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The First Municipal Council in the Shoalhaven District celebrates its Sesquicentenary this year, 2009, and the story of its formation and subsequent dissolution due to the efforts of the Shoalhaven Incubus, Alexander Berry, had far reaching ramifications. But first let us set the scene.
In 1845 a Court of Petty Sessions was established at Shoalhaven, in the county of Camden, probably at Alexander Berry’s property of Coolangatta (New South Wales Government Gazette, 25th April 1845, p. 438), whilst David Berry and Kenneth McKenzie were appointed to the Illawarra District Council (New South Wales Government Gazette, 20th May 1845, p. 514). They served on the Council until at least 1848 (New South Wales Government Gazette, 4th August 1848, p. 953).
In 1850 Thomas Fowler, the Chief Constable of the Illawarra District, was also appointed as Chief Constable for Kiama and Shoalhaven (New South Wales Government Gazette, 8th March 1850, p. 358) and late in 1851 Constable Bernard Brown was appointed an Inspector of Cattle and Slaughter Houses for Shoalhaven (New South Wales Government Gazette, 2nd December 1851, p. 1972).
A Census was held in 1851 and we have analysed the Demographics of the Shoalhaven Police District and reproduced the results in graphical form.
George Legg, Assistant Surveyor, wrote to the Surveyor General, 2nd January 1855 from 1 Princess Street Sydney. In it he replies to queries made by the S-G after his survey of the Town of Nowra. He felt that the Town was in the best situation on the Shoalhaven River and was likely to become very important due to its proximity to the new Braidwood road and the fact that a wharf was to be constructed on the river adjoining Butler’s 100 acres. He did not think that the town lots marked out would sell immediately but the larger suburban lots were in demand. He felt this was due to the barrenness of the land which made anything less than ten acres impracticable for anything other than building. (SRNSW Surveyor General, Letters received from surveyors, 1822 - 55, CGS 13736, 2/1552.2 Copy at SRNSW reel 3075)
In 1856 we can set the scene with a description of the area by a gentleman named W.G. Williams:
“.....At Ulladulla there is a store and post office, kept by Mr. David Warden. As it was one o’clock, p.m., when I arrived at Ulladulla, I proceeded immediatley to Onedendian [Wandandian], half road between Ulladulla and Shoalhaven. Between Ulladulla and Onedendian, the land is of the worst description.
“At 8 o’clock the following morning I started for Shoalhaven, distance from Onedendian 25 miles, at which place I arrived at one o’clock, p.m. As I had to remain in Shoalhaven for a few days, I made enquiries for a respectable place to reside. I was directed by a gentleman to put up at Mr. John M’Carthy’s, Steam Packet Inn, at which place I remained for nine days, here I met with the greatest kindness and civility, both from Mr. M’Carthy and his wife. I must say for M’Carthy, that he kept as decent and orderly a house as ever I put at during my sojourn in this colony. As regards the district of Shoalhaven, it is a most beautiful and healthy locality. Here everything is going on rapidly. The proprietors of Greenhills, are James Graham, Esq., a most respectable and worthy gentleman, and Mrs. De Mestre an excellent lady, who has recently erected a flour Mill, of a twelve horsepower engine, this mill has been of the greatest utility to the neighbourhood. Previous to the erection of this mill, the inhabitants of the Shoalhaven and its vicinity, had to take their wheat I am told such a distance as ten and fifteen miles, to an old good for nothing Windmill, and then would have to wait for days before they could get their wheat ground. Here they erected a place of worship for use of the members of the Church of England. I visited the school at Greenhills and found forty-six children in attendance, who receive instruction from a well qualified teacher. At Greenhills, there are five stores, one, the iron store would be a credit to any place. The proprietors J. M’Arthur and Co., are spoken highly of by the residents. I may also add, that there is a small steamer plying on the river between Burrier and Greenhill Point [Greenwell Point] weekly. Greenhill Point [Greenwell Point] is twelve miles from the Greenhills. At this point the Nora Creina discharges and takes in cargo for Sydney. After spending a few days in this beautiful district, I started for Kiama, accompanied by a gentleman who pointed out to me the object worthy of notice - Presbyterian Church, built of iron, Court House, lock-up, Post-office, (we presume Numba). About a mile from the post-office, we crossed the Shoalhaven River, after which we passed through Mr. Berry’s yard. I may remark, that with one exception, this is the largest stock yard I have seen in New South Wales. From Shoalhaven house I proceeded by what is called the seven mile beach, at the termination of which, I came to the Crooked River.....” (Illawarra Mercury, 30th June 1856)
George Underwood Alley outlined the tactics that were to become commonplace in the politics of the District in a letter to the Editor:
“SIR, - From Mr. M’Arthur’s position here, as a respectable store-keeper, of the firm M’Arthur and Lindsay - those who know me, and the numerous friends and acquaintances throughout the colony, whom I have not moved amongst for a long time, may, from the boldness of his assertions and insinuations, be induced to believe, and others to suspect, that I have been guilty of some enormous crimes and deep scheming. I have therefore considered it necessary, in order to relieve my name from the evil effects of the willful and malicious slanders contained in his letters of the 14th and 28th inst., to instruct my solicitors to proceed against him forthwith. He will then find by the verdict of a Jury, that I have resided in this colony for 17 years, bearing an unsullied name, above even the suspicion of wrong doing, and that he has not even a shadow of suspicion to support his base insinuations.” (Illawarra Mercury, 4th February 1856)
On 24th March 1856, the Illawarra Mercury, published the following letter from Henry Moss, Shoalhaven, dated the 20th March:
“ ‘THE DEVIL IS IN THAT MOON FOR MISCHIEF.’
