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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The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. YANREY STATION (Yanarie River). - Owned and managed by Mr. T. F. de Pledge. When at Wogoola Mr. Cameron handed me a written statement made to him by a man, Thomas Roberts, employed up to a few days previously by Mr. de Pledge. Roberts stated: "On the 19th inst. I was putting up a spinifex mia, and told the natives with me to gather spinifex. They all left but one Jimmy to do so. I said, 'Now, hurry up, Jimmy.' He picked up a picket, and made a blow at me. Before he could strike me I "got another, and made a blow to strike it from his hand, but hit him on the arm and fractured it. He dropped his stick and held his arm with the other hand. When I found I had injured it I got some deal and splintered it. He is now getting on well. Reginald Orkney was near the spot; the other natives, may be, a hundred yards away." (Signed) T. ROBERTS. Witnessed by ALEX CAMERON. 15th June, 1900. On arrival at Yanrey Station I made inquiries into this affair, and examined Jimmy's arm. It had evidently been broken, but there were no external signs of injury, and the bone (apparently only one had been broken) had commenced to knit. The natives' evidence was very conflicting but on seeing Richard Orkney, who came back a few days after, I found he corroborated Roberts' statement. This man Roberts was working for me some three years ago on the Ashburton, and I always found hum, if anything, lenient with natives rather than severe, and others for whom he has been working since say the same of him, consequently I have decided to let the matter drop feeling confident it was an accident pure and simple. Roberts wished to report the affair to the police at Onslow, but Mr. de Pledge told him it was not necessary as I should be along in a few days. Mr. de Pledge did not care about employing Roberts after this affair. Six men, 18 to 45; nine women, 16 to 40; one child (boy), two years; five old women, each about 50, not employed. These old people are fed by Mr. de Pledge, and appear to get plenty. The also had a good supply of blankets. No births during the last 12 months. Four deaths during last 12 months; probably senile decay. Scale of rations: 121lbs. flour, ½ sheep, 2 sticks tobacco, every six days per man and woman. These natives were all well clothes and fed, and I am confident are not ill-treated. Doubtless Mr. de Pledge is strict with them ; but natives in this district must be dealth with firmly, or they very soon kick over the traces. Mr. de Pledge tells me he has hunted two or three lately, and should the others not behave themselves he intends to get rid of the lot. I feel confident that this is no idle threat. Mr. Twitchin and other say the same. There seems to be a general tendency in this district for the natives to attempt to bounce the white man. I fear this can only end one way, as most squatters are now in a position to dispense with natives almost, if not entirely ; consequently they are not likely to keep any that will not do as they are told. A native woman does the cooking here, and a very good cook she is. She also feeds other natives, so there is no doubt they get all they require. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector, Onslow, 6th July, 1990. I enclose Mr. de Pledge's views on signing, for your information. G. S. O. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. YANNY STATION (Yanarie). - Owned by Messrs. Padbury & Loton and managed by Mr. R. Woolhouse. No natives on relief here ; there were four old women, from 45 to 80, in the camp at the time of my visit, two from 45 to 80, in the camp at the time of my visit, two blind, one nearly so, and the other unable to work ; one old woman about 80 will probably die before long ; they all appear to get plenty of food through the natives working. I am making arrangements to send them up some blankets from Onslow. Twelve men, 16 to 55; 11 women, 14 to 45;one boy, 10, and one boy, 6. Scale of rations: 24lbs. flour, ½ sheep, 4lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, 3 sticks tobacco. No births or deaths during last 12 months. Mr. Woolhouse tells me that on 14th January, a native employed on the station, on being told to do his work, threatened to break a white man's head with a hay-fork. Mr. Woolhouse was away at the time; on his return sent the man into Onslow to take out a warrant for the native's arrest; the warrant was granted but the police did not appear on the scene until the 24th ultimo. Such a considerable time having elapsed since the offence happened, Mr. Woolhouse objected to have any proceedings taken, and the police therefore cancelled the warrant. It seems strange that the police in Onslow should have allowed a warrant on such a charge to remain in abeyance for so long, this station only being 66 miles out. I consider the police should be instructed to act at once when any serious charges of this kind are made. It only stands to reason if they are so slow in carrying out their duty the squatter is more than likely to take the law into his own hands, or get rid of the natives altogether. The natives on this station are well fed, clothed and treated, and appear to be contented. I saw one man here evidently suffering from long-standing syphilis, and gave Mr. Woolhouse stuff to treat him with. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Onslow, 7th July, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. ONSLOW. - There are no natives on relief in Onslow, and only a few working, about a dozen all told. They appear to be free from disease, and are well clothed and fed. I see the native prisoner, Frank, has been removed from Winning to this township. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspoector. Harder Junction, 23rd July, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. MINDEROO (Ashburton.)-Owned by Messrs. Forrest and Burt, and managed by Mr. Bailey. No natives on relief here. I saw five old women, who do no work in the camp. They all seemed to be doing well, and as the working natives get plenty to eat, these old people do all right. Mr David Forrest was on the station at the time of my visit. He told me he had never asked for any relief, and considered it scandalous that men should stoop to ask the Government to feed old natives when they became useless, after the amount of good work done by them and their relatives. It is to be hoped many more squatters may be induced to look at this question in the same manner. The natives on this station have built themselves very good "mias," much the best I have seen on my travels. They are well clothed, and had a good supply of blankets. Fourteen men, 20 to 40; 13 women, 20 to 30; two boys, 10 years; two girls, six (one a half-caste); one child (boy), three years. There is no scale of rations here. Mr. Bailey told me the natives get as much as they can eat. No births during the last 12 months. Two deaths (men) 14 months ago, one middle-aged, one old. Two of the unemployed (old men) had gathered more than a hundredweight of grass seed for Mr. Bailey. I mention this to show that at present, and for some time to come, these old people will be well able to obtain their own living. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector, Hardey Junction, 23rd July, 1990. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. UAROO (Ashburton). - Owned and managed by Mr. J. McCarthy. No natives on relief here ; there were two old women in the camp (50 and 70), one blind and the other nearly so. These old people appear to get plenty of food through the natives working on the place, who get as much as they can eat, all looking fat and hearty. I am glad to say Mr. McCarthy does not ask for any relief. One woman who does the cooking, about 35 years old, weighs 14 stone ; this is a most exceptional weight for a native, as being for the most part small boned they do not scale well ; she is certainly the stoutest native woman I have ever seen. There are several other fat women on this place, and the men also show the signs of good living. Twelve men, 12 to 60 ; 11 women, 16 to 50 ; six children : one half-caste boy five years, four boys, three to eight ; one girl eight years. These children all look remarkably well nourished. Scale of rations : 16lbs. flour, ½ sheep, 2 sticks tobacco, man and woman per week. House boys and those about the homestead get tea and sugar. Shearing was going on at the time of my visit, which was being done by the natives, two or three of them being very good shearers, a woman doing the wool-winding. One old man (over 60) died two months ago, probably senile decay: one half-caste boy died (poisoned by accident and reported to the police) six months ago. I have, ect., G. S. OLIVEY Travelling Inspector. Hardey Junction, 23rd July 1900. |