QSA846922 1874 Telegram from Aulaire Morisset to David Seymour March?, In letter 74/453, Colonial Secretarys Office In Letters, DR63538

Copy of telegram from Insp. Morisset to Comm'r Police.

"Have equipped two bushmen who accompany me to Palmer to find and mark shortened and best road. Applied to road party for assistance and refused. My men receiving three pounds per week and partly promised bonus from Townsville people. Have purchased four horses and rations, saddlery and arms borrowed from Native Police. Vouchers for all expenses will go through the Police Magistrate to Office of Colonial Secretary. Men now engaged examining range for good crossing. If successful [previous 8 lines marked on left with wavy vertical line] anticipate little further difficulty. Mr King (late MLA) recently returned reports country favorable for road by head of Normanby river same route as suggested by myself to you. Police rations exhausted. Must again press for supplies for all the various stations, must purchase rations for Dumaresq to take up with him. Shall look for site for police station en route to Palmer, think head of Normanby river will be suitable, highly spoken of by Mr King. Blacks quiet along

[written top left margin] Comm'r to report matter of road should now be left to Mackinnon [initialled] AM

[written under that] BC Commissioner of Police accordingly [initialled] HMM 27-3-74

roads and on diggings

Please press for opening of communication by mail with Palmer Diggings."

[written at left side] Mr Morisset is on his way back to his station, and will have nothing more to do with the road than to send the hired men back on the track he marks, if he finds one worth marking.

[initialled] D.T.S. CP.