Visit of Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell

Sir Richard MacDonneli succeeded Sir H. E. F. Young as Governor-in-Chief. He arrived on June 8, 1855. Mr. B. F. Finnis had been the officer administrating the Government between the departure of Sir H. E. F. Young and the arrival of his successor.

MacDonnell's regime was notable for the advice from the Colonial Office that the Parliamentary Bill had been disallowed. The new governor then proposed a single legislative chamber, but the members would not agree, therefore he was forced to bring in a bill for the bicameral house, which was passed and allowed. This Act provided for the ballot box, manhood suffrage, abolition of plural voting, and triennial parliaments. He established and incorporated the South Australian Institute. He introduced an act for the water supply and drainage of Adelaide, also for the railway to Gawler and an extension to Kapunda.

The newly-elected parliament met for the first time on April 22, 1857. The Gawler Range explorations were principally carried out during his term, as well as the greater part of Stuart's explorations. The introduction of the Real Property Act (Torrens's Act) for simplifying the transfer and registration of land sites also occurred during his term.

Sir Richard can be called one of our own, for toward the latter part, of his term he became a landholder at Lake Wangary and leaseholder at Strawberry Hill. It would be interesting to know what he did with the land subsequently. It would appear that Mr. W. R. Mortlock took over the leased land. It was also during his term that Port Lincoln township and settlement arrived at its majority. It has not been seen whether there were any special ceremonies in connection with that event. It was about two months before the twenty-first birthday that Sir Richard made his claim for leased land, and in the first two years after that period that Sir Richard became so intimately connected with the Peninsula.

DISAGREEMENT WITH COUNCIL

Governor MacDonnell and the council did not agree very well. He came out just as the change over from — shall we call it — autocratic rule to a free parliament, occurred. He also wanted in the early stages the salary of £4,000 a year, which would have been applicable to the governors after the new constitution was granted. Generally there was not a harmonious feeling. Through sickness the Governor was unable to carry out either mental or physical labor during December, 1856, and January, 1857, and he proposed to absent himself from the metropolis — on the advice of his medical attendant meant to occupy the time in a tour of inspection of the western portion of the Province.

So on the afternoon of February 3, 1857, the schooner Yatala and the tender Blanche sailed for Port Lincoln. On board were the Governor-in-Chief and Lady MacDon nell, the Bishop, Capt. Douglas, the colonial architect and Mrs. Hamilton, Major Warburton (Commissioner of Police), His Excellency's A.D.C. Mr. Maturin and Dr. Hammond. The party expected to be away until about March 1.

The tender Blanche had been built by the direction of the Governor in 1855. There was considerable disagreement in connection with its construction. At Port Lincoln, Capt. Douglas and the colonial architect were to fix the most desirable locality for a jetty.

The Yatala arrived at Port Lincoln at 8 a.m. on February 5, after, a run of 36 hours. At noon His Excellency and party landed and were met on the beach by Mr. A. J. Murray (Government Resident), Mr. G. Lawson J.P., Mr. J. W. Nicholls (clerk of the court), Capt. Bishop and others. All available flags were streaming in the breeze, and the two small carronades were fired in honor of His Excellency's arrival. The morning was said to be lovely, the bay never looked more beautiful. Unfortunately few were the settlers there to meet and welcome him. The Government establishment was examined and His Excellency expressed disapproval with the gaol arrangement.

TREATMENT OF NATIVES

Possibly it was on this visit to the gaol that Major Warburton, the Commissioner of Police, under date March 27, 1857, was given the opportunity to write, "The provisions of the Masters and Servants Act are quite inappropriate to the natives and the magistrate should abstain from applying them. When at Port Lincoln, I saw a native (chained by the neck in gaol) under magisterial sentence for non-fulfillment of written contract of service. The presence of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief fortunately led to the man's release."

The Governor and party, accompanied by the Government Resident and Mr. Lawson, then visited the Government residence or villa at Port Lincoln Proper, about a mile and a half out of the town. Swaffer's very comfortable dogcart took Lady MacDonnell and Mrs. Hamilton ; the rest were on horse back. It is understood that Mr. Murray had block No. 10. When gathering notes for this article, I could not recollect any house there, but fortunately a paragraph — with reference to Mrs. Heyward's collection of shells — appeared in 'The Port Lincoln Times' on January 29, and brought to mind that I had once been there, without being aware of its historical association. It is interesting to know that the house is still in occupation after so many years. The house is on the left side and about 400 yards off the Proper road, known as Ravendale.

Mr. Murray was, I think, the third Resident Magistrate. Matthew Smith and J. W. McDonald were the first two; these were followed by C. Driver as Government Resident, then A. J. Murray relieved Driver in 1853, going to Port Lincoln as acting Government Resident and was made Government Resident Magistrate in 1854. It was on block No. 10 that some pieces of the Memory Cove tablet were found. During the stay Capt. Douglas and the colonial architect were engaged in selecting and surveying a site for the proposed jetty. A portion of the party, including His Excellency and Lady MacDonnell stayed at Swaffer's Port Lincoln Hotel, and were very satisfied with the accommodation and attention received.

VISIT TO POONINDIE

At noon on the 5th, His Excellency boarded the Yatala for Port Augusta, visiting Poonindie training institution on the way. The boat anchored off Poonindie for the night. This was very fortunate, as Mr. Lock brought into Port Lincoln a cargo of oysters from Coffin's Bay. Mr. Nicholls and a party of four, volunteered to row 10 miles there and back with a present of oysters from the Government Resident. They left the port at 11 p.m. and returned about 4 a.m. The Bishop, Major Warburton and others went there on horse back. Horses were awaiting His Excellency when he arrived on the beach. A gallop across country brought them to Poonindie about 3 p.m. A cold collation had been prepared by Mr. Hammond, the superintendent. An inspection of the buildings was made, then the natives assembled in the chapel. They were clean and neatly dressed, and their conduct was orderly and devout. They sang several hymns chosen by the Bishop — three of them leading with flutes. They then read different passages from the Scriptures. His Excellency and the bishop examined them to see if they understood what they had read, the result of which was very satisfactory. On His Excellency leaving the natives struck up the National Anthem with flutes and voices. Cheers for the Queen and His Excellency and Lady MacDonnell were given. His Excellency addressed the natives and called for three cheers for Archdeacon Hale, and exhorted the natives to look up to Mr. Hammond, their present guide and teacher. The Bishop and Major Warburton returned to Port Lincoln.

FEW PEOPLE ATTEND RECEPTION

The "Register" correspondent felt very sad about the reception given to His Excellency; so very few of the settlers assembled to meet him, and no address of welcome was given, but the correspondent assured His Excellency, through the press, "that sentiments of the highest admiration and respect are entertained towards him throughout the whole district."

The Bishop preached in St. Thomas's Church on the 8th, and referred to the unwearying efforts of the Ven. Archdeacon Hale, who had been removed from Port Lincoln to adorn a higher station in the church, to elevate the moral and social condition of the natives; and in the course of the morning's address announced that Mr. Octavius Hammond, of Poonindie, had become a candidate for admission into the deacon's orders, which news was received with much satisfaction, as Mr. Hammond was universally and justly esteemed. The morning and afternoon congregations were large, and it was noticed that nearly a dozen natives from Poonindie were present, having walked in to hear the Bishop. In the afternoon the Bishop administered the right of baptism to the infant daughter of Mr. Henry J. Smith.

The Bishop returned to Adelaide in the Daphne, "leaving," it was said, "with us a most pleasing recollection of his short and impressive visit." Major Warburton remained for some time longer and made a visit, to the police stations as far as Streaky Bay.

(Another Instalment next week.)