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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ESPERANCE STATION. - Messrs. Dempster Bros. Managed by Mr. W. Dempster. One interviewing Mr. Dempster he informed me, much to my surprise, that he received from the Department four tons of flour per year for the Fraser Range Station, and two tons of flour per year for the Esperance Station. In my report on the former station I stated the manager informed me that there were no natives on relief, neither did I see any entitled to it, all there being well able to obtain their own living, with perhaps one exception, a woman who was ill at the time; hence my surprise. Mr. Dempster explained by saying he cannot keep a lot of natives about the place who did little or no work, and thought it only a fair thing that his firm should have some of the money expended by Government on the aborigines, etc. I naturally could not agree with this, and said I must recommend that the allowance be discontinued. Since this interview I have again been in the Balladonia district, some 78 miles from Fraser Range, and have come across men who were only too willing to give natives employment could they get them. More than one such complained that there were natives at the Range, but they, being fed by Government, refused to work for them, and were mostly loafing. As regards the two tons of flour allowed this station (Esperance), Mr. Dempster said this was obtained to feed the women and children of men employed by him carrying ration, etc., and that he could not keep the former doing nothing. It appears last year Mr. Dempster complained about so many natives being fed by Government in Esperance, in consequence of which he could not get enough to work for his station. I informed Mr. Dempster that he must not expect this sort of thing to be continued, and that I should certainly recommend the allowance to be discontinued in future. Rumours had reached me that some of the natives employed on the station were constantly seen with relief blankets. I also mentioned this matter, when he said that natives were very fond of exchanging, etc. I then insisted on his working natives being warned against taking these blankets from their rightful owners. I have seen no natives at Esperance station or at Fraser Range who were entitled to relief or blankets, therefore in future I strongly advise that no relief in any form be given to these stations unless recommended by a reliable person. As regards the unemployed natives at Fraser Range, there is plenty of work to be had if they like to do it, and any amount of game can be obtained, including rabbits, but while the natives are well fed and do nothing for their living, they naturally will not look for work, and induce others who are employed to loaf also. In case any natives or children should require relief in future, it should only be granted in the usual manner, that is, through the Resident Magistrate, to whom the police could report any deserving cases. The same thing applies to blankets. I informed Mr. Dempster yesterday that I should recommend that the flour be discontinued, and certainly have not seen any cases where blankets should be given, although there may be a few children having a claim to consideration, but they can be seen and reported on by the police. I saw one woman yesterday suffering from syphilis, and have arranged that medicine shall be given to her. Thirteen men and boys (15 to 50) ; Nine women (18 to 40) ; 11 children ; one half-caste man (47) ; one half-caste woman (33), married to a white man, with three quadroon children (7, 2, and 6 months); one quadroon boy (14) ; two half-caste boys (8 and 10), living with their father; and one quadroon boy (18). Rations - 14lbs. flour (man and woman) ; 2lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, ¼lb. sheep, per week ; also powder, shot, and gun. There can be no doubt these natives are well treated in every respect. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Esperance 13th March, 1902. ESPERANCE BAY. - On arrival here some time back, I found there were no natives in the neighbourhood, all except those employed by Messrs. Dempster Bros. being away. Strange to say the majority of these natives return here in the winter months and clear out inland during the summer, rather reversing the proper order of things; it would be much better in every way if they remained near the coast during the summer and went inland during the winter, when there is plenty of water about. As there appears to be a good deal of sickness amongst the natives here during the winter months, I would suggest that a plain, rough building be erected somewhere close to the hospital, where any sick natives could be housed and treated by a doctor. In former years they were camped all over the place, and in some cases took a considerable amount of finding. In the event of natives being in hospital, an attendant would be required to look after them and see the treatment ordered was carried out, it being a most difficult matter to get the ordinary native to remain long enough in any building to benefit by treatment, but by having an attendant the natives could be kept to themselves and under the direct eye of the medical man, instead of being at the mercy of misdirected kindness. This building would require to be a good size and open under the eaves so that smoke could escape, as the native will not remain will not remain in a building any time unless he has a fire. Dr. Farmer has already spoken to the Government architect, Mr. Bird, who paid Esperance a visit recently, about such a building, and tells me there are old Government buildings not now in use that could be removed and do duty for a native hospital. I think the erection of such a building as above will have good results in results in putting a stop to a good deal of the friction that now exists in this town, as well as being of some little use to the natives. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Esperance Bay, 13th March, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. FANNY'S COVE. - Owned and managed by Mr. W. Moir. There are no natives actually employed on this station ; two white men (shepherds) are living with native women on the run, one having a daughter (black) of six or seven. I did not see either of these women. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Perth, 6th May, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. CARLINGUP (near Ravensthorpe). - Owned by Mr. W. Moir ; managed by Mr. L. Moir. A half-caste man of about 26, with a native woman of 25, are the only natives employed here, the former, on wages, does the shepherding. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Perth, 6th May, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. RAVENSTHORPE (Phillips River). - There were no natives at this township at the time of my visit, all having gone to the coast. The police constable informed me there were never very many about this place. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Perth, 6th May, 1902. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. COCOANARRUP. - Mr. J. Dunn. Mr. Dunn employed one or two boys some time ago, but has not done so lately. No relief has been distributed here since December, 1901. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Perth, 6th May, 1902. |