History of Port Lincoln's Special Survey

As far as can be ascertained prior to the publication of Light's diary the article by Prof. Perkins and Miss Mayo's book, there had been no mention of Light being associated with any of the special survey of Port Lincoln. It was not known, either, how near Port Lincoln was to being selected as the "first town" (capital) until Miss Mayo revealed to us that Light, under date 5/12/1837, wrote to the Colonisation Commissioners regarding the suggested removal of site of the capital from the banks of the Torrens to Encounter Bay. The contemplated removal according to Light had "arisen from the Governor's jealousy at the power of selection being placed in my hands and his anger at my not obeying his orders ; for three days before I sailed from London he sent for me and gave me strict orders to place the town at Port Lincoln and for these reasons ; first, the port was so fine, and next there were so many islands close to it, all of which would be immediately fortified, and thus ensure all the colonists places for retreat and defined in case of attack, and since his arrival here he has said to me, damn the land, the land was of no consideration, the sea was everything to a new colony."

On the voyage out from England, the Private Secretary drew Governor Hindmarsh's attention to the fact that Light had been given full power to select the site of the first town, whereas the Governor said "he would fix the seal of the Government where he pleased." Robert Gouger, one time and the first Colonial Secretary, wrote to Light and stated that Hindmarsh had said "he would be d—d if the capital should be here," and on another occasion when his ire was greatly kindled he said that "rather than have the capital at the place you have fixed upon (now Adelaide) he would order all the Government officers on board the Buffalo and sail away with them to Port Lincoln." So it will be seen that had the decision as to the site of the capital been left to the Governor, Port Lincoln would most probably have been chosen. Light ascribes the disagreement between the Governor and himself to the fact that he failed to select Port Lincoln as the premier town.

Light had an invidious task, firstly to select the site for the first town, a site that would have to stand the test of years and centuries and provide for the development of South Australia, and secondly to survey expeditiously an unknown country to make it available for the settlers who were pouring into the country expecting that the land would be ready for them to settle upon. We have seen how he was harassed as the result of his choice of Adelaide. Then with the delay in the survey of lands a complaint was lodged and a scheme was outlined in London to provide for a more expeditious survey. Light could not agree with it, therefore resigned from the Government service in 1838. The London scheme must have been partially carried out, and in consequence we see many roads shown on plans that are impassable for vehicular traffic. On resigning, he formed the firm Light, Finnis & Co., as agents and surveyors.

Neither the departure or object of the trip of Flaxman or McLaren could be kept secret. Many new colonists had arrived and desired to participate in the acquisition of good land. It appeared to them that all the good land around Adelaide had been taken up. It is not apparent who was the first to suggest a move to circumvent the "avaricious " company, but Henry Hawson must have been well to the front, as he had been at Boston Bay, and it must have been his knowledge that the association relied upon. Charles Smith — really Perceval Wood Smith — was another prominent member. No sooner had the departure of the two ships become public property than a number of colonists combined and on February 22 a lengthy meeting was held — breaking up at midnight — concocting schemes for financing and carrying out the project of acquiring the land at Boston Bay. The following day, the 23rd, would, Charles Smith said "be ever looked upon as one of the most eventful in the annals of South Australia" as being the day on which a special survey was paid for and demanded in Boston Bay, Port Lincoln. Charles Smith and Henry Hawson esquires, two of the largest proprietors, made the claim for the survey on account of themselves and the 42 subscribers This meant that £4,000 had to be collected and paid into the Treasury with the lodgment of the application. So sure were the proprietors of the project that all the money except five? or £700 was raised on that Saturday, the 23rd of February and arrangements made to borrow the balance on a " note of hand"; so that five minutes before the Treasury closing hour the whole amount was paid in, and the " Boys of Lincoln Green " secured " the brightest jewel in South Australia."

It is strange that the claim for the special survey is dated February 27, while the money was paid in on the 23rd of that month. The receipt, a copy of which is deposited in the South Australian Archives is as follows : — " Treasury, Adelaide, February 23, 1939. Received of Messrs. Charles Smith and Henry Hawson the sum of three thousand eight hundred and forty pounds sterling, being part of the sum of four thousand pounds intended to ensure a special survey when the amount is completed in cash or authorised land orders. — District names. Osmond Gilles, Colonial Treasurer." The cash book of the Government, records the transaction as : " Cash received Feby. 23rd, 1839, by Charles Smith and Hy. Hawson for special survey of four thousand acres land (£160 paid by two landowners) £3,840."

