C 517,281
GRAD
HC
6.3%
^ 64
B,00H 6-
G. AA- p ºrvº. Cf. ºviv 7 ºvtº +vvy, Ptery ~~&r-
//C. V - -
4 5 % \
, A 4 \
guard-NORTHERN TERRITORY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
EXAMINATION OF BATHURST ISLAND.
REPORTS re EXAMINATION of BATHURST ISLAND. º.
Botanic Garden, Palmerston, July 1st, 1910.
Sir–I have the honor to report that, in compliance with your instructions, I proceeded to Bathurst
Island on the 15th ultimo in the lugger Venture, accompanied by the Government Surveyor (Mr. E. C.
Playford) and Constable Miller, to make an examination of the island, which is situated about 50 miles
from Palmerston, and is estimated to contain an area of 786 square miles. • * *
Owing to light airs and head winds Mr. J. Cooper's camp on Melville Island was not reached until
the afternoon of the 17th.
It had been arranged that Mr. Cooper, owing to his intimate knowledge of the Melville Island natives, .
should form one of the party, and that a number of natives should be picked up here to act as carriers.
Unfortunately Mr. Cooper was absent on the mainland, and it was impossible to communicate with him
without entailing a delay of four or five days' time. It was therefore decided to endeavour to obtain carriers
and push on.
About mid-day of the 18th five Melville Island men and three small boys turned up. These were
engaged, and a start was made for Bathurst Island. - - - +
After a fine run during the night, Bathurst Island was sighted on the 19th, and a landing was made
in the afternoon on the north-west coast. The country between that and Roe. Point, situate on Apsley
Strait, was then thoroughly examined until the afternoon of the 24th, when the lugger was again boarded.
We then beat down the strait and landed at Durham Point at 2 p.m. of the 25th June. From there
we traversed the country in a south-westerly direction towards a large salt arm, shown on the chart as
existing on the west coast; thence south-easterly to coast, and parallel with the coast, until within four
or five miles of the strait, where we rejoined the lugger on the evening of the 28th June, and returned to
Palmerston by mid-day of the 29th. & + A* - -
Owing to want of time it was impossible to make the examination more detailed or to visit the western
side of the island. - -
The result of my examination may be briefly set out as follows:—
The island on the north and south sides is bounded by sandy beaches with occasional intrusions of
mangroves, and numerous little indents and bays make landing easy. - º
On the side facing Apsley Strait a heavy growth of mangroves prevails throughout, with occasional
bluffs and points jutting out into the strait. At these places there are generally only a few mangrove trees,
and consequently easy access to the island. No doubt landings could also be easily formed at the heads
of the numerous salt water arms and creeks running into the island. * ,
The western side of the island was not visited, but apparently the sandy beaches continue there, and
the chart shows a very large salt water arm as running into the island from that side. se
The country traversed was found to be gently undulating, splendidly drained by numerous creeks,
and the soil seen may be generally described as a sandy fertile loam of great depth, well timbered by various
species of eucalyptus and with an undergrowth of palms (Livistonia Leichardtii), or wattles. -
In the northern part of the island traversed the timber consisted nearly wholly of fine trees of woolly-
butt (Eucalyptus miniata), with a heavy undergrowth of fan palms (Livistonio Leichardtii). The latter
would not present the slightest difficulty in the bringing of the land under cultivation, and could be very
easily “rolled ” down. . - - º w
The soil is a deep fertile sandy loam, a natural exposure showing about 10ft. of soil. The quality
of the soil is well shown by the luxuriant growth of the timber and undergrowth, and is very consistent,
being even good right up to the tops of the few small ranges met with. Ironstone outcrop and gravel was
quite conspicuous by its rarity. º * - • * ,
The country traversed in the lower half of the island, viz., from Durham Point, is not of such consistent
quality, nor do I consider the quality of the soil quite as high, though still very good. A natural exposure
seen showed a depth of about 15ft. of sgil. The soil is still a sandy loam, but rather light in patches, and
occasionally patches of ironstone rubble intervene. - *
The country around the ranges also is stony, and unfit for agriculture. The timber growth continues
good, but consists principally of stringybark (Eucalyptus tetradonta), with an undergrowth of shrubby
wattles of various species. Towards the coast the growth of grass becomes coarser, but instead of being
withered up, as it is at this time of the year in the neighborhood of Port Darwin, it is as beautifully green
as if in the middle of the wet season, and, though flowered off, presents a mass of beautifully-leaved *; -
• * . • p . " * * - Ine
2
The island is splendidly watered by numerous fresh water streams and springs, which at their heads
are bordered by jungles, and lower down fringed by mangroves, eventually running into the sea or Apsley
Strait.
