ected to get supplies of
flour, tea, and sugar, the depot being abandoned, his hopes were
disappointed, and he was obliged to proceed to Port Denison, a distance
of about 700 miles, without either of these articles. On his arrival at
Melbourne with some members of his party the reception given to
Landsborough and them by the public was so cordial that we consider the
following report (taken from the Argus) of the meeting held to do them
honour will be read with interest.

DEMONSTRATION IN HONOUR OF MESSRS. LANDSBOROUGH AND MCKINLAY.

A public meeting of the citizens of Melbourne was held last night at the
Exhibition Building, in honour of the leaders of the Queensland and South
Australian Contingent Exploration Expeditions and their parties, and to
testify the admiration of the inhabitants of this colony at the
successful and heroic manner in which those explorers had accomplished
their mission. The doors were advertised to be open at seven o'clock, but
it was not until about twenty minutes past that hour that they were
unlocked. In the meantime a vast crowd which had commenced to assemble as
early as half-past six o'clock had gathered in front of the building and
manifested considerable impatience to be admitted. Within a very few
minutes after the doors were thrown open the spacious edifice was densely
crowded in every part. There were probably nearly 3000 persons present.
On the motion of Dr. Macadam the Honourable Matthew Hervey, M.L.C., was
called upon to preside. He was surrounded on the platform by several
members of the Exploration Committee and other gentlemen. Mr.
Landsborough and Mr. McKinlay and some members of their respective
exploring parties were present; as was also Mr. King, the companion of
the unfortunate Burke and Wills; and also Mr. C. Verdon, who was recently
the successful bearer of despatches from the Exploration Committee to Mr.
Howitt.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, congratulated the assembly upon
having met together to pay a mark of respect to their distinguished
fellow-countrymen, Messrs. Landsborough and McKinlay. (Applause.) They
were doubtless aware of the circumstances under which those gentlemen had
become conspicuous amongst the Australian community. Immediately upon the
discovery of any danger attending the Victorian explorers Messrs. Burke
and Wills--upon discovering that there was a possibility of their being
unable to surmount the difficulties which surrounded them in