NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 June 1936, Page 7

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

NATIVES ATTACK EXPEDITION. [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYEIGHT, j (Recd. June 18, 2 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 17. An Alice Springs message says: The Cutlack Air Expedition, while searching for Lasseter’s reef, was attacked by aborigines, at Mount Burley, nine miles from Lasseter’s grave. The ’ plane party built a rude shelter, and were awaiting the arrival of the ground party, when natives appeared. Three spears ’were thrown, and the expedition members opened lire with revolvers. Two more attacks were made, but finally the natives were repulsed. During one sortie, a member of the expedition narrowly escaped being clubbed. PEARL POACHERS. THURSDAY ISLAND, June 18. The Minister of Customs, Mr White, who has been investigating the reports of pearl poaching in Northern Australia, said that as the result of his investigations, a larger patrol boat would be built to protect North Queensland from poachers. In the meantime, the Customs Department in Queensland was instructed to charter a seaplane or launch whenever necessary to apprehend poaching sampans. If a vessel were found to be breaking the Queensland or Federal laws, it would be arrested, and heavy penalties imposed.