S.A. Coy's Holding in the Port Lincoln Special Survey

The subject now dealt with has proved of great interest during my research into the early days, owing to the various phases. Some of the early historians said that the South Australian Company had purchased 400 acres of the Port Lincoln Special Survey Association's scheme. The late manager of the South Australian Company assured the writer that such transaction had never been made, but that they only held 48 acres. Nothing being found to reconcile the diverse statements, I was forced in former articles to stress that David McLaren had privately bought the 400 acres and had subsequently sold 48 acres to the South Australian Company, and further stressing that such transaction tended to disprove McLaren's statement that he did not approve of the site of special survey No. 1.

But the newly discovered data only transfers the stricture then made from McLaren as a private individual to McLaren as the manager of the company's bank. The bank must have loaned a fairly substantial sum on the mortgaged property. At the forced sale the company bought in two-thirteenths of the property and paid £285. At the same ratio — which of course is absurd — the 13 units would have been valued at £1,852. It is left to the reader's own judgment to imagine what was the amount loaned.

However, an apology is now due to the memory of McLaren as an individual, and to the readers of this paper for the wrong impression previously given. In a recent article it was stated that Charles (otherwise Perceval Wood) Smith had to borrow £500 to finance the survey association. Whether this had anything to do with what is about to be told cannot be said. It appeared as though that transaction had been liquidated by subscribers talking more shares or by new subscribers entering the scheme after the great day — February 22, 1839. It may be that Smith got into other financial difficulties. Smith and Shaen as individuals and as partners had a very stormy financial passage with all their optimistic schemes. Shaen on one occasion had to transfer his large holding of 600 acres in the special survey to John Richardson, "in trust." Subsequently it was transferred back to him.

At some time Charles Smith had to resort to the Bank of South Australia and as security for the money borrowed transferred 400 acres to D. McLaren, who was the manager of the bank as well as the commercial manager of the South Australian Company. Mr. E. Stephens, at the time, was "McLaren's lieutenant" and probably the "pooh bah" of the bank, but not the manager. That position being reserved for McLaren on whom all legal responsibilities devolved. As will be seen, the transfer is dated 16th May, 1839, no consideration is shown, neither were any allotment numbers mentioned. But the numbers must have been agreed upon then, or very shortly afterwards, for the heels of scrip books (dated July 17, 1839) which were recently recovered and are now in the Archives, forming portion of the Barnard papers, show the various allotments in the name of D. McLaren. A list of these numbers, however interesting, would be too lengthy for this article, but they can be ascertained from the "Port Lincoln Special Survey Supplement" in the Port Lincoln Library, on pages 66 to 91.

John Richardson, auctioneer of the corner of King William street and Hindley street, advertised land at Port Lincoln for sale. The advertisement appeared in the "Southern Australian" and the "South Australian Register," July and August, 1839. The details were as follows : — Water frontage blocks 2, 23, 24, 27, 41, 75, 53, 56, 59, 62, 65, 68, 155. Township blocks 767, 430, 234, 382, 530, 768, 500, 347, 612, 171, 328, 348, 366, 803, 932, 898, 779, 674, 981, 506, 931. 490, 286, 810, 300, 642, 590, 410, 475, 235, 509, 808, 609, 299, 708, 880, 334, 992, 205, 623, 507, 595, 670, 655, 376, 394, 714, 356, 453, 466, 798, 723, 493, 279, 581, 687, 378, 479, 791, 579, 878, 239, 982, 920, 942. Two typographical errors have been adjusted, as well as two errors which must have appeared1 in the manu script. Thus 505 amended to 595 ; 406 to 466 ; 656 to 655 ; 912 to 942. In addition there were 13 blocks of 21 acres each of country land then not balloted for. The above represents 13 units of 24 acres each, that is 312 acres. On the heel of the certificate is recorded that three transfers had been effected, equalling 72 acres. It is not apparent how the remaining 16 acres were dealt with. At the sale the land was put up in 'unit' lots and the terms were 25 per cent on the fall of the hammer, and the remainder when the scrip was given up.

Richardson did not state the reason of the sale, in the advertisement, but possibly did so at the auction sale itself. Charles Smith, in an advertisement in the 'Register,' praises the auctioneer, and refers to Richardson's remarks about him (Smith).

The auction sale took place on August 6, 1839, and up to that time there had been nothing made public to indicate that the South Australian Company was interested in the special survey. But on August 8, 1839, D. McLaren, the manager of the company — remembering that he was also the manager of the bank — wrote to E. J. Wheeler, the London manager, as follows : —

"Owing to the embarrassed circumstances of one of the principal parties in the first special survey at Boston Bay a number of the town and country allotments were sold on the 6th inst. by public auction. These were mortgaged to the bank and sold by my orders. I bought for the Co. two allotments (it would be better to say 'units' — J.D.S.) consisting or one half acre of water frontage, 2½ acres of town lands in five separate parts of the town and 21 acres country land this last not yet selected. These two allotments I consider decidedly the best of those sold that day particularly as respected water frontages. For the one I paid £135 and for the other £150. The water frontage of the latter is within one half acre of the Customs House and in the immediate neighbourhood of the copious fresh water spring where I first landed in Boston Bay."

