1859

In this account of the opening of the current Sellick's Hill Road, and the dinner afterwards, I highlight with bold references to my ancestor John Norman and his family. I also note that Mr Septimane Herbert, John Norman's brother-in-law, also features prominently here. The article is also interesting for the report maligning somebody and I finish with that person's rejoinder.

South Australian Register 17 March 1859.

SELLICK'S HILL

The long disputed question of the line of road from Noarlunga to Myponga and Yankalilla having been finally set by the adoption of that known as Delisser’s line, and the same having been lately completed, it was authoritavely opened for traffic on Tuesday last, by Mr Thompson, Secretary of the Central Road Board, acting on behalf of the Commissioners.

Great preparations had been made for a ceremony, which the settlers on both sides of the Mount Terrible Range regard as the celebration of a grand triumph. The part of “conquering hero” had long been assigned by common consent to Mr John Norman, Chairman of the Aldinga District Council, whose exertions in favour of the line have been incessant; and in commemoration of their successful result the inn at which Tuesday's demonstration was to take place, had been named “Norman’s Victory”.

Accordingly, at that gallant trysting pIace assembled on Tuesday, at midday the representative of the Central Road Board accompanied by a party of gentlemen from Adelaide, the Chairman and District Councillors of Aldinga, the District Chairman of Yankalilla, a number of settlers from the South, among whom was Mr C. T. Hewett, of Myponga, and various residents of the surrounding hills and plains, including a bevy of fair damsels upon horseback, one of whom had been selected as “christener” of the road, and several more in carriages.

The day was in some respect favourable, being clear and genial; but the wind, unfortunately, was so very strong that a storm was apprehended, and the fear of this kept many persons away. A large marquee had been erected, but the stiff breezes carried off the canvas, and the company, much smaller than had been provided for, had to be accommodated within the walls of the little hostelry itself. A hasty luncheon was partaken of, and then the procession wound its way along the tortuous path along the mountain side.

Sellick's Hill proper is left to the eastward, the road being carried around an adjacent unnamed eminence. It crosses the gullies and waterways, and leaps by means of bridges and culverts from point to point; here finding the proper gradient upon a natural level, then achieving it upon the verge of a fearful precipice, now stretching to the southward, then swerving away to the eastward, anon running due north, and again making its way southward, till the same summit is attained which weary travellers have so often greeted with thanksgiving after performing the laborious and almost perilous ascent of the old track Romantically beautiful indeed, is this new mountain path. It discloses every kind of scenery that the ranges or the plains can boast, and affords from time to lime the most unbounded prospect of the sea, with Kangaroo Island in the distance.

The entire length of the new line is two miles and one third. The cost had been estimated by Mr Manton, the Superintending surveyor of the South District at upwards of £12,000. Mr Delisser, who had, also bean sent out to survey the line, made a very much lower calculation, something like one-fifth of the amount. Mr Ashwin, the chief draftsman of the Central Road Board, was then deputed to go over the line, and decide between the two doctors who differed. His estimate was nearly in accordance with Mr Delisser’s, which the result has proved to be rather liberal than otherwise, the contract having been taken and satisfactorily executed by Messrs Betts & Patterson for a trifle under £2,000 – less than one-sixth of the original estimate, which the Surveyor had at first declared to be rather below than above the probable cost.

We speak advisedly when we say that the contract has been satisfactorily performed, for the Councillors of Aldinga and the other districts, chiefly indirectly have watched the work closely during its progress, and they are highly pleased with it. In truth some of the stonework is of a kind which would subject the contractors to ridicule for its needless beauty, were it not that it had been insisted upon by the Surveyor. We refer particularly to a bridge or large culvert which might have been well and inexpensively built in rubblework from the stone upon the ground but which has actually been constructed in ashlar work with stones drawn from a distance of nine miles. A more absurd and useless waste of money it is difficult to imagine; and yet, with all Ibis extravagance, the cost of the entire line does not, as we have said, amount to one-sixth of the Surveyor's estimate.

On arriving at the summit or the hill the procession halted, and Miss Jane Norman, the eldest unmarried daughter of the Aldinga District Chairman, named the new line “The Victory Road”. Mr Thompson, having then in the name of the Central Board declared it open for traffic, proposed the usual rounds of cheers for the Queen, for the road, and for the young lady who had just performed the ceremony.

