Nathaniel Hailes was a wry chronicler of early colonial South Australia. He arrived in Adelaide from England in 1839 and throughout his colourful career witnessed many strange and wonderful happenings. A courageous lone traveller, he got to know the Aboriginal people of the region; supped of the first illicit still of the colony; saw fire destroy Adelaide's first Government House; became well-acquainted with some of the colony's first murders and execution; and at different times worked as Superintendent of Emigrants, auctioneer, the first librarian in the State, Clerk of the COurt, Clerk to the Government Resident, Registrar, Harbourmaster and Postmaster.
Hailes' witty and affectionate 'Recollections' appeared in the 'South Australian Register' newspaper in 1878. They are here for the first time in book form.
Contents:
Introduction
1. Self Transportation
2. Adelaide in 1839
3. Our Early Buildings
4. A Transplanted Village
5. My First Acquaintance with Natives
6. First Glimpses of the Bush
7. Two Wrecks: The 'Fanny' and 'Maria'
8. Murder of John Gofton
9. The Unexplored Bush
10. Water and the Want of It
11. Postal Communication
12. Old Colonial Weather
13. Colonial Progression
14. The General Scattering
15. Murders at Port Lincoln
16. Reconciliation of Tribes
17. Prehistoric Colonial Scenes
18. Bill Brien, a Human Enigma
19. Settling Down in a New Town
20. Native in their Primitive Condition
21. Additional Characteristics of Native
22. The Fate Journey of C.C. Dutton
23. Unsuccessful Search for Dutton
Notes
Author's Note
Index
