FROM the year 1850 to the present time (1897) I have kept a diary. It has been by no means a sentimental affair, but a record of facts of daily occurrence-places and persons visited, letters received and sent, meetings attended, etc. I have found it invaluable, and would strongly recommend all who are making a start in life to adopt this simple method of recording anything worthy of permanence. Many who made a good beginning in this plan, by neglecting to post up their notes daily, or every two or three days, have allowed long periods to pass from memory, and have then given it up in disgust. With a little patient perseverance the daily entries will become as much a part of the ordinary routine as eating and drinking. In recording deaths I place a black line around the entry, and in the case of births, marriages, etc., a red line. In glancing through, these distinctive marks can easily be seen, and a summary of important incidents at the end of each year will save much time.

      In the early part of 1850 I took an important step--not one that I altogether liked; but it was urged upon me.

      My mother was not altogether pleased that while my younger brother was in business on his own account, and doing well, I should remain in a situation. As the printing concern of Mr. Stott was for sale, she prevailed upon me to purchase it. I yielded with as good a grace as I could under the circumstances. The premises were [105] situated in King William Street, near to the present Savings Bank; and next door to what was then known as the Labor Office, supported by the Government. I commenced in March of the above year, and was favored with the printing connected with the Diocese of the Church of England, as well as a moderate share of public patronage. It was a small beginning, the staff only consisting in the first instance of a pressman (Mr. G. Duke) and an apprentice (Mr. R. Sheridan). I had to work as hard as at the Register and Observer Office; but I escaped the nightwork. My Church of England friends requested me to add to my office a depot for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and this I was pleased to do, and in addition kept for sale a small supply of stationery.

      Mr. E. S. Wigg commenced business as a bookseller and stationer in Rundle Street a short time before I began in King William Street. We were both then in a small way; but anyone going over the extensive premises of the firm of E. S. Wigg and Son in the present day would scarcely believe that the establishment had such a small beginning. Mr. Wigg and I were on the most friendly terms, not only in regard to commercial matters, but in religious affairs as well; and, though we differed on some points, we agreed to differ. For several years we did business together, and I do not think there was such a spirit of rivalry and competition then as developed itself in later times. I feel convinced that, in the long run, there is little gained by people in business striving to possess a monopoly in any department of trade. The motto, "Live and let live," seems to be very much a thing of the past, and it is to be regretted that it is so.

      Shortly after commencing business, one of my would-be patrons was a gentleman who had come to Adelaide to favor the South Australian public with dramatic readings, and I suppose he concluded that my establishment was the right one to patronise. His entrance was in true dramatic style, and, having placed his hat, gloves, and gold-headed stick on the counter, he politely handed me his card, accompanying the presentation with an intimation that he thought of giving me his printing. As I had determined not to print play-bills or anything of that sort, I thanked him, but said that his printing was not in my line. He gave me a look of surprise, and I suppose could scarcely believe his own eyes or ears. No doubt he had, in his travels, met with some curious specimens of the genus homo, and if this was a sample of the South Australians, he had better clear out as quickly [106] as possible. Of one thing I am quite certain--that be cleared out of my shop as speedily as was becoming a dramatic reader, and in true dramatic style he gathered up his gloves and walking-stick, and, putting on his aristocratic hat, made his exit. I had been an admirer of the drama, and had actually possessed myself of two editions of Shakespeare--one, his complete works in one volume, and a set of five or six volumes. On becoming a Christian I disposed of these, and works of a similar character, concluding that the Scriptures ought to take the place of Shakespeare and of any other books that were not likely to be helpful to me in my Christian work.

      Like my distinguished visitor, I had already met with some very peculiar people, but in after years met with many more. It will appear from what I am about to mention that the small but select printing office in King William Street was to have another peculiar person, besides the proprietor, on the premises. Not requiring one of the rooms upstairs, I let it to a dentist, who was not troubled with many customers. He was a bachelor, and had a maiden sister who wrote poetry and educated young ladies. I could sometimes hear my gentleman lodger laughing, and, like Mr. Caudle, he made the bed shake; as I had not seen anyone go upstairs, I concluded that he was having all the fun to himself. Such was really the case, and, as I am quite sure that he only indulged in light food, I surmise that he also enjoyed light reading. He had made a discovery which might be useful to those whose pockets were also light. He kindly let me into the secret, though I never made practical use of it except in cases of dire necessity. He said he found that, by keeping in bed, he did not require so much food as if he was up and about; and therefore indulged in what, but for this practical reason, might be set down as laziness. Finding that his discovery was of limited application, and could only continue for a season, he cleared out. I remember having read of some shipwrecked persons, who were famishing for want of fresh water, standing for hours in the sea up to their waists, and by this they considerably assuaged their thirst.

