EXTRACTS FROM
THE
TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF
ABORIGINES’ FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION.
(INCORPORATED.)
READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN THE YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION HALL ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7th, 1881.
HON. J. PICKERING, M.L.C., IN THE CHAIR.
ADELAIDE:
SCRYMGOUR AND SONS, PRINTERS, KING WILLIAM STREET.
1881.
Re-typed by Joe Lane, Adelaide, December 2001.
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OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
FOR THE YEAR 1880-81.
HON TREASURER:
MR. NATHANIEL OLDHAM.
HON. SECRETARY:
MR. C. N. COLLISON.
COMMITTEE:
REV. W. B. ANDREWSMR. M. GOODE
“ F. W. COX “ H. HAMMOND
“ W. R. FLETCHER, M.A. “ N. BLYTH
“ T. LLOYD “ G. W. HAWKES, S.M.
“ D. PATON, M.A., B.D. “ H. HUSSEY
HON. JNO. COLTON, “ C. J. HOLDER
HON. J. PICKERING, J.P
COLLECTOR:
MR. E. MONTGOMERY MARTIN.
AT POINT MACLEAY.
SUPERINTENDENT:
MR. F. W. TAPLIN.
TEACHER:
MR. J. A. OPHEL.
FARM OVERSEER:
MR. D. BLACKWELL.
REPORT OF
THE ABORIGINES’ FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION
(INCORPORATED.)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 1881.
In presenting their twenty-third annual report the Committee are pleased to be able to report that, with the aid of the Government grant of £1,000 per annum, they have been enabled to provide home, instruction, and assistance to a large number of natives. The drawbacks that have to be contended against are many and various, not the least of which is the poor nature of the land on which the institution is located. For this reason they have to confine industrial operations almost entirely to sheep; and although the income from this source is larger than in the previous year, the return is, from the small area of land available, necessarily meagre.
During the year, acting upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, who ever has the welfare of the institution at heart, the old flock has been disposed of, and an entirely new flock of merino sheep obtained, from which a more valuable clip is expected to be received. In carrying out this change the Committee have been assisted by Mr. J. H. Angas both with advice and a donation of stud sheep. Arrangements have also been carried out during the year for washing the wool at the Lake, the water of which offers special facility for the operation; and as the work is done by the natives under the overseer, Mr. Blackwell, it is hoped that the result will be in many ways advantageous. Various additions and improvements have been carried out, the principal of which has been the erection of a new woolshed close to the shore of the Lake.
A cottage built at the expense of one of the natives, William McHughes, has at his request been purchased by the Association. McHughes wanted the money in order to start farming on his own account. Another of the natives has also made an application to the Government for a section of land in the vicinity of Point Macleay for the purpose of a farm.
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SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT.
The year has passed away without any notable change or event in the routine of the Mission, your Superintendent feels some difficulty in collecting matter for a report of any material interest.
We have had comparatively little to complain of in the general behaviour of the natives. Of course difficulties have arisen in some few cases, and discipline has had to be maintained; but altogether we cannot but feel that there has been much cause for satisfaction in the manifestly respectful bearing of the natives towards the officers of the Institution.
The health of the people has been remarkably good, especially during the last six months. The Station Register shows that nine births and seven deaths have occurred.
Two marriages have been celebrated.
The attendance at Divine Worship does not equal last year’s return, but an improvement is earnestly sought and hoped for.
On reference to the list of natives that usually reside at Reid Town, it will be seen that there are eighteen single men, exclusive of occasional visitors. The want of some means of affording these young men evening pastimes, either by reading, or some other innocent recreation, is felt; and it has been thought that a building might be erected at comparatively small cost, that would serve the purpose of Reading Room and Institute.
With regard to spiritual progress, we wish that a greater advance had been made.
There are at present 27 native members, and to that number we hope that many more may be added during the ensuing year. One youth has already expressed a desire to show his belief in Christianity, and will shortly be admitted to membership. I may state that up to the present time 68 natives have professed Christianity, of which number 27 continue in fellowship, 12 have gone back, 26 have died, and three have lapsed owing to removal to a distance.
