in 1864 the south australian government mounted an expedition to the northern territory for the purposes of survey and settlement. the leader was boyle finniss who, having been commissioner of police, knew fred litchfield’s late father well. having struggled to make a success of his pastoral run, litchfield relinquished the lease to join the finniss party of some forty officers and men as a stockman and labourer. tolmer had recommended him as a good worker.