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. PT. CLOATHES STATION. - Owned by Messrs. Burrill and Carter ; managed by Mr. T. Carter. I placed one old blind woman on the relief list on this station at the rate of 6d. per day ; Mr. Carter told me she had never done any work for him and had been help less for some considerable time. There are three other old women, but as they had done work at odd times, Mr. Carter was quite willing to feed them. I gave him an order on the police at Carnarvon for four blankets for those old women. There are 10 men, 17 to 30, and 16 women, 16 to 60, employed on this station. One child, female, was born here six months ago. No deaths during 12 months. The natives on this station are very well treated, clothed, and fed, and appear happy and contented. Scale of rations : 12lbs. flour, 12lbs. meat, 1½lbs. sugar, and two sticks of tobacco. These natives have the use of two or three boats and catch a great quantity of turtle and fish and seldom require any meat. One woman here has been suffering from syphilis for some considerable time, but just at present seems better; I am going to send some medicine for her, as having ridden to Pt. Cloates was unable to take any. I append Mr. Carter's opinion on the signing question for your information. Mandajager, alias Cabbajaque, F., 60, blind and helpless, on relief at 6d. per day from 15th May, 1900. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Minilya, 22nd May, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WINNING POOL TELEGRAPH STATION. - Mr. Powell, Postmaster. At this station there are several natives: three men, four women, and two children (one half-caste boy nine years old) - formerly working for Mr. H. T. Knight, who owned Mia Mia station, having a homestead at Winning Pool. Mr. Knight having been sold up, these natives are now out of employment. one man and woman only being employed by the P.M. shepherding, killing sheep, etc. One man, about 60, is blind in one eye, but has a strong lusty woman, so I considered there was no necessity to put him on relief, especially being such a splendid season there is any amount of bush food to be obtained. There is also an old woman about 55 or 60 there. I did not put her on relief for the same reason, but these old people should have blankets. It appears Mr. Powell has sent to Onslow for 10 blankets for distribution amongst these natives. He had intended giving them to all hands, including those natives working for him. He tells me he has put the majority of these natives on out of charity, as they are unable to obtain work in the district. I have requested him not to give these able-bodied natives blankets until he hears from you on the matter. Up to the present, I have been in the habit f only recommending infirm and aged natives for blankets. I should be obliged if you would let me know exactly what you wish done in this matter - should able-bodied natives be supplied with blankets if unable to obtain work? Will you kindly communicate with Mr. Powell by wire on the subject. He says he would have to get rid of these natives if he has to find them blankets as well as food, tow boys being ample for his requirements. He now employs five men and three women. Since leaving Winning I have ascertained one of these boys is an absconder from Mr. McRae's, on the Ashburton. I have written to Mr Powell, telling him on no account to give this boy a blanket. I made inquires concerning the native prisoner, Frank, about whom Mr Brockman complained. It appears this native received a life sentence, and has been at Winning just over 12 months. Mr Powell states that the boy is quite capable of any mischief; he is a smart, active fellow, and would make a capital native assistant for the police. I consider it is anything but fair to squatters and others in the district to have a boy with such a bad reputation so handy. Would it not be possible to have him removed? The police of the Gascoyne district were in quest of an assistant when I was in Carnarvon: with them he would be under close supervision and would not be so likely to get into mischief. Mr Powell does not particularly want him now; it would certainly be advisable to get this native removed if possible. The half-caste boy is nine years old; he is a smart little chap, and ought to be removed from his present surroundings. I have, ect., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Minilya, 22nd May 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. MINILYA STATION. - Owned and managed by Mr. G. S. Brockman. On arrival at this station I deemed it advisable to make my own camp, and would not accept Mr. Brockman's hospitality until after I had seen how things were. I am glad to say Mr. Brockman assisted me in every way and expressed a wish that I should go out to his coast country and go through the natives there. I propose to do so on my return to Minilya from Carnavon. Mr. Brockman will find me fresh horses for my trip. As far as I could see, the natives employed at the homestead and about the run were well treated ; no doubt Mr. Brockman is strict with them, but I have no reason to think cruel. The natives ( men, women, and children), all look well fed, more particularly the latter, of whom there are a great many, and the men and women compared very favourably with other stations visited, as regards clothing. I signed some of these natives, none of them hesitating in the slightest and certainly