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. MUNDABULLANGANNA (Yule River). - Messrs. McKay Bros.; Mr. C. P. Roberts in charge. There were very few natives about the homestead, many being away holiday-making. Mr. Roberts seemed to know little or nothing about the relief natives, who were conspicuous by their absence, not one of the 16 on my list being visible. I told Mr. Roberts I must see these natives on my way to Kimberley in a couple of months or so, and also asked him to inform McKay Bros. of my request. Mr. Roberts thought an account had been sent in two months ago. It seems strange that these natives are seldom or never visible. I am afraid that the relief is anything but well administered. Constable Doody, from Whim Creek, is now paying this station a visit. I requested him to obtain all the information he could concerning them. If his report is unfavourable, I think it will be better to cut them off relief altogether; but I shall be able to judge on the return of the constable. The natives I saw at McKay's looked well, and were evidently well fed and clothed. Sixty-seven men and boys, 14 to 60; 51 women, 15 to 50; nine children - six boys, 18 months to 13 years; three girls, three weeks to 12 years; five half-castes - two boys (two and six), three girls, 10 months to nine years. One death; two births. Scale of rations: 20lbs. flour, 1½lbs. sugar, 12lbs. meat, 1 stick tobacco, man and woman, per week. A Chinaman is married to a native woman on this station. I did not stay here long enough to have a good look round, but hope to do so on my return when going to Kimberley and Broome, having to pass through this station. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Croydon, 9th January, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. BALLA BALLA. - There are four natives on relief here, placed on the the list in August, 1900 : - (1.) Kunajarrung, male, 45 ; (2.) Winagoora, female, 60 ; (3.) Carwee, female, 60 ; (4.) Wilmungarra, female, 60. I did not see the first of these (Kunajarrung). The other three are fit subjects for relief. They get 30lbs. flour per week, sugar and tea., also tobacco amongst them, so they do very well. Mr. Matthews seems a very decent man, and, I feel sure, administers the relief properly. From all accounts, a lot of drinking goes on amongst the natives (loafers for the most part) camped around this place. The constable is always on the lookout, but has not yet been able to drop on to anyone supplying the natives with liquor. Mr. Matthews, one of the publicans, employs two men (one he payd 5s per week), one woman shepherding, and two women (14 and 25) working for Mrs. Matthews. None of these are working at the hotel. One man and one half-caste (Chinaman) woman with child eight years, working for the other publican. Mr. Byron. P. C. Doody informed me he had got a case against one publican for allowing these natives to remain on the licensed premises, and was going to prosecute him. Out at Balla Balla Pool a teamster called O'Neil has a boy and two women working for him and wife, the women working for Mrs. O'Neil. I saw two of McKay's old natives in camp here, but their names do not coincide with any on my list, neither could I find out how long they had been there. There were not many natives loafing about at the time of my visit, but I believe there are several at times. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Croydon, 1st January, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WHIM CREEK. - There were not many natives at this township. One of the publicans (Dunn) has two boys and one woman working for him; one woman at the China-man's garden; one old chap at the mine; one boy and woman at Police Camp; latter has two children, one girl (eight) and one boy (five). I did not hear of much drinking going on here. The constable being station here, keeps a check on that sort of thing. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Croydon, 1st January, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. MT. FLORENCE (Tableland). - Messers. Robinson Bros. Mr. G. Cox in charge. There were three (3) natives on relief here, viz.: - (1.) Mundarra, alias Susannah, female, 70, nearly blind; (2.) Mullaring, alias Mary, female, 70 nearly blind; (3.) Coulbringa, alias Mary, female 25, blind from birth. Colubringa has four children: one girl, 10 years; one boy, eight years (deaf and dumb); one half-caste China-man, six years; and one girl, 10 years. These children are fed by the station, and all looked well and hearty. These three women get a good ration, and are well cared for, and are all fit subjects for relief. Thirteen men, from 26 to 50; 13 women, 16 to 50; one boy, 16; five boys, from nine months to 10 years; three girls, from two years to 14 years; two half-caste boys, five and six; two women (25 and 30) will probably be confined in a few months; two deaths (one woman, 18 months ago; and one old woman five months ago); one birth, nine months ago. Scale of rations: 20lbs. flour, 20lbs. meat, 2lbs. sugar, ½lb. tea, 3 sticks tobacco, per week, per man and woman. These natives are well fed and clothed, also well treated. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Croydon, 15th February, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. MULGA DOWNS (Fortescue River). Owned by Mr. S. T. Burgess. Managed by Mr. A. Miller. No natives on relief here. There were two old women. but they appeared to be getting all they required through the working natives, they being well fed. Twenty men, from 15 to 60; 23 women, 19 to 60; 15 children (eight boys, six months to eight years; seven girls, four years to 13 years; four half-castes, on boy, five years; three girls, two and a half to 10 years). A few of these natives are signed. Most of the water drawers are only employed during the dry times. They all appear to be well fed and hearty. I examined and treated many of the children on this station. Some of them in a bad state from filth and disease; also a few of the women. Two births six months ago; four deaths - one boy, 17, probably heart disease; one man, 65 or 70, senile decay; two children (one half-caste), 12 months ago. Scale of rations: 16lbs. flour, 3lbs. sugar, ½ sheep. ¼lb. tea, 3 sticks tobacco, man and woman, per week. Mr. Miller drove me round to the different wells, so that I was enabled to see all the natives on the station. There can be no doubt they are well treated, fed, and clothed. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Croydon, 15th February, 1901. |