was never mistaken. (Hear, hear.) If the
Exploration Committee had not called the meeting they would have been
blamed, and he was quite prepared to see that they would receive a great
amount of opposition from certain quarters. Without further remark upon
this subject he would leave the correction of the error, if error he had
committed ("No, no.") to a gentleman who was present at the Landsborough
testimonial meeting, and who wrote the paragraph in The Argus alluded
to--he would leave it to a gentleman who took a deep interest in his
prospects, and who had the highest admiration of his ability; and he
would refer the meeting to the Yeoman of Saturday for a full,
deliberative, and calm consideration of the whole matter. He regretted
the absence of the Governor from the meeting, but he would explain the
reason. His Excellency instructed him to say that he had exceedingly
regretted to perceive by the newspapers that that day had been fixed for
the grand reception, and stated that his absence was caused by a prior
engagement. Mr. McKinlay had received permission to decline an invitation
which he had received from the Governor that night in order that he might
be present at the meeting. The fact of the invitation however showed the
appreciation in which McKinlay was held by the Governor. (Applause.) In
moving the resolution he had simply to state that he trusted the
Governments of the respective colonies would reciprocate in an adequate
manner the services which had been rendered by the explorers; he thought
the gratitude of the Governments of the respective colonies should also
be shown by their doing more to encourage immigration than that hitherto
done. Some two years and a half ago the task of exploring the continent
was commenced in Victoria and, whatever might be said derogatory to the
management of the exploration, the work had been accomplished, the
continent was now marked out, and it only required private enterprise to
establish communication between every part of it. (Applause.)

Captain Norman, being loudly called for by the meeting, made a few
remarks indicating the cordial unanimity in which he and Mr. Landsborough
had cooperated together, and mentioned that Monday was the anniversary of
their safe arrival at Carpentaria after the wreck of the Firefly in
Torres Strait.

Mr. Ramsay, M.L.A., in seconding the resolution, expressed his full
concurrence with the opinion it contained; and stated that he would do
hi