think
there ;
no great width of this particular class. No
consider would be due to the short course of the streams. -
The good land I consider to be splendidly adapted to the grow
These streams are of no great size, and, though running strongly at the time of our visit, I do not
ould all be permanent. The soil fringing these creeks varies greatly—from good to bad—and.
flood marks were seen, and the absence of floods I
th of indiarubber, particularly the
Ceara variety (Manihot glaziovi), which has proved so successful here; also for cotton, tobacco, upland
*
rice, sisal hemp, and peanuts.
Para rubber would be better accommodated in the lower lands by the creeks and jungles.
Cocoanuts.
would do well in the high ground, but better fringing the mangrove foreshores and along the beaches.
I append a list of the plants seen on Bathurst Island. Only a few trees of cypress pine were noticed,
and, though the island is very well grassed, it was impossible, owing to the time of the year, to determine
any of the grasses.
The Government Resident, Palmerston.
PLANTS OBSERVED O
Hibbertia, sp.
Pachynema junceum, Bentham
Nymphaea, sp.
Cassytha filiformis, Linne
Capparis umbellata, R. Brown
Cochlospermum Fraseri, Planchon
Pittosporum melanospermum, F. W. M.
Drosera indica, Linne
Calophyllum soulattri
Polygala, sp.
Carapa moluccensis, Lamarck
Hibiscus cannabinus, Linne
Hibiscus tiliaceus, Linne
Thespesia populnea, Solander
Bombax malabarica, De Candolle
Sterculia quadrifida, R. Brown
Brachychiton paradoxus, Schott
Brachychiton diversifolius, R. Brown
Elaeocarpus arnhemicus, F. W. M.
Euphorbia, sp.
Casuarina equisetifolia, R. and G. Forster
Polycarpaea violacea, Bentham
Gomphrena, sp.
Alternanthera triandra, Lamarck
Jacksonia dilatata, Bentham
Indigofera, sp.
Tephrosia flammea, F. W. M.
Erythrina indica, Lamarck
Galactia tenuiflora, Wight and Arnott
Canavalia obtusifolia, De Candolle
Vigna, sp.
Eriosema chinense, T. Vogel
Erythrophlaeum Laboucherii, F. W. M.
Acacia praelongata, F. W. M.
Acacia drepanocarpa, F. W. M.
Acacia auriculiformis, Cunningham
Acacia latifolia, Bentham
Terminalia, sp.
Calycothrix microphylla, Cunningham
Melaleuca leucadendron, Linne
Eucalyptus miniata, A. Cunningham
Eucalyptus clavigera, A. Cunningham
Eucalyptus Foelscheana, F. W. M.
Eucalyptus tetrodonta, F. W. M.
Tristania Holtzeana, F. W. M.
Careya australis, F. W. M.
Sonneratia acida, Linne
Osbeckia australiana, Nauden
Melastoma malabathricum, Lime
Didiscus villosus, F. W. M.
Exocarpos latifolia, R. Brown
Grevillia chrysodendron, R. Brown
Grevillia Goodii, R. Brown
Grevillia heliosperma, R. Brown
Banksia integrifolia, Linne
Gardenia megasperma, F. W. M.
Gardenia suffruticosa, R. Brown
Timonius rumphii, De Candolle
Note.—Owing to the time of the year the grasses could not be determined.
A few new plants were discovered, which will be worked out later.
NICHOLAS HOLTZE, Curator.
N BATHURST ISLAND.
Guettarda speciosa, Linne
Morinda citrifolia, Linne
Elephantopus scaber, Linne • * *
Vittadinia macrorrhiza, A. Gray .
Helichrysum lucidum, Henckel
Lobelia, sp.
Candollea, sp.
Goodenia, sp.
Scaevola Koenigii, Wahl
Mitrasacme, sp.
Lucuma sericea, Bentham
Sideroxylon myrsinoides, Bentham and Hooker
Jasminum, sp.
