Mr. McKinlay, who was received with hearty and prolonged cheering, briefly returned thanks for the kindness which had been shown him.  His journey had certainly been accomplished successfully, but it had been undertaken under very favourable circumstances and, had such not been the case, probably the result might have been very different.  He felt himself compelled to refrain from stating many particulars which the public would be glad to learn, but they would no doubt be known in due course.  At present he could merely express his sincere thanks for the great kindness with which he had been received that evening. (Cheers.)

Mr. Wyld, Mr. Poole, Mr. Kirby, and Mr. Davis, fellow travellers with Mr. McKinlay, were severally introduced to the meeting by the chairman, and each received a cordial welcome which they duly acknowledged.

Mr. Landsborough, who had in the meantime arrived, then came forward to address the meeting and was greeted with cordial and enthusiastic cheering.  He was much gratified, he said, at the warm reception which he had received, and little expected that his humble services would have been acknowledged in such a public way by such an assemblage as he saw around him.  He had been rather hurriedly called upon as he was unaware that the meeting was to be held that evening until his arrival from Geelong an hour or so ago. (Hear, hear.) “My friend and brother explorer,” continued Mr. Landsborough, “has just come in from a glorious trip from South Australia, by Carpentaria and by Port Denison.  I consider his mode of exploring with livestock consisting of camels, cattle, sheep, and horses, nearly the best.  To make it complete he only wanted some aborigines as trackers.  This I am sure he felt on one occasion when Mr. Kirby and his sheep were lost for three days.  Mr. McKinlay deserves the greatest credit for being the first to take sheep across the continent.  The camels will yet be found of the greatest value; for it is probable that other explorers will not find water at such convenient distances as we have done, and as they can go nearly three times as far as horses without water they will be of the greatest value for searching ahead for water, and when water is once found it is very easy to take the party on, as it is generally found at distances sufficiently near to be reached by a party like that which Mr. McKinlay and I had.  By Burke, Walker, McKinlay, and myself six of the Carpentaria rivers have been traced.  These rivers chiefly water country of a character which, although dry, is the kind that I like best for pastoral purposes.  And now that my friend McKinlay has taken sheep across the continent I hope flocks and herds will soon follow, so that the fine pastures of Carpentaria, instead of lying waste, will soon become profitable not only to Australia but to the whole world.” (Applause.) In conclusion Mr. Landsborough intimated that he intended to publish the rest of the information which he had to communicate in the form of a pamphlet.  On resuming his seat he was again warmly applauded.