STRANGE TRANSITION.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18776, 26 October 1932, Page 4

STRANGE TRANSITION.

MIDSHIPMAN TO THIEF. MILLS THE BUSHRANGER. Peter Mills, midshipman off H.M.3. Warrior, gave evidence at the courtmartial of Bligh, whom Lieutenant Frazier charged with tyranny, oppression, and abusive language. The trial was held on February 25 and 26, 1805. Mills asserted that it was generally remarked by the warrant and petty officers that Bligh “ behaved to them in the most attentive manner a oaptaln could." Mills added: “ I never knew of any favours being asked him, which was in his power to comply with, but he did it.” The lieutenants, according to Mills, were regularly asked to dine with Bligh when it was their forenoon watch, and so were the warrant officers, all except Jewell, the boatswain, who was given to liquor, says a writer in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. Bligh also taught the petty officers navigation, and often asked Mills why he did not attend to his navigation. This excellent witness rather spoiled the effect by admitting that he had read over beforehand a number of questions which Bligh was to' put to him.

The charges were found to be proved in part, and Bligh was reprimanded and sent back to the Warrior.

Next year Bligh went to New South Wales as Governor. With him went Peter Mills. In 1807 Peter was appointed deputy-surveyor of lands at Port Dalrymple, in Van Diemen's Land, at 5s a day. Bligh states that the-appointment was made by Paterson; but Macquarie’s returns give the appointment as by Bligh.

After his visit to Van Diemen's Land, in 1811, Maoquarie described Harris, (the late deputy-surveyor Hobart Town, as a very indolent and dissipated man, who knew very little of his duty as a surveyor, and Mills, as “ still more ignorant of his duty." Mills had ceased to be deputysurveyor toy this time. He had been given a grant of 10Q- acres in 1809, and was allowed to become a settler.

Queen of Soote. It was about this time that Peter Mills was a customer of Jonathan Burke Hugo, who came to Port Dalrymple on the brig Active, and after came to imagine himself a direct descendant of Mary Queen of Scots and the Earl of Bothwell. Reporting in 1817 on Hugo’s affairs, Richard Jones, a Sydney merchant, says that Dr. Smith and Mills had goods to the value of £667. Jones had received from them £’2l4 12s Id, and did not expect to have any more. Mills, he said, had absconded from the island, and Smith could not pay. Macquarie had to tell of Mills again on May 7, 1814, when he. wrote to Goulburn:—“At the settlements in Van Diemen’s Land, and particularly in the neighbourhood of Port Dalrymple, some very violent excesses have lately been committed by bands of runaway convicts, headed by two persons 'who lately held offloial and creditablo situations under tills Government—Peter Mills, late acting-deputy-surveyor of lands, and George Williams, lately acting deputy commissary at Port Dalrymple." He also described Mills and Williams as “active and desperate fellows." On May 28, 1814, Macquarie Issued

a proclamation, offering pardon for any crime, exoept wilful murder to Mills, and'27 other bushrangers if they gave themselves up before December i. The others included the much more noted bushrangers, Michael Howe and John Whitehead.

Rum for Guard. Mills seems to have been a halfhearted bushranger. His own statement was that be fell In, while out hunting, with five bushrangers, who compelled him to go with them. After some robberies they took a boat and set. out for King Island, in the hope of taking a vessel and getting away. Mills said that he escaped from them when they were delayed at the second Western River. Pie returned to Launceston and swam the river below Cataract Gorge, with his shirt tied to his head, and went home. Thomas Hinton, another bushranger, described Mills as taking an active part in the plundering and piracy. In October, 1814, Mills w r as lodged in Launceston Gaol. Mrs Mills sent rum to the guard, and Mills esoaped, but was soon found hidden In the stable of his old friend, Dr. Smith. After this Mills was sent to Sydney for trial, but was acquitted for lack of evidence. He then applied to Maoquarie for employment as storekeeper and naval officer at George H°wn. He pointed out that he had a wife and three infant children, and trusted that his future conduct would convince Macquarie of his complete reformation. Macquarie replied that he fould not hold out the least hope to Peter Mills of any Government situation in Van Diemen's Land, “ where his conduot has been so notoriously infamous.” He did, hoAvever, order a passage back to Port Dalrymple on the sohooner Mary for Mills. And that was the last heard of Governor Bligh’a young friend.