Opposite the latter paragraph is a marginal note, saying "Purchase of 48 acres first special survey at Boston Bay" — which was the much required clue.

It is only recently that the company handed their correspondence and books to the South Australian Archives, and thus revealed the above information. The South Australian Company at the sale bought water frontage blocks Nos. 41 and 53. and town allotments 931, 490, 286, 810, 300, 509, 808, 609, 509, 708 and 42 acres of country land. In subsequent ballots these were allotted as Nos 16 and 121, country land blocks of 20 acres each and Nos. 78 and 147 of Boston island allotments of one acre each.

I. McLaren's prognostication regarding the two water front age blocks may have been good, for there were no really good blocks sold that day, and today the majority of the water frontage blocks are in much the same condition as when sold in 1839. It is remarkable to notice that there was not a single water frontage offered for sale between Bishop street and Kirton Point, where the valuable blocks are found today. The shelving beach and the fairly level ground suitable for building between these points more than compensated for the benefit accruing to the land at Happy Valley on account of the plentiful supply of water.

Charles Smith had held, but not mortgaged to the bank, water frontage blocks 92 (near the Bank of Ade laide) ; 97 (near Grand Hotel) ; 110 (near Boston Hotel) later handed over to W. F. Porter in exchange for No. 116 ; 135 and 136 just south of Kirton Point jetty. From the South Australian Company's land book it is ascertained that between 1904 and 1912, all the water frontage and town allotments and Boston Island blocks held by them were sold for varying sums, but totalling £257. That book does not record what became of the two country land blocks, but out of them the company had to recoup the deficiency of £28 then showing (285 less 257) and then make their profit and recoup themselves for the loss of interest for 70 years. Was this possible ?

Charles Smith on the day of the sale penned an advertisement which appeared in the 'S.A. Register' of August 10. In it he stated that an other issue of the 'Egotist' would be issued on the 13th. If issued, a copy is not available at the Public Library. The gloves were very nearly off, but tbe libel cases of G. M. Stephen and others kept Smith within bounds. However, he forecasted some interesting items as : —

"A very luminous article upon the distinction between the law of 'libel' and 'defamation,' with some particular mention of actions brought by a friend of ours against divers 'honorable men' ( ?) for the latter. "Some particulars of an intended hostile meeting, a full account of the sale by auction this day of land at Port Lincoln, with a few remarks upon the circumstances under which it took place, and some well-merited commendations on the politeness of that 'prince of auctioneers,' Richardson, to Mr. Smith . . . . . "We shall not be libellous, having the fate of the other two papers, and the fear of the Supreme Court before our eyes, but we shall call things by their right names, prove circumstances few are prepared to believe, without any farther feeling of commiseration for the parties we may feel it necessary to chastise, than the kindly assuring them that if, on laying on the 'cat,' we cut 'too high,' we will, in a subsequent number give them the opportunity of crying 'too low.' "

The mention of water frontage 110 above recalls that Mr. W. F. Porter erected a house on that allotment in error — 116 being his block. However, Smith agreed to exchange 110 for 116. It would be interesting to know if there are any traces of this building. Some 34 years ago there were signs of a building in among the sandhills in the vicinity with a plentiful supply of broken glass, but my recollection seems to point out that such site was north of allotment 110. The recently created Port Lincoln Archives should investigate problems such as this. A study might reveal whether the sandhills were there in the early days, of did they make their appearance after white men settled it Port Lincoln ?

With this object in view I would like to quote Smith's version of May 3, 1839, of the exchange of these two allotments. (See p. 33 of 'Port Lincoln Special Survey' in the Port Lincoln Institute). "Mr. Porter has built himself a very substantial house, in which, with his family, he now resides. His son is building another. There is also a store and the habitations of the people in his employ. ... It is unfortunate that from the alteration in the plan of the town made by His Excellency the Governor (which alteration will, in my humble opinion, greatly enhance the value of the property), Mr. Porter has built on land not his own ; but it is to be hoped that whoever may be the proprietor of the half acre will make an equitable sale or exchange with him." On May 28 (see p. 35 ibid) Charles Smith, Shaen & Co. agreed to the exchange, and wrote to Mr. Porter that, in their opinion, "it would be very hard if you were to suffer by the change made in the plan of the town." This exchange was approved by C. C. Dutton as Charles Smith's attorney.