South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 19 July 1884, page 1


EARLY SETTLEMENT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.— No. III.

EXPERIENCES OF A PIONEER.

[By J. B. Hack.]

Losses by Native Dogs — Profits on English Goods — Aboriginals — The Legal Tutor — Ophthalmia — The Isabella — A Dinner Party— Arrival of the Schah and Loss of Captain Hart's Vessel — The First Grand

Jury — Railroad Projected — Captain Hart's New Start in Life— Dear Potatoes. 1837. April 11— The William sailed for Launceston, and as she Ieft before the arrival of the Isabella we do not know what to think of it. I have brought the second cottage from Glenelg, and have to-day made great progress in putting it up, which will give us a house of four rooms, each 12 feet square. We shall feel much more comfortable when this is finished. Sold a lot of butter ex Isabella when here, and cleared £25 by it. Native dogs reached the fold of sheep and killed two. We have bought the remnant of Mr. Jones's sheep. The Company had a similar misfortune lately; 800 sheep scattered and several killed. John Renwick sails shortly. Her captain and Captain Chesser of the Coromandel intend returning to settle. They talk of bringing out vessels of light draught suited to the colonial trade. We rather regret not having brought more goods irom England, aa the profit on English prices is so large on any articles of consumption. The Company are sending a fine map of Ade laide for exhibition at home. 14th— Sent letters to England to-day ; we dined in our parlour to-day; and I completed the roof of the four rooms. It was squally and rainy. The tarpaulin roof was nearly blown away several times. Engaged with the Govern ment to send down water for the Buffalo from the Torrens, as she is soon to leave for Sydney. At the rate we are charging, as we return with loads, it will be clear profit. The seeds sown are doing well. We are longing for vegetables. We are very uneasy about the Isabella, but hope Captain Hart has put in for shelter at another port, and is waiting for a change of wind. - The natives are work ing about among the tents quite at home. They are all more or less clothed. One named Jack has just gone by with his children. Mrs. Brown, the Protector's wife, has made him a round frock, of which he is very proud. The corroborees after dark are tremendously noisy when everything else ia quiet. 20th— Riding with Stephen to-day to see a very fine country which he found among the hills about ten miles south of this. The valleys are very beautiful, with rich black soil at bottom. There are natural springs of water in all directions. Shall send two men to put up a sheepyard and hut that we may have a place for our sheep when they come. Those we have, about 120, must be removed from Glenelg before the winter. Willie is commencing lessons with. Mr. Jick-ling, who is by profession a barrister. As he has no fixed home he comes to join us in our meals. He has a corner for his bed in Mr. C. Mann's tent. Several ladies have called on my wife and Caroline, whom they think they will like, especially the Howards. Mr. Howard is indefatigable in his house and garden. It is a great advantage to the colony to have such a man as a leading minister. 21st— Have sent two men with the cart to the sheeprun. The yard is to be six feet high to keep out the dogs, which are very numerous there. Joe Hill having been sent away, his wife Bella has availed herself of his absence to get terribly tipsy. We do not know what to do with her. 24th— Writing per Victor, via Sydney, Dined with Sir John Jeffcott at Mr. Gouger's, the Secretary. Caroline went to a grand party at the Governor's resi dence in the evening. 25th— Took Sir John Jeffcott to see the country and about our new yards. He was delighted with it, and says he saw nothing in Van Dieman's Land to equal it. 29th— We are suffering from an attack of ophthalmia. My wife and two or three of the children are suffering from it. Dr. Cotter's remedy of a weak solution of nitrate of silver is very efficacious. The men are returned from the run to-night, having finished the sheepyard. As the Isabella has not arrived we must wait before doing anything more. The Rapid has orders to leave for England on the 11th of next month. Have been writing up my correspondence for her. Our team has been doing very well: as much as £12 was made in one day. " Dined with a large party at Mr. Fisher's yesterday and enjoyed it, though my costume was not altogether presentable. The dinner was very well appointed, quite like an English entertainment. The Governor's appointment was spoken of as being a random one on the part of the Government ; fitness and capability seemed to have been thought of no consequence. May 6 — I have been very unwell, as also the children. Stephen and Mr. Stuart brought in two kangaroos, so we have a good stock of fresh meat. My eyes almost prevent writing at present, being very painful, and the Rapid will soon sail. Fine showers for the garden. Building a stone chimney with loam for mortar for the parlour. A stockyard near the house is being built, as the bullocks are yoked here. One of the heifers is away. We have never got posses sion of her since landing, but hear of her now and then. 13th — Eyes much better. The Schah has arrived, with all orr goods left be hind at Portsmouth, and a quantity of veiy welcome letters from our friends. The Regia, from Porter & Co., of Sydney, ha1? come in. We have bought some good'* out of her, which are much needed here. Yester day I rode to Glenelg, and iras astonished to find Captain Hart with Stephen at our camp, and still more to hear from him that the Isabella had been totally wrecked on Cape Northumberland on her voyage here through the negligence of the mate, who had come out with us from England. He had taken a glass or two of grog, and fell asleep on his watch. It was a beautiful night. She was in pieces on the rocks ia twenty minutes, and nothing saved. They were fortunately able to swing the longboat clear of the wreck. Captain Hart said the cargo was shipped to his and Henry Jones's account, which I had promised to take from them on arrival. They had insured nothing. There is no doubt we could have realized 50 per cent, on the goods in the present state of the colony. Hart said the speculation had totally ruined him. I was very sorry for him and asked him to remain with us at Adelaide. He came in the William, brig, from Launceston. Tue first Grand Jury was called together to-day and received the Judge's charge. I was much gratified to see the respectable body of men from which the Jury had to be empannelled. 16th— The Judge has discharged the Grand Jury, and we were very glad to be at liberty again. A presentment was made to the Judge representing the conduct of the marines landed from the Buffalo, who have much disgraced themselves They have been the foremost in drunkenness and thieving. They will, I hear, probably leave in the Buffalo when she sails. A memorial has been sent in to the Resident Commissioner respecting the difficulty for landing goods at the Port on the mud bank, which is about 100 yards broad, before the sandhills are reached. A cut through this flat to bring the ship's boats to firm ground was urged as necessary. There is no difficulty in a canal or a railroad being con structed across the plain to Adelaide, about five miles. The memorial was well received, and it is hoped will be successful. 20th— Captain Hart left us for Sydney yesterday. After much anxious consultations we de termined to invest in the part purchase of a vessel, to be employed between Adelaide and Sydney, of which Hart was to be captain, to give him another start; in life. I also presented him with two town acres, that he might have a hold on South Austra lian soil, situated between North-terrace and Rundle-street. I believe a good trade will spring up. I had an agreement drawn up by Mr. Charles Mann relative to his conduct in the matter. The Company and Mr. Osmond Gilles will have a cargo ready for him at Sydney. Stephen also goes with commission from the Company to purchase stock in Sydney and ship them for Adelaide. Mr. Charles Mann and Mr. Morphett assisted me very much in the arrangement with Hart. Bought sugar, timber, potatoes, ex William, about £300. Had to give £12 per ton for potatoes, which are much in demand. 23rd— Have been to-day attend ing a meeting ot the Council with Movphett and two or three more to give names to the streets, squares, &c, of tha city, which was accomplished, and I filled in a map for my brother-in-law in England. I had to demand a survey on some barrels of pork bought from Porter & Co.. ex Regia, and had one opened on board the William. It was pro nounced inferior in quality, aud I therefore declined the lot. A junior partner of Porter andCo., named Arnold, and Captain Tomkins, of, the Regia, behaved very badly. Invoices said to be English were proved to be any thing but genuine.