Petition. T h e speakers were Messrs. E. Curr, J. P. Fawkner, John Bear, Geo. Annand, Jas. Malcolm A. Cunninghame, Major Firebrace, and Dr. P. M'Arthur.
THE WASTE LANDS.
Two rival meetings were held at the Royal Hotel, Collins Street, on the 9th February, 1848. T h e first was promoted by the squatters, and the Chair was taken by Major Firebrace. Its purpose was to protest against the action of the Government, in proposing to put up to auction, or dispose of by tender annually, certain waste lands of the Crown, located in what was known as " T h e Settled Districts." Alderman W . M . Bell, Messrs. Henry M o o r and J. C. Riddell, were the chief speakers. A resolution was passed in opposition to the intended project of unlocking the lands, and a Petition ordered to be transmitted to the Governor. W h e n one meeting had closed another was opened. This was a counter-demonstration, or what was designated a "Meeting of Agriculturists," and the Chairman was Dr. Peter M'Arthur. Messrs. Alexander M'Killop, J. P. Fawkner, J. O'Shanassy, and others, supported the movement, and resolutions were passed. (1) That the agriculturists viewed with alarm the vexatious opposition offered by the squatters to the anticipated regulations of the Executive respecting the Settled Districts; and (2) T h e appointment of a Committee to prepare and transmit a Petition to the Governor, declaring the views of the meeting. DR. LUDWIG LEICHARDT.
The safe return of the above-named celebrated Australian explorer, Dr. Ludwig Leichardt, from hisfirstNorth Australian expedition, suggested the propriety of a movement to present him with some pecuniary recognition of the services he was rendering the colony by his adventurous enterprising spirit. Sydney had already done its duty in this respect, and Melbourne was resolved not to be backward. A n d so on the 17th April, 1846, a public meeting was held at the Royal Hotel in Collins Street, with the Mayor (Dr. J. F. Palmer) as Chairman. T h e speakers were his Worship, Messrs. E. J. Brewster, W . Hull, James Simpson, Benjamin Heape, T. M'Combie, W . Westgarth, and others. Resolutions were passed declaratory of the courage and resolution with which Leichardt's expedition had been projected and carried out, and the immense advantage to Australian colonization which would result therefrom ; and that a testimonial in the form of a golden offering ought to be presented to the Doctor. A Committee was appointed to collect subscriptions for this purpose, and ,£50 was raised in the room. T h e net proceedsfinallyamounted to ,£150, which was entrusted to Mr. West°-arth who was starting for Sydney, and by him the sum converted into sovereigns was handed to Dr. Leichardt and accepted with a warm expression of thanks and gratitude. Towards the end of 1847 the indomitable German started on his second and last exploring expedition, from which he never returned, and a terrible mystery has shrouded his fate from that time to this. Sensations are occasionally caused by the supposed discovery of the remains of the ill-fated party, of whose destruction there can exist no reasonable doubt, though anything like absolute certainty is as yet impenetrably entombed in the w o m b of the past. Under such circumstances it m a y not be uninteresting to reprint from the Moreton Bay (now Queensland') Courier, 19th February, 1848, the record of the last departure from Brisbane of those "Wanderers of the Wilds," w h o went forth bravely into the wilderness ; and whose bones are now, in all probability, bleaching in that untrodden portion of the far interior known as Sturt's stony desert :—" Dr. Leichardt and party arrived here on Sunday last and left the settlement on Wednesday, on their return to the Darling Downs. T h e principal object of his visit to Brisbane was to obtain delivery of thirty fat bullocks from the Government herds at Redbank, which had been presented to him by Sir Charles Fitzroy. W e understand that the following individuals form the expedition to Swan River, viz. : — M r . Hentig, formerly of the Hunter River • Mr. Classen, a relative of Dr. Leichardt, lately arrived from H a m b u r g h ; Donald Stuart, formerly in the service of Messrs. Leslie, at Canning D o w n s ; a m a n named Kelly, and two Aboriginal natives
