QUEENSLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 977, 22 March 1862, Page 3

QUEENSLAND.

Intelligence of a gloomy nature in reference to the expedition despatched from Queensland by sea, to the Gulf of Carpentaria, has just reached us by the Jeannie Oswald, Captain Gascoigne, which vessel anchored in the bay on Wednesday last. There seems to be little doubt that the Firefly has been totally wrecked, and it is impossible to entertain very sanguine hopes of the fate of the Victoria. News of the Jeannie Oswald has been forwarded to you already by telegraph, but the following account, given by the master of the Jeannie Oswald, probably contains further details of his trip:—lt appears that he left Melbourne on the 27th of October last, having been chartered by the Victorian Marine Insurance Company for the purpose of recovering a cargo of copper, lost in the Lady Kinnaird, wrecked on Sir Charles Hardy's Island, Torres Straits, in which object he succeeded, the whole cargo, with the exception of twelve tons, having been reclaimed. While at Hardy's Island, Captain Gascoigne, who was accompanied by Captain Daish, marine surveyor to the company, observed fragmemts of spars and other relics of a vesssel, which he at once concluded to be portions of the Firefly. He was well acquainted with her, as she belonged to the same owners as the Jeannie Oswald, Messrs. Young and Martin, of Melbourne. This conjecture was verified by the discovery of ft scrap of paper, the writing of which lie recognised. Some coals were also found on the reef, which was an additional clue, as it will be recollected that the Firefly was laden, among other things, with coals for the use of the Victoria. A number of empty casks, branded as part of the Victoria's stores, some hay, empty cases, cheeses, &c, were among the relics of the mishap, besides the bodies of twenty horses marked with the broad arrow. Some of these had not long commenced to putrify, and could not have been, dead for more than seven or eight days. From the fact that the timbers cast ashore were more or less blackened aud charred, Captain Gascoigne is of opinion that the Firefly had caught fire, and that her master, Captain«Kirby, had been compelled to run her ashore at the nearest point. Two sheep were found alive on the island, and killed for the use of the Jeannie Oswald's crew. Captain Gascoigne further relates that there were traces of an encampment, evidently occupied until very recently, and that a signal-staff had been erected on the highest point of the island, for the purpose of hoisting signals of distress. Conjecture is very busy as to the fate of the party, and there appears every probability of their being still alive; but in what direction have they gone? Have they managed to signal the Victoria, and join the main expedition under Commander Norman, or have they made for Booby or Timoor Islands in boats ?. The latter surmise is the most probable. Hardy's Island is about 600 miles north of Port Denison and 100 miles to the south-east of Cape York, and ; hot less than 400 miles from the Albert River. Game is plentiful on the island, but water is very scarce, to which fact is attributable the death of the horses. Captain Gascoign gives a favourable account of the natives who came over from the neighbouring islands. They were very friendly and obliging, and brought turtle and other provisions to the ship on several occasions. Mr. Landsborough's party consisted of himself, Mr. G. Bourne, Mr. H. M'Neill Campbell, and Captain J. D. Addison, twonative troopers, two native servants, and a groom in charge of the horses, thirty in number. The greatest possible care was taken in the equipment of this expedition, the stores, arms, saddlery, &c, beiug very complete, and of the first quality; the horses, .too, were young, sound, and in excellent.condition when embarked. We are anxiously looking forward to the receipt of further information respecting the voyagers. Captain Normau, of the Victoria, expected to return in January at the farthest.— Argus, March 5. .