      Another tenant I had in King William Street was a man who, in the latter part of his life, made the discovery that there was no God, and that the Bible was a fable. It is comprehensible that those who never heard of God, nor ever read the Bible, might entertain such thoughts; but that anyone of ordinary intelligence, professing to have read and even studied the Bible, can arrive at such an absurd conclusion, is a mystery. I have web and [107] conversed with infidels and atheists, and have generally found that when pressed with references to human conscience and consciousness, they are at a loss to account for these. It is almost useless to argue with such persons, as there is no foundation, apart from or outside of the Bible, to work upon. It is my opinion that cases of thin character indicate a moral disease, more of the heart than the head. It is usually found that those who fall out with the Bible do so because the Bible has fallen out with them; and that when the good Book condemns their evil practices, they find fault with the Book instead of upbraiding themselves. "Let God be true," even though "every man be found a liar."

      As my business prospered, I was able to give employment to Mr. Shawyer and also to Mr. Gall, both of whom I subsequently took into partnership. My shop was a place of call for the Bishop and the clergy, though there was very little accommodation for them. Bishop Short took a kindly interest in my welfare, and expressed a wish that I would procure larger premises. Though well aware that my small concern did not fairly represent such an important ecclesiastical, establishment as the Church of England, I was not in a position to do honor to it in the way desired. Mr. Woodcock proved a staunch friend, and did his utmost to qualify me for future usefulness both in the Church and in the world. Archdeacon Hale and the Rev. W. H. Coombs also gave me what help and encouragement they could; but Mr. Woodcock was really another father to me--indeed I might truly designate him my godfather. We had many conferences together on religious subjects, and, generally speaking, were of one mind. Before the formation of the Synod of the Church of England, a Church Society was formed, and Mr. Woodcock had my name placed on the committee, as he wanted, he said, to bring me forward.

      Besides Mr. Woodcock's personal interest in the promotion of my temporal and spiritual welfare, which was manifested in an especial manner, he endeavored to help forward and encourage the teachers of Christ Church Sunday-school in their labor of love. Weekly meetings of teachers and lay readers were held at the parsonage, when the evening was devoted to prayer and reading the Scriptures. These gatherings were hallowed seasons, and were the means of leading us to pray, not with the aid of the Prayer Book, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If some ritualistic watchmen had been present at those seasons, the leader would have been warned that he was inciting his flock to go [108] astray, and that if his sheep were allowed so much liberty he might find them wandering into the Methodist or some other heretical fold. Our minister appeared to really enjoy these meetings as much as any of us, and it was a source of wonderment to me that he could, with his liberal and evangelical views, remain in connection with the Church of England. This, however, he did, perhaps satisfying his conscience with the conviction that evangelicalism was as much needed in that communion as in any other, or more so.

