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jointly for services by the two ministers in 1831 . Much of the harmony
in which the two sects worked was due to the friendship between Garrett and
Drought, but the latter resigned from Green Ponds in 1834, and with the
appointment of a full time minister to Bothwell in the person of the
Reverend T. Wigmore things were never the same again . Both sects claimed
the church as their own and wished to expel the other from its use.
Finally the case was referred to the Legislative Council for a decision .
In the meantime Episcopalian and Presbyterian adherents outwardly and
cordially disliked each other . 12 Hall, a Roman Catholic and a religious
outsider , did his best to remain friendly with both sides , a position
which was difficult to maintain .
Of far more concern to everyone was the state of the Bothwell
Police Force on the efficiency of which the settlers , especially those
living on isolated farms , depended for their protection from bushrangers .
As matters stood J they had little faith either in its ab ility to protect
them or even in its willingness to do so. As protection from the loss of
valuab le and often irreplaceable property , and even of life itself, were
ab solutely essential to their survival in a harsh , pioneering environment ,
the failure of the officials paid by the Government to protect them aroused
bitter, angry feelings . In November 1840 , there occurred an incident
which demons trated the ineffectual character of the Police . On the 16th
bushrangers robbed Reis ' farm, seven mi les from the Police Office, of arms ,
ammunition and provisions ; on the same day they were seen and spoken to
on the highway near the same place; two men were sent to investigate, but
nothing came of it . On November 24 three constables were sent in pursuit
of the gang , but they wer given no ammunition and had to provide their
own. At the he_ight of the trouble, on November 28 , Schaw, whom everyone
expected would show smire zeal in directing operations , departed for
Hobart Town to see the Regatta. Duri_ng his ab sence several more robberies
were committed and two shepherds on an out lyi_ng property were murdered.
Subsequently , the two constables who were sent out to get the bodies of
the murdered men were given no ammunition to protect themselves or to
capture the enemy . Later, a woman , who had cohabitated with one of the
bushrangers ,
reported that they would visit Chivers ' Hotel six miles from
Bothwell at a certain time . When the three constables who had been
dispatched to capture them entered the room , presented their guns and
demanded a surrender or be destroyed, the bushrangers jumped up , threw up
'the constables ' muzzles , two of which went off, and walked off . The
. 12
Colonial Times , Sept . 29 , 1840 .