Of William Hann's abilities as a bushman there can be no question. His courage was only kept in check by his sound judgment. On the other hand, he was sometimes petulant and sometimes overbearing in manner, and, in a word, was not "easy to get on with." He himself confesses to occasional loss of temper and injustice done to his subordinates in the heat of the moment. No doubt the temper of an angel would be tried at times by the alternating hardships and ennui of a long exploring expedition. Hann definitely charges Taylor with two acts of reprehensible carelessness of the safety of the horses and Tate with a want of consideration for the other members of the party. It is obvious that both of these gentlemen performed their own special duties zealously and with a full appreciation of the opportunity they enjoyed.
The principal items of the EQUIPMENT consisted of "25 pack- and saddle-horses, 20 sheep and 5 months' supply of flour, tea, sugar and other necessaries."
The mobilisation of the expedition took place at FOSSILBROOK, an out-station belonging to Mr. Firth of Mount Surprise (lat. 18° 2'S.; long. 144° 30' E.).
The record is contained in (i) Copy of the Diary of the Northern Expedition under the Leadership of Mr. William Hann. Brisbane, by Authority, 1873; and (2) Report from Mr. W . Hann, Leader of the Northern Expedition Party. Brisbane, by Authority, 1873. The "Diary" is accompanied by a route map on the scale of 8 miles to an inch. The "Report" is reproduced almost in its entirety in the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society , Vol. XVIII, p. 87.
Before the start of the expedition, and to fill in the time occupied in communication with the Minister for Public Works and Goldfields, Hann, accompanied by Taylor and Tate, traversed the country between the ETHERIDGE AND FOSSILBROOK and established the fact that the creek on which is Mount Surprise Cattle Station (now a stopping-place on the railway connecting the Etheridge with Cairns) runs into the Jardine Brothers' "Parallel Creek," an anabranch of the Einasleigh River.
The whole EXPEDITION LEFT FOSSILBROOK (old) station on 26th June, 1872, and after travelling 9 miles down the creek N. by W., camped on its left bank, CAMP I. (SEE MAP K.) For the first 6 miles the creek is described as running over a LIMESTONE bed with BASALT on both banks.
About midway on this day's stage is the modern cattle station
to Daly Waters Telegraph Station, to seek relief for Nation. Under instructions from Adelaide, R. R. Nuckey, an Overseer of the Overland Telegraph Construction party, promptly set out to the rescue, accompanied by de Lautour, who by this time had arrived, minus his cattle. On i2th June, 1874, Nation's remains were found at the camp where Elvoy had left him. He appeared to have been dead about ten days. Nation Range and Nation River were named to mark the scene of the tragedy.