      In January, 1851, I published the first number of The Church Intelligencer and Christian Gleaner. This, my first attempt at editing and publishing a periodical, was issued monthly, 24 pages 12mo, price threepence. In the editorial, department I was assisted by Archdeacon Hale and the Revs. W. J. Woodcock and W. H. Coombs. The objects were stated as follow:--"To record with fidelity the proceedings of the Church in the Colonies; to furnish original and well-selected articles calculated to interest and improve the youthful mind; to promote an accurate knowledge of the great truths of our holy faith, and, the principles of our Church, as contained and expounded in her Articles and formularies; and to help in the establishment of Christian missions among the Australian blacks and other heathen tribes--are the main purposes to which this little periodical will be devoted." After The Church Intelligenter had been published for a little more than a year, it entered upon the troublous season of the exodus to the Victorian goldfields. Its editor, printer, and publisher, having closed his establishment in King William Street, and having transferred his services to the Register and Observer newspapers, also took his periodical thither; but its after-existence was of short duration. In April, 1852, the following notice to its readers appeared: "Notwithstanding that our little periodical had been carried on at considerable loss, yet in the hope of its obtaining as it became better known a wider circulation, we ventured in our number for December last to announce our intention of continuing it for another year. Owing, however, to the departure of so large a proportion of the members of our communion to the Victorian goldfields--together with the unwholesome excitement which prevails among those who remain behind--indisposing them for such reading as is furnished by our monthly paper--the number of our subscribers has considerably diminished. Under these circumstances, the proprietors, not being in a position to incur any further loss, feel compelled; however reluctantly, to discontinue, at least for the present, the [109] issue of The Church Intelligencer. In taking leave of our readers and of the Christian public, we may be permitted to state that, while we have sought, as in duty bound, to promote the interests and advocate the principles of that section of the Church to which we belong--yet our primary aim and prayer has been the advancement generally 'of true religion and piety,' conscientiously avoiding uttering aught that would unnecessarily pain the members of other communions."

      In 1851 tidings reached the Colony of rich discoveries of gold in Victoria. A few hundreds of people had previously gone to California and New South Wales in consequence of reported finds there, but in a short space of time thousands now went over to the neighboring Colony of Victoria, in most cases leaving their wives and families behind. The exodus increased; "Off to the diggings" was the general reply of those who were on the move, and notices to that effect were posted on some of the places of business that were closed and vacated. History repeats itself; and Hindley Street in 1851 saw a repetition of the state of things that had obtained ten years before, the street being largely deserted. Upwards of fifty shops in this thoroughfare alone were closed, and many private houses were without tenants, as it was often the case that two families whose bread-winners had gone to the diggings, would occupy one house instead of two. The suburbs suffered greatly, and it was said that only one man was left in Thebarton; and he, no doubt, felt himself to be of some importance, and was thought much of by the women and children in the locality. With reference to the deserted state of the City, there is an entry in my diary, under date Saturday, January 10, 1852, as follows:--"This day Adelaide presented a most singular appearance, the streets being almost deserted. Tradesmen much depressed, and little or scarcely any business doing. Eleven vessels advertised for Melbourne. Mr. Wicksteed, auctioneer, with clerk, and boy ringing a bell, walked down King William Street to the vacant land at the rear of the Gresham Hotel. About five or six persons attended the sale. A water-cart, horse, and harness, all complete, were sold for £16." This would be little more than a fourth of their former value.

      While thousands were leaving South Australia for Victoria, , multitudes were flocking to England, from all parts of the world, to visit the first grand International Exhibition, held in London in 1851. In connection with this I penned the following lines, which afterwards appeared in print:-- [110]

      The year 1852 was a transitional period, beginning with a large exodus of people and ending with a return of many of them--not bringing the gold with them, but sending it on before by police escort. In the early part of the year every vessel leaving Adelaide for Victoria was crowded with passengers, many of them being content, if they could not get a cabin passage, to take one in the steerage, or even on deck. As these were sailing-vessels, many suffered great inconvenience and discomfort, but the prospect of getting gold was sufficient to enable them to put up with all kinds of deprivations and annoyances. The voyage to Melbourne, [111] in many instances, was an excellent course of preparation for the hardships and exposure the gold-seekers had to undergo on the fields. Among the motley crowds that went off to the diggings might be seen parsons, lawyers, doctors--in fact "all sorts and conditions of men." Besides the thousands who went by sea, hundreds proceeded overland in bullock-drays, horse-drays, and all kinds of vehicles; many on horseback; and some on foot. One, if not more, took swag and provisions over in a wheelbarrow; and nearly all not only took sufficient stores for the journey of four or five weeks, but enough to last for some time after arrival at their destination. The greater part of those who went overland were men, but a few took their wives and children with them to settle down for a season on the goldfields. The people from this Colony were, as a rule, more successful than those residing in Victoria, and they opened up some of the best of the fields for obtaining gold. There was a reason for this. If the Victorians were not successful after two or three trials, they could easily return to the place whence they came; but the South Australians, on the other hand, being far away from home, were induced to persevere till fortune favored them.