“SIR - It is an old practice for the advocates of a bad case to have recourse to personality and abuse when they have been worsted in argument. If persons of this stamp, in avoiding the more honorable course of dialectic contest, will do themselves the honor to discuss a public-question in temperate language, we may endeavour to deal as courteously with them as a proper contempt for their factious hostility will allow; but let them not attempt by their insinuations, or groundless epithets, to bring us to their own level, less they find that where we are impregnable they themselves may be peculiarly open to assault. From such scribblers as these, whose principles have been made subservient to their interests little advantage could be reaped by the public. Like the deformed babler of old, whose delight was to vilify the heroes of his day, they have treasured up the most opprobrious, and have discharged it in one indiscriminate volley against all those who have ‘dared to think for themselves.’ That nothing but evil can arise from the productions of such individuals, it would be a waste of time to demonstrate. The rudis indiges eque indes opposite sentiments with them will never yield to the dominion of reason, and heavenly-born charity, instead of descending upon us to soften the rugged declevities of detraction and diversity of opinion, is banished from minds where personal spleen, conflicting acrimony, and invective, supercede the true march of intellect, where the broad and expansive shield of public opinion and independence, narrows into a puny, brawling antagonistic restriction of private enquiry and personal animosity.
“The truth of those remarks was brought more forcibly to my mind on perusing your last issue a speech supposed to have been delivered by Mr. James Thomson to the electors of the Swee ‘s [sic] Paddock, in which that gentlemen states ‘that he was informed that Mr. Moss had been showing a letter purporting to be from Mr. Alexander Berry to him (Mr. Moss) requesting the electors, now that Mr. Barker had retired, to give their votes to Mr. Sadlier.’ Now I most unhesitatingly deny ever mentioning to any person that I had received such a letter from Mr. Alexander Berry, but when Mr. John Lammond, one of Mr. Thomson’s chief supporters at the Sweep’s Paddock intimated to me that Mr. Thomson would receive Mr. Berry’s interest, then I said I could contradict him, and allowed him to see the copy of a letter then in my possession, from Alexander berry, Esq., to Dr. Aldcorn, in which Mr. Berry states ‘that as Mr. Barker has retired from the contest, he would be glad if all his friends of Shoalhaven voted for Mr. Sadlier.’ With respect to another part of Mr. Thomson’s speech, in which he stated ‘that, this Mr. Moss had more occasion to lean familiarly across the railings and say ‘I object,’ to ensure deprivation of any of the elctors right of voting.’ Now, this is so unjustifiable an attack on the gentleman who presided on the occasion, that it must pass for what it is worth; and when it is remembered that Dr. Menzie [M’Kenzie] and Mr. Hindmarsh, assisted Dr. Aldcorn on the Bench at the time, Mr. Thomson’s bold assertion must appear most unfoundationless. Reserving, until the proper time, my right of replying more fully to this and many other attacks which the ‘veil of oblivion’ may appear to gently shroud, and leaving to the gentleman named, who presided at the Revision Court, to contradict the charge of corruption with which they appear to have been accused.”
