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. ABBOTTS. - I saw a large number of natives at this mining camp; there being no police station here they come in from all quarters. There must have been 30 all told, and I did not see them all. I regret to say amongst the number there were several children, four being half-castes. One of these latter, aged about seven, a girl, should be removed from these surroundings as soon as possible. She is the eldest of three (two girls and a boy) belonging to the same woman. Would it not be possible to have this child taken into one of the missions? It seems a great pity that a young girl with white blood in her veins should lead the life that must be hers by and bye if allowed to remain at Abbotts or any goldfield. I traced three more of the old Annean persioners at Abbotts, and have put two on relief - viz., Gindygingo, alias Jinnie (F 45), crippled ; and Nubra, alias Laura (F 50), infirm. These two women I have placed under the care of Mr. McKay, at the rate of 9d. per day, for which amount he will give them 12lbs. of flour and 2lbs. sugar each per week. It is quite a pleasure to meet a man like Mr. McKay, who will undertake this good work out of pure good nature, and I feel perfectly certain these two women will get the full benefit of the amount allowed for their relief. If anything can be done for the amount allowed for their relief. If anything can be done for the half-caste children at Abbotts, more especially the one aged seven. Mr. McKay has promised to do anything he can in the matter, under your instructions. The men seen at this mining centre, for the most part were in real good condition, sleek and fat, and apparently do little or nothing but hunt for their living. On the other hand, the women do odd jobs about the township and are very well treated by the inhabitants. I saw a huge dish of scraps of all sorts given to some of them from one of the hotels. I did not consider it necessary to put any of the old men on relief, as they can battle for their own living; but the two women, I think, were entitled to assistance. I could hear of no venereal disease amongst the natives. Some little time ago there were some cases, but it is rather difficult to gain the confidence of the natives and get them to own up to anything being wrong with them, but as I could not hear of any disease amongst the whites, I do not think there can be much amongst the blacks either. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Horseshoe, 28th December, 1899. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. PEAK HILL - There were five natives on relief here. One died some little time ago, and one I old woman had been taken away by some other natives a week or two before my arrival. In the place of this one I put another old woman on the list, viz., Willaga, aged 50, so that there are still four on relief, as follows: - (1.) Winena alias Tommy, male, 50, infirm: (2.) Bundawaring alias Judy, 45, inform and lame; (3.) Murmalada alias Judy, 35, crippled and unable to walk; (4.) Willaga, female, 50, blind (from 1st January. 1900). These natives are evidently well looked after by Corporal Byrne, the police officer in charge of Peak Hill, and I think get a very full ration for the amount allowed. I did not see many natives in or around Peak Hill. There were a few women doing odd jobs about the township. but the majority seem to have got scattered over the country. I could hear of no verereal disease at present amongst whites or blacks, but was told there was a good deal about some few months ago. I saw one half-caste child - a boy, about three or four-knocking about in the township; he appeared to be well fed and clothed. I have, etc., G.S. OLIVER. Travelling Inspector. Horseshoe, 28th December. 1899. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. THE HORSEHOE, In the vicinity of this mining camp I saw about a dozen men, young and able bodied, and for the most part in good condition, but doing little or nothing to gain a living. There were also about 15 women and three children. These also mostly looked well and hearty. I examined several of the former, but found no venereal disease amongst them. There is no doubt these women live themselves and keep their men by prostitution, a few of them doing odd jobs for the residents of the camp. At the Butcher's Well, three miles from the workings, there are two boys employed, together with two women; there is also a smart little boy, about six or seven, fed at this camp. Other natives hang around between the well and township. Mr. Chambers, the butcher, being an old station manager, I obtained his views in writing on the question of signing natives. Thanks to the kind endeavours of Mr. Chambers, I succeeded in obtaining the services of a native to go with me from the Horseshoe. At first he shaped very well, but after travelling some 70 miles to within a few miles of Teeamarra, a cattle camp on Mount Clere run, he left without any notice, taking care to collar the blanket, hat, etc., I had given him. This boy was well fed, and had very little to do, except look after my horses and ride in the buggy; but such is the nature of these bush loafers, after knocking about on a goldfield for any time, they will not do even the lightest work, but become absolutely useless. I hope to get hold of another boy in a day or two. Should he turn up, I think he will probably remain with me, as, having been accustomed to travelling about with white men, he will probably know how to appreciate a good billet. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Teeamarra, 18th January, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. MILGUN STATION. - Owned by Mr. Charles Smith. Managed by Mr. F. T. Smirk. No natives on relief here. I saw two old women at the homestead, one almost a cripple. These two were sharing the tucker with the natives working on the place, and as a beast is killed at frequent intervals, they should do as well. 12 boys, from 12 (3) to 35, and seven women, 12 to 25, are employed on this station. There are also four children (one boy, three girls, nine to 18 months). One old man died during last 12 months. Two births during the last 12 months. Scale of rations : 6lbs. flour, 14lbs. meat, 2lbs. sugar, ¼lb. tea, 4 sticks tobacco, man and woman, every six days. I told Mr. Smirk I considered the allowance of flour a very small one. He said, as they killed a best nearly every week, the natives always got a good deal more meat than the allowance mentioned, which I have no doubt is the case, as when cattle are killed in a place there is always a lot of waste stuff that the natives get, and judging from the appearance of the natives I saw, they look well fed, clothed, and contented Mr. Smirk informed me he had no trouble at all with them, but the difficulty was to get them signed, as very seldom anyone with the power passed by. I hope to enclose herewith Mr. Smirk's views on the signing questions. The women, as well as boys and men, do the stock work on this station. I only saw about half the natives employed, the balance being away for a spell. I have etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Teeamarra, 18th January, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. ERIVILLA (Upper Gasgoyne). - Owned and managed by Messrs. A. and G. Shaw Bros. On my arrival at this station I found both the Shaws were out of the Colony, but the overseer-in-charge (Mr. McIlwraith) gave me all the information I required. It had been reported further up the river that the natives on this station were not properly fed; but I was agreeably surprised to find that, far from such being the case, they are well fed, those at the homestead getting apparently all they require, and those drawing water, ect., being in receipt of a good ration. There are 15 men and boys from 14 to 45, and 13 women, from 30 to 40, employed on the station. There are also four boys about eight years old, and one girl about the same age, and a few women, hangers on at the different camps. The season having been a fair one, these outsiders are able to obtain a fairly good living, and as kangaroo dogs are used by the natives, I think they do well on the whole. A native woman does the cooking and house work on this station. Messrs. Shaw Bros. apparently cater for the natives' amusement also to a certain extent, the boys at Erivilla have a football and seem to enjoy the use of it immensely. Taking everything into consideration, my informant must have been actuated by anything but kindly motives and apparently wished to cause mischief; no doubt some few years back the natives on this station were not too well treated. Two (2) girls of 14 died last November, within a fort-night of each other, cause unknown; they were not related as far as I can lean. They were some distance up the river at the time, and not working on the station. One (1) old woman also died in October last at the station, probably from senile decay. Scale of rations: 10lbs. four, 4lbs. rice, 12lbs. meat, 2 sticks tobacco, man and woman, every six days. The horse boys and those working about the place get sugar and tea. These natives for the most part are well clothed; the ones stationed our drawing water, etc., not so well supplied at those at the homestead. I have, etc., G.S. OLIVER, Travelling Inspector. Mount Clere, 31st January. 1900. |