THE AUSTRALIAN TRANS-CONTINENTAL EXPEDITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3490, 18 June 1879, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN TRANS-CONTI-NENTAL EXPEDITION.

Now that the Queenslander Trans-conti-nental survey party has safely returned, its mission accomplished, and its investigation complete, it is fitting (says the journal whose name has been connected with tho enterprise) that we should sa r a few words concerning the next step we propose to take in the prosecution of the end we have in view, when the parly started on its route the question of a trans-continental railway was still an open one. The advantage,} of such a route for commerce were as evident then as now, but the unknown difficulties that might be encountered on tho route opened a wide field for adverse speculation. In order to sot theso doubts at rest, we arranged for the expedition that has now accomplished its work. We have no longer any doubt of tho feasibility of the project. The explorers report that they have traversed a route which opposes no natural difficulties to the construction of a railway continuous level country, intersected by watercourses which may be crossed by the most inexpensive of engineering contrivances. The drought which for some time delayed the party was of itself of service to the purposes of the expedition, inasmuoh as in the many vain effortß to find wator on the proposed route, more country was examined than would have been the case had it been all plain sailing, and tho thorough reliability of the various waters toadied on was proved to the utmost. Following this route they arrived at Port Darwin, a harbour which occupies thelflame position with respect to the northern a£ Port Jackson does to the eastern coast oHhe continent, and which will be a naturay&tlet for the trade between Australia and thßgjld World from which it has been i colonisMi? Not only is tho route a good one, but Mlwsßesses the further advantage of traversing country which is for the most part ec[ual .to" the best pastoral districts we have already occupied— a fertile expense that promises an indefinite increase of settlement when rendered accessible by means of a railway. Tho sterile patches which are always found in such a wide area of country are few, and of comparatively small extent. The railway we project will, as it progresses, be followed by settlement as surely as the water follows a furrow drawn on the wet sand of the shore. And when it reaches its- destination it must form the main route for Australian commerce— a route on which Queenslani stands first.