Thomas Barker, Richard Sadler, William Roberts and James Thomson stood for the seat of St. Vincent in that year in the first parliament, which Thomson duly won (Illawarra Mercury, 3rd March 1856). Thomson was described as ‘a decided opponent to the principle of a nominated Upper House, and holds what is termed ‘liberal views’ on the land question.” (The Maitland Mercury, and Hunter River General Advertiser, 29th December 1855). Whether he was an effective representative of local wants and needs remains open to debate.
A land sale was advertised for lots in the Village of Nowra, Illawarra Mercury, 3rd March 1856 :
“GOVERMENT LAND SALES.
“At the Crown Lands Office, Shoalhaven, on Tuesday 3rd April. - Suburban lots from 1 to 27 inclusive, consist of one acre each, in the Village of Nowra, upset price L4 per acre. - Lots 28 to 31 inclusive, consist 2 acres 2 roods each, upset price L3 per acre.”
Roads were an issue then, as they are still today :
“THE WEATHER AND THE ROADS. - .....It will be a great blessing to the country when we have District Councils established, if alone for the improvements and attention the roads must receive from local surveillance. There are several roads in this district, which may be called private roads, The original Government-proclaimed roads, by some arrangement between the landlords, are not open, and it is not likely, If a District Council is established here, that they will improve other than the Government roads.” (Illawarra Mercury, 25th May 1857)
The same issued reported that Mr. Murray had been working voluntarily, for several days, on an impassable section of the road near Dr. Shepherd’s and Mr. Wheatley’s residences. The issue of good all weather roads was an important one in an agricultural district which relied on getting the produce to markets in a condition fit for sale and consumption. and again the state of the roads was complained of:
“THE ROADS. - Our roads are ‘horrible, most horrible,’ and it is a disgrace to the district to allow them to be in so perilous a state. What is our representative [Thomson] doing ?” (Illawarra Mercury, 28th June 1857)
The Illawarra Mercury of 9th August 1858 reported that a road was to be proclaimed from Gerringong to the head of Broughton Creek. It was to be maintained at the expense of the parishes which it traversed.
The, somewhat flawed, Municipal Act of 1858 allowed for a group of at least 50 eligible voters to petition for the formation of a Council in their area and the residents of the Shoalhaven were not slow on the uptake of such an idea.
“MUNICIPALITIES. - A notice has been stuck up calling for a preliminary meeting, on Wednesday next, at Nowra, to consider the subject, and I suppose the lower half of the district will soon follow suit.” (Illawarra Mercury, 29th November 1858)
On the 2nd December Berry had written to James Mitchell, regarding the St. Leonards/Willoughby Municipality in which he said “.....have gone fortnight ago [to Shoalhaven] if I had not been prevented by deeds of darkness and intrigues concocted & brought to maturity in Pot houses.....I am almost a misanthrope yet I beg you to sprinkle a few drops of the Milk of human kindness on poor Lithgow during my absence.....” (Mitchell Library Reel CY 2027)
“MUNICIPALITIES. - A meeting was held at Mr. Tory’s Hotel, after the court was over, to consider the propriety of considering the desirability of a Municipality. After a little conversation, it was proposed that a meeting should be advertised to take place at Mr. Thomas’ Hotel, Terara, on the 21st inst.” (Illawarra Mercury, 6th December 1858)
The same issue of the Mercury also printed an article of the subject of Municipalities, from the Sydney Morning Herald:
“What is passing in this colony in reference to municipal institutions has already happened in the neighbouring colonies, and, indeed, generally marks the first stages of every important change. The noisy speech is, however, elsewhere over, and the people have quietly set themselves to work out these institutions. Every year facilitates and corrects their working, and their utility is becoming a settled thing. So it will be in New South Wales; but we must go through the same process to reach the same result.....
“At the bottom the objection to these municipalities is that they will compel all who have property to pay their share for its improvement. No man can really have any doubt that institutions coeval with civilisation - indigenous to England, universal in America - already established in three out of the four colonies, - are really adapted to the populous townships of this colony.....The money paid for services is not money wasted. The expense must be incurred, or the work cannot be done.....but if the money is wasted, it is because the electors have chosen agents they ought to have rejected. The time has come when the people must attend to their won affairs.....For a few years a subsidy is offered, perhaps needlessly, but sufficient to pay half the expenditure of small townships, and it remains for the people to determine whether they will decline, what, if properly administered, would be a far greater boon than any mere political reform.”
It is now that the situation in the Shoalhaven starts to take on a momentum of its own as a series of events occur which were to leave many of our leading citizens of the day with bruised egos and tarnished reputations.
“ELECTORAL LISTS. - A circular has been received, calling on the various benches to appoint collectors under the Electoral Act, to make out the rolls in the January ensuing.