      On Friday, March 19, 1852, the first gold escort arrived in Adelaide from Mount Alexander, in command of Capt. A. Tolmer, and this event was a red-letter day for South Australia. Hundreds of persons went in the direction of the Glen Osmond Road to get the first glimpse of this intrepid band, and I well remember the singular appearance they presented. In the midst of a cloud of dust was a spring-cart drawn by four horses, escorted by the gallant leader and four or five mounted troopers with drawn swords--the whole proceeding at a pace which indicated that their business was urgent and important. Onward they dashed till they reached the Treasury in King William Street, where, amid the shouts and cheers of the assembled crowd, upwards of £18,000 worth of gold was deposited. This had been convoyed along a bush track, between 300 and 400 miles, over hills, down gullies, through swamps, across rivers and swollen streams, and along parts of the country where bushrangers might be expected to intercept it. The second escort arrived in Adelaide on May 4, and brought 1,620 lbs. weight of gold, valued at £ 70,000, sent by 851 diggers.

      During the year the probable value of the gold sent by escort and brought by vessels was a million sterling; but what to do with it became a serious question. The banks had been drained of nearly all their coined gold, and to replenish their [112] coffers, as well as to give a representative value to their notes, an admirable plan was devised by Mr. George Tinline, manager of the Bank of South Australia, who was assisted by others in maturing it. This plan provided for a Government assay office, in which a standard value was to be given to the gold submitted, and the bullion could then be paid into the banks as coin. The banks, on the other hand, were allowed to issue notes in exact proportion to the bullion owned or held by them. By these means trade and commerce received an impetus beyond the most sanguine expectation of the promoters of the scheme. The Government Assay Office was opened on February 10, 1852, and on that day upwards of £10,000 worth of gold was received for assay. Previously to the adoption of this plan, many systems had been tried by the trading community, in seeking to maintain something of a circulating medium. A few firms had imported bronze tokens of the face value of a penny; others had printed notes for 2s. 6d., 5s., and upwards, payable on demand by the issuers--and so long as the respective houses were regarded as solvent, these freely passed. The Assay Office having proved such a success, the Government went still further, and actually opened a miniature Mint, issuing gold tokens of the nominal value of £l, containing more of the precious metal then the ordinary sovereigns. 'Their actual gold value was upwards of twenty-one shillings. The possessors of any of these could now easily obtain much more for them than this amount. I have one, which, as a relic of the period, I would not like to part with for several times its original value.

      Passing mention should be made of the Constitution, which reached the Colony in 1851, and which led to an entire change in the Government of the Province. The "Bill to establish the Legislative Council of South Australia, and to provide for the election of members to serve in the same," was passed on February 21; and the new Council, consisting of twenty-four members, met on August 28. Of this number sixteen were elected, and eight (four official and four non-official) members were nominated by the Governor. Not one of these is living (except it be Mr. G. M. Waterhouse) at the time I write, in 1897. Prior to this the Governor had the power of nominating the members of his Council, and though some of these might be supposed to carry out all Government measures submitted to them, a few had the courage to make a bold stand in opposition when they considered these were not conducive to the best welfare of the Colony. [113]

      At the first election of a partially elective Council, the burning question was State-aid to religion, which had been in operation for some time. Many considered this practice to be opposed to the principle of religious freedom upon which the Colony was founded, and determined, so soon as an opportunity presented, to upset the arrangement. A powerful organisation, known as the Anti-State-aid League, had been formed; meetings were held, bills circulated, and appeals made--in short, every devisable means was adopted to get members returned who would put a stop to it. I attended one of these meetings, held at the Queen's Theatre, and though at that time knowing little of the merits or demerits of the question at issue, I remember the intense ardor that characterised some of the speeches. One leading citizen, who was very much opposed to the practice, almost jumped up with excitement, and appeared to be boiling over with indignation. The matter was settled on August 29, when, by a majority of three, the Legislative Council resolved that the Bill for the continuance of the grant "be read this day six months."