The Colonial Treasurer advised the board of acting commissioners that he had paid in the £3,840 into the Bank of South Australia on the 23rd. The formal claim was signed and lodged on February 27, and advertised in the Government Gazette on March 2, 1938. Evidently Dr. John Knott almost immediately saw Finniss of the firm Light, Finniss & Co., resulting in the very informative letter dated Theberton cottage, February 28, 1839, from Light to Knott:—

"My dear sir. Mr. Finniss called here the other day and mentioned a wish on the part of the committee for the Port Lincoln special survey that I should proceed thither, for the purpose of making out a town for them in Boston Bay. After some conversation I assented, provided my services would not be required before April. I promised to give a written answer yesterday, but was so unwell the whole day that I could not. I have been reconsidering the matter, and, must confess, I feel great reluctance in undertaking this task. My mind has already been so much harassed on the subject of survey and my health so much broken, that I could never do justice to my employers, and to speak candidly it would be next to robbery to undertake a job that would be much better performed by another. I feel much flattered by the gentlemen of the committee selecting me for such important business, and if strength and ability would permit, it should be performed with pleasure, but I also feel I am bound in honor to confessing my unfitness, circumstanced as I am from various causes.. Pray do me the favor to communicate the subject of this letter to the committee, and believe me, my dear sir, yours very truly, Wm. Light. P.S. — You know how necessary quietness is to me at present."

Dr. Knott was a prominent member of the association, was one of the original subscribers, had paid in for one unit (£24) and subsequently bought in further units. Later became co-trustee with Osmond Gilles when Smith and Hawson resigned. As the association desired to proceed with the survey immediately they accepted Light's letter as a refusal and Mr. B. P. Winter was appointed surveyor.

There is nothing to indicate what Flaxman did at Port Lincoln. But McLaren according to Prof. Perkins "realising that everything must now depend upon quick decisions and speed of actions, was determined not to waste more time than possibly could be avoided. Accordingly on arriving at his destination, he sailed 'right up to the head of the bay which he rapidly examined ; passed on to Spalding Cove ; and thence to Boston Bay. He described the land at the head of Port Lincoln bay' as 'one uninterrupted succession of limestone barrenness' and hence 'determined to claim a special survey on the west side of Boston Bay, and with all possible speed proceeded to make the best of his way back to Holdfast Bay.' "

McLaren in the Victoria was fortunate enough to leave Port Lincoln some hours ahead of the Nereus, but was overhauled half way home. The meeting on high seas of the two leaders has been so well and ably told by Prof. Perkins that I cannot do better than to follow his account : —"This was disconcerting ; nevertheless McLaren was not yet at the end of his resources. 'Presuming,' he wrote 'that Mr. Flaxman was thus acting (i.e., 'endeavoring to secure special surveys in the best situations in the province' explains the professor) partly at least on behalf of Mr. F. J. Angas, and considering that it would be very awkward indeed that there should be any collision between Mr. Flaxman and myself, and much more between Mr. G. F. Angas, as an individual,' on the one hand, 'and the directors and shareholders of his company' on the other ; (Angas was at the time chairman of the board of directors of the South Australian Company explains the professor) 'I requested (I being McLaren) an interview with Mr. Flaxman on board the Victoria, which I obtained ; and as there was at that time some uncertainty as to which of us should be first in Adelaide ; and a great probability that neither of us would be in time to do anything at all till the arrival of the other — it being then Friday afternoon — Mr. Flaxman agreed to my proposal of uniting your interests, each party, i.e., Flaxman for self and constituents as one and I as representing the company as the other'; each party 'to have a half interest and bear half expenses.' "

The professor built up the above summary from McLaren's letter to Wheeler in London, 9/4/1839. It will be noticed that the claim to be made was on behalf of the South Australian Company and Flaxman and his constituents. At that particular moment (of McLaren's letter, 9/4/1839) Flaxman had not declared who were his partners, and it is not known when he did do so. Prof. Perkins refers to Flaxman by the term enigmatic. His was an anomalous position buying for himself or others as he chose. From this it would appear he was so situated that if he found a good site, he could take it for himself — if he could at the moment finance the proposition, or if the risk eventually turned out too great he could switch the transaction on to some of his clients and Mr. G. F. Angas seems to have been one who suffered in consequence. So it will be interesting to see how the on that Friday, March 1 developed and crashed. Unfortunately up to scheme hatched aboard the Victoria the present the final details are not known.