Little need be said of the sweet flower of the South to those who in Willunga, McLaren Vale, and Aldinga have so often drunk the favourite toast “Mrs Norman and her daughters”; but there are many luckless wights in the North and East to whom the beauties of those sea-girt districts are unknown. For their information then we may record the fact that no new line or bridge has been christened in South Australia by a more charming priestess than the graceful equestrienne who on Tuesday last bestowed its name upon the Victory Road.

On the return of the procession, dinner was announced, the tables having been spread in a tolerably large room, and surrounded by a very cheerful company. A novel but most pleasing feature at this rural festival was the presence of ladies, several of whom gratified the assembled gentlemen by forming part of the company.

The chair was taken by Mr, Norman and the vice-chair by Mr Septimane Herbert — already referred to as the District Chairman of Yankalilla. Among the company we noticed Messrs Hewett, Palmer, Frederick Boys, Patterson, Dutton (Noarlunga), Betts, Ward and Co. Mr Thompson occupied the post of honour on the right hand of the Chair.

The very abundant and excellent meal having been duly honoured, and its enjoyment not a little enhanced by the keen appetite, which the mountain air had bestowed upon the guests, the cloth was drawn, and the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were very warmly drunk.

The Chairman said he need not remind the company that the object for which they had met was to open the new line over the Mount Terrible Range, which the Committee had thought proper, under the circumstances of the case, to name “The Victory Road”. (Cheers.) The occasion was one most gratifying to those immediately interested, and he was glad to see so many from a distance. Several others would have joined them but from unavoidable hindrances, among whom he might mention Major Freeling, the Chairman of the. Central Road Board, who had written to him expressing his regret that he was unable to attend. Major Freeling had done them good service and his welcome among them would, he was sure, have been most enthusiastic (Cheers.) Mr Blyth, the Commissioner of Public Works, had also written excusing his absence, and the same had been done by some of the members of the Central Road Board, for whom, however, Mr Thompson, the Secretary, had received, full powers to act in declaring the road open for traffic. He believed all present would join cordially in the toast he was about to propose, for they were all more or less interested in it—''Success to the Victory Road, and may it prove a lasting benefit to the districts it unites.” (Cheers.) They had a struggle to obtain the road, and the contentions connected with it had been agitated for five years past; but in spite of official misrepresentation — (loud cheers) — he must speak the plain truth— in spite of official misrepresentation and the exercise of other adverse feelings, it was quite certain they had obtained a victory at last, and in his opinion the road had been very properly and judiciously named. (Great applause.)

The toast was drunk with musical honours, as were most of those which followed.

Mr T. P. Hill, being called upon for the purpose, proposed “The Health of Miss Jane Norman, the young lady who had officiated in naming the road and tbe ladies of South Australia”. He made a very gallant speech, to the evident gratification of its fair objects.

Mr Dutton (Noarlunga) acknowledged the toast in very complimentary tones.

Mr Hewett gave “The Health of Major Freeling”. He was accustomed at such meetings to say “Mr Chairman and Gentlemen”, but it afforded him far greater pleasure to say, as he could now do, ''Ladies and Gentlemen”. (Cheers.) The ladles did very right In joining them that day, for the old road was really dangerous for them to travel, and the new one was both agreeable and safe. But he was particularly glad to see them there, because their presence tended to preserve order and good feeling; for no man, even if he might chance to forget himself among men would be guilty of misbehaviour in their presence. (Cheers.) He was much gratified to see what had been so long wished for carried out at last. He had worked for it for years, both as a District Chairman and as a member of the Central Road Board. Many others had exerted themselves also, and the cause was an honest and just one, though their efforts had so long been frustrated. They had gained a victory, which to that part of the country at least, was more glorious than the victory of Waterloo — (a laugh) — and it had this to recommend it, that it had been gained without a single death. (Cheers.) For this they bad partly to thank Major Freeling, whose health he hoped they would all drink very cordially. He had worked with him for a long time at the Central Road Board, and sometimes had occasion to differ with him, but upon the present occasion he could honestly commend him. The line they had just opened met opposition from Willunga on account of private interests. When that was overcome, another opposition, was raised by two gentlemen of the South, one of whom had no property whatever beyond the ranges, and the other only a single section. It did not seem that they had much interest in the matter, and yet when Mr Blyth's Bill was passed for taking the line by Sellick's Hill, Dr Everard interfered to get the Governor to send the question back to the Central Board again— an action unprecedented in the annals of the Australian Colonies. The Board, however, was advised by its lawyer that the Act would not justify so great a deviation as McRae’s Hill. Still at every meeting the question was raised again, for what reason it was difficult to say. Perhaps the motives which actuated the parties who thus interfered would never be known during their lives. That they were selfish motives it was impossible to doubt; but at all events the efforts of those persons had been frustrated, and that was a great matter of congratulation. Still another difficulty remained— that of the alleged cost. Mr Manton's estimate was so high that some even who were friendly to .the object voted against Delisser’s line under the idea that it could never be carried out. This difficulty was solved by Major Freeling, who came out with his theodolite, his pencils, and his paper, surveyed the line, and took the levels himself— an action unprecedented in this or any other Australian colony. (Applause.) Major Freeling had no interest in the line, nor any friend to serve, but he saw that the reports were discrepant, and therefore he came there and looked at the line for himself. (Cheers.) In estimating the benefits of the road that had been thus secured to them, they must not overlook the fact that it was no transient matter. There it was, and there it would remain, not only for themselves, but for their children and their children's children. (Cheers.) They had triumphed over a factitious opposition, and they should retain a record of that day’s proceedings as a memorial to be handed down to posterity. He concluded by proposing “Major Freeling and the other members of the Central Road Board”.

