Wednesday, 26 March 1862, page 3.

A meeting of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society waa held on the afternoon of the 17th.

The minutes of the preceding meeting having been approved, the secretary announced that he had received a letter from Mr Myers, of Mount Murchison, dated March 3, containing one from Mr Howitt. In his letter Mr Myers states that a considerable quantity of rain had fallen at Younganya Creek since Mr Howitt left it, and that there was every appearance of the rain proceeding northwards.

Youngconga Water,
6 miles south of Macadam Range.
Camp 7.
Lat.
Long.
4th February 1862.

Sir,

I have the honour to I report that I leave here to-morrow morning for Poria, having obtained the services of two natives, who informed me that they could find water each night. How much this can be relied on has yet to be proved.

I have been across to Torowota to connect the assumed longitude of Mount Murchison, and the country there has a most unpromising appearance. Scarcely any rain I has fallen. In one place, where a night's rain would have left an amply supply of water, I only found a little mud.

On the upper part of this creek the rain has been heavy, but on the lower the feed has scarcely sprung at all.

I am happy to be able to report all well, with the exception that some of the party are suffering from weak eyes, in consequence of the great heat and continued glare. I have not been able to make the progress I could have wished but at the present season of the year, and with the great responsibility of such a mission, I have felt bound to use the utmost caution in advancing, as any check which would compel me to turn back to the last supply of water would be most unfavourable both for the men and animals.

Since reaching this very dry part of the country it is with the greatest difficulty that the horses can be kept together - a constant source of delay and anxiety.

I bury this, as Mr Myers most kindly offered to send out shortly for any despatch left here.

A W Howitt