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. HAMERSLEY STATION. - Messrs. McRae and Straker. Managed by Mr. A. J. Allen. No natives on relief here. I saw one old woman, about 60, at a shepherd's camp. She seemed to be doing all right. I met P.C. James, from the Tableland Police Station, on my arrival here. He had just returned from searching for a boy of seven years, lost a few days before and reported by Mr. Allen. It appears this boy was taken away from a well by another boy about fifteen and a girl of the same age; these two left the little chap asleep, without any water, and he was never seen again, alive or dead, although searched for by the white man in charge of these camps, natives, and police. Cox (white man) did not know anything about this affair until two days after the three left the well. He at once got all available natives and searched high and low for the boy, but without success; they only once got his tracks, and then only for a very short distance, enough rain having fallen to obliterate them entirely. The boy's father also went out with a couple of water nags and put in two days searching, with the same result. P.C. James was also out two or three days with natives, without any success. I feel confident every effort was made to find this boy, but he was probably dead before he was missed, the weather being very hot at the time. I regretted not having the powers of a Justice of the Peace, as I consider the boy who took this child away and left him to die richly deserved the cat. and would certainly have got it had I been able to administer it. The manager sent him to Croydon (head station), as there is no doubt the child's father would have have speared him had he remained in the vicinity. Twenty-six men and boys, from 14 to 60 ; 26 women and girls, 15 to 40 years ; nine children, three girls two years to eight years, six boys, nine months to 12 years. One birth, nine months ago ; one death, boy seven years, lost in bush. Scale of rations : 20lbs. flour, 20lbs. meat, 4lbs. sugar, ½lb. tea, 4 sticks tobacco, ever eight days, for man and woman. The natives on this station are well fed and clothed. I saw in one camp a bag containing at least 35lbs. of flour saved from the boys' rations. There were seldom any visitors at this camp. At another, where the Hill natives come in, the shepherds had little or nothing a day or two after their ration day. At the time of my visit to one of the out camps two runaway natives and four women came in. They had been out since the winter, and compared unfavourably with those employed, being miserably poor and hungry - looking, whereas the other were sleek and hearty. I signed the majority of the natives on this station. Two three refused ; one, the father of the lost boy, on account of his son's death. This goes to show how illogical the ordinary native is ; one or two of the others reckoned they wanted a change. Young fellows fellows often make this a reason for not signing, very seldom making any complaint against their treatment in any way. This tendency to wander about seems to be on the increase, several owners having lost young natives just when they were useful, they being led away by smooth-tongued whites, in many instances. I cannot close this report without expressing my sincere thanks to Mr. McRae for his great kindness, he having lent me horses and outfit for my Tableland trip, mine spelling at Croydon in the meantime. I have, etc., G.S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Croydon, 15th February, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. POLICE STATION (Tableland). - P.C. James in charge. Seven natives on relief here, viz.: - (1.) Bungarie, alias Billie, female, 60, infirm; (2.) Palague, alias Peter, male, 70; (3.) Bowenboah, alias Granny, female, 75, very old and infirm; (4.) Coombanyo, alias Mary, female 55; (5.) Booyerbong, alias Kitty, female, 42, syphilis; (6.) Bimering, alias Mary, female, 60 nearly blind; (7.) Jimala, alias Billie male, 60, nearly blind; (8.) Wanagorie, female, 52, said to be a lunatic; removed to this camp from Tambrey. These natives are well treated and looked after here. Mrs. James has on more than one occasion given them clothing. In case of this sort, when there are no other natives (working) about, i think the Department should provide a little clothing. The police cannot be expected to clothe these old people at their own expense. Mrs. James appears to be very good to these natives. In the case of No.3 (old Granny), she was cooking cornflour, etc., for her. The poor old soul was very shaky, and I do not think can last very long. I would suggest that any natives requiring relief in the neighbourhood of this station should be removed here, and supplied by the constable in charge, as i feel confident the relief is being administered very conscientiously. P.C. James has two natives working for him, no women being employed. A woman, "Coobada," formerly on the list here, went down to Millstream, and is now being fed there. I have, etc., G.S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Roebourne, 24th February, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. MILLSTREAM (Fortescue River). - Owned