Early Experiences of Colonial Life

Although much of his (florid) writing can be dismissed as personal opinion, he frequently draws on the journals, reports, and diaries of his contemporaries, thus making this work a valuable contribution to early South Australian history, cited by many authors.

No. 1 May 5, 1877 Arrival in 1838 at Semaphore in the Canton and the tribulations in getting his family and party to Adelaide. An optimistic start in his adopted country. After watching a botched hanging [of Magee] in the parklands, "I was satisfied I had adopted a country where civilisation was known and practised." A ball at Government House, and the new challenges facing women. The problems of sobriety of the marines from the Buffalo leading to riots, and the Government Store was broken into - Mr Smart appointed to deal with the Vandemonians. Magee being captured and hung. Foley and Stone linked to a horse with throat cut in parklands..

No. 2 May 12, 1877 The tracking down and arrest of Morgan - Alford's detailed account. Early supplies of sheep and cattle - "muttonising".

No. 3 May 19,1877 Governor Hindmarsh's vision of the future of the Murray. J.W.B.'s personal experiences with William Pullen at Goolwa. Encounter with emus at Brownhill Creek - a diversionary tale. G. M. Stephen appointed as acting Governor, and the libel case of Stephen v. Stevenson. Land speculation affair with Stephen, and a detailed explanation of his own involvement. Colonel Light, Surveyor-General, and Mr. (afterwards Sir) James Hurtle Fisher - the removal from their duties. A testimonial to Colonel Light. Legacy left to Captain Frome. Land speculation and poor management. A peculiar tale of a young man whom he employed as a pig-handler and eventually made good through speculation. City of Adelaide, and its collapse due to fund mismanagement.

No. 4 May 26, 1878 The drunkenness of the marines from the Buffalo. Captain Sturt and his cautionary lecture. Eyre's unfavourable report of country north of Gawler, and J.W.B.'s own impressions. Diversionary tale of a black snake. Cautionary warning about cropping the northern areas. Land allocation inequities and absentee land-holders. Price and quality of meat.

No. 5 June 2, 1877 Early religion. Church and State. First colonial chaplain Rev. C. B. Howard, who with Osmond Gilles transported a large sail from the Port to erect as a shelter for the first church in Adelaide. Howard's ministration to J.W.B. on the death of his child. Howards untimely death under pressure of a debt for the building of a new church. Rev. T. Q. Stow and the first congregational church.

No. 6 June 9,1877 The arrival of Governor Gawler. His address to the Aboriginals though the Protector Cronk "a bit of a humbug". In praise of the Governor and Mrs Gawler. King John and an Aboriginal archery display and the joke played on the Europeans. J.W.B.'s experience of a corroboree. With the retirement of Fisher and Light, there was an end of a divided Government. Gawler's predictions about the colony and his critics. Gawler's overdrawing on the Commissioners beyond his authority, and his subsequent recall. Governor's drafts dishonoured with the resulting ruination of many colonists and stagnation of the economy. Bull's experience supplying horses to Gawler who made an ill-fated excursion to North West Bend. Gawler's unceremonial replacement by Capt. Grey.

No. 7 June 16, 1877 J.W.B. is fascinated with the criminal class and whether they have any redeeming qualities. Curran, Hughes, and Fox

No. 8 June 23, 1877 The sentencing of Curran, Hughes, and Fox. J.W.B.'s personal experiences with Stone and Hart.

No. 9 June 30, 1877 Crime and punishment - his admiration for Sergeant-Major Alford, and Major O'Halloran (Commissioner of Police) and Governor Gawler. The fate of Curran, Hughes, and Fox. Hughes' behaviour at the gallows, and Curran telling him to "die like a man". Alford's account of Curran, Hughes, and Fox, and Green and Wilson, and J.W.B.'s involvement. Green and Wilson's arrest in Melbourne for horse-stealing. The arrest of the one-armed Morgan.

No. 10 July 7, 1877 Hart's story continues, Moorhead. J.W.B.'s personal involvement. Morgan's sentencing. Sentencing of Green and Wilson.

No. 11 July 14, 1877 Employment of natives. Some liberal views about Aboriginals and the injustice by Europeans. Reserves should have been near fishing and hunting grounds. Aboriginals murder of Pegler after he insulted them, and their subsequent fate. Dr. Wyatt acting as Protector of Aborigines and his enquiry into the murder (judged as manslaughter because of Driscol's behaviour) of a sailor Driscol, belonging to the ship South Australia. The custom of infanticide, particularly of females. The murder by the aboriginal "Rodney" of shepherd Duffield, and J.W.B.'s involvement. The politics of summary justice, and inaction.