Sarcostemma australe, R. Brown
Ipomoea pes caprae, Roth
Ipomoea graminea, R. Brown
Mimulus, sp.
Buechnera, sp.
Utricularia chrysantha, R. Brown
Utricularia leptoplectra, F. W. M.
Hypoestes floribunda, R. Brown
Coleus, sp.
Clerodendrum floribundum, R. Brown
Avicennia officinalis, Linne
Cordia subcordata, Lamarck
Callitris intratropica
Cycas media, R. Brown
Curcuma, sp.
Dendrobium dicuphum, F. W. M.
Dendrobium Foelschei, F. W. M.
Geodorum pictum, Lindley
Cymbidium canaliculatum, R. Brown
Burmannia, sp.
Tacca pinnatifida, R. and G. Forster
Crinum, sp. .
Dioscorea, sp.
Smilax australis
Dianella ensifolia, De Candolle
Asparagus racemosus, Willdenow
Draceana angustifolia, Roxburgh
Thysanotus, sp.
Kentia, sp.
Livistona Leichardtii, F. W. M. .
Pandanus odoratissimus, Linfie
Commelina, sp.
Aneilema, sp.
Flagellaria indica, Linne
Lycopodium cernuum, Linne
Selaginella Holtzei, F. W. M.
Lygodium, sp.
Gleichenia, sp.
Lindsaya ensifolia, Swartz
Cheilanthes, sp.
Blechnum orientale, Linne
Aspindium exaltatum, Swartz
Polypodium, sp.
Acrostichum scandens, J. Smith
Acrostichum aureum, Linne
Northern
ºn tº
× 7" (, ºr Cº.
jo. 2 3 – /93 |
3
Northern Territory of South Australia:
Office of the Chief Warden, Palmerston, July 5th, 1910.
Sir—I have the honor respectfully to hand you herewith a rough sketch of Bathurst Island, and the
following report on my visit of inspection there.
Mr. Holtze having made arrangements for a party, consisting of Mounted Constable Millar, himself
as leader, myself, and two blackboys, we left Port Darwin in the lugger Venture on the 15th ultimo, and
arrived at Cooper's camp, on the eastern portion of Melville Island, on the 17th, where we took on board
eight natives for carriers, and then proceeded to the north-western shore of Bathurst Island and landed
at a place I, on account of the faulty chart of the island, could not determine and from where we traversed
the northern portion first, and afterwards the southern-eastern part.
The rock formations seen were very simple, consisting of ferruginous sandstone and iron conglomerate,
samples of which I took away for the Government Assayer's determination. With the exception of a little
inferior class of iron of low percentage, no metallic formations were met with, and not a trace of silica (quartz).
The northern portion of the island is densely timbered with ironbark, woollybutt, stringybark, and
undergrowth. The South-eastern has the same growth, only the country there is more open. The soils
are light-red loam, light-yellow loam, and light sandy loam, all of good depth and well grassed; the northern
part of the island being more fertile than the lower, where areas at higher elevation are covered with
broken sandstone, and others with ironstone rubble similar to the mainland.
The island is exceptionally watered, numerous large permanent springs being met with, some at an
elevation of 150ft. above sea level. No portion of the island traversed reached an altitude of more than
300ft. above sea level, the bulk of it being from high-water to 120ft. * t
- There are no signs in the creeks of flood-mark, nor of any surface drainage. All the rainfall, which
is heavier than on the mainland, must soak in the deep soil and porous sandstone underlying, from which
the springs mentioned take their source.
Only in one place was cypress pine trees seen, and were of no size.
Very little bird or animal life was seen, and, though it is reported that there are some hundreds of
blacks on the island, none were met with. Their fires were noticed, and we came across some of their
graves, fenced in with large and most elaborately-carved posts—quite different to any that I have seen
before.
I have, &c.,
E. COPLEY PLAYFORD, Chief Warden.
His Honor Mr. Justice Mitchell, Government Resident, Palmerston.
PLAN
|||ſiliſill||
3 9015 04.133 6275
BATHURST ISLAND
(N. T.)
