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. KIRKALUCKA STATION. -Mr. C. Fogarty. This station, situated some 30 miles from Wydgee, I did not visit, being informed I should probably fine no one there. I believe Mr. Fogarty employs two men (30 and 32), and two women (18 and 25), three boys (seven, five, and two years). I have etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Yalgoo, 16th August, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. YALGOO. On arrival in this township I could not help noticing the number of natives - men, women, and children - loafing about the hotels. Two boys appear to do good work at one of the hotels, also a few of the women. The remainder appear to loaf about the greater part of the day, and apparently knock about the hotels indiscriminately. I visited the native camp with constable Pollard, and saw 21 adult natives (men and women) from 16 to 60. There were others working in the town, so that altogether, as a general rule, there must be from 30 to 40 natives about Yalgoo. The majority of these natives are fat and sleek, those employed in and about the township evidently getting all they require in the way of food and clothing. Of the nine natives mentioned on my list, I find one Belingar, male, died in May last. I have seen all the others. Some of them could do light work, as shepherding, etc., but have probably left the stations, being attracted by the easy living to be made in towns. All the same I cannot advise cutting any off the list. On the contrary I feel bound to place two more on, now making a total of 10, as follows :— (1.) Ningadar, alias Annie, female, 50, feeble. (2.) Yitina, alias Jinny, female, 50, feeble and ill. (3.) Madinyarra, alias Jack, male, 60, infirm. (4.) Pulgicaira, alias Mary, female, 55, infirm. (5.) Kiting, alias Julia, female, 45, fairly active. (6.) Guamance, female, 50, blind. (7.) Willbarra, alias Judy, female, female, 50, fairly active. (8.) Undangarra, alias Statue, male, 55, could do light work. (9.) Munganny, alias Judy, female, 50, infirm, from 1st August, 1901. (10.) Woningyah, alias Maudie, female, 50, nearly blind, and feeble, from 1st August, 1901. These natives got a good ration from P.C. Pollard, as follows :—8lbs. flour, 1½lbs. sugar, ¼lb.tea, 2 sticks tobacco, 1 box matches, per week. I feel certain that if these natives were away back from any township, some of them at least would not be able to obtain their own living. There are six half-castes amongst the camps, as follows:— (1.) Half-caste woman of 20, with child 2 years, said to be by a white man. (2.) Half-caste girl, 3 years. (3.) Half-caste girl, 9 or 10, should be removed to a mission. (4.) Half-caste boy, 6 years. (5.) Half-caste boy, 5 years. (6.) Half-caste girl, 4 years. I believe a few of these natives come from Mount Magnet. One man and woman, with one child (a half-caste girl, 3 years), had no less than four blankets between them, said to have been given to them by Mount Magnet Police. I will inquire to this on my arrival there. I took two or three photos of these natives, also one of seven or eight of the old people. I hope they will turn out well. On Friday last a native named Governor, about 30, who used to work at Meeka Station, was brought in here in a dray by a Queensland native. He had been shot through the thigh. It appears these boys were sandalwood cutting some miles out. On the previous evening Governor was sitting on the tail of the dray, the loaded gun being in the cart at the time, and from what I could gather the jolting sent it off, but I think from the position of the wound the boy might have been drawing the gun towards himself by the muzzle; at all events it must have been very close to him, as the powder scorched his leg at the wound of entrance. The whole charge entered, as a bullet struck the femur, and shattered it badly, coming out almost directly opposite. The Queensland boy had bandaged up the thigh very tightly, placing bare pieces of board next the flesh. No doubt this saved the boy from bleeding to death, but the consequences would have been somewhat severe had he been allowed to travel to Geraldton in this manner. I at once examined the leg, but found it too much smashed to do anything but place it in hastily improvised splints, with a good supply of cotton wool, and bind it up tightly. Fortunately the boy arrived here in time to go down by Friday's train to Geraldton, were he was despatched in charge of P. C. Smith, who was taking a prisoner down by the same train. This constable returned to-day, and informed me Dr. Elliott had hopes of saving the leg, and had made some flattering remarks upon the manner in which I had fixed the leg up. Something should certainly be done to prevent the natives loafing about this town as they do at present. This state of affairs only emphasises the urgent necessity for legislation in this direction. Some of the neighbouring squatters tell me they cannot keep natives on their places at all. They all flock to the townships when anywhere near. One in particular told me he had on one occasion to send a boy into Yalgoo on horseback, and had eventually to come in himself to bring the horse and saddle back. There can be no doubt that the natives in these towns get drink and once they get a taste for it they will do almost anything for more. This town loafing should be put down with a strong hand, and the sooner the better. It is ruining the natives, who are becoming utterly useless, and in the near future are bound to become a burden on the State. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Yalgoo, 19th August, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WOGGA WOGGA. - Messrs. H. and J. Broad. Only two natives employed on this station, both men of about 25 years. They appear to be well treated, fed, etc., and should be happy and contented. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Wiluna, 30th September, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. PINDA. — Mr. J. J. McCarthy. There are two natives on relief here, both women, viz:— (1.) Youerda, female, 40; has only one foot, the other having been burnt off some years ago; she can only get about on her knees. (2.) Gualjoogie, female, 70; formerly at Wydge; a fit subject for relief; quite unable to obtain her own living. The first of these women has a man employed on the place, but she being quite useless is rather an encumbrance to him, he having to carry her when shifting camp, etc., and, as she has only been with him a few years, I deemed it advisable to let her remain on the list. Both these women have blankets, and get a fair ration, viz.:—12lbs. flour, ½lb. tea, and 2lbs. sugar per week. Two men (45 to 50) and three women (17 to 40) employed; one half-caste boy, three years. The natives I saw on this station looked well, being fat and well clothed, and are given a little money, but there appears to be a little friction between them and Mr. McCarthy at times, generally caused through liquor being on the place. Otherwise I think the natives are well treated on the whole. Scale of rations: 24lbs. of flour, 4lbs. sugar, meat, ½lb. tea, and three sticks of tobacco, man and woman, per week. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Wiluna, 30th September, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. YOWERAGABBIE. - Mr. A. J. Watson. No natives on relief here. Seven men, 22 to 40; five women, 15 to 40; one half-caste girl, three years; one girl, three years. Scale of rations:—18lbs. flour, 2½lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, meat, 2 sticks tobacco, 2 boxes matches per week per man and woman. Dogs also allowed the natives. From the general appearance of these natives, there can be no doubt they are well fed and clothed, and appear to be contented. Mr. Watson informed me that now he only had very few natives. Formerly there were many more employed by him, but they had gradually drifted away to the goldfields townships and become utterly useless. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Wiluna, 30th September, 1901. |