PDF (Whole thesis) - UTas ePrints - University of Tasmania

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them . One of these whose deception he had exposed, for he allowed no
trick by man or woman to pass unno ticed, hid a heavy piece of quartering
with which to kill him as he knelt with his ear to the chest of a woman
dying of lung disease.
Fortunately, the Assistant Superintendent was
warned of her intention a moment before Hall made his rounds of the
hospital and the attempt on his life was thwarted.
From February 1, 1850, until September 1852 , Hall's . management
of the establishments proceeded smoothly.
Hampton, with whom Hall's
relationship was cordial, spoke of him uas one of his best officers -
too valuab le to be parted withu .
Dawson, on his departure to India , left
Hall this testimonial -
Hobarton, 2nd April . /1852.
Dr Hall has been the medical officer of a general hospital
at Oatlands , and subsequently the medical superintendent of
the female factory and nursery of chi ldren at Ross.
always esteemed him as a zealous, attentive and efficient
officer , a well-educated medical man, and exercising his
profession with judgment and discretion and success .
W. Dawson M.D.
Dep. Inspector-General of Hospitals
I have
Dawson's successor, Dr Shanks , visited Ross once during Hall 's charge and
recorded:
Visited the station this day , found the inmates remarkably
healthy and the who le establishment in the most perfect order.
He commended Hall for his management of a difficult task;
so, too , did
other visitors :
clergymen, medical men, magistrates , ladies and high
officials.
One visitor , formerly of the Ordnance Tower of London
uconsidered it (Ross factory) well deserving of being held up as a model
for all similar establishments in Her Majesty's colonies''. 3
Though p1ea ed with his success as a convict Medical
Superintendent , Hall did not let anything take precedence over his
domestic life.
His family had now increased to six children , another
daughter, Anastasia, having been born on August 29 , 1850.
To educate
his growing fami ly of five girls and one boy Hall emp loyed a governess ,
Catherine Bennett , a daughter of Brian Bennett of Stoneley , Hayes , who
was described as a charming and intelligent girl .
One rainy aft ernoon
in the early autumn of 1850 Hall was dr iving two of his ch ildren and
their governess near t'Somercotesu when a front wheel of the carriage
slipped into a muddy rut and came off.
Although the vehicle capsized
3
Tasmanian Daily News , Sept. 18, 1855 .