As Receiver of Wrecks, Harry turned his attention to the beached Livingstone. Her cargo of wool was intact. He contacted George Ormiston for his assistance in the matter. The upshot was that Ormiston & Co would unload the cargo of wool and transfer it to their warehouses. Harry then set about organizing an auction for the wrecked ships. A firm of underwriters in Adelaide, on behalf of the insurers, undertook the preparations for the auction. Early in the new year of 1862, on Saturday, 4-Jan-1862 advertisements for both ships appeared in the South Australian Register.
Postponed till Tuesday, January 7, at 12 o’clock (In consequence of not being able to arrange lots before the above date).
ON ACCOUNT OF WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
BY ORDER OF CAPTAIN J. PRYNN AT GUICHEN BAY
THE WRECK OF THE LIVINGSTONE
SPARS, MASTS, RIGGINGS, ANCHORS
ALSO
2,400 BALES OF WOOL
COPPER ORE
BLACK SAND
LEAD, IRON AND SUNDRIES
Townsend, Botting & Kay have received instructions to sell at Guichen Bay,
On Tuesday, January 7, at 12 o’clock, on account of whom it may concern,
By order of Captain Prynn
2,400 bales of wool
Three parts (about) Washed Wool, and one-fourth
(about) Greasy, the growth
Of the SOUTH EASTERN DISTRICT
All more or less damaged by sea water
ALSO
36 casks Copper Ore, 38 do. do
36 tons Copper Ore, 5 kegs Black Sand
451 pigs Lead, 20 tons Scrap Iron
As originally shipped from Port Adelaide
BESIDES
THE BARQUE LIVINGSTONE
As she now lies wrecked at Guichen Bay; together with Masts, Spars, Riggings, Bolts, Anchors and Sundries
TERMS CASH
Full particulars will appear
SPECIAL NOTICE
The ANT will leave Port Adelaide on Saturday, January 4, at 10 o’clock sharp
Conveying intending passengers to Guichen Bay, thus affording ample time for inspection of the wool before the sale. For further particulars, apply to Messrs. Wm. Younghusband & Co or to the auctioneers.
On TUESDAY, January 7
ON ACCOUNT OF WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
AT GUICHEN BAY THE WRECK OF THE ALMA
SAILS, SPARS, RIGGINGS, CHAINS, ANCHORS
CABLES AND SUNDRIES
ALSO
150 TONS (ABOUT) COPPER ORE
Townsend, Botting & Kay have received instructions to sell at
Guichen Bay on Tuesday, January 7, at 12 o’clock
THE SHIP ALMA
As she now lies wrecked at Guichen Bay
TOGETHER WITH
Masts, Spars, Cables, Chains, Anchors, Sails, Rigging and Sundries
BESIDES
150 TONS Copper Ore
All more or less damaged by sea water
TERMS CASH
The auction day was a huge success. The cargo of wool from the Livingstone was auctioned for close to its full value and went for £40,000. The rest of the items sold well and the auctioneers were very pleased with the final outcome. Quite a large gathering of people were there for the auction of the two ships. Not everyone was there to buy; the majority of people were there out of curiosity. It wasn’t every day a major auction like this was held at Port Robe. The Insurance underwriters were very pleased and grateful to Ormiston & Co for their assistance in the matter and their services were well paid for.
Yet again Harry received no acknowledgement from his Chief for Harry’s actions in saving a very valuable cargo. However, the underwriters wrote him a letter of thanks and enclosed a bank draft for £50. ‘At least someone appreciates our actions!’ He divided the £50 evenly among the Port Robe lifeboat crew. As a government official Harry was not permitted to accept any other remuneration.
With the aftermath of the two wrecked ships out of the way, Harry and his men settled back into their normal routines. Summer gave way to autumn and the cooler weather was very welcome. It had been a hot summer. Port Robe continued to be a very busy port; especially with the export of wool to London and horses to the Indian army. Teamsters were kept very busy delivering cargo to Port Robe.
Harry and Amanda’s children were growing up. Jason and Tristan were being schooled privately at the school held in the Free Presbytery Kirk. Amelia and Elizabeth would also receive an education when they were old enough. Harry’s family were enjoying the home they had moved into last year. Life in Robe Town was generally good to them. Amanda sometimes reflected on Harry’s job; occasionally it had its downsides, but on the whole it worked out well for them as a family. Harry was much respected as a public servant and was known to be straightforward, honest and courageous in emergencies. Amanda enjoyed living in Robe Town and also enjoyed the respect accorded to her as Harry’s wife.
It was about this time that Lindsay Gordon had a serious fall from one of his horses at the Robe racecourse. As there was no hospital at Robe Town he was taken to the Caledonian Inn to recuperate. It would be a few weeks before he would be well enough to resume riding again. Maggie Park took it upon herself to nurse him back to health. As they were often in each other’s company a strong bond developed between them.
Maggie found herself falling in love with Lindsay. Lindsay on the other hand was captivated by her. She was attractive, sensible and practical. He was deeply grateful for her compassion and care for him. When he was well enough to walk, and the weather was not inclement, they would go down on to the beach and spend time walking and talking together.
Lindsay decided he could not live apart from her. He asked Maggie to marry him; to which she gave a happy, “Yes”. Lindsay then asked John Park for his daughter’s hand in marriage. John Park was agreeable as Lindsay was quite well off and he liked the young man. Their engagement was announced and then celebrated at the Caledonian Inn at the Function room. Plans were made to marry sometime later in the year.
Their engagement caused quite a stir among the eligible bachelors in Robe Town. Quite a few of them thought that they would be the chosen one. Larry Cooper, the stonemason, was especially grieved. He was infatuated with Maggie; but being an introspective person and shy around women, he found it difficult to let her know his feelings. He reckoned his girl had been stolen by ‘the Poet’. It left a bad taste in his mouth.
