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. PYRAMID STATION. - Owned by J. Richardson & Co.; managed by Mr. Broadhurst. At this station I saw three old native. Mr. Broadhurst told me there were some others, but he at present asks for no relief, the season being such a good one. Some of these old people were formerly on relief. Twenty-two men, 18 to 50; 17 women, 16 to 50; one half-caste man, 20; three half-caste women, 16 to 50; six boys, nine to 14 (indentured); one half-caste girl, nine (indentured); one black girl, also nine (indentured); one half-caste girl, 15; 16 children, from a few days to eight years. Mr Broadhurst stated that he had very little trouble with his natives at present. Shearing here is done by the natives at present. Shearing here is done by the natives, also most of the carting, five teams being on the road, four of which are driven by blacks. Two natives were working a pit saw during my visit. One half-caste man (20), born on the place, has his meals in the kitchen, and receives £1 per month, together with clothes, ect. This man does most of the shoeing. The half-caste girls have become very useful servants. Scale of rations: 16lbs. flour, 12lbs. meat, 2lbs. sugar, ¼lbs. tea, tobacco, per man and woman every six days. The natives here all look in real good condition, and appear happy and contented, and have an abundance of clothes and blankets. I have, ect., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Hong Kong, 6th October, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. SHERLOCK STATION. - Owned by Messrs. Meares & Withnell; managed by Mr. J. Meares. Mr Meares informed me relief had been granted to him for four more natives from 17th August, 1900, making seven now on the list at his station. I saw six of them, one being away for a holiday, to be struck off until his return. They are as follow: - (1) Multhamurra, alias Johnnie, male, 60 infirm. (2) Jemima, female, 55, often sick, now fairly well. (3.) Jollop, female, 60, blind. (4.) Neilbooro, alias Polly, female, 60, infirm. (5.) Lame Billie, male, 50, unable to work. (6.) Judy, female, 60, infirm. (7.) Weitha, male, 65, infirm. The first three of these are on my list. The others are deserving of support, Mr. Meares stating they had done little or no work for him. I feel satisfied that these natives get a fair thing for 6d. a day allowed. Mr Meares drove me out to an out-camp, where we saw three of these old people, who are fed by the man in charge. They are all fed with the working natives. Twelve men. 30 to 65; seven women, 18 to 30; one half-caste man, 30, gets his meals in kitchen; one half-caste girl, 14; one half-caste boy, 14; one black boy, 10; and one girl, 9. Four old people (three women and one man) died about March last. No births. The natives here look well and do good work. Mr. Meares complained bitterly of the natives being supplied with liquor at when away for holidays at small townships, such as Whim Creek, etc. No natives rationed out here. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Hong Kong, 6th October, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. CROYDON. - Owned by Messrs. McRae and Straker. Managed by Mr. D. K. McRae. Mr. McRae informed me he had sent a native (father of the boy indentured by Lockyer Bros.), to the Springs, requesting Lockyer Bros. to let this boy return with his father. They had not returned when I left Croydon. Mr. McRae will let me know result of his letter later on. There are three old women on relief here, all blind, viz.: - (1) Danderabiddy, female, 60 or more, blind; (2) Moonderabiddy, female, 60 or more, blind; (3) Miadunya, female, 60 or more, blind; There are four others nearly blind, but fed by the station. All the natives here looked wonderfully well and hearty, all being well clothed and fed, and the children (19 of them) sleek and happy. One native, about 35, does a good deal of the sheep work, being able to count the flocks and look after them, and often goes out and finds any lost on his own account. Another native does all the teamstering, and is spoken of as the best teanster about. Shearing is also done entirely by natives, some of them averaging 60 or 70 perday. Twenty men and grown up boys, 18 to 60; 27 women and grown up girls, 15 to 60; nine boys from two to 12 years; 10 girls, from two months to 10 years; four women, nearly blind and useless, about 50; seven births during 12 months (of which four died); one woman died. Only one half-caste boy on this place. Scale of rations: 24lbs. flour, 7lbs. meat, 4lbs. sugar, ½lb. tea, 3 sticks of tobacco, man and woman, per week. Mr. McRae has forbidden his natives to go to any of the townships handy, thereby minimising the danger of their getting liquor and becoming ruined. I enclose Mr.McRae's opinion on the signing question, for your information. I have, ect., G. S. Olivey, Travelling Inspector. Hong Kong, 6th October, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. HONG KONG (near Pilbarra). - Three natives employed at this place, one by Mr. Hood of the Empress mine, and two by Mr. Newlands, boardinghouse-keeper, etc. Of these two, one is now in hospital at Roebourne with influenza, and the other, a boy of about 14, fell off a horse the day before my arrival, and sustained a compound fracture of the left forearm. The limb had been put in splints, but very badly. With Mr. Hood's aid, I made the boy comfortable, and I think the bones will knit all right now. Mr. Newlands complained about the charges made for the native in hospital, he having to pay £2 per week, besides doctor's fees, etc. If such is the case, the charges seem to me too high, and certainly are unlikely to induce men to send their native servants in for treatment. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Tambourah, 13th September, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WOODSTOCK. - Owned by North-West Mercantile Company, and managed at present by Mr. W. Street. I met two natives (temporarily employed by Mr. Street) at Wagina. They had a dray and five horses going to Balla Balla for a load of rations. Their women I saw at Woodstock, they having five children between them. The women were about 30 to 35, two girls, two and four, latter being a half-caste. These women and children all looked well, and have evidently been well nourished. Mr. Street tells me they work by fits and starts and are not to be relied on. There were three old natives here. These I had to put on relief at 8d. per day from the 15th inst: - (1.) Mindylingo, alias Mary, female, 60, very infirm and feeble; (2.) Kajeworna, alias Joey, male, 65, cannot walk; (3.) Egulat, alias Jackey, male, 65, nearly blind and infirm. Am afraid there may be some difficulty in getting these accounts certified to, this place being so out of the way. The police very seldom visit it, but on arrival at Marble Bar I will interview the police. In the meantime I have told Mr. Street to send the vouchers into the police at Roebourne. These three natives are certainly most deserving cases. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Tambourah, 13th October, 1900. |