In the House of Representatives on July 19 Mr, Nelson (Northern Territory) urged the Prime Minister (Mr, Bruce) to immediately despatch to the Territory an armed party to search for the men and women passengers of the ill-fated Douglas Mawson. Mr, Nelson stated that he had received a telegram from Dr. Wade, the oil expert at Darwin, confirming the story of the terrible fate that hnd befallen the men and The Prime Minister asked permission from Mr. Nelson to read the telegram, and promised to make a statement Inter.
Tt was pointed out in official circles that -the fullest search was made in the Gulf waters by: the State without avail, and that only Jrecently the Federal police search party from Darwin traversed the {eoust in the vicinity of Mount Alex ander, following the discovery of wreckage there. Cape Wilberforce is north of this point, and also in the Territory. Groote Bylandt is comparatively adjacent to Mount Alex ander. It is also pointed out that if such a rumour were current Darwin, and regarded as in any way authentic, action undoubtedly would have been taken immediately by the Feceral authorities there to fully ventilate it, There were three females and four passengers on the Douglas Mawson when she entered upon her last. trip in April of last year, The females were:—Mrs. Willett, then 45 years of age. Alive May Willett, her daughter, then 1 years of age. Elizabeth Willett, another daughter, then 4 years of age.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.