PORT MORESBY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4558, 10 April 1942, Page 7

PORT MORESBY

IT’S DISCOVERY FAR-SEEING CAPTAIN’S ENTERPRISE

(By

E.I.M.)

Just seventy years ago there were rumours of danger to the great strategic Ocean Highway between (Australia and New Guinea. “Suppose some alien Power managed to block these important British waters,” wrote Captain John Moresby, R.N. (later Admiral), of H.M.S. Basilisk, attached to the Sydney Station, in his diary. “Australian instinct clearly points to the possession of the great island of New Guinea, and is bound, after however many failures, to succeed.” Seeing the danger to Australia of foreign occupation northwards, Captain Moresby determined to explore the unknown south-east coast line of New Guinea. “We must act quickly,” he urged, “the matter is vital.” In the meantime, having ha 3 orders from the Admiralty to spend three months officially cruising in Torres Straits, he sailed for Cape York as a base. Much of the navigation of Torres Straits was still unknown, and a project for running mail steamers between Brisbane and Singapore had been under consideration. Proceeding to the extreme northern point of Queensland, H.M.S. Basilisk anchored off Somerset, which had become a settlement in 1866, in I the hope that because of its geographical position it would eventually become a second Singapore. Now, at I any rate, it was the starting point ofl important discoveries. Crossing an unkriown part of Torres Straits, the Basilisk anchored off lsland, about five miles from the coast of New Guinea. | Here the exploring party divided forces. Captain Moresby sailed! for the eastern islands of Torres Straits and the entirely unknown New Guinea coast 300 miles east of this point. There was much to be done in a short time. After inspecting) the pearl shell and beche-de-mer stations, Captain Moresby spent every available moment in exploration which he felt to be urgent. With discretionary powers to try to find traces of Miklucko Macklay, a Russian traveller, lost somewhere on the New Guinea coast, he had set no limits f<ir the search, so they dropped anch< ir in Redscar Bay. H.M.S. Basilisk, however, wss not fitted either for size or draught of water to explore a coral sea, s<, taking the galley and the gig, they pulled for miles over a dangerous, shallow flat formed by the deposit c if rivers emptying themselves at the head of a wild bay. Reaching at ast a broad estuary, the captain I ushed ahead against rapid and dam erous currents, convinced that river communication would be of first inportance in opening up New Guinea. But it became impossible at last to ind a way through, and they were forced to turn back. With the Basilisk due back ai Cape York within three weeks, Captain Moresby felt that it was of mo re immediate importance to discover something further about the unknowii part of the coast. This decision finally led to the discovery of Pert Moresby.

“Who knows when the chance will come again?” he wrote. “Yet I realise that nothing short of complete success will justify this hazardous quest.” He knew with penetrating foresight that it would be disastrous if some foreign Power took possession of these shores so vital to Australia’s existence.

Thirty years earlier Captain Owen Stanley had surveyed the coast from the outside of the Barrier Reef, but no attempt had so far been made to land or explore inside the reef. Determined to remedy this deficiency, the enterprising captain of the Basilisk set off on February 17, 1873, once more from Redscar Bay. After patient and continuous soundings a deep water passage was found leading to the mainland, also a ship passage through the outer reef itself. This opened up splendid possibilities. A fine sheltered bay in the mainland lay ahead. With the excitement and high hopes of the true explorer, Captain Moresby examined a beautiful lakelike harbour at the head of the bay. His faith had been fully justified. “This port will make history,” he predicted confidently, and forthwith he named it after his famour father, Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby.

A few weeks later (April 24, 1873), he ran up the Union Jack, and took possession in the name of the Queen, but it was over ten years before the Imperial Government decided to establish a British Protectorate. The Australian Colonies were greatly alarmed, in 1883, at various .proposals by alien Powers. Queensland even offered to pay all expenses if the British Government would annex, and the Queensland authorities themselves hastened to confirm Captain Moresby’s action by hoisting the British flag at Port Moresby. The original proclamation read:— “I, John Moresby, Captain in the

Royal Navy, commanding H.M.S. Basilisk ... do hereby, by right of discovery, take possession .... in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria .... in token whereof I have hoisted and saluted the British flag on these shores. God Save the Queen.” H.M.S. Basilisk, Port Moresby, April 24, 1873.