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89.4188 Col Sec
Police
[Stamp] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE QUEENSLAND 03654 5 APR 89
[Stamp] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 05,363 QUEENSLAND 23 APR 89
D25-89
Police Department Inspectors office Port Douglas 13 April 1889
Re letter from Dan Hart to the Hon the Colonial Secretary
in re treatment of Blacks on Mossman River
Sir With reference to this letter I have the honor to submit the following report for your information.
Mr Dan Hart is a colored man a native of Jamica [sic] who has a selection on the Mossman River. He sold portion of this selection to a Mr Robert McLean who erected a Public House and when selling the land there was some sort of agreement between them with reference to the renting of a paddock over which they fell out and which I believe ended in a law suit. Ever since this they have been on very undriendly terms and are frequently at law over imaginary grievances.
With reference to
Comm of Police
[Notes in margin] Previous 89.25964
BC The Hon The Colonial Secretary DT Seymour CP
No action B.D.M. 25/4/89
For Mr Hawthorns perusal 20/4/89 (Please return)
D. Hart 2 May 89/1569
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to the treatment of the Blacks the statements made by Hart are what have been made to him by the Kanakas and are therefore to be received with considerable caution. The only illtreatment the Blacks have received on the Mossman appears to be what they have met from the Kanakas.
In January last it was reported to me that a Kanaka named Johnson had abducted a gin from her tribe on Bayley's Creek. I instructed Senior Constable Portley the Senr Officer in charge of the Mossman Native Police to take her from this Kanaka and return her to her tribe which he did.
After this Johnson with five other Kanakas arrived with Snider Rifles and ammunition went to Bayley's Creek and abducted three aboriginal gins from their tribe. Some time after, this was reported to the Police Magistrate here who gave me written instructions to inquire into the matter and have the gins returned to their tribe (see annexed letter marked A.) I did so and got a report from Senr Const Portley (copy
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of which I attach marked B) with reference to this outrage and the trouble he had in recovering these gins.
From what I can ascertain it appears that several persons on the Mossman Saltwater and Daintree have for some considerable time past employed and harbored Kanakas paying a nominal wage and inducing them to remain in their service by alloting them aboriginal gins.
I may here point out that there can be no greater incentive to the Aborigines to commit outrages than permitting Kanakas to abduct their women.
In conclusion I may remark that it appears to me that this letter of Dan Harts is simply the outcome of the animus he bears to Mr McLean and not written for either the good of the District or the welfare of the Aborigines.
I have the honor to be Sir your most obedient Servt (signed) JStuart Inspr 2C