Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/79

 The Builders ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 53 and new landing-places at the seaboard were absolutely required ; and, with all these, the tide of immigration was still sufficient to tax the resources of a colony possessing the most perfect organisation. Several events during the period of these disputes and changes in the administration deserve to be noted. The conveniences established at the port were few in number and modest in pretensions. Agreeable to the request of the public meeting held in Eebruary, 1837, Governor Hindmarsh and Resident Commissioner F"isher permitted holders of preliminary land-orders to select town acres at the j^ort. Colonel Light surveyed the town site, and 29 acres were taken up there by preliminary holders in 1837. On May 25 of that year, Governor Hindmarsh proclaimed the harbor a legal port, and thus Port Adelaide came into being. No landing conveniences existed either there or at Holdfast Bay. The latter place was invariably used for disembarking passengers until 1839. The vessels anchored some distance from the shore ; passengers were conveyed in boats to the beach, and carried through the surf pick-a-back to dry ground, being, of course, at the mercy of the carriers, who might drop them into the water if they chose. When wagons and drays had oxen to draw them they were driven through the surf to the boats and loaded with passengers and goods. Upon the beach new arrivals were generally welcomed by bands of aboriginals, who seemed to find great amusement in watching the proceedings. Indeed, they apparently viewed this ingress of the "pale faces" more as a dramatic entertainment provided for their pleasure than as a menace to their welfare. They were already being educated to white ways, and pertinaciously begged for biscuits and tobacco. The immigrants either walked over the plain to Adelaide, or were carried in bullock- drays. There were no fences and no clearly-defined tracks, and the vehicles could cut across country just as their drivers wished. Numbers of pioneers had to remain on the beach for days, protecting their luggage and goods, until they could be removed to the city. The Government, to house the increasing number of immigrants, erected wooden buildings on what was known as " Immigration Square," situated on the park lands west of Hindley Street. There were over 20 of the.se buildings in the square in 1838, and 30 or 40 in 1839-40, and in them new comers had shelter until they entered upon the particular work they were to follow in the Province. In 1838, 3,154 emigrants left England for South Australia. Numbers of German families arrived from Hamburg under the care of the Rev. Mr. Kavel. They were enabled to emigrate principally by the assistance and generosity of Mr. G. F. Angas. Not a few of these successful colonists owed their contentment and prosperity to that large-minded gentleman. Two ships, the Zebra and the Prince George, arrived from Hamburg in November and December, 1838, and others in 1839 and later years. The German immigrants formed settlements. at Klemzig, Hahndorf, Lobethal, Bethanien, Langmiel, and other places. Early in the existence of old Port Adelaide, which was situated two or three miles up stream from the present Port, the Government cut a small canal or ditch to enable lighters to discharge on dry ground. A wharf was formed of the silt taken out.