THE LEICHARDT SEARCH EXPEDITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 744, 3 March 1866, Page 8

THE LEICHARDT SEARCH EXPEDITION.

The exploring party sent out by the Leichardt Search Committee, appears to have completely broken np, so far as any actual organisation is concerned, and this is a circumstance scarcely to be wondered at, considering the auspices under which the party was fitted out. Dr. Mueller was the ruling power of the concern and he will now hove an opportunity of seeing the reiuits of what cannot be characterised other than mismanagement. The party suffered the greatest privations from the effects of thirst, having been ninety hours without water. One of the party has already arrived in town, and Dr. Murray, the second in command, is expected to return almost immediately. The following, from Dr. Murray, has been received *y Dr. James. It is dated from Wallumbilla, 4th January. It says: — "You are astonished, you are thunderstruck, no doubt, at receiving a letter from one whom you conceived to be at the Gulf. Yet strange things have occurred, and when I tell you that I am returning to Melbourne in the course of a few weeks. I state a positive fact. You would na'urally wish for an explanation, and I shall attempt to give you one in a few words, for the fact is I find it difficult to write a letter just now, not having had any practice for the last six months. You must know, then, that things went on gloriously until we left the Bulloo and made towards Cooper's Creek. For some time fortune smiled upon us, even here, and we found a good and safe road for many a mile along a creek to the westward of the Bulloo, called Labrine Creek. Bat Cooper's Creek had to be reached and followed up, otherwise we were at a standstill. So one fine morning we sorted from a water-hole, some 95 miles from the creek (aa it afterwards proved to be), and struck out boldly across the desert. Alas ! the consequences of this well nigh proved destruction to our party, for after undergoing a great deal of fatigue we reiched Cooper's Creek one morniDg at two o'clock, exhausted and weary. Thus judge of our horror and surprise to find no water. M'lntyre made a faint effort to examine the creek, but returned in an hour or so, and gave the orders to fall back on the last water. We did so, and more dead than alive your humble servant reached the Bullock Waterhole, where, by good fortune, >ye had found a little (a email puddle) on the way out. You will understand this better by referring to the very rough map. There, at leasf, we expected a drink ; but no, all the water bad dried up. Good heavens ! what a scene followed. We were all more or less delirious, but I think I was one of the worst ro. Ne tried to unpack the poor horses that crowded into the bole and sucked the damp mud. Failed through excessive weakness. Received a kick from one of the horses which very nearly gave me my quietu«. Started with one or two others in the morning on horseback for our la«t camp. Left behind them on the road, unable to proceed further. Met a black boy of one who saved my life by keeping me in his miamia all day from the hot sun. Started in the evening and met the camel drover returning with water. He and Mr M'lntyre had gone on before us the day before, so my life was saved by the infinite mercy of God. All the Victorian portion of the party resolved to proceed no further. Three have returned with me, and one more is still with M'lntyre (at his urgent request) until he gets another hand." The men of the party, he states, were obliged to resort to the most horrible expedients to quench their burning thirst.

A gentleman of Lewiston was engaging a housemaid the other day who was veryparticular. Her cross examination would have done honor to the C. C. C. HDo you have small children?" she asked. " No." "Do you have your ■washingdone out of the house ?" " No." " Will my room be carpeted?" "Yes." After going on awhile in this manner, the gentleman turned the tide, and said he should like to ask her a few questions. " Can you play the piano ?" he began. " Oh, no." . " Can you speak French ?" " No." " Can you sing the opera ?" " No." " Can you dance the Lancers ?" "No." "Well, t'len," he concluded, "if you can't do any of these, you wont suit," and off went the astonished maiden, smelling mice. The well-known "S. G. O." of the Times devoted himself to the salvation of a certain rustic, whose past life had been spent in an atmosphere of wickedness. The wretched sinner took kindly to the reverend gentleman's teaching, and his conversion was an apparently easy task. la a short time, after receiving lessons from hia excellent teacher, the reformed sinner addressed his benefactor as follows: — •' Before I knew you, Mr Osborne, I cared neither for God nor for the devil ; now, I love '«*» both. Mr Marquis, the governor of the prison from which Stephens, the Fenian, escaped, has been dismissed by order of the Lord Lieutenant.