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. BULONG. - There were not many natives at Bulong at the time of my visit. I saw the following: - Four women, 18 to 25, one half-caste boy, two years, two men, 26 and 30; one girl, four years. The above were well dressed, and, as usual, dodging about amongst the houses. One man and his woman were employed at the hospital. There had been a much larger camp here a week or so before, but they had nearly all left, going Southwards, I visited this place on the bicycle from Kalgoorlie, returning by Kanowna. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Esperance, 27th January, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. KANOWNA. - At Kanowna I interviewed Warden Troy and Sergeant Bishop. There were no natives here at all, and the sergeant informed me there were never very many there. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Esperance Bay, 27th January, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WIDGIEMOOLTHA. - At this place I missed the natives, they having gone through Norseman a week or two previously. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Esperance Bay, 27th January, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. NORSEMAN. - There was a large assembly of natives in and around Norseman from all quarters—Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, Boulder, Bulong, Esperance, Balladonia, and other places. I myself saw at least 70 at different times, amongst them being 11 children, 10 black and one half-caste: Seven girls (two to six), one half-caste girl (three years), three boys (two to seven). The adults ranged from 16 to 65, none of them too old to get about all right. Two men of 60 and 65 came from Balladonia and Esperance. The majority of these natives were looking well and hearty although small of stature and poor physique generally; they evidently got plenty to eat. I believe some of the men did a little hunting at times; there being such a large number in and around Norseman, and only a handful of whites, they could not all expect to get food by cadging. As rabbits are said to be very plentiful around Norseman I would suggest that a certain sum be given per skin, and its equivalent in rations be given to all natives bringing in rabbits or their skins. I say skins advisedly, as no doubt a price is obtainable for them which sum would help to pay the amount given for the animal. By adopting some such system, the natives could be made to earn an honest living and also help to check the advance of rabbits, but they (natives) must be kept outside the town, otherwise they will certainly not attempt to hunt for their own food while they can obtain it without working at all. Sergeant McAttee has some 34 blankets, and will not require any more this season. Most of these natives will probably return to their own districts before the winter. While awaiting the return of Warden Gibbons, I visited Fraser's Range and Balladonia on the bicycle. Had there been decent feed in Norseman I should probably have gone right on to Eucla from the latter place, but I certainly could not afford to feed my horses all the time, with chaff at 8s. per bag. As it was, I had to feed them for 10 days. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Esperance Bay, 27th January, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. FRASER'S RANGE. - Owned by Messrs. Dempster Bros. Managed by Mr. Watson. I visited this station from Norseman by bicycle and found only a few of the natives at home; many were away holiday-making. Those seen were well clothed, fed, and treated. Mr. Watson told me they were always on the move, and were very little good after having been at the fields any length of time. A few of these natives were employed, but the remainder appeared to do very little. There were no natives on relief. Ten men, from 20 to 50, three boys (seven to 10 ), one girl (four years), 10 women from 14 to 40, one half-caste girl (two years). Scale of rations: ¼lb. tea, 12lbs. flour, half sheep, 2lbs. sugar, 2 sticks tobacco, man and woman per week. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Esperance, 30th January, 1902. |