proceed to the Murchison in company with Messrs. Gregory, J. N. Drummond, jun., Hester, seven soldiers, and assistants—fourteen men in all.
Arrangements were made for the party to set out, and in fulfilment of his pledge Governor Fitzgerald commissioned Lieut. Helpman to convey soldiers, provisions, and necessary equipment to Champion Bay in the schooner Champion. Every thing was got ready, and early in November, 1849, the couriers of northwest settlement left Swan River. Messrs. Burges, Gregory, and Drummond, with several men, went overland on horses; arranging to meet Lieut. Helpman at Champion Bay. The Champion left Fremantle on 18th November, and arrived at the anchorage on the 20th. The troops were landed next day, and a large tent was erected out of the sails on the beach.
The land party reached Champion Bay on 22nd November. While about to camp on the Greenough Flats the previous evening the band surprised a hostile tribe of 70 natives. An attack was expected, but with the aid of Mr. Drummond and the native boy, Kardakai, attached to the expedition, who explained the intentions of the Europeans, hostilities were obviated. Many of the blacks were among those who attacked Governor Fitzgerald's party the previous year; Kardakai learnt from them that two black men and one woman were killed on that occasion. The survivors made a meal off the deceased as was their custom, whether death be from natural or other causes. With the principals of the land party Lieut. Helpman sailed to the mouth of the Murchison to decide upon its fitness as an anchorage for loading minerals. Mr. Gregory and Mr. Burges agreed with him that it was unsuited for that purpose. On the 26th a wooden house designed for the people at Geraldine was landed in Champion Bay, as also were other chattels and the provisions. Sixty-three natives (leaving their spears in the scrub) drew near and watched their movements.
The pioneers started from the beach on 28th November for the scene of operations. They were in charge of Lieut. Elliot, who, with one sergeant and twelve men of the 99th Regiment, led the way. Following came Messrs. Gregory, Burges, and Drummond, seven men, two carts, and fourteen horses. Several natives were of the party. Geraldine was reached without mishap on the 1st or 2nd of December. The house was erected and a line drawn round it, within which the local natives were warned not to encroach. The natives were described as a fine race of men. They were quarrelsome among themselves, and most of them bore numerous scars. One showed no fewer than thirty-seven wounds from spears and kileys. A plain lay like a sombre carpeted floor around the mine; the pool had now become dry, but fresh water was found at a depth of 10 feet in the sandbank. No time was lost in getting to work, and in a few days a quantity of ore was raised. Taking 26 cwt. of lead ore in the carts, the main body of men returned to Champion Bay on 11th December. Three men, under a Mr. Roper, were left to work the Geraldine mine, and were protected by six soldiers.
Mr. Burges in his report states that large quantities of zinc and excellent specimens of copper ore were obtained. Around the mine there was plenty of timber and stone, but no clay for lining a furnace. He recommended that the ore be smelted at the mine, and was sure that by doing this the concern would pay well.
In the meantime changes were taking place in Perth. It was announced in January, 1850, that the original syndicate had sold the mine for £1,600, to be taken in shares; a profit suggestive of mining in Western Australia in recent years. A new company was projected by the purchasers. Mr. R. J. Sholl was appointed secretary pro tem.; the capital was placed at £6,400, in 1,280 shares of £5 each. A competent mining captain and two miners were sent for, and an estimate of expenses was drawn up. It was expected to cost 30s. per ton to raise ore, £4 to smelt it, £3 to cart it to the seaboard, which, with 10s. as contingent expenses, made a total of £9 per ton. Lead in Singapore was then quoted at £18. News was published of a second visit from Mr. Burges to the mine, when he reported the discovery of a rich and extensive vein of silver lead ore, of abundance of clay, and of a vein of copper. Rich specimens were conveyed to Perth. The company was duly floated; Mr. James was appointed captain; miners were engaged, and machinery was purchased.
In October the plant was sent to Champion Bay, thence to the mine. Captain James's first report delighted shareholders; he writes of the mine that "at the south-west end is a fine lode, 2 ft. 4 in. wide, with 1 ft. of solid galena." He expected to have hundreds of tons of lead ore on the surface within a few months. Thenceforth work proceeded briskly. Mr. Gregory tested the the copper ore, and said it contained 28½ per cent. of copper; three specimens giving 23 per cent., 27 per cent., and 45 per cent. respectively. In 1850 lead ore to the value of £55 was exported, and in 1853 copper valued at £7 10s, lead ore at £4, and pig lead at £1,200. One lot of pig lead shipped to Batavia in the latter year was sold at £23 net per ton. Vessels repeatedly took in ore at Champion Bay. Some magnificent stuff was raised, and among the workers en the Geraldine mine were ticket-of-leave men.
Messrs. Burges and Drummond remained at Champion Bay after the expedition of November and December, 1849, and were the pioneer pastoralists of that district. Mr. Burges took upon lease a large area of country, on the Bowes River, near Northampton. In 1852 he purchased some of the land upon which he formed the homestead—"Knockbrack." Mr. Drummond proceeded on similar lines, his station stretching from the mouth of the Buller River, where he purchased freehold in 1851. Other pastoralists merged to these districts in 1850 and following years, and took up extensive areas on lease. The following freeholds were purchased in 1852:—Of Davies, Wallcott, and Co., on the Greenough Flats; of Thomas Brown (Glengarry), M. Logue (Ellendale), and J. S. Davis (Tibradden), on the Greenough; of H. A. Sanford, at Port Gregory. Mr. Robert Foley purchased freehold adjoining the present Geraldton town site in 1853, and Messrs. Hamersley and Co. on the Greenough in 1854. Messrs M. Morrissey (Mount Erin, on Chapman River), C. R. Princep, and W. H. Miller were also among the pioneer flockowners and agriculturists. All of these gentlemen took up land on lease at first. Plots of land were presented to seventy-six pensioners on the Greenough Flats, but did not prove very remunerative. Without a market the plots were too small. Among the pioneer pensioners were Messrs. James Doran, William Stokes, James Stone, and James Adlem. In 1850 Mr. S. P. Phillips selected 20,000 acres of land on the Irwin River and pioneered settlement there. With his party he came upon a splendid stream of water, near which the grass reached almost to the horses' shoulders. He also took up land on the coast, and removed portion of his excellent strain of horses to these places.
Lieutenant Elliot remained near the shore as a safeguard for the pioneers against the natives. He had under him a detachment of the 99th Regiment. Part of the town of Geraldton, named after the Governor, was surveyed in 1850 by one of the