“DR. LANG preached in Mr. Prosper de Mestre’s mill, Terara, on Sunday forenoon, and at Nowra, in the schoolhouse, in the afternoon. He had applied for permission to preach in the Scotch Church, at the Clear Ground, but without success.
“MR. BERRY’S STEAMER is now plying on the [Shoalhaven] River, and has already ferried across several mob of cattle and horses.” (Illawarra Mercury, 20th December 1858)
On the 23rd of December 1858 Lang’s letter, The Shoalhaven Incubus, which was a spirited attack on Alexander Berry and his contribution to the development of the district, was published in the Illawarra Mercury. The letter is extremely long and detailed, so we only included extracts here:
“The canal was originally a mere ditch, just wide and deep enough for the passage of a decked boat or sloop and for floating cedar logs....” Lang claimed that it had been widened and deepened over the years by floods, and not by any subsequent effort by Berry. In reference to Comerong island he stated that in effect all islands were Crown land and no distinction was made between natural and man-made islands and to Berry’s mortification this was Sir George Gipps ruling, which was confirmed by the Duke of Newcastle who expressed “his own extreme displeasure and indignation the profligate sacrifice of public property, which had been made in earlier times of the colony, in favour of Mr. Alexander Berry.”
“Besides an enterprising and native-born colonist of the Shoalhaven district, Mr. Henry Moss (a worshipper, moreover, of the Nine Muses of Australia, as is well known to the patrons and supporters of the local press) has just discovered a practicable line of road from the head of navigation of the Shoalhaven River [Burrier] to the important inland town of Goulburn.....”
Lang speculates that the Shoalhaven would have been as developed as the Hunter district had steamers had access to the river some 30 years ago. “.....locking up the most valuable and important district in the hands of one man.....Not a single acre of land has been reserved by the Crown for any purpose whatever - towns or villages, for wharves and other landing places, for public schools, for places of recreation.....”
He then goes on to criticise Berry’s treatment of his assigned labour, “Many a poor miserable convict - employed as such persons were in the olden time in large gangs, cutting down cedar at Shoalhaven for sale or exportation (for that is the ground work of the Berry estate) has been flogged within an inch of his life.....”
“I confess I cannot blame Mr. Berry for getting all he could, whether in the way of grants or purchases, from a reckless and unprincipled Government in the olden times of the colony. He simply did what every else was then doing around him.....But surely there was a time in the past history of the colony, when even Mr. Berry should have said, ‘Ihave got enough land, now let other people get a little also.” he describes how Berry paid, the enormous sum of, L14 per acre for land at Comerong Island to completely outbid two local men who wanted to work it, the land “is now lying as utterly waste and unoccupied as it has done since the creation.....this monomania [of Berry] for land.....”
Land finishes his critique with the following observations; “.....the Royal Hotel, a well-conducted and respectable inn is Mr. berry’s property, for which the present tenant pays in rent of L200 or L250 a year. The Post Office is erected on one of his half acre allotments.....Nay, even the Court house is Mr. Berry’s property.”
Law and order was also an issue of the day as this letter from J. Roebuck, published in the same issue reveals.
“.....I have been a resident for some considerable time in this district, during which time many robberies have taken place - stores have been broken into, houses robbed, fields pillaged, &c., &c.,.....[no] arrest ever taking place.....the constables, of which we have two, one of whom resides at the lock-up and the other - where ? - Ah, where indeed ! Why far away in the bush, about two miles from the inhabitants, far removed from the annoyances attending public-houses, or in the way of being called out at nights to quell a disturbance, or arrest a robber. Such things as these our District Constable [Bernard Brown] does not believe in. He prefers to live the life of a country gentleman, and to increase his herds. But should such things be allowed ? Is there not one on the Bench who feels disposed to do his duty to the public.....Are we to be at the mercy of a lot of vagabonds, that our constables may be gentlemen.....”
The first public meeting to consider the question of a municipality was duly held at Thomas’ Hotel and we have three accounts, all printed in the same issue:
“At three o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, a meeting was held at Mr. Thomas’ to consider the desirability of a Municipality for the district.
“Mr. Graham was voted to the chair. After some desultory conversation, an elderly party more than half-soss over waddled into the centre of the room, and stamped, drummed on the table, and swore great oaths, till the meeting had been sufficiently amused, when the chairman requested him to sit down.