&race Ao/7/
- Z9 A S C/7//27/O/V —
Aece offon Af. 2- _-T
/Vore . 7-2 verses 27 age she wo 7%z, s
(ºy
**** -oves & / e ºve. A 42s ++:::::
&
C fee/cs ca 27 o”/y 4e crosse a near
Cown fry A assed' over fra verse /or/Aeroz 2 orºon of /s/aeza/ § **, ſ ſ S- .* 7% err Aeo a a/ a // zo z/.
o tº © §§ ... 'g &º e// /, ecza's a ºn aſ a // razz7 oz, ž. , /*/7e
*//y//y 22, az Zaºzy cowºrry r4, c/º /y covere a w/f4 roo/ſ. sº 3. ... *. \ ( / & º O
tº eſſ -×Y}* 2.35 *- **/* a rººz. aſ a o yº-ear 2, s/a, ee ſº-oo,
4ezz, Z-ee, 6a, A. 4 arré . areza/ ere, aeryro wr/ ozz Wesfer” s/24 sº | }: *us **) * N ráezr so a *ze/ * >
& * A ſ/** Q- Z/re ess ºf ºze J
3 * r *gwéark arza’ wº aerzº-ow/4 ; on Aaszer” rºaſe, 2ee, tº sy ºy,” • * a. *- / •,• /ºr,” ºr
/, / tº - º V J. Vºž, a a * \ A% //ooeſ ºr er/ks /e, Cz-e e Aes
* 9/ºr rea/ /ea ºn y areza/ // ?/ ? /e a my and /º/, / sanay /eamy Caraffo/7/2% ow-ºr: . . . . \
- e © . | • .*- e º
so//s we// ? -asse aſ orer/yar’y ferrezz/27 o ers sa, e, asze eve. O ) 4%a wa drva Jungze, º, #N. $. /nſerview /o//7/
// 2, 277 earoa/s s/or/~37s &” a sor a ſ/_/2, , , 37/es of r/c/, aſa-4: | s"'s | - Żºłº - Sºng/a/r/o/r/
* dº § ,” “MaſoºyoA 8/a4.4/T *. GARDEN ID
/2 a.m. ; Co 2,7%ry A assed over Sezzº-easzern Aerº or 2% .* ,' …' J - J Af 3 * A/w 14 vic/7ca/ AwarzzA)
/s/a,7a. 2, 2, azz/2// e º cozzzzzzy Ż/zz,4ered w/r4 woo/y-42/
/ro ~42-4, s? -/* 2 year -4. a ºr of «» aery-ow 24 a'ee,” /rea/ areza/
re // o or /a'a ºr, ae, af /º/, / sa” ay so, Z arº A/?/ or e/e varzºzoa
core rea' ºr /r/, 4-24ee, #erra y z za zºs s a 27 as /2 27 e ere, a /////e ‘sº
º * - g ighesteºš
//ro /7 co ºn 9 /or” a raze , * ~ * eroes s/º r, nºs are a sex, a // tº ghesternº
ye. • ‘7/es efr/e 4 a.are /ea,” ºn 27 yre ve * * * */e covered,
• * AzzA *zae, ſº-, ºr gea, /*//aces * /arry/e zºoring
• * g eee" rºc/ so, / Aſe-ea a 4e w/ 7oo Syeare 4///es
(Signed)4. Coo/ºr //ay/era. $º w
Sºº Nº.
J &rveyor »,"***
. . % #wº wº ë
3/7//?/o o " s), MA+ Jazz Tº sº...?
Z #Mt Hurd 9/es \ ..."
7 race a Are” A/~re, a/e/eos/ear
Cape Ae/verſus 2^ -
|
).
_*
2- E-0
ſ
|
\
6&neº) 77% oazzas J. Wozyaz, *~ º —2 M
-*~
%. 7 24 A' A' A/ f ſt d
\*
C4-ef cºe-44 2^erzºzózsor, «Ž07
74 ~/w/y /9/o
Cape /ourcaroy
game
sº
– 2, 3,7. F. -azaring 2***
coee /2 orcroy /s s a , of 4 y Azariners fo 4 e *4er,
”” 662 r^ "A 2 ºf 2 ar//es z. z zº, A2 7%e *es,
-SSALE —
CHs sºo 3 !_2 * * 5_G, 7 a. *_10_1. n 1$ 14 15 M | LES
surveyor other”Elaintana. Photo-Lithographer
A 24. *4 *e arez aſ 244–ºzgrey g/ºrg 2–~~~~2%:
gº
H M L L
\!/
sº % Mſz
W
!M,
.2%. "% º
‘’lºo...