On the 12th October, 1838, the news spread that our new Governor, Colonel Gawler, was on board the ship just arrived. No regular arrangements were made as to any public reception or demonstration on his landing; but it was bruited about that he would be coming up on horseback about midday.

A few mounted men mustered and straggled down the track towards Holdfast Bay, where the Pestonjee Bomanjee had anchored. We gradually formed a troop of about 20 horsemen. On arriving a little below where Hilton now stands, what was then open ground, we were met by a one horse vehicle of unpretending appearance with a lady and some children and one female servant, all in ship array, with no escort or other servants.

We continued at a slow pace, utterly ignorant that we had passed the Governor's lady and children. Soon afterwards we perceived in the distance a considerable dust approaching us on the track; this was the old and lower track before roads were formed.

We soon became conscious that the Governor was coming with a small escort, at a hand gallop. His Excellency shot through us on old Black Jack, a blood entire usually ridden by the Commissioner, Mr. J. H. Fisher. We formed, after they had passed, according to the speed of our horses, and remarked to one another:- "This will be a fast Governor," and so he proved; but not too fast for the new country he had to carry forward towards a successful development of its great resources (i.e., if he had been supplied with sufficient means).

On arrival at Government House, humble as it then was, a concourse of settlers soon formed, as well as a muster of aboriginals, with their Protector (Cronk, a bit of a humbug).

His Excellency did not keep us long before he appeared, to go through the formularies required on such occasions. These concluded, he gave us a very suitable address, and one also to his black brethren as he called them. Before he turned to them he asked the Protector if he was competent to interpret what he should say to them. The answer was, "Yes, Your Excellency." His address to them was rapidly delivered. He told the blacks he came from their great Queen, that she loved her black people, and that they must also love her white people, &c., &c., The Protector kept on gabble, gabble, pretending to interpret; it was like parson and clerk racing, but not a word do I believe the black brethren understood of Cronk's gabble.

On the Governor concluding, he waved his cocked hat with the white feather, when a knowing native up a crooked overhanging tree shouted out- "Plenty tucker; berry good Cockatoo Gubbernor." His Excellency's last words to the Protector were - "I shall order for them a supply of food," which the cunning fellow saved Cronk the trouble of interpreting, and briefly construed the promise of "plenty tucker", adding by way of compliment, as if impressed by the motion of the white feather, the title "berry good Cockatoo Gubbernor."

The Governor soon got to work on his official duties and much energy was thrown into the service. Mrs. Gawler also devoted herself to every good work. As became them, they exhibited great interest in the natives. One of their early steps in encouraging them was to call them together to display their prowess in throwing the war spear, boomerang, and waddy, on which occasion the settlers were invited to a lunch, and the blacks to a feed, after the trial of their skill. And here they completely out-generalled Colonel Gawler, as I shall show.

Archery targets of the full size were placed near Government House at suitable and fair distances, according to the directions of those who knew something about their habits. The tribe were marshalled up with their spears, boomerangs, &c., King John at their head, with his cutlass by his side, in addition to his native arms. The cutlass was presented to him in a formal manner on board the Buffalo.

King John first made a grave and dignified inspection of the target at the farther end, and returning half-way towards the attacking position paused, measuring the distance with his eyes, and returned, shaking his head, to the starting point, where his men and the company were standing. He then said, "No, no, too much long way." The distance was about 100 yards. On this protest the outer target was brought in some 12 or 15 yards. He then poised his spear, and brought it to their recover, saying "Blackfellow no throw big one pear that long way." Then at or about 60 yards he consented to try their skill, though with admirable acting expressed his doubts. Now fixing his womera (a casting agent for long distances) amidst the objecting grunts of his tribe, he discharged his spear so as to strike the rim of the target with the middle of the spear instead of the point, and then came the ejaculations of his men, implying, Ah! ah! we told you so!"

Then came up in turn the warriors of the tribe, but with well expressed reluctance, some just missing the target, others following the example of King John; and now they pretended shame under the derisive jeers of the lubras. The boomerangs were then thrown high, and so as, in their eccentric flight to return towards those who cast them, and appeared more calculated to endanger the thrower than an opponent.

On this many of the ladies exclaimed, "Poor fellows, you see they cannot hit anybody even at that short distance," and many of the spectators were convinced of the harmless character of the warriors amongst whom we had arrived. In accordance with their customs, they had been brought on to the field in their war costume, i.e., their faces and breasts decorated with white war point in bars, but with an addition of European costume as far as pants went, thereby hiding their natural spindleshanks.

The exhibition ended, they retired to their feast, and we to a plentiful luncheon. If they laughed at us on the sly before us, it was internally and well disguised. No doubt the joke circulated far and wide amongst the surrounding tribes, and most likely formed the subject of one of their corrobborees, their custom being to rehearse with musical accompaniment any striking occurrence.