Mr Thompson returned thanks. The Board's only object was to advance as far as possible the interests of the public in general in all the districts; and he believed it would be admitted, even by Mr. Hewett — (a laugh) — that the South had usually enjoyed its full share of the money at the-Board’s command. He believed that the Victory Road would lead at some future period to Encounter Bay, and that its completion was a real benefit to all the districts concerned. After briefly referring to the regret some of the members of the Board felt at their inability to be present, he proposed Mr Norman's health. That gentleman had spared neither time par expense in his efforts to further the objects which had now been gained. He had ridden miles and miles for the sake of attending the Central Board whenever the subject was likely to come under discussion and be thought the people of the South were very much indebted to him. (Cheers, and “He beat Old Hollins”.)

The Chairman returned thanks. He need not tell them that he had exerted himself, because be was conscious that he had done so and he always felt that he was labouring in a just cause. When he first proposed the line that was now completed he had some, difficulty in inducing the Board to attend to it. He showed them that it was the old native track to Encounter Bay, which had been acknowledged by Governor Gawler, and which was so marked in the first land grant taken out in Normanville by himself and his brother-in-law, - Mr Herbert. He had never lost sight of the fact that the line was so sanctioned; that numerous persons had purchased land upon the faith of its being carried out, and that it was the shortest line. That he had succeeded, they must thank the various friends who aided his endeavours. He should always look back with pleasure to his exertions, and especially to that day’s proceedings, which crowned with victory the hard-fought feud they had succeeded in winning.

The Vice-Chairman proposed Mr Delisser’s health. He read a letter from the gentleman mentioning that he was confined to his bed by illness, but expressing his warm interest in the object which had called the meeting together. He assured the company that he should always feel the completion of the road to be a proof that a cause, however hopeless and abandoned, if it had right on its side, and was properly supported, would at length succeed, and therefore the motto, should be nil desperado. (The reading of the letter excited loud cheers.) He (Mr. Herbert) believed that Mr Delisser was sent out as a sort of forlorn hope after Mr Manton's unfavourable report, but the result showed that his more moderate estimate was the correct one.

The Chairman gave the next toast — “Messrs Betts and Patterson, the contractors”. They had carried out the work in a way which did credit to themselves and furnished a pattern to other tradesmen.

Mr Betts returned thanks. He believed they had done the work well, though they had not made their fortunes by it; rather, perhaps, the other way. He hoped, however, they had sustained their characters, and that was what they ought most to look to. They were much indebted to the District Chairman and. Councillors of Aldinga, who had always done them justice, and whose health he had great pleasure in proposing.

Mr Palmer returned thanks. The Council had endeavoured to do their duty, and had taken every means in their power to show tho line to the various gentlemen who had been sent out by the Board. He must say the Superintending Surveyor of the South District had not done the Council justice, for he had incessantly endeavoured to throw some slur upon the line. He had said there was no stone, though it was clear that there was abundance; and in various other ways had endeavoured to raise prejudices against it. At a meeting such as that he should have liked, if it were possible, to drink the health of the Surveyor of the district; but he really did not see how they could do so in the present case. (Applause.)