by Messrs. Padbury and Loton; managed by Mr. C. Elliott. There are four natives on relief here, viz.: - (1.) Coobada, alias Polly, female, 56, St. Vitus' dance; (2.) Jano, alias Monkey, male, 70, very feeble (3.) Keriman, male, 56, infirm; (4.) Wearing, alias Mary, female, 60, nearly blind. Coobada came down to this station from the police station. I saw three of these four, the other one being away at an out camp, and fed there. The relief seems to be faithfully administered here. Thirteen men, 19 to 55; 13 women, 15 to 50; five children, from five months to 13 years; two half-caste girls, four years to 13 years. One birth; two deaths, both women after childbirth, children also dead. Scale of rations: - 16lbs. flour, ½ sheep, 2lbs. sugar, ¼lb tea, and 2 sticks tobacco, for man and woman, per week; dogs are also allowed. A half-caste man of 33 works here, and has been in receipt of £4 10s. per month since June, 1894. He is now looking after paddocks. He has a native woman, and owns two horses and a buckboard buggy; he can read and write a little. The native driving the team is also in receipt of wages, and is a very good servant. Mr. Elliott complained that a lot of loafers, holiday-makers, and others were continually camped on the permanent pools on this run. They will do no work, and were making those employed very dissatisfied. The natives appear to be well fed and clothed. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. COOYAPOOYA (near Roebourne). - Messrs. S. L. Burges & Co., managed by Mr. C. CLifton. No natives on relief here. On my way from the Tableland I called at an outstation belonging to this station, ans saw several of their natives. They are well fed, clothed, and treated generally. At the home station I saw one native who some time ago made a model of a waggon himself, and I believe is a very fair hand at almost anything. Some time ago one of the natives here had the end of his nose bitten off by a white man, both being under the influence of drink. The white man was tried in Roebourne, and got off lightly, being sentenced only to two months' hard labour, and fine £20 for supplying drink to natives, this fine being paid by a squatter in the district. 21 men, from 21 to 60; 21 women, from 17 to 60: one half-caste boy, about 11 years; five youths, 10 to 15; 15 children, from six months to five years. From this station I again visited the Springs, Mr. McLean (in charge during Mr. Clifton's absence) kindly lending me a buggy and horses. I enclose Mr. Clifton's views on the signing questioning. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Roebourne, 24th February, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. THE SPRINGS. - Mr. A. B. Lockyer; managed by Mr. Arnold Lockyer. I once more visited this station on my return from the Tableland, and found everything apparently in order, and am inclined to think the relief is administered fairly well. Of course, Lockyer may get a little work out of one or two of the old people, but I do not think they are able to do much. I cut one native (Nemijarry) off the list from end of January, 1901, he having an able-bodied woman, who is quite able to obtain his living as well as her own. I did not see this native on my last visit. One native (Caroline) died in October, and does not appear to have been charged for after September last, so that there are now five on the list. Mr. Lockyer told me Mr. Clifton had refused to certify to his October account, having heard one of the natives had been working. He assured me this had not been the case, and I fancy this arose on account of the man Nemijarry being generally out with his woman, who shepherded some sheep. At all events, I felt satisfied on Lockyer giving me his word that they had not been worked, and the relief had been administered faithfully, and certified to the accounts up to end of January. P. C. James had also seen these natives since I saw them last, and reported them in order. I will ask Sub-Inspector Connor to send a constable out to this station as often as possible, and see that things go on all right. I saw the boy Wyarong, who formerly belonged to Croydon, and was indentured by Mr. A. B. Lockyer. He told me he wished to remain at the Springs, and not return to Croydon; consequently there the matter must rest. It appears to me some magistrates are not half particular enough in the matter of indenturing. In this particular case the boy's age has not been stated. I certainly think the Act touching on this subject should be altered, a clause being inserted making it necessary that the consent of the parents or next of kin should be obtained, as in many cases these boys are not likely to understand the true meaning of what they are agreeing to. At this station I also saw a girl of 11 or 12, daughter of a white man and a half-caste woman. This girl is as near white as possible, and I certainly think she ought to be taken and brought up by the State. At present she sleeps at the house with her mother. I shall probably see the father on my way to Broome, and shall endeavour to get him to do something for this child. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Roebourne, 24th February, 1901. |