exhibiting no signs of fear or compulsion. One boy who refused to sign some little time ago informed me he had been told by a man formerly working at the place not to sign with Mr. Brockman, but to cut sandalwood for him. This man bears anything but a good name in the district. At my request Mr. Brockman showed me the correspondence from you, dealing mainly with payment of relief accounts; he told me everything had now been squared up to the end of December, 1899, and that he did not intend to charge for any more relief, but would still feed the infirm natives on the place when they required it. Mr. Brockman stated that an aboriginal native, Frank, supposed to come from the Eastern districts, convicted about two years ago of rape on a white woman, has turned up at Winning Telegraph Station, and is employed there. I have just ascertained from the postmaster here that such is the case. Mr. Brockman complains that the presence of this native on his run amongst his natives is a serious menace, as he demoralises them, being a bad lot. I will inquire further into this when visiting the coast shortly. I only saw two old women who had been on the relief list, the remainder were out on the coast. There are 19 men, 17 to 50; 21 women, 11 to 65; also 15 children, 4 of the latter being half-castes: 3 girls, 2½ to 4; and 1 boy, 3 years. Four deaths during 12 months-1 man speared, 1 struck by a turtle, 2 natural causes. Mr. Brockman stated he did not weigh out rations, but gave them when required. He also said the water-drawers kill their own sheep when required. Mr. Brockman stated that he did not allow any men to keep women on the station. G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Carnarvon, 21st April, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. MINILYA STATION. - Owned by Mr. G. J. Brockman. Mr. Brockman let me have horses and equipment to go out to his coast country and Point Cloates. I regret having missed his natives, they must have gone down the coast somewhere; I believe they have a boat, and should get any amount of fish and turtle. When travelling along the coast I saw immense quantities of turtle shells and fish bones at all the old camps. Re Mr. Brockman's complaint against the native prisoner, Frnak, employed at Winning Pool station, I have written fully in reporting on that station. Mr. Brockman has not yet returned from the South. I would like to express my thanks to him and his overseer for so kindly letting me have horses and equipment for the trip to the coast. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Minilya, 23rd May, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WANDAGEE (Minilya River). - Owned and managed by Mr. G. J. Gooch. Of the six natives on my list as being in receipt of relief on this station there are now only three alive, those dead being Jasber, Thoonarry, and Ualbinarry ; the two former died in July, 1899, and the latter in February of the same year. None appear to have been charged for since July, 1899. Mr. Gooch tells me he does not consider it neccessary to feed any of them just at present, as there is so much food to be obtained in the bush. I quite agree with him, and only regret others do not look at the matter in the same light, and consider great credit is due to Mr. Gooch for his consideration. I had a look at the old natives on this station, and submit the names of the six that are fit subjects for relief later on when bush food becomes scarce. Mr. Gooch will apply for relief when he considers it neccessary : - (1.) Barragoora, female, 50, crippled ; on relief previously. (2.) Mindeloo, female, 70, unable to walk ; on relief previously. (3.) Narjar, female, 45, blind ; on relief previously. (4.) Noolgobiddy, alias, Jumbo, male, 60, nearly blind and infirm. (5.) Withegoora, alias, Jinnie, female, 60, infirm. (6.) Hilgagoora, female. No.6 (Hilgagoora) I did not see, she being away with a shepherd ; but I have told Mr. Gooch, if he considers she is a fit subject and unable to work, to feed her with the others by-and-bye. I have no hesitation in trusting to Mr. Gooch's honour in this matter, and am confident he will not charge for this woman unless she is a fit subject relief. The above natives have not done any work for Mr. Gooch. All the natives here are well clothed, fed, and looked after, and are contented and happy. In my report on Winning Pool (no. 30/00) I stated there was a half-caste boy there, named Benjamin. Mr Gooch is willing to take this boy. I consider he would have a good home at Wandagee, when he would become useful instead of loafing at Winning. Mr Gooch would also give his mother employment if she does not care to part with him. He would also find employment for another man and woman that are there. I am writing to Mr. Powell on this matter; he appears to have been mistaken as to these natives being unable to obtain work in the district. I should be obliged if you would communicate with Mr. Gooch on the subject of the the boy Benjamin, giving him authority to take charge of him, as it is quite possible the mother may not care about letting him go; he is just the age now to either become useful or a thorough young scamp if not given employment. I cannot conclude this report without expressing my sincere thanks to Mr. Gooch for his kindness in lending me horses to go to Carnarvon while mine were spelling on his run. I have, ect., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Middalya, 31st May 1900. |