Explorations in New Guinea.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 235, 6 October 1886, Page 6

Explorations in New Guinea.

On Monday night an interesting lecture wat given at the Auckland Institute by Mr A. J, Vogan, artist to the Geographical Society ! of Australasia's late New Guinea expedition, on the work of that expedition last year. The President of the In> stitute, Professor Brown, presided, and there was a large attendance. The lecturer, after having been introduced by the President, began by giving an outline of what is at present known of tho physi- ' cal features, the Inhabitants, and tbe products of this giant island, which he told the audience was in area equal to great Britain and France to. gether. By means of a number of large pictures the exploratory work donelastyear was then spoken of, especial reference being made to that of the central portion of the island visited. Here the explorers found a'

people new to science ;of great stature, / and of very treacherous ways. Speaking " of attacks made on the expedition, much amusement was caused by'cjjjjS description of the sudden change tSB the demeanour of the warriors, wbo,Tj all bedaubed with red, white and yellow. , war paint, and carrying great war plume!'.. of bright, came on in their canoes to attack the explorers in their little steamer j a S sudden blast of the steam whistle often S sent theso brave warriors overboard with. ' fright, their war paint washing off, and 8 their canoes floating empty down the river.,'1 • The explorers only bad to use their rifles \ against the natives four times. At the close of tho lecture a vote of thanks was, on tho motion of Dr. Purchas, seconded by / Mr Peacock, M.H.R., and endorsed by the ",■ President, carried by acclamation. Mj \ Vogan, in replying, spoke of the great future in store for the south- *. eastern part of the island, where a good climate, grass land, and a good j water supply are to be found. He also drew attention to the fact that much.--of the exploratory work at present done in New Guinea had been accomplished by New Zealand colonists, witnessS Messrs McFarlane, Kerry, Goldie, Bng« '.' ' lish,Phillips, and Creagh. With regard to gold finding, the precious metal hod been found in all the rivers of the south coast, :■ but in unpayable quantities.