Mr Hewett referred to various instances in which the Surveyor had endeavoured to throw blame and discredit upon the contractors. He could not believe there was any reason, for such a feeling towards them, except the fact that they were performing the work so immensely below his estimate. If the Surveyor thought they had taken the work too low he ought rather to have assisted them in its completion than endeavour to throw obstacles in their way. (Applause.)

Mr Patterson, the other contractor, added a few words to what his partner bad said by way of thanks. He took occasion to inform the company that tho various cuttings had involved the excavation of 4,000 yards more than was included in the contract.

The Chairman said he had no doubt the Board would allow payment for this upon application.

The Vice-Chairman proposed “The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests of South Australia”.

Mr Hewett responded to the toast.

The Chairman gave “The Mercantile and Mining Interests of the Colony”.

The Vice-Chairman proposed “Mr Thompson and the Officers of the Central Road Board”.

Mr Thompson returned thanks.

The Chairman proposed “The Press of South Australia”.

Mr E. W. Atkinson responded on behalf of the Register and Observer, and Mr T. P. Hill for the Advertiser and Chronicle.

The company then separated, after drinking severally the healths of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, and the Host and Hostess.

22 March 1859

VICTORY-ROAD, SELLICK'S HILL

TO THE EDITOR OF THE REGISTER

Sir— On perusing your report on the opening of the above-named road, which appears in your issue of the 17th instant, I observe that you say — “The entire length of' the new line is two miles and one-third. The cost had been estimated by Mr Manton, the Superintending Surveyor of the South District at upwards of £12,000".This statement I must emphatically deny, and declare that I never made an estimate of the line, nor saw it until after the contract was taken; and, when going over the line with the contractors to give them the necessary instructions to commence the work, I was surprised to think that any engineer should have represented the line now made as identically the same as the one I went over. As the statement to which I have alluded is unfounded in fact and is calculated to injure me in my professional standing, I have to request that you will do me simple justice by publishing this letter, as a means of contradicting the erroneous account contained in your report of the meeting. It is quite true I went over a line near Sellick's Hill, which I roughly estimated its construction at upwards of £12,000; the same line had been gone over before by an engineer and estimated at £10,000, this I was not aware of when framing my estimate; the said line has also been estimated by a non-professional gentleman at £15,000. Tho only resemblance the two lines bear to each other is, they both start from the same point at the foot of the hill and come nearly to the same point at the top of the range, but not a single chain's length between those two points have the two longitudinal sections been taken over the same ground. In order to prove this I produce the particulars of both lines, which I have placed in a juxtaposition. My rough estimate refers to No. 1 line, and Victory-road is made according to No. 2 line. In each case the first column shows the chainage, and the second column the height of the natural surface above the starting point. The last column shows the difference in levels :—

(Tables with detailed numbers)

The total length of No. 1 line is 181 chains, whereas No. 2 line as shown by the working section is 171 chains ; but in line No. 2 there is a mistake in the chainage of 2 chains, which reduces its actual length to 169 chains, making tho total difference between the two lines 12 chains. Tho above figures are supported by facts which I defy any engineer to disprove. The reason for taking the second line is obvious enough. If anyone will compare the two lines they may see the large masses of rock about which so much has been said on line No. 1, but nothing done to shift them. Your remarks referring to the masonry work in a bridge being done too well leads me to suppose that you have been led astray in your judgment by the neat tuck-pointing by which the contractors have been pleased to beautify their work, but by no orders of mine; nor does the specification require it. However, I can assure you that it is necessary for an engineer's eye to pierce a stone wall a little further than the mere face-pointing; and if you will take the trouble to compare the work with the specifications, you will find that it has not been executed in a superior style than what the specifications require; and I have no right to allow work to be done otherwise. If I had allowed the bridge and culverts to have been built with rough stone, just as they came from the quarry, and with mud instead of mortar, it would not have saved a single penny of public money. Tho specification was framed or good square-jointed work, and it was my duty to see the contract properly carried out. As regards the absurdity of hauling the stone nine miles to build the bridge, I perfectly agree with you, especially as there is much, better stone to be had within half a mile of the spot However, if contractors will have curious fancies, and even haul materials from the moon, it's no business of mine, provided such materials are in accordance with their contract.

I am, Sir,

J. P. MANTON.

Coombe Down,

Mitcham,

March 19 1859