NEW GUINEA EXPEDITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 37, 3 January 1879, Page 2

NEW GUINEA EXPEDITION.

REIURN OF THE COUBIEjJ, TOTAL FAILURE OB' TUB 4FFAIR. [From the N.Z. Tiiijos.l ! The barque which we reported in yesterday's issue .turned out to be the Courier, from. the New Guinea Fxpedition. It will be remembered that the Courier arrived here about four months ago from Melbourne with general merchandise, under the command of Captain Stan wood. He heard that thera was a project on foot to form a company to get up an expedition to Mew Guinea, by a nums ber of persons in Dunediu and Wellington. He at ones saw that there was a chance to make something handsome out of the project, and entered into communication with the heads -of tlie party, stating that his vessel was for sale, that he had been trading to Mew Guinea for several years, and that he had throe tracing posts at Astrolabe (iulf, as well. as sever d small vessels already engaged in ths trade. The captaiu painted suck a picture of the success of the undertaking that he induced the promoters to buy the vessel, which was ultimately sold for £4000. Captain Stanwood promised to meet the expedition at the Astrolabe Gulf and in the meantime left here in the Kasby for Sydney. He went so far as to purchase a photographic appatatua which he presented to the expedition in the hopes that some of the passengers would be ablo to take views of the place. Everything being in readiness, the Latque left here on the 27th September, under the command of Captain Moore, who represented the Wellington capitalists. Two experienced posU traders accompanied the expedition, for the purpose of trading and holding general intercourse with the natives.*" The cargo consisted of "notions" and such things as would be likely to be thought of by the natives, but in themselves of no real value. After a mouth's voyage, during which fine weather and variable winds prevailed, the barque reached her destination — Astrolabe Gulf. A quarter of a mile from shore the lead was hove, and 75 fathoms of water was recorded with a coral bottom. It was with great difficulty that a good anchorage was found. The general appearance of the country at first sight was not thought much of by those on board. The scenery was remarkabta, for the steep mountains, about 7000 feet in height, running down lo a long low stretch of swampy ground covered withf »h<it is known as mango, with patches of cocoa-nut palms and sugar canes. Natives were seen in hundreds, but no trad" ing stationa were found- The natives could not understand a word of of English and no one on board could understand them. They came off in canoes, and examined the ship. Their food consisted of small shell-fish and cocoa-nuts. No trade could be done with them as they appeared to know nothing about it. Finding that no barter could be done, Mr. Allen, of Auckland, prospected the river beds for gold, but could not even find the color of it. A short distance ftom where Mr Allen lauded he found a trace of (he Sydney schooner Dove, the name of the vessel being caived upon a tree. The. soil was good and apparently fertile, but the climate

was very unhealthy for Europeans. As late as eight o'clock in the evening the thermometer iv the Courier's cabin was 92 degrees, and a sort of low fever attacked oyeral of the ciew. With care however, they managed to get over it. After remaining a fortnujht &t anchorage the barque weighed anchor and sailed round the island, but could find no other anchorage and the expedition was given up us a complete failure, and the vessel was headed for Wellington, where she arrived as above after a passage of 48 days, having during the trip expe> rienced principally fine woather with light and variable winds.