“Mr. Moss rose and said that the advocates of a Municipality were thoroughly disheartened by the knowledge that a petition adverse to their views had been signed by hundreds. He deprecated such a step before a public discussion had taken place. They now had an opportunity of taxing themselves and were they to reject it. He had read all the best authorities, and they were in favour of Municipalities. If they had no Municipality they should have to (still ?) to pay the taxes on tea and sugar and for justice &c. Look at the liberality with which the Government were prepared to endow Municipalities. The expense, which was such a bugbear, he thought nothing of. A clear at L50 a year would be sufficient (oh ! oh !) and they could get their surveyors &c., according to the work to be done. He concluded by saying that he thought the district ought to have time for considering the subject.
“Mr. Myers spoke in strong terms of the behaviour of parties who had got up the counter petition. They had presumed on the ignorance of those they had asked to sign. Their conduct was dishonest. (The chairman called him to order.)
“At the request of the meeting, Mr. Lovegrove read an abstract of the provisions of the Act. He then said he had signed the petition referred to though he had no hand in getting it up. He did not consider, with Mr. Myers, that the ignorant people had signed it, and that the intelligent had not. He did not see the advantages of a Municipality in the district, which was not in the same position as other districts, having a fixed and recognized centre. The theory of Municipalities looked very well on paper, but when reduced to practice it did not generally works so well. What with incompetent councillors, and private interests, and the expenses which he did not think so lightly as Mr. Moss, but a small proportion of the tax would actually benefit the rate-payers. He was sure that in this district the squabbling which was already too great would be increased tenfold. He concluded by moving that the meeting be adjourned for twelve months.
“Mr. Campbell seconded the motion.
“Mr. James Aldcorn would save the time of the meeting by moving that it is desirable that this district should be constituted a Municipality.
“Mr. Myers seconded the motion.
“A question arose as to whether this was an amendment on the former motion, and it was so decided.
“Mr. G.U. Alley, said the advantages of the Act lay in a small compass, but they were very great, and he could see no disadvantages. He would instance the expenditure on roads in the district. Money was in the hands of the Bench for making the roads to Nowra expressly, and the Bench had not laid it out (It was here distinctly denied that such was the case.) He referred to last year (Mr. Elyard stated that the amount was given for the road from Numba to Nowra, and had been expended in accordance with the wishes of all in opening a deviation from the original road to avoid a swamp, and that the money was insufficient for that) he did not impute corruption to the Magistrates, but he objected to nominees dispensing money. The petition got up by Mr. Berry was a monstrous attempt to fetter free men, and had written of our member as ‘the canting and silly member for St. Vincent.’
“Several persons in the meeting doubted Mr. Berry could have written such language.
“Mr. Myers said he could resolve their doubts; he had seen the letter, which was carried by Mr. berry’s overseer along with the petition, and produced as a sort of clincher. He had not only used the words in question, but had called him a Government hack. How Mr. Berry had the face to talk about Government hacks he could not understand.
“Mr. Alley continued; He had a plan for lessening the expenses which was such a bugbear. He would send printed notices to rate-payers to pay in their rates to a central office, and make a bye-law with a penalty attached for neglect. This would dispense with collectors.
“He was here asked his opinion of the appeal to two Justices. Mr. Alley: O that clause was abominable (cheers and laughter.)
“Mr. Lovegrove was not sanguine as to Mr. Alley’s plans for lessening the expense, and considered that expenses would be entailed in recovering rates from refractory subjects. Then there would be the expenses of the election each year, and they would find that that they could not do without a staff, and then that they must have a town hall, and on one pretext or another money would always be wanted.
“The Chairman put Mr. Aldcorn’s amendment to the meeting, and nine or ten hands were held up. It was disputed whether there were nine or ten, and the chairman requested them to hold up their hands again, when 20 were announced.
“Mr. Lovegrove’s original motion was then put and the hands held up were said to be 16. Whereupon Mr. John Aldcorn was moved into the chair, and a vote of thanks given to Mr. Graham. The meeting then separated.”
“THE MUNICIPAL ACT.
“A public meeting was held in Mr. Thomas’ Hotel, on Tuesday the 21st intsant, to consider the desirability of of having a Municipality established in the district. The meeting was not largely attended, we presume for the reason frequently adverted to during the discussions of the evening, viz., that all kinds of mis-representations, coaxing, and threatening had been used by certain powerful parties to induce their unfortunate dependants to sign a petition, previous to the meeting, against anything bearing the most distant resemblance to the hated name of a Municipality.”
