72a[“Our Interviews”, The Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA), Saturday 21 January 1911, page 5]

OUR INTERVIEWS.

10. Mr. F. C. GRAY.

On Friday night last week, Mr. Gray, who has been on a mission for the Aborigines Dept., returned to Carnarvon. His couversation with us

about his trip should be of interest and some value to our readers.

INSPECTION OF ABORIGINES.

What was the purpose of your journey? our representative asked.

I was appointed to arrange for the collection of diseased natives and their transport to Carnarvon, to rescue half-castes from native camps and forward them to mission stations, and to inquire generally into the condition and welfare of our aborigines, and to see whether their lot could be improved, giving relief when deserving.

THE JOURNEY.

Tour trip covered long distances?

Yes. I left the Junction on September 19, and three weeks later arrived at Nannine, a distance of 410 miles. I visited a large number of

stations on the Murchison and found the country looking exceedingly well for that time of the year. In years gone by the Murchison was noted for its natives, but they are now dying out fast. The condition of those employed on the stations is very good and there is very little disease among them. But the disease becomes very pronounced as one approaches the mining camps, where the district reeks with it. At Nannine, I met the Chief Protector of Aborigines, who came specially to interview me about the work. Together we went to Meekatharra where I was able to demonstrate to him the difficulty in my way. We secured two natives, one a half-caste. Half-way back the latter jumped out of the Chief Protector’s buggy. He went back but she had got away. I secured her later. It is just an instance of how they are dodging all the time. I found a lot of ignorance existing among the authorities in these places as to the prevalence of the disease. When the inspection is held and the blankets given out, the diseased stay up on the hills. Meekatharra is a very large town and is improving very much. Everything is looking bright. Quite a rush has set in at Garden Gully. The town, which is beautifully laid out, has, I think, a big future before it. From there, we returned to Nannine, where I parted from the Chief Protector, and made for Sandstone, Berambie and Berrigrin.

COLLECTING THE DISEASED.

At Berrigrin, I left my assistant in charge of the natives I had collected and went on to Sandstone. The next day I met Mrs. Bates and Messrs. Brown and Watson of the Cambridge Expedition. Eleven days were spent there, but the natives were exceedingly hard to get hold of, and very wild. I passed down to Mt. Magnet with a number of natives en route to New Norcia. There I found Mr. Iles, late postmaster at Carnarvon, who has still warm feelings towards Carnarvon people. Having hired a sulky I went on to Boogardie station where I was very hospitably received by Mr. and Mrs. Jones. When taking away two half-caste children from their mother she appealed to Mr. Jones to give me money or anything rather than the children. It seems a pity, but to rescue them is more humane than to leave them in the native camp. We secured several natives and returned to Sandstone, where some captures were made and brought to Berrigrin. Some days later the party made for Lake Way, 180 miles across spinifex country, arriving at Wiluna a week after. I found many hundreds of natives there and disease rampant, but the diseased ones were very difficult to secure. Wiluna is very quiet and on the decline. Several big mines have closed down owing to being unable to successfully treat the stone. On November 14, we left with 21 natives for Peak Hill, 180 miles, and arrived there on the 20th. The following night we secured 24. I found the natives there in a very bad state from various diseases. A week was spent there in prosecuting inquiries and forming a depot some miles out of town. Owing to the bad state of the country I was unable to get through that district so abandoned it for a future more favorable opportunity. Returning to Meekatharra I had a very exciting time with a native named George, I found him a fit subject for the island, but he resisted. After a keen struggle I was able to overpower him. Some days later I returned to Peak Hill.

DOWN THE GASCOYNE.

Our full party started for Carnarvon on December 8. There were sixty five natives, all of them in a very bad condition. I had with me three whites, five native assistants, twelve horses, two carts, and a donkey team. Some of the natives rode while others preferred to walk. All were chained, the lightest chains being used. With some of them chains were really not necessary. While at Nannine a few were kept in the local gaol. One morning I found a boy missing, his mate having sawn through the chain with a knife. The mate was asked why he didn’t get away himself, and answered: “Nothing want get away, want be cured.”

I proceeded the party by about six hours, making sure of the wells. In one case I found what had been reported a good well full of salt water, which would have been calamitous if the party had come on it together. We were up every morning at 3 o’clock and had left the camp by five. At Millgan I surprised a native camp in the morning, and secured ten aborigines. When I got to Mt. Clare I found very little work as I had been over the ground before. We came on to the Junction, which we reached on New Year’s Day. A few were secured there and two more at Doorawarrah, bringing the total to 77. We arrived at Carnarvon on the 13th., having come 600 miles since December 5. Camp has been formed three miles out of town, waiting the arrival of a vessel to convey us to the islands. It was a very fortunate trip as not one native has died, an unusual thing on such expeditions. Some natives were sent to Perth for X-ray treatment. Some I cured on the road. Six half-castes were sent to New Norcia. I covered about 2,500 miles, very rough going. The health of the assistants is good. I met with a slight accident through a windlass falling on my foot.

THE STATE OF THE ROUTE.

Have you any observations to make on the routes?

I didn’t strike the main stock route till I reached an out-camp 40 miles from Byro station. I found no cause for complaint on the routes I followed, with the exception of feed which was exceptionally scarce, more so on the trip from Wiluna to the Gascoyne. The Government has a party out from Cue repairing the wells. On the Upper Gascoyne I noticed a Road Board well without a windlass, which, I understand, is down the well. Taking the wells on the whole on the stock route, all are in good order. There seems to be periodical inspection. Some of them I found very deep.