Harry and Amanda were invited to the engagement party. Harry had known Lindsay for several years. Lindsay had been a mounted police trooper in the Mount Gambier district after Harry had left the police force. They had met when Harry took up his position as Sub-Collector of Customs in 1855. Lindsay and Maggie’s engagement party was a gala occasion in Robe Town; they were both well liked. After the engagement party Lindsay formally moved his belongings into the Caledonian Inn to stay near his fiancée.
The winter of 1862 brought a big surprise. On Monday, 4-Aug-1862 an American tall ship, the ‘Buena Vista’, under the command of Captain Ayers, sailed into Guichen Bay. On board were 300 Chinese passengers and a crew of 16. Another China ship had arrived! During 1861 the South Australian Parliament, taking its cue from Victoria, had repealed its onerous Poll tax on Chinese immigrants; opening the way for more gold seekers. Harry and his men were gobsmacked! “Here we go again.’ thought Harry. A large crowd gathered down on the foreshore. The usual formalities took place and then the Chinese camped out by the side of the cemetery. Sergeant Woodbine and his troopers kept an eye on them.
Captain Ayers told Harry he did not think they would see huge numbers of Chinese coming through to Port Robe. A lot of them that came in 1857 had since returned to China. Gold was becoming harder to find in Victoria and the Victorian Government discouraged Chinese miners. Harry was inclined to agree with Captain Ayers. He had been told that most of the alluvial (surface) gold had already been mined and that the deep leads were where the gold was now. As this form of mining needed expensive machinery and equipment, the ordinary miner could not afford it. Only
rich people and wealthy consortiums could afford to mine the deep leads. ‘Maybe this is a one off.’, Harry thought to himself.
October was a big month for Lindsay Gordon and Maggie Park. They had made plans to marry on Monday, 20-Oct-1862 in Mount Gambier; however the venue was changed by Rev. James Don to his own home in Port MacDonnell. Maggie Park being a superb horsewoman rode the 80 plus miles from Robe Town to Port MacDonnell for her wedding. On Monday, 20-Oct-1862 they were married by Rev. James Don at Port MacDonnell. Lindsay and Maggie returned to Robe Town after their wedding. Lindsay arranged to have a house built on his land at Yahl Paddock at Mount Gambier. When the house was finished they moved to Mount Gambier.
Larry Cooper was a shattered man. His girl had gone and married the Poet. As Larry was already inclined to be introspective he now began to be reclusive; shunning the company of his friends. He threw himself into his work to compensate for his loss. Sometimes he would be seen on the sand hills gazing wistfully up at the windows of the Caledonian Inn.
News was conveyed to Harry that his new Customs House would be constructed in 1863. ‘It’s taken them long enough to make up their minds about it. After all, we are second in importance to Port Adelaide.’
The year 1863 started off with business as usual. Harry’s new Customs House had been pegged out on the Royal Circus; and construction was due to start any day. Larry Cooper was putting the finishing touches to a new business in Smillie Street and would then begin building the Customs House. A wealthy pastoralist had also booked Larry Cooper to build a mansion for him on the other side of Lake Butler; on a site overlooking Guichen Bay. Architects had already drawn up plans for the mansion. As soon as the Customs house was finished Larry Cooper would start on the new mansion.
The summer months ended and autumn commenced its annual passage of time. Lo and behold, on Thursday, 26-Mar-1863 a China ship arrived in Guichen Bay. An American ship the ‘Independence’ under the command of Captain Crowell arrived with a crew of 20 and 120 Chinese passengers bound for the gold fields. Harry was surprised to see Chinese again. The usual processing took place and the Chinese moved to the side of the cemetery and set up camp. As this was a fairly small lot of Chinese they were in town only a couple of days before they headed off to the gold fields.
Life in Robe Town returned to normal. The Customs House was finished during autumn and Harry’s Chief, Sir William Bradshaw arrived from Port Adelaide to open it with a great show of pomp and ceremony. ‘It’s a good opportunity to show off his cocked hat and claim all the credit.’ No mention was made of Harry’s initiative in requesting the new Customs House. ‘Oh well, what did I expect?’
Larry Cooper turned his attention to the new mansion to be built. It was quite a grand building for Robe Town; and would certainly enhance the town. The mansion and the accompanying stables were to be built from limestone blocks; Larry Cooper stood to make a handsome profit from this contract.
Harry’s Customs house worked well and its location on the Royal Circus made life easier for them. It was a fine building well suited for the customs’ work; and close to the jetties. The ships lying at anchor could be seen from the front steps.
Winter brought another surprise; another China ship arrived. An American ship the ‘Maria Bradford’ under the command of Captain Wilson arrived on Saturday, 1-Aug-1863. On board were 346 Chinese passengers and a crew of 20. Captain Wilson told Harry he doubted if anymore Chinese would be coming as news had reached Hong Kong that the surface gold was running out in Victoria. The vast majority of Chinese miners in Victoria had already gone back to China. Some returned rich, the remainder to a life of poverty.
The new mansion was finished in the springtime; and was named ‘Karatta House’. It would be used as a magnificent holiday home for the rich and famous. Karatta House had an unrivalled view of Guichen Bay. It was situated up on the headland just past Lake Butler and views down on to Lake Butler could be seen from the side of the mansion. It was certainly set in a very picturesque location.
As the year wound down to its final conclusion, rumblings of discontent were heard in the Guichen Bay District. Rumours abounded that the Government in Adelaide was about to revalue the land leased as sheep runs in 1851.
Chapter 11 - Rumblings of Discontent