No. 12 July 21, 1877 Captain Bromley replaces Cronk as Protector. Bromley's suspicious death. Captain Beever accidentally shot a black. Some time later he and his partner, Dark, were speared near Port Lincoln. The killing of Captain Barker from the account of Mr. King. "...our countrymen, to their disgrace, have treated the Aboriginals with insult and injustice, as we have also in taking their land without adequate compensation." The slaughter of those on the Maria by the Milemnura tribe. Admiration for Gawler's prompt justice, despite his critics. Captain G. Hall's praise of Major O'Halloran's actions.

No. 13 July 28, 1877 The massacre of the survivors of the Maria shipwreck by the Big Murray tribe. Pullen's account. Praise for Gawler's prompt retaliatory action, and for Major O'Halloran. O'Halloran's account.

No. 14 August 4, 1877 The 1838 wreck of the Fanny. Captain Gill's statement. Friendly natives. Rev. Mr. Longbottom and family safely reaching Adelaide. Also Emanuel Solomon. Captain Tyndal, master of the Elizabeth also wrecked. The beginning of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in SA.

No. 15 August 18, 1877 Alford investigates cattle thefts reporting to Inspector Tolmer. Fenton, Gofton and Stag. Murder of Gofton.

No. 16 August 25, 1877 Wesleyan Methodism - more on Rev. William Longbottom, and his successors including Rev. Daniel James Draper (appointed 1846). The fate of Draper, who was conducting prayer services on the London as it went down 11 Jan 1866.

No. 17 September 1, 1877 The trial and execution of Stagg for the murder of Gofton. The involvement of Private Lomas who later confessed to the killing if only to get discharged from an insane asylum in NSW.

No. 18 September 8, 1877 German Evangelical Lutherans 1838, Zebra, Prince George, Pastor Kavel, benefactor George Angus. J.W.B.'s amusing experience with a German migrant who wanted to buy oxen to cart his goods to Hahndorf. Land transactions by private speculators unfair to the Germans. The supply of butter and vegetables from Hahndorf to Adelaide. Sergeant Lubash of Hahndorf. How the Germans sheared sheep. The value of the Germans to the colony.

No. 19 September 15, 1877 From K.I., 7 Sep 1836, Col. Light explores Gulf St Vincent - Rapid Bay, Fifteen Mile Creek (Port Adelaide), Port Lincoln. Light decides Nepean Bay and Port Lincoln not suitable for the capital of the new province. 1839 Abeona, Captain Hawson - cannon accident maiming James Hunter. Exploring party led by Hawson to Coffin Bay, Marble Range. An Aborigine shows them water near Mt, Gawler, which later became the first sheep station by Brown. Capt. Porter's ships, Porter and Dorset. Special survey Smith and Hawson. Emanuel Solomon's involvement in procuring the ship Dorset. Rough characters causing disharmony. Foreign whaling ships. The successful capture of a whale in Boston harbour. Lady Franklin (whos husband was an officer under Flinders) arrives on the Abeona seeking to commemorate Captain Flinders' visit to Stamford Hill. Statistics of aboriginal hangings between 1849-1863.

No. 20 September 23, 1877 The entrapment of Foley- a detailed account, drawing on Alford and Inman's reports. Foley leads them to Stone. Stone's imprisonment then escape. Stanley. Foley's fate back in England. Carruther's diary - being mistaken as three bushrangers in a cave.

No. 21 September 29, 1877 An explanation of the problems of the taking up of the preliminary land orders, and the subsequent land speculation and absentee proprietors affecting the fortunes of the bona fide applicants. J.W.B.'s own experience in 1839 forced to close his town business and then moved to a farm in the Mount Barker district. The journey with his family across the hills. The tale of his employee Tom Fuller who stole from him and absconded.

No. 22 October 6, 1877 Captain Sturt's description of his first contact with natives on the Murray. Field & Inman's unfortunate experiences with Rufus natives as they drove stock from NSW to SA.

No. 23 October 13, 1877 The capture of the Vandemonian Joseph Storey - his sentence of death was commuted to transportation for life as a burglar and the head of a gang called the "Blackfaced robbers." Cattle stealers in the Tiers.

No. 24 October 20, 1877 Early fires - residences of Fisher, Light, Gawler (Government House), John Brown, Gilles, flour mills. J.W.B.'s experience with a fire in the Tiers. Fate of Lady Wellington. Sacrifice of much public property was made, as well as of the property of the pioneers, under the rule of the new Governor Capt. Grey. E. Solomon's dealings and legacies, including a theatre in Gilles Arcade. An earlier theatre showcasing Bartlett, a bullocky. Practical jokes on the muddy streets. The launch of the cutter O.G. at Glenelg, despite heavy rain and resulting calamities with the official guests, including McLaren, and J.W.B. and wife.

No. 25 October 27, 1877 Black Joe and the recapture of Bell Chambers and Collins. Governor Ashton and Insp. Tolmer. The daring escape by Carter and subsequent recapture. The daring escape by Dyer an American black.

No. 26 November 3,1877 Bringing cattle from Sydney to S.A. Charles Bonney's account. Sladden, Hawden. Second expedition under E. J. Eyre. Captain Hart.