How are the double-gees spreading?

I noticed very few. There were some round Peak Hill but I think there are too many stones in that locality for them to thrive. The only place where they become noticeable is along the Lower Gascoyne. The natives found them readily.

Did you come upon many rabbits ?

There are plenty between the two fences at Nannine and at Berrambi, while from Berrigriu to Sandstone it is no trouble to get out of the trap

and knock over a few with stones. At Upper Clifton Downs they seem to be multiplying rapidly.

Mr. Gray, before leaving the Times office, expressed his keen interest in the class of work he had just so successfully concluded for the Aborigines Department, and said that though the inspections must always be perennial they would gradually have effect in lessening the extent of the disease.

AB notes:

Another travelling inspector’s report with much to tell...

Gray arrived on the outskirts of Carnarvon with 77 Aborigines.

Half-caste children were to be sent to New Norcia.

All significant, in very different ways:

“Having hired a sulky I went on to Boogardie station where I was very hospitably received by Mr. and Mrs. Jones. When taking away two half-caste children from their mother she appealed to Mr. Jones to give me money or anything rather than the children. It seems a pity, but to rescue them is more humane than to leave them in the native camp.”

“Returning to Meekatharra I had a very exciting time with a native named George, I found him a fit subject for the island, but he resisted. After a keen struggle I was able to overpower him.”

“One morning I found a boy missing, his mate having sawn through the chain with a knife. The mate was asked why he didn’t get away himself, and answered: ‘Nothing want get away, want be cured.’”

72b[“The Aborigines”, The West Australian, Friday 05 April 1912, page 6]

The Aborigines.

Chief Protector’s Annual Report.

Native Labour and the Lock Hospitals.

...

Dealing with the question of the lock hospitals, Mr. Gale states:—

“During the early stages of the work of segregating the aborigines suffering from contagious disease the principle of allowing patients to live according to their own natural customs was carried out as far as possible, and the natives were allowed to sleep out in the open, shelter sheds being provided for them during the winter months. Experience, however, taught the management that there were many cases that required constant attention and cleanliness, which it was impossible to obtain for patients camped out in their natural way. Representations in this direction being made, proper hospital wards, suitable to the climate and inmates, have been erected on both Dorre and Bernier Islands. The women’s ward contains 20 and the men’s 12 beds. Up-to-date operating theatres are attached to the buildings, and patients are now treated in the same manner as those in any similar institutions elsewhere. The total cost of constructing these wards was £2,389, and both islands are now possessed of up-to-date hospitals.

“Through the resignation of Dr. Steel as superintendent medical officer Dr. Pritchard was appointed to the position. The staff at Dorre Island, where the female patients are segregated, consist of a matron and two trained nurses under her. The convalescent patients are taught to become useful servants both in hospital and household duties. Generally speaking, the native women lead a happy and contented life, finding their own amusement by corroborees at night time and hunting and fishing during the day. Amusement is found for the inmates of the wards in various ways with the appliances at the command of the staff, a small cinematograph and magic lantern being supplied, and the pictures are much appreciated by those who are confined to their beds. The male patients on Bernier Island are under the constant supervision of an orderly and assistant, the superintendent medical officer periodically visiting from Dorre. The convalescent patients are employed at light work, and fish and game are plentiful. Every possible consideration is given to the care and comfort of both sexes. Speaking generally, the native race is wonderfully patient under great suffering, and very obedient to the orders of the medical officer and staff. Notwithstanding their apparent contentedness they all have an inherent love for their native country and it is a day of rejoicing to those who are told that they are fit for discharge.

“During the year 78 male and 80 female patients were admitted to the islands suffering from venereal disease in various forms, and 30 males and 54 females were discharged by the superintendent medical officer as having been cured, and they were sent back to their respective homes. Up to the end of the year a total of 353 patients have been treated and 125 discharged since the establishment of the lock hospitals. A special expedition was sent out to collect as many diseased natives as possible between the Ashburton River and the eastern goldfields. Unfortunately the bush natives suffering from disease will not voluntarily submit themselves to treatment, and I regret to say that at times force has to be used. Every care is, however, taken of cases during transport to the islands. The work of cleaning a district would be considerably decreased if natives would only come in themselves as soon as the disease is contracted, but instead of doing this the knowledge is hidden as far as possible, and as soon as it is known that an officer is in the vicinity to take patients to the hospital in many instances those diseased clear away as far as possible to avoid capture. I am pleased to say that the more intelligent ones who have been working on stations since childhood, realising the benefit of being specially treated by a medical man, submit themselves cheerfully to isolation until cured. Fifteen deaths occurred during the year. This is a large percentage, but it must be remembered that a great nurber of cases of old and infirm natives are sent over to the hospitals which are practically incurable.”

AB notes:

Some useful statistics here on lock-hospital admissions and discharges.

During the year (to June 30, 1910?), 158 admitted and 84 discharged as cured, 15 deaths (including some who arrived incurable).

Total to [? June 30, 1910]: 353 treated, 125 discharged

The report includes an admission that force had been used to bring some to the islands.

Dr Pritchard became medical superintendent after resignation of Dr Steel.

A ‘cinematograph’ was on hand for the entertainment of the ward-bound patients.

Quotable:

“Speaking generally, the native race is wonderfully patient under great suffering, and very obedient to the orders of the medical officer and staff. Notwithstanding their apparent contentedness they all have an inherent love for their native country and it is a day of rejoicing to those who are told that they are fit for discharge.”