Reports on Aboriginal People on Western Australian stations 1899-1902
| Please be aware that the reports include the names of deceased people and descriptions which may be culturally sensitive |
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| Reports on Stations visited by the Travelling Inspector of Aborigines from 1st September, 1899, to 30th June, 1901. PREFACE. The treatment of the Aborigines of Australia - and especially of those in Western Australia - by the white settlers has of late been the subject of so much controversy that it has been thought advisable to publish, in the form herein, the reports by the Travelling Inspector on their present condition at all those localities in the Northern half of the State where the Aborigines come in contact with white people, either as labourers or otherwise. These reports have already appeared as appendices to my annual Departmental report for the year ending 30th June, 1901, and having been supplied by one to whom every facility was afforded of arriving at the truth, it is hoped that their republication will give to those concerned in the welfare of the race a correct idea of the general conditions under which the Aborigines are treated on stations, at settlements, and at the various relieving depots: they furnish strong evidence of the generally considerate treatment the Aborigines receive at the hands of the colonists. Reports dealing with the Southern half of the State, which is now being traversed, will be published at a future date. HENRY C. PRINSEP, Chief Protector of Aborigines. 1st January, 1902. |
To The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. Mt. View Station, 7th September, 1899. SIR, I beg to report, for your information, having visited Murchison House Station, owned by Mr. A. J. Ogilvie. There were five (5) natives here on the relief list, one, a woman, Maria, about 60 years old (?), died on 6th August, the cause of death being, probably, senile decay accelerated by an abscess on the face ; this woman received rations to 29th July. Two (2) other women, Kitty about 60 (?), Munga, about 60 or more, do not appear to be fit to do any work or earn their own living ; a third (3rd), Boora, betwwen 60 and 70 years, who is lame, and has one leg much shorter than the other, is also a fit subject for relief. A man, Jimmie, supposed to be about 80, and nearly blind, was away with one of Mr. Ogilvie's shepherds for a spell ; he drew rations up to 27 August, and will again go on the list on his return. I examined another old native, Barrow, or Buttawa, between 60 and 70 ; he appears to have had a severe dislocation of the shoulder sometime some time ago, but cannot account for it, causing his left arm to be almost useless, and his neck awry. This native has been fed by Mr. Ogilvie for the last two years, about that time having been taken very ill with a large tumour in his side, of which there appears to be no trace now ; he has done little or nothing since ; just at present he is minding a few killing sheep until the shepherd returns from his holiday. I have authorised Mr. Ogilvie to place Barrow, or Buttawa, on the relief list on the return of the other native, as I consider he is a fit subject for relief, and may break down at any moment. I consider the amount allowed per head, viz., 7d. per day is not too much as the road out to the Murchison House is a very bad one, thereby making carriage very expensive. I append a list of natives employed on this station for your information: - (1.) A half-caste boy, Jack, about 16, born on the run (2.) A native boy, George (19), indentured about six or seven years ago in Geraldton; Mr. Ogilvie not having the papers, cannot state date more exactly. (3.) Joe, about 55, a shepherd, away for a spell. (4.) Nellie, Joe's woman, working at homestead. (5.) Jilba, a black woman, working at homestead, and three children (two being half-caste); her mother looks after two of these children and is fed by the station. (6.) Ben, away for a spell. (7.) Venus, Ben's woman, away for a spell; with a half-caste Malay boy, nine years old. These natives (men) are paid £1 per month for their services, with exception of the two boys, Jack and George. I am glad to report that the natives on this station are well treated, fed, and clothed, and look happy and contented; the natives relieved by Government are also well clothed. There is another native and his woman hanging about this station, having come over from an adjoining run. On TAMALA sheep station, owned by Ogilvie and Logue, 90 miles up the coast, there are nine men and boys employed, together with about six women, all adults being advanced in years. No sickness having been reported from this station, I did not visit it this trip, the road being a very bad one, and it can probably be visited on my trip North later on. If there are any half-caste, or native boys to be placed out, Mr. Ogilvie would take five or six, providing they were indentured to him. I consider this station a most desirable home in every way for any such boys, as they would be well treated and trained up to make themselves useful station hands, and also save the Department expense, and, the station being isolated, boys would be removed from many evil influences to which they would be open in a more densely populated district. I have, etc., G.S.OLIVEY. Travelling Inspector. |