I once, on the Murray, was highly delighted to witness the performance of a corrobboree, of the first steamboat which passed them on that river, at the same time one of them commenced an exhibition of the first passage down the river of Captain Sturt with his boats. The actor was engaged, as I was afterwards informed, in snaring wild fowl up to his chin in the water, amidst the reeds, with a cap of green leaves on his head, when to his surprise and alarm he saw in the middle of the stream a great beast with plenty of heads and legs. He dropped his rod and remained quiet, and as quick as he dared, darted out of the water and secreted himself in the scrub. I have been frequently amused at their performances. Chapters will be specially devoted to them hereafter.

Colonel Gawler came out with extended powers, which were generally ample. His appointment embraced the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands, from which Mr. J. H. Fisher retired. Colonel Light had also retired from the office of Surveyor-General some time before; thus there was an end of a divided Government. The Governor was supreme, and only trammelled by a limit on his power to draw for funds on the Board of Commissioners in London. By his early actions he threw life into the service, which soon affected favorably the general business of the colony. The various staffs were strengthened and the place became much more lively.

It was soon after the arrival of Colonel Gawler that the erection of substantial public buildings was commenced. One of the first was the present Gaol, which has not been much enlarged of altered, so that much increased accommodation was not deemed necessary to be provided for the rapidly-arriving emigrants, free, and untainted, as they were expected to be.

Then were commenced two bridges to span the Torrens, substantial as they ought to have been, but which heavy floods soon carried away. Among other, energetic actions of the Governor were the various explorations on which he went to judge for himself as to the capacity of the colony for settlement.

After he had seen as much and had travelled as far as he deemed requisite, he published his opinions, and gave a striking report of what he had seen. He expressed his belief that the portion of the country he had inspected would carry a large population ; I forget exactly the number he ventured to give, but I think it was 200,000. He pronounced it to be a decided mineral country, and rich in argentiferous and auriferous promises. For publishing these opinions he was laughed at by the croakers ; but what has been proved? His anticipations have been very far exceeded, in spite of many errors and adverse circumstances.

He received one serious check, which unfortunately pulled him up by the round turn, as sailors say. He exceeded his powers by overdrawing on the Commissioners beyond his authority in an amount which is now considered a flea-bite, so he was recalled, and the colonists were ruined. The amount in question, as well as a further sum to clear arrears, was advanced, after a ruinous delay, by the Home Government, who took the management of the colony out of the hands of our Commissioners, forfeiting our right to the original Constitution provided to be granted on our population reaching a certain number.

A greater commercial crash never came on any painstaking and industrious community, than when our Governor's drafts were dishonored. The ruin reached every class, and those who had invested the whole of their capital in legitimate pursuits, never afterwards recovered their lost position or property. The stagnation continued over many months. Some few who had not invested all were fortunate enough in purchasing stock and freehold property at an unheard of sacrifice.

I have alluded to this sad crisis rather out of place, and must now return to describe occurrences which took place before we were called on to endure such an overwhelming affliction. I will first give a short account of the Governor's flying visit to the north-west bend of the River Murray.

Some time before he started he purchased from me three horses, which I may mention I did not offer or wish to sell. He gave me £220 for two of them, and for the third purchase £100. On one he rode himself, on another he mounted a young gentleman of the name of Brian, and on the third I think his Private Secretary (or it might have been the Inspector of Police.)

On their arrival at the North-West Bend a camp was formed. The Governor started from thence on a flying trip northerly, with only two companions, young Brian and another, on the three horses I sold to His Excellency. They expected to find water on the course they took, but after riding many miles and finding none, they endeavored to return. Before they could reach the river one of the horses gave out, and would not travel.

As the country they had passed over was more or less scrubby they no doubt made many deviations, but had found no water for man or beast. As one horse was unable to travel, it was decided for two to push for the river to return with water for Mr. Brian and the fatigued horse. Such was the distress of Colonel Gawler and his companion that they killed one of the horses, and drank his blood.

No time was lost in returning with fresh horses, and all necessaries. On reaching the place where the unfortunate young gentleman was left he could not be found, but the tracks of his horse dragging it's tether rope were followed some miles but neither the horse nor Mr. Brian were found. No exertions were spared in the search, but without success. His remains have not been found to this day. Some years afterwards; several miles from the place where he was left, the horse was discovered alive, with his hoofs turned up like skates.

On Colonel Gawler's return from this unfortunate expedition his distress of mind may be imagined, as this young gentleman was a visitor at Government House and was not lost in the execution of a public duty.

Colonel Gawler was displaced by Captain Grey who arrived without notice, and walked into Government House without ceremony, on the 10th of May, 1841 and on the steps of the Government House he read his commission to a very small audience there assembled, and was by them received and heard with no marks of approval. Colonel Gawler left the colony on the 22nd of June following. Most sincere regret was felt by the colonists. Many valedictory addresses were presented to him, and a purse containing £500, which he left to be invested in land, to continue his connection with us. The amount raised, considering the depressed state of the inhabitants, was respectable, and was made up by many small contributions from persons who had been greatly reduced by the policy forced on the Home Government by a niggardly Parliament, who could not look into futurity and see that the Australian colonies were to become the best customers for British goods, and so great a safety-valve to relieve the mother country of her teeming population.