      This burning question having been finally settled, a measure to promote education was introduced, which provided for stipends to teachers, assistance in the erection of schoolhouses, and other regulations, the whole of which were to be under the control and management of a Board of Education. To guard against any undue denominational influence being exercised, no minister of religion was to be a member of the Board, and no denominational teaching was to be permitted. The framing of the regulations was entrusted to a few gentlemen of high standing, two or three of whom (including the Rev. T. Q. Stow) had been amongst the staunchest opponents of State-aid to religion. These gentlemen, in their wisdom, framed a resolution providing for Bible-reading during school hours; and, in so doing, they could see no connection between this and the principle they had so strenuously opposed. It was reserved for a wiser generation to make the discovery that Bible reading was part-and-parcel of State-aid to religion, and clamor for a discontinuance of the practice. This commendable system continued in operation for about a quarter of a century, and caused none of those dissensions and heart-burnings which have been predicted of it if re-adopted. As I shall have occasion to refer to this matter further on, I shall leave it for the present.

      I must now return to my small printing establishment in King William Street, and recount the effect that the exodus to the Victoria goldfields exercised upon its proprietor. I managed [114] to keep the business a going concern during the year 1851, but on January 10, 1852, determined to close and take a situation. The types and presses were removed to my residence at North Adelaide, and the books of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge were transferred to Mr. Dehane. I found I was wanted at two places, the Government Printing Office and the Register and Observer Offices. Mr. W. K. Thomas had caught the gold fever, but did not know how he could well get away unless there were someone to take his place. In this emergency he found that if I would undertake the general oversight of the establishment, and the acting-executor ( Mr. John Taylor) would accept of my services, his way was clear to go to the land of gold. In deciding which offer to take I was mainly influenced by the loss the widow of my late friend Mr. John Stephens would sustain were the issue of the papers to be suspended; to say nothing of the inconvenience to the public. Matters having been satisfactorily arranged with Mr. Taylor, I entered upon my new duties as soon as I could close my own business premises, which occupied a fortnight, though rendering whatever assistance was possible in the meantime. On February 14, 1852, my name appeared for the first time as printer and publisher of the Register and Observer. I never imagined when I "set up" some type for the first number of the Observer, nine years before, that I should occupy this prominent position. As so many compositors had left or were leaving, I entertained doubts as to whether the papers could be brought out, but determined to do my part, and even more if necessary. On February 6, Mr. Thomas called at the office, saw that the papers were coming out in due course as usual, and then took leave of us.

      Great changes had taken place during my two or three years absence from the Register and Observer offices, and some of them were of a sad character. Mr. Stephens had lost, by death, a son in 1849, and on March 31, 1850, a lovely maiden daughter (the child of his first wife), to whom he was devotedly attached. Mr. John Taylor was also much attached to her, and, as they were engaged to be married, this sad event proved almost a death-blow to him, as well as to her father. She was blooming into womanhood, and gave promise of becoming a useful Christian worker, when she was rather suddenly taken away by fever from "the evil to come." A short time previous to her death Miss Stephens became a teacher in Trinity Church Sunday-school, and was much beloved by those who knew her. The testimony she bore on her death-bed was very satisfactory, and was as follows:--"On Christ [115] my hope is stayed; my Saviour's blood has washed away my sins. I can and do trust in the Lord. I am going. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy Name!" Mr. Stephens had been greatly worried with the libel actions which had been brought against him, and the stroke of his daughter's death fell heavily upon him--too heavily, in fact, for him to bear. He died in November, 1850, at the early age of forty-four, leaving a widow and three or four young children to mourn their loss. Only a year or two before his decease Mr. Stephens was involved in upwards of a dozen actions for libel, and this was more than enough for a man strong in body and in mind. He was rather irritable, and of an extremely sensitive nature, with a very strong sense of right and wrong; and he felt that it was the duty of an editor to expose and denounce what he considered wrong, regardless of consequences. He had many friends, but also made many enemies by the course he pursued; and the very thought of having the ill-will of a large number of his fellow-colonists was sufficient to crush any ordinary man. By his death I felt that I had lost a personal friend; and those who knew his stirling character could not but admire his integrity of purpose. Mr. John Taylor became the acting-executor of the estate, and performed his duties in an able and faithful manner.

