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. MOGRIE (Minilya River). - Owned and managed by Mr. Newman. There are seven men and five women working on this station ages 17 to 60 and 18 to 60, respectively. There is also one old woman here occasionally, but not employed; she probably gets a fair amount of food from working natives, who apparently well fed and clothed. Mr Newman does not sign any natives, nor has he ever done so, preferring to be a free agent; should they run away he seldom allows them to come back, and states that he has had little or no trouble with his employees. The natives that I saw on this station get as much food as they can eat, and are well clothed. This station being some distance from the main road, Mr. Newman's natives are not troubled by many of the travelling public. Mr. Newman states that he is quite prepared to do away with native labour altogether, should they give him any serious trouble, and I think he evidently means it, his station being well improved. I am, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector, Williambury, June 6, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WILLIAMBURY (Minilya River). - Owned and managed by Mr. M. C. R. Bunbury. I found Mr. Bunbury at home on my return to this station; he told me no men were now allowed to keep native women on the station, and he hoped there would be no more half-caste children. Mr. Bunbury also told me that some of the children sent from Williambury had been paid for at the mussion; he made arrangements with Archdeacon Brown when they were sent down. Mr. Bunbury also told me he had made arrangements to pau for the half-gaste girl (three years) now at Williambury, the station to pay £12 per annum, and you had agreed to find the other £6. Re the Chinaman's child, the father would rather pay the whole sum and have the option of taking the boy away should he want to by-and-bye. There is still another half-caste child on this station, a boy about two years old; his mother was in Carnarvon Hospital for treatment when he was supposed to have been conceived. Mr. Bunbury would like to send this child down with the other two, and is going to write you on the subject. I spoke very strongly to Mr. Bunbury on his half-caste question, and certainly think from the way he spoke that he intends to put a stop to it; it is to be hoped so, at all events; such a state of affairs does not bring credit to any station. I saw six out of the eight natives on relief here. None of them are being fed at present, Mr. Bunbury being of opinion there is plenty of bush food about for them for the next few months. This is satisfactory, and I hope to find others of the same opinion. There is no doubt the natives on this station are remarkably well clothed and fed; I have not seen any better in my trip. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling inspector. Towara, June 17, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WORKAGJIE (Yanarie). - Owned by Mr. T. H. Mansfield; managed at present by Mr. Musgrove. Some time back I heard indirectly anything but favourable accounts of the way the natives were fed and clothed on this station, but am glad to say there appears to be no truth in these rumours. I inquired carefully into the matter and found the natives contented and well fed. In one or two cases there might have been a little more clothing, but as a whole these natives compare very favourably with those on the majority of other stations. Eight men, 22 to 55; nine women, 16 to 50. No deaths or births during the last 12 months. Scale of rations: 12lbs. flour, ½ sheep, no sugar, 5 sticks tobacco, every 8 days. No natives on relief. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Towara, June 17, 1900. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. TOWARA (Yanarie River). - Owned and managed by Mr. H. Twitchin. No natives on relief here. One old man (60), blind, and one woman (about 55) nearly blind, are fed and kept by Mr. Twitchin, who considers it his duty to keep these old people, they having near relations working for him ; neither does he ask for blankets for them, but finds them himself. It is quite refreshing to meet a gentleman with such views. I am sorry there are not more like him. Nine men and boys, 12 to 60. Eight women, 14 to 50. Six children (five girls, 18 months to eight years) and one boy three years old, all black. No births or death during last 12 months. Scale of rations : 16lbs. flour, 1lb. sugar, ¼lb. tea, 3 stick tobacco ; meat when required ; every six days, for man and woman. The natives on this run are well fed and looked after. At the time of my visit some of them were rather scantily clothed, but through no fault of Mr. Twitchin's, as, on account of the plague, considerable difficulty has arisen in getting goods to Onslow, and amongst other things the native clothing had not come to hand, but was expected shortly. Mr. Twitchin told me there was one woman about, some little time ago, suffering from Syphillis, but she had disappeared somewhere and was not then on the run. She did not belong to this run. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector, Onslow, July 6, 1990. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. WOGOOLA (Yanarie River). - Owned by Messrs. Cameron and Clark, and managed by Mr. A. Cameron. There have been no natives on relief here for some time. Two were on the list. One old woman, about 75, died in May from senile decay, and the other cleared out somewhere. Five men, 24 to 55; seven women, 17 to 45; on girl, 12; on half-caste boy, five. These natives are all either fed at the homestead or at a white man's camp, and evidently get all they require in the way of food and clothing, all looking well and hearty. Two of the younger women do the housework, and under Miss Cameron's tuition have become very useful. Two men died within the last 12 months; one 40 years old has been ailing for about five years, the other died when away for a holiday. I append Mr. Cameron's views on signing. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Onslow, 6th July, 1900. |