Visit of Governor Sir Henry Young

On the retirement of Lieutenant Governor Robe on August 2, 1848, Sir Henry Edward Fox Young took over the same day, and remained in office until December 20, 1854, the longest term up to then — a little over six years. The succeeding Governor, Sir R. G. MacDonnell, was in office for a little under seven years. Between these two Governors, B. T. Finniss administered the Government, being the senior member of the council.

Sir Henry Young's regime was notable for the construction of the Port Elliot and Goolwa tramway — brought into use 1854 — and the starting and construction of the Port Adelaide railway. The Bill was passed in 1851, but the line was not opened until 1856. He was also instrumental in the opening of the River Murray traffic. The gold fields of Victoria, with the depletion of the South Australian population, and the necessity for Tolmer's gold escort occurred during his term.

The extension to a partly elective Legislative Council and the passage of the Bicameral Parliamentary Bill was passed locally, but disallowed in London. With alterations it was passed and approved in the regime of Lieutenant-Governor MacDonnell. Sir Henry Young was the first Governor to set our national debt under way, his quota being half a million. With the great forward movement in the State generally, he could still devote a little of his time to the Peninsula.

On October 11, 1849, His Excellency and his wife and child, the Bishop and his wife, the Protector of Aborigines and a party of friends sailed in the schooner Yatala for a visit to Yorke's Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln. They returned on October 19.

The Bishop (Rev. Augustus Short) arrived in the Province in December, 1847, and this was his second trip to the Peninsula, he having been there about May, 1849, as related recently.

The visit of the Lieutenant Governor took place five or six months after the murders on the West Coast. The Commissioner of Police had been able to state that an effectual check had been given to aggressions of the natives, and that confidence was restored to the minds of the settlers. Confirming this, His Excellency was able to write on October 20, 1849, "I have been enabled to corroborate by personal enquiry made during a visit to Port Lincoln from which I returned yesterday after an absence of nine days from Port Adelaide."

During the succeeding months the Lieutenant-Governor visited St. Vincent's Gulf, Rapid, Encounter, Guichen and Rivoli Bays, so by April, 1850, he was able to give a comprehensive report of the coastline, from which it is gleaned that in his opinion, at that time, there were no prospects of Port Lincoln becoming a populous or thriving settlement, other than through any activities in connection with mining. The recently ascertained mineral character of the country indicated promising results. "The land is for the most part poor and rocky ; the trees, scrub and sheoak ; the water, generally scarce and brackish," he said. He then commented on the wonderful spring of fresh water below high water mark near the township. Boston Island had a flock of 1,200 sheep thereon, thriving, although no fresh water was discoverable.

[Another instalment next week.]