      The exodus to the diggings had not only led to the non-issue of The Church Intelligencer, but about the same time Mr. George Stevenson decided to discontinue publishing the Gazette and Mining Journal, which had taken the place of the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register. Mr. James Allen, who, on his return from England, had started a new daily paper called the Adelaide Times, brought it out only once a week; and the Adelaide Mercury, a satirical weekly, had to succumb to the altered circumstances of the Colony. In January, 1851, the Austral Examiner made its appearance as a weekly paper, and while it lived was ably conducted. It took a high stand as the advocate of religion and morality, and was not to be considered merely as a commercial or mercenary undertaking. The rush after gold put a stop to its praiseworthy purposes; but in 1853 its promoters made another start, bringing it, or its successor, out as the Examiner. In January, 1851, the South Australian Educational Times was issued for the first time, and not long after both editor and printer went to the diggings; hence its readers had to wait till they came back. The German newspaper, the Adelaide Deutsche Zeitung, edited by Mr. W. Eggers, was suspended till November, 1853, when it again appeared, and was published [116] weekly, as previously. No. 1 of the Morning Chronicle, edited, printed, and published by Mr. A. Murray, had succeeded the South Australian, and came out on December 1, 1851; appearing for the last time not long after. Two or three papers of an ephemeral character--such as the Australians, the Witness etc. had all ceased to be in 1852; leaving the Register, Observer, Times, and Chronicle to struggle on as best they could--the last-named only for a short season.

      After taking the oversight of the Register and Observer, it was considered advisable to issue an edition of the latter specially for the diggings; and this was done, though it entailed additional labor. There were the six issues of the Register, and country, diggings, and town editions of the Observer to get out with a diminished number of hands; and the probability of still more leaving. Mr. John Foreman, who had assisted in "making-up" the papers, rendered me valuable assistance, taking two turns a week at the Register, which enabled me to obtain a little rest and devote more time to the Observer. The diggings edition of this paper was the means of keeping up communication between persons in this Colony and absent relatives and others. The "messages" that were sent by its means obviated, in many instances, the necessity for an epistolary correspondence. In fact, the paper, being circulated all over the diggings, would more readily reach those for whom the message was intended, than a letter forwarded without a definite address.

      As there was barely a sufficient number of men to "set up" the type, I knew that if one were kept back to assist in "making-up" the papers I would run short next day. Therefore, all were sent away as soon as the last proof was corrected, and I remained alone to prepare the paper for press. Nothing but dire necessity would justify such a course, as the breaking of a column or two of type while "imposing" or "making-up" a page of the paper, would prevent its issue next day. Is can be understood that with only candles for illumination it was a difficult task to collect and arrange the contents of the papers. In the long days of summer, daylight often broke in upon me by the time the formes were ready for press, and Mr. George Duke came to convey them to the machine room. There were two hand machines at this time, requiring two men ordinarily to turn the handles, and four men, for relays, when an extra number had to be struck off. It was hard work to print 800 copies an hour at these machines, and in warm weather I have seen the men come up as the stokers do on steamships, literally bathed in perspiration. One of the [117] compositors, a very fast hand, only remained with us because he indulged so freely in strong drink that he was unable to save sufficient money to take him to the diggings.

      I kept an advertisement in the papers announcing the want of compositors and pressmen, with a view to picking up any new-comers who might arrive in the Colony, and the response to this occasionally created no little amusement. One or two applicants represented themselves as "composers," but as this was not exactly what was wanted, we were mutually disappointed. A man sought the position of pressman, and being conducted to the machine room, was requested to demonstrate his skill at a Columbian press. I saw at once from the way he handled it that though he might have seen a printing-press, he did not know how to manipulate one; and, on enquiry, found that he had worked a cheese-press in the old country. Of course his services were not required to help us through our difficulties. My apprentice, Mr. R. Sheridan, who had followed me to the Register and Observer Office, remained with me, and rendered faithful and effectual service.

