First Clergyman to Visit Port Lincoln

Mr. J. D. Somerville, who has done so much towards compiling records of the early history of Port Lincoln, now forwards the following recently discovered information : —

When writing of the birth of Port Lincoln (see 'Port Lincoln Times' June 21, 1935) reference was made to a clergyman's visit to the embryo town. The name of the clergyman at that time could not be ascertained, but as the result of further research there is every reason to believe it was the Rev. Mr. Wix.

On December 11, 1838, the ship Buckinghamshire — 1,468 tons, William Moore, commander— with a passenger list of something over 500 men, women and children, left Portsmouth for South Australia, arriving there March 21/22, 1839. Among the passengers were the Rev. Mr. Wix [? not verified - D.W.] and Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Hailes and three children. These two families were subsequently connected with Port Lincoln.

Hailes was clerk to the Government Resident, Port Lincoln, for a few years, and was there when Explorer John Charles Darke passed through Port Lincoln never to return. He was also the last white man to say farewell to C. C. Dutton and his party when they started on the venturesome overland trip. Dutton and his men lost their lives, it is conjectured they were murdered by the blacks. Mr. Hailes left much information regarding the early days of Port Lincoln, and he was particularly interested in the aborigines.

What were the Rev. Mr. Wix's intentions on arrival in South Australia are not known; but the ship's manifest shows that he brought out with him five packages of building material and one case of stove, seemingly with the idea of erecting a little hut for himself. Now assuming that the un-named clergyman that visited Port Lincoln at the same time as Eyre in July was the above Rev. Mr. Wix, the next record of his movements has been narrated (see 'Port Lincoln Times,' June 21, 1935). The archives have no further trace of him until August 31, 1839, when the editor of the 'S.A. Register' in his paper of that date, in reviewing the activities of the churches in the colony said, 'The Rev. Mr. Wix, a clergyman of the established church, is at Port Lincoln, and will probably fix his permanent residence there.'

That statement must have been written much earlier than the date of publication, unless the postscript in Dr. Harvey's letter (referred to hereunder) was written much later than the body of his letter. The postscript was written with, a different class of ink and pen indicating that it was written at a different time, if not on a different date.

Now under date September 3, 1839, Dr. J. B. Harvey in writing to Mr. W. Giles said in a postscript, 'Rev. Mr. Wix did not stay here. He has gone to Hobart Town. He would not condescend to teach my (or was it any — J.D.S.) boys and he appeared content to receive £200 a year for clerical duties only, so that he could enjoy 'otium cum dignitate' (ease with dignity, or dignified leisure). The clergyman's opinion was 'Ex nihilo, nihil fit' " (out of nothing, nothing is made).

The passage time of the Porter seems to have been long. It is recorded that Eyre left the Adelaide side July 8, 1839 ; the unknown clergyman stated he arrived at Port Lincoln somewhere between July 21 and 27th. If these dates are correct the voyage occupied a fortnight. Eyre left Port Lincoln on his first westward trip on August 5, the anniversary of his birthday. [A lengthy trip from Port Adelaide to Port Lincoln for a sailing cutter is not uncommon in July, when westerly gales are frequent.—Ed.]