jolly digger’s official reports are among the curiosities of that lass of literature. There is reason to apprehend that, though the voice in these is the voice of Jacob, the hand of Esau has had a part; in other words, Mulligan’s reports savour of the literary editorship of W. O. Hodgkinson, explorer, journalist, digger, legislator, and gold commissioner by turns in his vivacious and varied career. It would probably shock the sensibilities of the typical "Tite Barnacles" of the old world civil services to receive an official report which commenced with a paragraph remarking that a government expedition made a start "after many expressions of good feeling over some of James Hennessy’s elixir," the said elixir being notoriously brandy of a popular label.

WHILE he interior was thus being opened up and mining townships established, the government did not neglect the coastal portions hitherto regarded as outside the range of useful investigation. In 1874, Mr. Dalrymple was again despatched to extend his researches along the northeastern seaboard. In the cutters, "Flyingfish" and "Coquette" — little craft of some ten or a dozen tons burden —he set sail from Cardwell. His party comprised twenty-six men, including thirteen native troopers armed with Snider rifles. The expedition was fruitful of results. The existence of an enormous area of alluvial land extending from the coast range —which in that part of the littoral rises abruptly at no great distance from the sea —to the water’s edge was ascertained, and a number of harbours, some of exceeding convenience, were discovered. The alluvial lands were found to be clothed with a dense tropical vegetation, over which groves of stately cedars reared their crests, nourished by a soil of extraordinary fecundity, chiefly lying along the banks of small but deep streams which had their sources in the mountains and were fed by almost perpetual rains, due to the condensation of the aerial moisture wafted from the ocean by the trade-winds, and arrested by the lofty barriers of the cordillera, which runs nearly parallel to the coast. Among these streams were the Johnstone, named after the inspector in charge of the detachment of native police; the Mulgrave; the Mossman, named after an explorer; the Daintree, to which Richard Daintree, geologist, and once Agent-General, was sponsor; the Russell, the Moresby, and the Barron. Among the harbours and roadsteads were Mourilyan, Trinity, Cairns, and Port Douglas, the latter taking its name from the Hon. John Douglas, long a prominent figure in New South Wales and Queensland politics, once Premier of the latter colony, and now High Commissioner of the Pacific.

A great impetus was imparted to the establishment of plantations for tropical products by the discoveries made during this expedition. Under the then very liberal provisions of a new land Act, immense areas were speedily acquired by selection by persons who followed the indications given in the published reports indeed, so well-timed had been the expedition that, off the Johnstone River, Mr. Dalrymple met with Mr. Nind, one of the pioneers of the sugar industry, who in his own boat was conducting an exploration on his own part. The report itself is full of interest and colour. As usual the natives were encountered, and learned to their cost what it was to assail an alert party of white men supplemented by a detachment of native police. One incident will serve to afford a glimpse of the character of the adventures of the party, and of the localities where their explorations were conducted. After a foiled attack on the cutters, a chief of the natives was swimming for his life towards the scrubby bank of the Johnstone River; suddenly, a huge crocodile rose in the wake of the warrior, opened its horrent jaws, and sank with its writhing victim under the eyes alike of his friends and of his foes.

Here we may conveniently close the account of explorations. Mr. Kayser, Mr. W. O. Hodgkinson, and Mr. Jack, Government Geologist, in subsequent years investigated different parts of Cape York Peninsula, and added to the ever-increasing store of information respecting those regions. Much still remains to be done, but the outline has been effectively traced. During the course of the next Administration, of which Mr. Macalister was head, and in which Mr. Thomas M’Ilwraith for the first time held a Ministerial portfolio, a remarkable proposition was submitted to the Cabinet by the latter gentleman. This was an offer from a body of capitalists, represented by a Melbourne firm, Messrs, Collier and Company, to construct a line of railway. It was generally believed that the project now put forward originated in the creative mind of the Minister for Works himself. Messrs. Collier and Company offered to construct a line of railway from the town of Roma, in the Maranoa district, not far from Mitchell’s Fitzroy Downs, to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and to accept, in lieu of cash, payment in alternate blocks of country, along the track. There was some hitch about the hiatus which would exist between the then western terminus of the government railway at Dalby and the proposed starting point of the projected line at Roma. But Mr. Macalister, after some coquetting, shattered the negotiations by the extraordinary course of communicating to a newspaper reporter, interviewing him on the subject, that he had resolved not to entertain the project. This intelligence appearing in the morning paper, was the first intimation received by Mr. M’Ilwraith of his chief’s intentions, and he resigned his portfolio in high dudgeon.

In 1875, the settlement at Port Albany, having been found to be situated too retired from the route of vessels navigating Torres Straits and the adjacent seas to be fully useful, was abandoned by the Admiralty. The marines were withdrawn, and a new station was established by the Queensland Government on Thursday Island, one of the Prince of Wales group, in the Straits, a change which has proved entirely satisfactory.

Solid and sufficiently rapid progress continued to mark the decade of the seventies. The finances were sound, industry flourished in all important branches, and the construction of railways, by means of loans, was steadily pushed forward. The Gulf country and far western tracts, abandoned or semi-abandoned during the depression which accompanied and succeeded the crash of 1866, were gradually re-occupied.

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