      Having referred to the mechanical department, I must glance at the literary staff, which, at this time, was a very small one. Mr. J. Taylor usually wrote the leading articles, with the occasional assistance of Mr. E. W. Andrews--the duties of the latter being specially in the reporting line. Mr. J. Dickens prepared the market and local intelligence, and sundry "fill-up" paragraphs. I think he had an idea that he partook to some extent of the character of his great namesake, and would try to amuse us with humorous anecdotes; but sometimes an unkind enquiry was made as to where the laugh was to come in. Mr. Dickens was of a kindly disposition, and would not be displeased even when his stories were not duly appreciated. I must confess, however, to having occasionally ruffled his generally even temper under the following circumstances:--It was his custom, about 10 or 11 o'clock, to retire to his room for a sleep on his couch till the early hours of the morning. On awaking, he would remember that there was an important paragraph or two which he had not sent in; and, bringing the "copy" in, he would say the item or items must appear in the ensuing issue of the paper. As the type for the said issue was then measured off, leaving no room for any more, I usually told him plainly that the new matter must be held over till next day. Then the controversy would commence in earnest as to the must and the cannot; and it generally ended with the admission on my part that, if the item or items must [118] really be inserted, it must be in the margin of the paper. This would virtually settle the conflict; but if he adopted different tactics, and used his persuasive powers, I would give way, and leave out something else in order to get the required space. Even with Mr. Dickens' valuable services in supplying "fill-up" paragraphs, I was sometimes at my wits' ends to "make-up" the paper, and often had to write a few lines of a local or general character. During these hard times we were living from hand to mouth, and could not keep the stock of "fill-ups" in type which, under ordinary circumstances, are available for this purpose.

      My work at this period was of a multifarious character, and seemed never to be finished, though I kept at it all the time. For the Register, I had to give out the "copy," read the proofs, "make-up" the paper, mark it (showing what might be "distributed" and what was to be reserved for the three editions of the Observer), and give general directions as to the printing of both papers. Saturday morning was the very worst of the week, as I had the additional task, after going to press, of checking the accounts of the compositors and of making-out the wages sheet. To do this under ordinary circumstances was trifling; but when thoroughly wearied with work on Thursday, and sitting-up on that and the following night, with only a few hours' sleep on the Friday morning to carry me through till Saturday morning, it was rather too much for one who was not by any means strong.

      Mr. Taylor would come into the composing-room on Saturday mornings to ascertain whether I was alive after so much fatigue, and would find me or my shadow moving about, and beg of me to go home. My reply usually was--"Yes, Sir; I am going home when all my work is done."

      The really trying time continued till nearly the end of 1852, when some of the compositors returned from the diggings, and I could obtain a little assistance. Mr. Thomas came back at the end of the year, and as he was willing to resume his former duties, I decided to retire and give place to him. Mr. Taylor then offered me the jobbing business, but I felt that in my weak state it would be unwise to accept the offer. I needed a rest, and determined to take one before re-opening my old business. On retiring from the arduous duties at the Register and Observer Offices, I was presented with a cheque as a tangible acknowledgment of services rendered. This was accompanied by a letter of thanks from the trustees, in which it was stated that but for the assistance I had given "the papers could not have been issued." [119] Thus ended the; hardest year of work I had ever experienced in connection with newspapers.

      It might be imagined that I relinquished my preaching and Sunday-school work during this trying time; but these were not neglected in the slightest degree. My services were quite as necessary in the church and school as they were at the printing office; and I feel thankful that strength was given me to help in this time of need. The congregation at Christ Church was considerably thinned, as were those of all other places of worship; but there were still some who would not "forsake the assembling of themselves together." We were deprived of the services of our organist, who, I think, went "off to the diggings." A lady kindly gave her services in his place; and, as in Trinity Church, so here, I sat in the place reserved for the choir. The choir was not there, however; and on one occasion our lady organist was absent, and I was alone in the organ enclosure. The "Evening Hymn" was announced, and I had the presumption to attempt to raise the tune; but I pitched it too high, and there would have been a break-down had not Mr. O. K. Richardson kindly taken it up and carried it through.

      On April 12, 1852 (Easter Tuesday) the children attending Christ Church Sunday-school marched in procession to "Graham's Castle," Prospect, then the residence of Mr. John Adams, who generously entertained them. There was also a number of visitors, including His Excellency the Governor; and both young and old appeared greatly to enjoy the entertainment. About this time, at a teachers' meting held at the Rev. W. J. Woodcock's, it was resolved to conduct a separate service for the young on Lords'-day mornings. This plan, which has since been adopted in many Sunday-schools, besides supplying the scholars with Scriptural instruction suited to their capacity, has been found to provide an excellent training for the teachers who conduct the service. This duty generally devolved upon me in the Christ Church Sunday-school, and the work was both pleasant and profitable. Mr. Woodcock desired that I should study for the ministry, and this appeared to me to be a stepping-stone in that direction. But of that subject more anon.