No. 27 November 10, 1877 Law and order under Governor Gawler. First post office in Adelaide - J.W.B. was the first mail contractor. Special surveys - benefits and disadvantages. Osmond Gilles and his predictions of mineral wealth. J.W.B. unreservedly praises Gawler, and dismisses his critics.

No. 28 November 17, 1877 In defence of Gawler and Grey who both inherited financial difficulties. The mistake of divided authority - Governor / Resident Commissioner. The Governor having to serve two masters, with little sympathy from either. Financial crisis - stopping public works, then private works, adversely affecting the immigrants at the end of 1841. Extracts from Dutton's "History of South Australia".

No. 29 November 24, 1877 Revisiting the Rufus natives clash when all the sheep were stolen. Major O'Halloran's detailed diary account. J. C. Hawker's detailed diary account. Field.

No. 30 December 1, 1877 Continuing the Rufus natives clash. Major O'Halloran appointed to command second party, with Protector of Aborigines, Dr. Moorhouse. Extracts from J. C. Hawker's and O'Halloran's diaries.

No. 31 December 8, 1877 Continuing the Rufus natives clash. Extracts from J. C. Hawker's and O'Halloran's diaries. The mean-spirited Langhorne.

No. 32 December 15, 1877 The third expedition to punish the Rufus natives, under Shaw, and Moorhouse. Register excerpts of Moorhouse's report, including a letter from Mr. Robinson. Moorhouse faces the Bench, and is exonerated. Gov,. Grey instructs Eyre to return the native held hostage.

No. 33 December 22, 1877 Summary of the Rufus natives incidents. Grey's appointment of Eyre to Moorundee, compared to the success of Archdeacon Hale and the Aboriginal Mission at Poonindie. Point Macleay Mission.

No. 34 January 5, 1878 The actions of Governor Grey and the British government criticised as causing the insolvency of early merchants and traders. A harrowing account of one merchant, John Barton Hack.

No. 35 January 12, 1878 Progress in farming operations and the successive annual yields of grain. J.W.B.'s invention of the stripping machine, and Ridley's construction of it (and resultant fame).

No. 36 January 19,1878 London Board of Commissioners abolished, Legislative Council appointed, 1842. Earliest mineral discovery, taken up by Gilles (J.W.B.'s involvement). Kapunda Copper Mine. Burra "Monster Mine".

No. 37 January 26, 1878 An extraordinarily detailed account of the pursuit - first at Hog Bay K.I. - then capture on Yorke's Peninsula, of bushrangers - Rogers, Riley and Lynch - from Tasmania by Inspector Tolmer and an undercover policeman Farrell.

No. 38 February 2, 1878 The extraordinarily detailed account continues.

No. 39 February 9, 1878 The account continues - according to the sailors and the bushrangers. Reflections on the "prison class" and the inadequacies of the secular school system.

No. 40 February 16, 1878 Black Joe's involvement in a receiver of property, stolen by Peter Sidd, who was arrested but escaped. In praise of Insp. Gordon, and Supt. Inman. Stock-keeper Roach allegedly murdered an old Aborigine. J.W.B.'s employment of Aborigines - the tale of their reaction to a meteor. King John and his wife Monarto who abandoned her baby.

No. 41 February 23, 1878 The disappearance of the Lady Dennison. An account of a near mutiny on the Punch transporting convicts from Adelaide to Van Dieman's Land.

No. 42 March 2, 1878 United Presbyterian Church, Established Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church, Father Watkins - the wreck of the Mariner.

No. 43 March 9, 1878 Murders by Aboriginals around Port Lincoln - Frank Hawson, Brown, Lovelock, Fastings, Stubbs. Major O'Halloran's account of the fruitless expedition to bring the murderers to account. Criticism of Protectors.

No. 44 March 23, 1878 Kangaroo Island. Thompson, Waller, Meredith, Sal and Geo. Brown. The arrival of Duke of York and the Lady Pelham and the Rapid. Decamp to the mainland. C. W. Stuart's account of his voyage from Sydney on the Truelove, and his business relationship with Stephens. Emanuel Solomon. Stephen's accidental death.

No. 45 March 30, 1878 James Hawker's account of an expedition to find C. C. Dutton, who was thought to have been killed by Aborigines. Seeing the aftermath of the massacre of Brown and Biddle. Arriving in Port Lincoln. Criticism of Grey cutting police resources.

No. 46 April 13, 1878 Report given to Parliament detailing the conviction and execution of the native murderers of detached white settlers in the South-East Lake country, and in the out-districts of Port Lincoln. Liberal thoughts by J.W.B. on the mistakes made by Europeans, and the need for more appropriate Aboriginal reservations. Prescient views on global warming, and the need for harnessing of water resources. Grey's departure for New Zealand. J.W.B. struggles to be Grey's apologist, blaming the obtuseness of Lord Stanley in London for the severe restrictions imposed by Grey on the early settlers.