[“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.’”
