Page:Northmost Australia volume 2.djvu/182

Rh The prospectors objected to these instructions, that they appeared to give me too much power over their movements, and imagined that I might obstinately keep them prospecting for months in a locality which they might not think good enough. To their remonstrance they received, by telegraph, the following reply: "Brisbane, 18-11-79.

" Your telegram I4th. Prospectors are not under control of geologist and leader not subordinate to him. Read instructions again. You have separate outfit and are entirely independent of Mr. Jack. Mr. Jack takes the opportunity of party going out to accompany it for the purpose of making geological notes of the country travelled over and to render any assistance in his power to the party, but is instructed to make his geological surveys subordinate to the main object of the expedition, that is the discovery of alluvial goldfield. The only authority he has over the prospectors is that he shall direct what country shall be prospected fof the first four months. Consult Mr. Jack and you will find all matters can be satisfactorily arranged between you. " GEO. L. LUKIN." A copy of the above telegram was sent to me, and I replied on the same date : " Quite ready for my part to carry out instructions of 7th instant which fair, reasonable and workable." On talking the matter over with the prospecting party, we were mutually satisfied with the arrangement made in the Under- Secretary's last telegram that the localities to be prospected were to be indicated by me for the first four months, and that the pro- spectors were to be the sole judges of how much time should be spent on each. I had no doubt that the prospectors and myself would agree on the latter point. When the first intimation of the proposed expedition reached me, I felt it my duty to represent to you the necessity for a small escort of native police. " Recent experience leads me to suggest that an OFFICER OF NATIVE POLICE, with a few troopers, SHOULD ACCOMPANY THE PARTY for the double purpose of protecting the horses and taking charge of the relations of the blacks and whites. This would prevent, I believe, the difficulties likely to arise should the prospectors be compelled to take the law into their own hands. It would add nothing to the cost of the expedition, as the outfit of the troopers has already been provided for, and their rations and pay run on equally whether they are employed in active service or not."

The suggestion was not complied with. [The refusal was conveyed by the Under-Secretary in decorous official phraseology to which no exception could be taken. Many years later I learned that the Minister's instructions were to " tell Mr. Jack that he can find his own black boys if he is afraid to go without them." The following narrative furnishes abundant evidence that my suggestion was a reasonable one, and that its adoption would have saved much trouble. It was, in fact, acted upon by succeeding ministers, who were always ready to provide police escort for telegraph parties,