To The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. New Forest, Murchison, 20th September, 1899. SIR, I beg to forward, for your information, reports on Messrs. Drage Bros.' station and Yallalongga, owned by Mrs. Mitchell. Messrs. Drage Bros. have no natives on the relief list at present. I append a list of the natives employed at Mt. View and the out camps belonging to Messrs. Drage Bros. The scale of rations issued to shepherds and other natives is very liberal, being as follows: - 20lbs. flour, 15lbs meat, 4lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, and 3 sticks of tobacco per week for a man and his woman. While natives employed at the homesteads live very well indeed, getting as much as they can eat, they are all also clothed liberally, The natives throughout the employ are well treated and cared for; they have mostly reared on the the place. Mr. Tom Drage will not keep any boys who refuse to make an agreement as he says unscrupulous neighbours are very apt to entice the natives away, unless signed. I also visited Balgooda, a sheep camp of Drage Bros., about 80 miles from Mt. View; here again the natives seemed happy and contented; also at Wale, the cattle station about 40 miles farther North. There are only three boys and one woman at Wale; one of these boys I saw playing cricket, draughts, the concertina, and also shoeing a horse; they are all fat, sleek and contented. I saw one woman at Mt View who was sick, evidently in a decline; the owners had been giver her soups. etc., until quite recently at the homestead, but native-like she cleared out to one of the shepherd's camps, and could not be properly looked after. I advised Mr. Drage to give her some cod liver oil. About four weeks ago, at Balgooda, during the absence of the overseer, Mr. Clarke, the store, an iron building, was broken into by a native, supposed to be the work of an absconder called Mooney, for whom there is a warrant out. The nails were drawn and a sheet of iron removed, when the native helped himself to flour, sugar, jam, and tinned fruit; the iron was then replaced and nails put in again. Mr. Clarke told me there had been three deaths (two adults and one child), and one birth at Balgooda, during the last five years. Mr. Drage wished to indenture two or three boys, whose parents work on the run, but from the working of the Act it appears this can only be done by a Resident Magistrate. I have also had another inquiry as to indentures, so should be obliged if you would inform me if I can do anything in the matter. Natives employed by Messrs. Drage Bros.: - Mount View. - Two men and three women, probably about 40 years; one half-caste boy, nine or 10 years; one man and two women (shepherding), all over 30. Balgooda. - Three men and six women, all probably over 30; one boy, about nine or 10; two children (one boy about five, one girl about 2½). Wale. - One native, about 35,; one half-caste boy, about 15; one native and woman, over 30. There is generally an old couple at Wale, but they were absent during the time I was there. There are also two boys (10 and 7), and one girl about 15, living with Mr. Joe Drage in or about Northhampton, all born on the run. On leaving Mount View, on my way to Balgooda, I called at Geraldine Mine. There is one native and his woman employed there; they both looked fat and well, and apparently live just as well as the white men on the place. |
Extracted from file 786/99. Travelling Report 2/99. YALLALONGA, owned by Mrs. Mitchell, managed by her son, Mr. J. C. Mitchell, was my next place of call. Here I found two (2) old women had been on relief up to two months ago; one, aged about 70, I saw, the other had cleared out some time ago, and had not returned. According to your instructions I could not allow relief to the old woman, although she is certainly a fit subject, as her daughter is shepherding on the run. The manager said he would continue to feed her with the others. No accounts seem to have been rendered from the station for some time past, and from what I could learn they were formerly sent in by Mrs. Mitchell, of Northampton; an unsatisfactory arrangement to say the least of it. I signed two natives for Mr. Mitchell. I enter all natives signed in a book, with employer's name, terms of service, ect., so as to keep a record for reference,. The natives here get good rations, much the same as given by Drage Bros.; the only difference being that the meat supplied is somewhat irregular. The natives are rather advanced in years, but seem to be fairly satisfied. They being mostly employed shepherding naturally get rather discontented at times with such monotonous work. There are four men, three women, and one boy (a half-caste, about 18) employed on this station; they appear to be well clothed on the whole. An old native died here last November, but he did not belong to the employ, having come in from the bush. One of the men suffers from his chest, and appears to be in decline. I did what little I could for him. No venereal disease has yet come before my notice. From Yallalonga I went on to New Forest, owned by the Western Australian Mortgage and Agency Corporation, and managed by Mr. E. R. Grey. No natives on relief here, and only one man and his woman (both about 50) and only one man and his woman ( both about 50) and one boy (about 12) employed on the place. They all three happy and contented, and are well fed and clothed. I found it necessary to remain here a few days to give my horses a spell. Shall have to get at least two more by and bye. The constant work is too much for two. Up to the present I have been well treated by owners and managers, and have been afforded much assistance in doing my work. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. |
