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[Stamp] INSPECTOR OF POLICE COOKTOWN / 648.93
[Stamp] SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE HERBERTON / 466.93
[Stamp] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE QUEENSLAND / 01254 / 11 . FEB . 95
[Stamp] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE QUEENSLAND / 11487 / 30 . SEP . 03
Police Station
Atherton
10 August 1893
No. 12
Const J Higgins No. 596 reports Re the attached Letters and Memo No. 87 of 7 - 8 - 93.
Mr. E. C. Putt states that Mr. W. B. Kelly Storekeeper Atherton told Mrs. Putt that they [sic] blacks give their rations for Tobacco. "Kelly" was asked if Const Higgins was aware of it "Kelly" replied, "Oh no". This conversation took place at Mr. Putts residence about 6 miles from Atherton. Kelly states that he told Mr. Putt to stop the rations if he could but denies that he ever said the blacks give their rations away. About 350 aborigines is in the district. Previous Contractor W. B. Kelly prices charged Beef 25/- per 100 lbs. Flour 19/- per 100 lbs. Present Contractor R. Gordon prices charged Beef 13/- per 100 lbs. Flour 19/- per 100 lbs. about 25 Selectors has their land sublet to Chinamen and about 12 Chinamen employ aborigines but not constant. Principal Employers of "Kanakas" Messers "Putt" "Geblett" "Marmans" "Capt Foules" "Jas Thomas" "Garland" "O Donnell" "Dowling" and about (30) "Kanakas" in the "District". The Const states the Government grant is £ 15- 0 - 0 per month and that the rations is [sic] issued in a public place. Main street Atherton & that Mr. Putt was never present when Rations was [sic] issued. Rations is [sic] issued Close to Mr. "Kelly" Store on Tuesday's and Saturday's on Tuesdays Flour is issued
[written in left margin]
File.
B.C. - Sub Insp Galbraith
Herberton.
107 . 93.
I do not see there is any necessity to pay attention to Mr. Putt at present.
HF
Insp 1/c
7 . 9 . 93
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(2) two saucers of flour to each boy or old Man and (2) two saucers to each Gin and (1) one saucer of flour to each child and on Saturdays they receive about 1/2 lb. to about 2lb. of Beef each - and Mr. Kelly or Mr. Putt never made any complaint to the Constable about the blacks giving their rations away. The Const. has made inquiries amongst the Selectors & mustered they [sic] blacks & begs to state that they [sic ]blacks does [sic] not give their rations to "Chinamen" "Kanakas" or "Malays" and has never heard of it before, and states that they [sic] Aborigines was brought into Atherton at great trouble & expense and on the 11 - 11 - 89 The Const. was appointed to supervise the distribution of rations at that time they [sic] blacks was a terror to selectors & if the rations is [sic] stopped they [sic] blacks may return to their wild state & again become a Terror to Selectors in the back blocks in the scrub. The aborigines is [sic] free to go and work for who they please. The Const. was asked by the Selectors to take they [sic] blacks from the Chinaman but did not as they are better working for anyone than roaming in the bush & Stealing & as a rule Chinamen treat the black better than some of they [sic] whites and always give them some food to take to the camp at night, and then it takes the Const. & Troopers all his time continually patroling around the Selectors and paying urgent attention night or day to depredations thats committed by the they [sic] blacks to keep them under control. There is about 12 Malays in the District and 4 four of them has [sic] ground rented from Selectors and some of them work for wages & (3) three of them Employs [sic] Aborigines that is if they
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go to the Malays thats looking for food & the Malays puts them to work not constant.
3 Three "Kanakas" has ground rented from selectors and they aborigines likes to live with the "Kanakas" as the treat them very well. No complaint was ever made to the Const. that they aboriginies gives their rations away & he would have heard it from some of the selectors if such was the case.
The Aboriginies at Atherton is a poor & sickly tribe & some of them blind and not fit to hunt for food as Mr. Putt states in his letter.
[signed] J Higgins
Const. 396
Sub Inspt. Galbraith
Herberton
[written at the bottom] BC 215
Forwarded to Mr. Fitzgerald
This man is always rushing into print. A little time back, he he wanted some of the rations to be given to him, for private distribution on his own selection.
[signed] P Galbraith
26 . 9 . 93