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on August 91 18371 to counteract the inefficiency and negligence of the
Bighton Police1 which revealed him as a man of unusual qualities , earned
for him the enmity of Roper and his friends , and attracted the attention
of the press and the colonists . 4
Al tho.ugh the Bighton Association came to an .ignominious end
thrugh lack of .agreement by its members , it had also served its purpose
and was no lo.nger necessary .
For some time past, the district had been
seriously alarmed and outaged by the daring atrocities of the bushrnger
egan and his associates , who had maged to elude all efforts of the
police to capture them.
Finally, Captain A. McKenzie of the 21st Royal
Scots Fusiliers set out from Green Ponds on May 16, 1838 , with a corporal
and three privates , two constables and two volunteers to attempt the
capture , and succeeded in dong so two days later . 5 Thereupon, the
Bighton residents who were anxious to present a testimonial of their
gratitude to McKenzie, formed the Committee for the Presentation of the
Silver Salver with Hall as Secretary and one hundred and thirteen
subscribers . Consequently at the end of September, 1838, Hall journeyed
to Hobart Town to make the presentation to the Captain. 6 Actually, he was
anxious to us e the occasion of his visit to wait upon the Governor for the
second time .
By now he realized that private medical practice in Brighton
could not succeed; his family was increasi.ng steadily; there were
assigned servants in the household;
many people were dependent upon him
for support .
He decided to seek employment with the Government Medical
Service as a District Assistant Srgeon, as many other doctors were forced
to do .
The possibility of an appointment first arose on July 30 , 1838,
when a letter, signed by Assistant Police Magistrate Maj or C. Schaw , the
RevereRd J. Garrett and nine leading citizens of Bothwel l, was sent to
Principal Medical Officer Dr J. Arthur , with the news that De Little, who
had been transferred from Bighton to Bothwell a short whi le before , had
been thrown from his horse into the River Clyde while returning late at
night from visiti.ng a patient , and his body had not been recovered.
They
asked that his successor be a man with ability and medical knowledge ,
4
cso 5/126/2963 .
True Colonist, May 17, 18, 1837.
May 18, June 30 , 1838 .
5
6
Courier, June 15, ugust 17, 1838.
Courier, May 25, 1838.
Courier1 October 5, 8, 1838.