The length of the water passage thus effected was eighty-eight days; and Capt. Sturt estimated the distance traversed on the different rivers at 2,000 miles, during which, with the exception of the timber on the Murrumbidgee, and the rare occurrence of a sandspit on the main stream, no obstacle to steam navigation was discovered. The official report was forwarded to Sydney, and published by the Government, and is to be found appended to Capt. Sturt’s own narrative of his adventurous voyage.[4] No steps, however, appear to have been taken by those in authority to render available the great discovery which the energies of this brave man had thus rendered patent to all.
At length, in the year 1850, Sir Henry Young, the Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia, an officer of enlarged ideas and considerable knowledge of geographical subjects, acquired during a lengthened service in many parts of the world, appears to have taken up the matter, and brought it before the Colonial Legislature. In September and October, 1850, accompanied by the Surveyor-General of the Province, and some friends, including ladies, His Excellency ascended the Murray as far as its confluence with the Darling, or above 600 miles, and found it navigable with ease throughout that extent, with a breadth varying from 180 to 300 yards, and a depth of water of from two to four and even five fathoms. The project, in the mean time, had been opposed by the Legislative Council; who, actuated, it would seem, by mistaken views of the real interests of the Colony, objected especially to the appropriation of £20,000 from the Land Fund, in the construction of a tramline to connect the Murray at the Goolwa with the conveniences of the harbour at Port Elliot—a distance of nearly eight miles. Sir Henry Young was, however, fortunate enough to obtain the approbation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the proposed scheme, as also the general good opinion of the Colony in favour of the Murray navigation; whilst, with regard to interference with the supply of labour, as alleged by the opponents of the project, the recorded opinion of Earl Grey, that “the execution of the work could not fail to promote the sale, at an enhanced price, of the land benefitted by the proposed communication,” must have been particularly gratifying to His Excellency. Moreover, as His Lordship observed, “the funds applicable to the purposes of emigration would assuredly be increased, and labour itself economised by providing for a more expeditious and less costly mode of conveying produce to a place of shipment, from an extensive and important district.”