Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/172

 146 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The Producers and where the popular enthusiasm was almost without parallel in the Province. Thus w;is rendered possible the overland telegraph line, and thus one of the greatest problems of past years was settled. Stuart was awarded ^2,000 for his explorations, and was granted the lease of a large area of land in the north, rent free. In 1864 he took up his residence In England ; but his health had been shattered by his man)- vicissitudes, and he died in June, 1869 — on the day of the demise of Captain Sturt. In August, i860, the 'ictorian Government dispatched an expedition under Robert O'Hara Burke and W. 1. Wills to explore to the north coast. These gefttlemeji proceeded through the neighboring colonies, and reached the Gulf of Carpentariaii^ ifjjsf i86i-. They were thus the first to cross the continent ; but on their return jouhitjU. their lives were "sacrificed to mismanagement" at Cooper Creek. John McKinlay w'^''"|ent in 1862 to render assistance to Burke and Wills, and proceeded to the Gulf of Cai"pentaria. • In 1864 and in 1866 Major Warburton conducted parties towards the north-west, in the interior. By the discoveries of Stuart the question of the settlement of the Northern Territory, or Alexandria Land, was raised. The area consisted of 231,620 square miles, or 35,116,806 acres. Sir Richard MacDonnell, when Stuart had nearly reached the north coast, suggested to the Imperial Government that the Northern Territory should be annexed to South Australia. The Duke of Newcastle replied that, as an overland route had not actually been opened, the question was premature. Sir Charles Nicholson (first President of the Legislative Council of Queensland), Chairman of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission, who was in England when the result of Stuart's exploration became known, recommended the Secretary of State for the Colonies either to establish a new colony or to attach the territory to Queensland. The country was offered to the latter colony ; but South Australia protested, and in September, 1863, Governor Daly received a despatch from the Duke of Newcastle " placing that portion of the Northern Territory bounded by the 129th and 138th meridians of east longitude, and beyond the 26th parallel of south latitude to the Arafura Sea, under the charge of South Australia." South Australians congratulated each other upon the concession, but a few shrewd gentlemen, and notably Mr. George Fife Angas, predicted losses and failures. In April, 1864, a party of about 40 persons under Mr. B. T. P'inniss, the ex-Premier, was dispatched in the sailing vessel Henry Ellis, to establish a colony on the north coast. Mr. Finniss was appointed Government Resident, and was instructed to proceed to Adam Bay, which was recommended as the site for the capital. He was, however, free to select any other spot which he might consider more desirable. Upon his arrival at Adam Bay he remained there, notwithstanding the protests of the rejiresentatives of land-order holders and the opinion of nearly all the officers. Disagreements arose ; scarcely any jirogress was made ; and in 1865 Mr. F-'inniss was recalled, and Mr. McKinlay was sent to explore the country, while Mr. J. F. Manton was appointed to take charge of the setdement. Mr. McKinlay, with much difficulty, examined several localities. Upon the return of Mr. Finniss,