Captain Cadell then proceeded to the river, carrying with him from Melbourne a canvas boat, twenty-one feet in length and three in breadth, which, on arrival at Swan Hill, he put together, and having obtained a crew of four returning diggers, dropped down the Murray, and after visiting every station and ascertaining the probable traffic to be derived from each, in the matter of wool, produce, rations, stores, &c., reached the Goolwa in twenty-one days. There he arranged the construction of a small vessel of about 100 tons capacity, to accompany, as a lighter, the little steamer Lady Augusta, which in July, 1853, was navigated round from Sydney, by Mr. Davidson, formerly master of the Hawk schooner; and, indeed, not the least extraordinary portion of this undertaking has been the voyage in midwinter by so small a vessel, of nearly 1,100 miles, through a sea at all times boisterous, and often most adverse even to the best and most weatherly craft. The round-house which occupies three-fourths of the Augusta’s deck, renders her on this account by no means fitted for the open sea; whilst it affords admirable accommodation on board for sixteen cabin passengers, including ladies, for whom a commodious after-cabin has been reserved.
These preliminary matters having been duly arranged, and the Lady Augusta pushed through the sea-mouth by Captain Cadell, a party including His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, some Members of the Legislative Council, with ladies and other friends, was arranged to accompany the meditated expedition up the Murray, which, the return voyage included, it was supposed would occupy about five weeks.
August the 19th, accordingly, His Excellency, accompanied by Mr. J. Grainger, of the Legislative Council, and the writer, left Adelaide to ride to the Goolwa, a distance from the capital of rather more than sixty miles. The road—generally indifferent, after ascending some fine open downs—passes through Noarlunga, on the Onkaparinga, a thriving and most promising township; and the first day’s halt took place at Willunga. This is one of the prettiest spots in the province, and well adapted to become, at a future and not very distant day, the resort of those inhabitants of Adelaide, who shall have the good taste or the leisure to exchange the dust, the heat, and the glare of a provincial town for the pleasing verdure of a country scene, rendered here particularly attractive by park-like glades and a charming sea-view.
A new inn would, however, be required; the accommodation of the “Bush” being quite insufficient for the traffic. On this occasion, the house being otherwise occupied, His Excellency took up his quarters for the night at Mr. Kell’s; Mr. Grainger finding a bed with the clergyman of the district, a Mr. Burnett.
A few miles beyond Willunga, the country is of the richest description, combining the most attractive forest scenery with far extended land and sea views. From thence onward, however, it deteriorates sadly, terminating in that dreary expanse of bush and sand, which is here denominated “scrub.” Descending to the Encounter Bay coast, a slight improvement takes place; and after emerging on the tract of land, over which runs the new tramline from Port Elliot to the Goolwa, some excellent pasture appears, which must soon assume a valuable character in connexion with the River Murray and the works in progress in this district. His Excellency repaired at once on board the Lady Augusta, which we reached about three p. m., there to await the arrival of Captain Cadell and party, who were to come down the following day and be present at the launching of the Eureka, as the new vessel built on the Goolwa by Messrs. Wisby (two brothers), formerly the carpenters of the Cleopatra steamer, had been styled. Some delay, however, occurring with regard to this ceremony, Sir Henry Young repaired to the house of Mr. Laurie, the harbour agent at Port Elliot, where, with Mr. Grainger, he remained some days. The launch commenced on the 23rd; but, rather to the disappointment of the young lady destined to perform the bottle-breaking ceremony, and with the expenditure of some pretty tri-coloured silk, the Eureka[7] was only finally brought alongside the steamer on the morning of the 24th.
On the evening of the 25th, the Lady Augusta, with a full complement of passengers, and including the Eureka, which was towed alongside, an aggregate number of forty-three persons, steamed off from the Goolwa Jetty, amidst the cheers of the assembled settlers of the district, many of whom had traversed long distances to witness the departure of the first steamer on the waters of the Murray.
It was calculated that 300 persons were present at the launch; and, previous to the departure of the boat, a déjeûner, by a large and respectable number of the community, had been given to Captain Cadell, in honour of the enterprise he had engaged in, and as a mark of the sense entertained by the public of the zeal and energy with which he had carried on his measures.
To particularize the features of this trip by a diary of the daily proceedings on board, or by the diurnal progress of the little vessel against the stream, would be tedious and uninteresting. Comprising good cheer in abundance, and, with hardly the exception of an unfavourable day, unvaried fine weather, our passage up the river could not afford much scope to the imagination, or offer a prolific subject even to the highest descriptive powers.
MELBOURNE.