      At the end of December of this year I undertook, in addition to getting out the Register and Observer, the finishing-up connected with the Book Almanac, and this nearly finished me. With the exception of time for meals, I was kept busy for thirty-six hours right off, in a stifling atmosphere--the work for the week occupying about eighty hours. The greater part of this was [120] night-work, which was extremely trying, because I could not get sufficient refreshing sleep in the day-time to strengthen me for the night. I tried all the means and methods I could devise to induce sleep during the day, but the brain was in such a state of excitement with the many things I had to think of, as well as do, that insomnia threatened. For several years, when working night and day at printing, I never knew what it was to feel thoroughly rested. On January 1, 1853, I "made-up" the papers for the last time; and on Monday, the 3rd, Mr. W. K. Thomas entered again upon his duties, and set me free. Had I not been sustained with strength from on high, I could not possibly have survived the arduous duties undertaken in 1852; and others placed in the like circumstances could no doubt bear similar testimony.

      The year 1852 was memorable, not only for the exodus to the goldfields, but also for the arrival of the steamship Australian, from England via the Cape of Good Hope. She left England on June 5, and anchored in Port Adelaide on Sunday, August 30, having accomplished the voyage in eighty-five days, including stoppages. On November 30 the Chusan, the first of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers to convey mails carried across the Isthmus of Suez, arrived at Port Adelaide, bringing English news sixty-eight days old, which was then considered very good indeed. Contrast these with the passages of some of the fast mail steamers via the Suez Canal, which in 1896 came in thirty-five days, bringing English news less than a month old by the overland route! A premium of £400 was offered in 1851 for every vessel landing mails and passengers at Port Adelaide within sixty-seven days from Great Britain; the total amount not to exceed £5,000 in any one year. It will have been noticed that the Chusan was only a day over the time. The Havilah, and one or two other steamers, came out from England to cater for the intercolonial trade, and were extensively patronised. In 1853, steamers commenced to navigate the River Murray, Mr. W. R. Randell having the honor of building the first one; and Capt. Cadell, in the Lady Augusta, navigated the stream for hundreds of miles, taking with him the Governor and a party of influential colonists.

      In 1853 there was great activity in all departments of trade, and particularly in printing. Mr. James Allen started the year by publishing the Weekly Dispatch, with which was incorporated the Weekly Times. On April 16 appeared the first number of the Examiner, a large weekly paper opposed to State-aid to [121] religion, and in favor of civil and religious liberty. In its introductory article the editor says:--"We do not enter an arena so crowded with competitors that standing-room is to be obtained only by elbowing out someone already there. There are but two journals published in this Colony at the present moment--both daily, but each issuing a weekly edition under a different name. We rest our vindication of the commercial policy of establishing a new journal on the palpable facts that the population, the interests, and the wealth of South Australia require and will maintain at least another paper; and that another is necessary to secure full justice to the claims of all parties, and to guarantee the due development of all interests. It will not be supposed, then, that in any remarks we may make as we proceed to sketch our idea of the proper aims and true position of a newspaper, we intend any special reference to either of the papers which henceforward we shall be privileged to call 'our contemporaries.'"

      In May, 1853, the Register and Observer, together with the whole of the printing plant, were purchased by a joint-stock company for several thousands of pounds. The gentlemen who constituted the company were Messrs. E. W. Andrews, F. H. Faulding, J. Fisher, A. Forster, Alex. Hay, J. H. Lucking, T. Magarey, and W. K. Thomas. Mr. A. Forster occupied the position of editor, and was assisted by an able staff of reporters. The name of Mr. W. K. Thomas appeared as the printer and publisher, and under his capable management, with increased facilities for enlargement and development, both papers kept a leading position. It was a source of great satisfaction to me to know that I had been the means of helping the papers through a very critical time, and that the widow of my late respected friend, Mr. Stephens, was, by the sale of the property, well provided for. I felt amply compensated for the arduous task I had performed, even though it left me weak and well-nigh prostrated. [122]

[CLACE 105-122]