GREAT WALKING FEAT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18129, 19 July 1924, Page 13

GREAT WALKING FEAT.

NEARLY ROUND AUSTRALIA (KtOK OV& OWN COBRESTOKBEST.) feTDNEY, July 10. The true spirit of grit and adventure throbs in the heart of young Laurence O'Shaughnessv, of Melbourne, who left Melbourne a'little, more than a year ago, and has now reached Perth after having walked nearly round Australia. When O'Shaughnessy started out upon this remarkable adventure, he was accompanied by two companions, tho trio having been inspired to encircle the continent to refute a charge that Australian-bom men wero afraid to walk round their own country. All went well for a couple of months, but in Southern Queensland a pretty girl beguiled one of the party—and then there wero two. North of Brisbane another casualty occurred, O'Shaughnessy's brother giving up the project and turning south. The remaining member was undaunted. Previous marathon strolls in New Zealand and South Africa, had given him confidence and ha was determined to cross the northern areas. His equipment consisted of clothing on the lines of a Boy Scout' b uniform, and a military pack, haversack, and water-bottle. In the north he carried a rifle and revolver. In the course of a chat on reaching Perth. O'Shaughnessy said he had enjoyed the trip, which beean from Melbourne en May 20th, 1923. Sydney waa reached on June 7th, and Brisbane on July lltli. Left to continue the more dangerous part of the adventure alone, he set a north-west ourse below Rockhampton, crossed the downs via (lie big stations, and in the Northern Territory followed the overland telegraph line through Newcastle Waters, and Daly "Waters, and Catherine c to Darwin. From the Northern Territory port he made for Turkey Creek, proceeding thence to Hall's Creek, Derby, Broome, and the coastal towns to Geraldton and Perth: To complete the circle he will go to Kalgoorlie and traverse the route of the Great Western Railway. At each township in his itinerary he has obtained a post office date stamp or the signatures of prominent residents. /

The tourist, who gives his age as 36 vears, is sturdily-built, although not much over middle height. Bte says his occupation is that of a seaman, but he has done a lot of steeplejack's - workin the Eastern States. Bte served with the A.I.F. Asked how he subsisted on tho journey round the Commonwealth, he said: "When I was short I had to work for it.*' He described the hospitality accorded him en route as "the finest in the World./' Tlie only ilUhealth he suffered during the journey was barcoo rot (scurry) for w'hich he received treatment at the Inland Mission Hospital at Hall's Creek. , The natives in the Far North gave hint no trouble

Before and after, crossing the Northern Territory border into this State 0 : Shaughnessy had ad ventures rieis{btiating flooded rivers. To facilitate swimming he removed his clothing and Rear, and placed it oit a small raft made for the occasion. He pushed the raft aheAd of him as he swam the stream. « ' It was no easy job, "he said, "and the Bone riven nearly settled me. The raft wis swamped and most of my things were loßt. I walked into Turkey Creek with practically nothing. I reckon my most disagreeable stunt was doing the Pindam track from Derby to Broome. That was a stretch of 132 miles, and the heat was some* thing cruel. All I wore was a sarong;' I could not'bear even a Bhirt on my, back, add I was barefooted. To make matters worse the vrater at two or three wells was bad. There was beautiful water at Nullabublica, but at Yallaroo and Deep Wells it was* putrid.',' "Do you support those who say the North is not a white Country!" O'Shaughnessy was akfeed. "No, I do not," said o'Shaughnessy explosively. "It's all bunkum to say that white people cannot live there. It certainly is hot in part, but families have been there for. generations. I met a fine family at Powell's Creek, and all the children were reared locally. At different places I saw young girls who were pictures of health.- If the conditions of labour are arranged to suit the' climate, the white man can not only live there, but he can work for as long as he does here. Only those who have an ulterior motive to serve want to import hlaek labour. The North -ill be developed when people are g-ion encouragement to go there. Bailways must be built first. There is an immense area of country in the Ndrthern Territory which can be cultivated, while sheep country abounds there and in the Kimberlcys." . The visitor followed up his eulogy Of the northland with praise of the Inland Mission Hospitals in the Territory and at Hall's Creek, and Port Hedland. The nurses were wonderful, ho said, and to endure hardships as thoy did they must bo lion-hearted. The shade heat was sometimes 115 degrees at 0 a.m. Literature would bo gratefully received by the hospital j staffs. , • "When I finish, this trip I'm going to walk round New Guinea," declared O'Shaughnessy. "That's another allegedly impossible feat."