(Cheers.) Since I arrived at years of discretion, I have always taken a very deep interest in exploration, and for the last five years I have been what is generally termed in Western Australia The Young Explorer, as I have conducted all the explorations that have been undertaken by our Government.

In the year 1869 I was instructed to accompany an expedition as navigator, which was intended to be commanded by Dr.Mueller, of Melbourne, to search for the remains of the late Dr.Leichardt, who started from near Moreton Bay in 1848, I think.

Dr.Mueller not having arrived to take command as was anticipated, and the expedition having been got ready, I was deputed to the command, and we went out about 500 miles to the eastward of the settled districts of our colony, in order to find out whether the statements of the natives relative to the existence of white men or their remains in the locality were correct or not.

We were out about five months.

Although we did not suffer very much, as we had sufficient water and sufficient provisions, still it was a very dry season.