To The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. At MEELYA, owned by Messrs. T. and P. Ryan, there are at present no natives on relief. Mr. T. Ryan wished me to put on, an old woman about 60, who has one leg shorter than the other, but as she has a daughter working as cook on the place, I felt bound to refuse, but would recommend that blankets be supplied to her and another old woman on Mr. Ryan applying for them. On this station there are employed four men, three women, one girl about nine, and one boy about 11 or 12. At times a number of other natives congregate here, but none were there during my visit. The natives are well treated and clothed, and appear happy and contented. The scale of rations is rather lower here than at some of the other stations visited, viz., 15lbs. flour, 3lbs. sugar, ¼ lb. tea, a quarter of mutton, 3 sticks tobacco, 1 box matches per week per man and woman. There was one birth here, but child died. At BROOKFIELD, near Northampton, owned by the Ryan family, there are two men, two women, and one half-caste boy about 12. BILLABALONG. - Owned by Mr. A. Dempster, late Dempster & Miller, and managed by Mr. A. Macpherson. No natives on relief here here. There are three men (two about 45 and one about 40) and five women (from 30 and upwards) employed here, together with two girls (10 and 12), and one boy (five years old). One death death that o a man aged about 22, occurred here about 12 months ago. At WONGULIA, cattle station, under the same management, there is one half-caste boy, aged about 19, also one woman about 40. Scale of rations here are about the same as Meelya, with the exception of meat, viz., 15lbs. flour, 3lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, 3 sticks of tobacco, and matches per week for man and woman. Mr. Macpherson only gives meat when the natives ask for it as they keep kangaroo dogs and hunt their own, though the boys at homestead apparently fare well enough in that respect and all seem happy and contented ; these natives also get £1 when going for a holiday. I also saw some Wooleen natives here and two women belonging to a native now at Rottnest; one of the latter was sick. I attended to her as well as possible. Mr AUBREY STATION, owned by Dalgety & Co., and managed by Mr. A. Boddington. There are no natives on relief here, although I saw three old women at the camp who I think are fit subjects for relief, but they appear to be nomads - here to-day and gone to-morrow - and as Mr Boddington does not expect to be on this station much longer it would be useless putting them on relief with him. I have myself seen two of these old women in other parts of the district; they do a good deal of travelling about. Eight men (ages ranging from 30 to 50) and 10 women (ages from 15 to 55) and one boy (16 years old) are employed on this station, together with five children (from two to nine years). One of the women has another boy, about 12, now working at New Forest, with the consent of his parents. There have been two births during the last three years. Two children died last year; these are the only deaths during the last 16 years. Scale of rations supplied as follows: 15lbs, flour, 3lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, 3 sticks of tobacco, 2 boxes of matches, meat when required for man and woman per week. The above ration scale is much the same as the former station, and meat is given when the natives want it. These natives are well fed and clothed, and seem happy and contented. It will be seen from the above record of only two deaths in 16 years that they are well nourished and looked after; the two children both died suddenly, probably from sunstroke. One woman had a very bad finger, which I opened, giving her instant relief; she was getting on well on my departure. I have not come across any venereal disease as yet. WOOLEEN. - Owned by Mr. J. Sharpe. There are eight men (ages ranging from 23 to 25), six women, and three boys (14,12, and 4), and eight girls (18,15,10,4,3,3,2, and two 3 months old). Three of the above girls are half-castes. No deaths during the last 12 months. About 14 months ago one death occurred: four births during the last three years. Scale of rations quoted by Mr. Sharpe as follows: - 18lbs. flour, 2½lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, 3 sticks tobacco, matches, per week per man and woman; also powder and shot and dogs; no meat. The natives employed on this station look well, and appear to do pretty well as they like. They are well clothed. The women appear to do the stock work. I saw two go out on horseback to muster a paddock the day after my arrival at Wooleen. I hope to be able to inform you what arrangements I have made with P.C> Binning, by this mail. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Murgoo, July 9, 1899. The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. Mt. Wittenoom, 12th October, 1899. SIR, The natives on relief here, the majority of whom I saw to-day, are well looked after, and get a generous ration, viz., 14lbs. flour, 2lbs. sugar, and ¼lb. tea per week, so that there is no doubt about the advisability of getting the Wooleen natives over here, where they will get the money's worth. I see the allowance for this station has been raised to 9d. per head for the last month, and I think rightly so, as a police constable cannot get rations carted anything like as cheaply as station owners, for obvious reasons. I beg to suggest that a supply of Eucalyptus Oil and Pain Killer be supplied to this station for the use of natives on relief; they often suffer from colds and minor ailments, when a dose given in time often saves considerable trouble and sickness. Having just received your wire of the 11th inst. re original arrangement, but am afraid it would take much longer to follow the course then mapped out than to go North from Peak Hill, so unless you particularly wish me to go South, think it will be advisable to go North now. Should you wish to make any further alteration in route, there will be plenty of time to let me know before I reach Peak Hill. I returned to Murgoo yesterday and go on to Boolardy to-day, but a wire will follow me on by mail. I have, ect., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector, ect. |