“On the motion of J.L. Biddulph, Esq., J.P., James Graham, Esq., was called to the chair. A very desultory and discursive conversation was carried on for some time, when it was moved by William Lovegrove, Esq., ‘That the meeting be adjourned for twelve months.’
“James Aldcorn, Esq., J.P., submitted a counter-motion ‘That the meeting is of the opinion that a Municipality in this district is desirable.’
“This was carried on a show of hands, when the meeting was abruptly terminated by the Chairman being voted out of the chair, and the usual vote of thanks given.
“It is much to be regretted that the incubus of a selfish and tyrannical landocracy [Alexander Berry] should crush all and every effort for the advancement of the district, and we scarce wonder at the wishes - more sincere than Christian, that are heard on every hand, that the obsrtuctive were removed by that agency before which no power can stand. Very loud and indignant were the denuciations of some of the speakers, against the unconstitutional and unmanly character of the proceeding of the arch-obstructive and his myrmidons, but he closes his ears and his pockets at the same time, probably laughing in his sleeve at the gullibility of those who believe his new-born zeal for the interests of the district is entirely the offspring of a generous regard for their purses.”
A third Correspondent wrote:
“A public meeting, persuant to notice, was held yesterday at the ‘Royal Victoria Hotel,’ to consider the desirability of establishing a Municipal Council for the district.
“Mr. James Graham was moved to the chair.
“Several gentlemen spoke on the merits of the question.
“Mr. Myers first broke the ice, in a speech of affability and good sense in favor of Municipal Institutions, followed by Mr. Waddell, sen., also in favor of.
“Mr. Lovegrove then briefly interpreted the important clauses of the Act, and explained the duties and powers of the councillors. He spoke against the Act where any clause which he considered objectionable came under his notice. The benefits to be derived from the Act, Mr. Lovegrove did not touch on, and he appeared to be opposed to the Act.
“Mr. Moss then followed in favor of the Act, and in a lengthy speech denounced the practice which had been adopted in the district, of getting names to petitions against the Act, before the meeting took place which was especially called to debate the question, and also before any petition in favor of a District Council for the district, up to the time of the meeting was in existence. Mr. Moss blamed the landlords of the district, who, he said, wished to enjoy the rights of property, without performing any of its duties, unless those which add to their dignity and influence.
“Mr. Lovegrove then replied, very briefly, to the remarks of the previous speaker, strengthening his argument by alluding to the objectionable features which he had discovered in the Act, and concluded by moving a resolution ‘postponing the consideration of the question for twelve months.’
“Mr. Aldcorn, J.P., then spoke in favor of Municipalities, and moved the following amendment - ‘That it is desirable to establish a Municipality in this district,’ which was supported by Dr. Alley in a lengthy speech of considerable ability.
“The amendment of Mr. Aldcorn, in favor of a Municipality for the district, was carried amid loud cheers.
“A vote of thanks was moved to the Chairman, and the meeting quietly separated.
“I believe it is not the intention of those interested in Municipalities to petition in favor of one for the whole district, owing to the petitions already signed against a Municipality by so great a number of Mr. Berry’s tenantry; but the above expressions of sentiments of independent minds must prove the necessity of so beneficial measure.” (Illawarra Mercury, 27th December 1858)
As we can see Berry lost no time in mobilising his opposition to any possibility of a democratic Municipality being formed in the district and we get an indication of his private tactics which were to become increasingly vindictive over the next few years. It was also in this issue of the Mercury that Lang’s second letter appeared, The Shoalhaven Incubus - and its Remedy, in which he continued his public attack on Berry. Again the letter is rather long, 1 and 2/3 columns, so we present only extracts:
“No wonder, therefore, that Mr. Berry should be dead against a Municipality for the Shoalhaven district. No wonder that he should have sent out one of his rural police, or gens d’ armes, In plain clothes, with a petition against it, for all his serfs to sign ! It is quite natural that he should do all this, considering his antecedents as a veritable land-shark for the last thirty-five years. It is quite natural that he should indulge in all sorts of semi-maniacal ravings on the subject, giving the said policeman a semi-official memorandum of his own, although without his name which accompanies the petition.....”
“.....It is alleged that Mr. Berry’s grants and purchases amount only to 80,000 acres [this is an obvious typo and should be 8,000 acres], but that he is actually in possession of at least 10 to 15,000 acres, to which he has no right or title whatsoever.....They are talking of a Municipal Corporation at St. Lenord’s [sic] also, where Mr. Berry is lord of the manor.....”
The story continues in 1859.
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