Conclusion of Interesting articles

[Acknowledgements]

In closing this Centenary history of the early days, I would like to express my thanks to the proprietors of the paper for the publication, and also to the editor for his work in connection therewith. At times he has had a difficult task, what with corrections and interpolations in the manuscript, the work of publishing was far from easy. I have already referred to the genesis of the history. At the start a syllabus was suggested to the proprietors whose comment was "go ahead." That syllabus has been fairly well followed out, with the exception of Poonindie Mission Station and the pastoral progress of settlement on the peninsula. On these two difficult but interesting subjects, sufficient data has not been gathered to make a satisfactory history. It is regretted that they could not be dealt with. There were other murders by the blacks than those narrated, but they had very little effect, historically, on the progress of settlement.

Readers must have noticed the omission of the record of the exploration by John Charles Darke and his death, and monument. The Royal Geographical Society (S.A. branch) has a lengthy review of the life of this adventurous explorer, and is considering whether it can be published in their proceedings. Until a decision has been arrived at, my hands are tied, but it is hoped that readers of this paper will be able to get the whole or a digest of that review in the near future.

I trust the readers have had as much pleasure in perusing the various articles as I have had in compiling them. The word compiling is used advisedly, for wherever possible the original narration has been adhered to, if not in full then by careful condensing, and here I acknowledge my indebtedness to all whose text I have used and have not previously acknowledged. It has been extremely satisfactory to have been enabled to disabuse readers minds of several "mythical tales" that have become so ingrained into our local history, more particularly the alleged barbarous "Waterloo Bay massacre," and the "Hamp's head in the oven episode," both of which have been a slur on both races, the white and the black, for the last 50 years.

Admittedly, Eyre Peninsula, being of compact form and isolated, readily lent itself to the compilation of a divisional history of its early days, but, any way the proprietors of the paper are to be congratulated — as a Centenary gesture either of that of South Australia as a whole or the forthcoming one of the settlement of Port Lincoln — in publishing such an ambitious history. As far as is known no other district has attempted any thing of a like nature.

In conclusion I would like to express my warm appreciation to the archivist (Mr. G. H. Pitt) and the librarian (Mr. H. R. Purnell) and his staff for the able, ready and willing assistance rendered to me at all times, and in making available literature for perusal and use, and I cannot do better than use the words of Prof. Ernest Scott, slightly altered, "Help from these quarters was accorded with such grace, that one came to think giving trouble was almost like conferring a favor."

[Index]

For ease of reference, a rough index, indicating the papers wherein the various subjects have been dealt with, follows : — ( A file of the "Port Lincoln Times " is kept in this office and patrons are welcome to peruse any of the articles written by Mr. Somerville. — Ed.)

Early explorations and Pieter Nuyts — November 23 to 30, 1934.
La Perouse, De Entrecasteaux and Grant — December 7, 1934.
Matthew Flinders — December 14 to January 11, 1935.
Nicolas Baudin — January 25 to February 1, 1935.
Flinders and Baudin's plans — February 8, 1935.
Pre-settlement days, Dillon, Goold, Hamborg, Meredith, Newell and Henty —March 15 to 29, 1935.
White outrages on natives — April 5, 1935.
Settlement of South Australia, and Port Lincoln suggested as capital — April 12 to 26, 1935.
Light's inspection of Port Lincoln — May 3 to 17, 1935.
Captain Mitchell's declaration of Port Lincoln—May 24, 1935.
T. Horton James advocacy— May 31, 1935.
Port Lincoln Special Survey — October 12 to 26, 1934.
Port Lincoln, birth of — June 7 to 28, 1935.
Explorations near Port Lincoln : Henty, Lees, Stephens, Tod and party, C. C. Dutton and party, Cock, Cannan, Hawson and party and Matthew Smith — July 5 to August 23, 1935.
Explorations by Edward John Eyre — August 30 to November 15, 1935.
Murder of Frank Hawson — November 22 to 29, 1935.
Murder of Brown, Biddle and their servants in the Tod Valley — December 6, 1935 to January 24, 1936, also March 27 to May 1, 1936.
Death of C. C. Dutton and party — January 31 to March 13, 1936, and May 8, 1936.
Whalers Harris and Cumming's trips—March 20, 1936.
G. H. Barnard papers regarding Port Lincoln — May 8, 1936
Gawler Range explorations : Horrocks, Hulkes and Oakden, Warburton (first trip), Hack — May 17 to June 26, 1936
Miller and Dutton, Douglas, Geharty including Ive — July 3 to 31, 1936
Warburton's second trip — August 7, 1936 ; Stuart — August 14 to 21, 1936.
Murder of Hamp, Beevor and Mrs. Easton and raid on Horne's station, and tragedies of 1848/9
Poisoning of natives allegedly by Dwyer ; trial of natives and sentences ; dispelling theory of Waterloo Bay massacre — August 28 to November 7, 1936.
Fictional history of the Waterloo Bay massacre and its refutation — November 13 to 27, 1936.
Ornithologists at Middleback Station and surrounding country in 1936 — De-cember 4 to 11, 1936.
Governor Hindmarsh visits Port Lincoln — December 18, 1936. December 28, 1936.
What name to be applied ? — December 25, 1936.
Governor Gawler visits Port Lincoln — January 8 to 15, 1937.
Governors Grey and Robe visit Port Lincoln — January 22, 1937.
Governor Young — January 29 to February 5, 1937.
Governor MacDonnell— February 12 to March 19, 1937.
Historical monuments : Memory Cove — March 26 to April 16, 1937
Stamford Hill— April 23 to May 28, 1937 ; Nuyts at Streaky Bay — June 4, 1937.

The editor desires to express his appreciation to Mr. J. D. Somerville for his long labor of love in contributing such a lengthy series of most interesting articles on matters of historical importance, concerning the early days of Eyre Peninsula. Also for his biographical details of explorers, pioneers, and other people who were instrumental in the development of this vast peninsula.