Further endeavours are being made to successfully cultivate some of the land. About 60 acres of wheat, and two acres each of oats, rye, and lucerne, have been sown with seed this year. The poorness of the soil, however, precludes the possibility of much remuneration from our farming operations without artificial manure of some kind. An attempt was made last year in the way of carting the mud and sediment out of the swamps on the shores of the lake on to the sandhills, and with considerable success; but six acres treated in the same way this year do not at present promise an equal result.
The Christmas season was marked by the usual festival of about 100 natives of all ages partaking of an abundant spread of roast mutton and plum pudding. A cricket match between a team of natives and European players came off in the afternoon, the former being the victors. In the evening our little chapel was crowded by about 170 persons assembling to share the fruit of two large Christmas trees, furnished by kind friends in Adelaide, the donors being accorded three ringing cheers at the conclusion of the entertainment.
FREDERICK W. TAPLIN
Superintendent.
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SCHOOL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 1881.
Conduct.--I am thankful to be able to say that, the general conduct of the children during the past year has been very good. In no case have I found it necessary to exercise any severe discipline. Both to myself and Miss Ophel, (the Matron, Sewing Mistress, etc.,) they have been respectful and obedient. I believe I may truthfully say that their behaviour would compare favourably with that of any like number of school children in the colony.
Health.-- The health of the children on the whole, has been pretty good. There has been two or three prolonged, and rather severe cases of illness amongst them – the development of hereditary disease. One girl named Fanny Forrest was sent to the Children’s Hospital, in Adelaide. She has since been sent back here to die. She fell asleep in Jesus.
Attendance.-- Fifty-one children -- 30 boys and 21girls – have attended the school, for a shorter or longer period, during the past year, but 44 is the greatest number on the roll-book at any one time. The average daily attendance for the year has been 33 – 19 boys and 14 girls. The elder girls having to do most of the cooking and cleaning, to assist in the washing, sewing, etc., and the elder boys being often required to do work about the Station, makes the average attendance at school lower than it would otherwise have been. This irregular attendance necessarily interferes with their progress in the three R’s. But this disadvantage is more than counterbalanced by the great advantage this training in domestic and other work will be to them in the future. They have not, it must be remembered, any home training in industrial or domestic employments.
Visitors’ Remarks.--I think that I cannot do better than conclude this short report, by transcribing the remarks I find written in my School Roll Book, by a member of your Committee – C. J. Holder, Esq. – who visited the Mission Station last October. He writes – I visited the school on the 1st of October, and was much pleased with the general attention of the scholars, as well as with the specimens of their work which I saw. The conduct of the scholar was such as to afford ample evidence of their proper respect for their teacher, and that such respect was the result of an affection for him, rather than a fear of his anger, while their work was an evidence of his patient and persevering efforts to impart instruction, and of a satisfactory amount of success therein.
JOHN A. OPHEL, Teacher.
REPORT OF A VISIT TO POINT McLEAY MISSION STATION.
To the Committee of the Aborigines’ Friends’ Association.
GENTLEMEN -- Having recently visited the Point McLeay Mission Station, I shall briefly lay before you a report of my observations, and of the infdormation gained during my short stay.
I arrived at the jetty on Monday afternoon, 14th November, and was driven by Mr. Taplin to the Station, or Reid Town, as the locality of the dwellings is called. Shortly after my arrival I went into the dining-room and saw the native children have their supper, which was partaken in an orderly manner. After this the males and females retired to their respective quarters for the night, any of them that wished to read or write being supplied with books, pens, &c., for the purpose. Some applied for copies of songs and solos, and at once commenced to sing; but this voluntary performance was not at all equal to the singing I hear when they were led by one of their teachers, or when assisted by those more advanced. After retiring for the night the doors are locked, so that there can be no communication between those occupying the different dormitories.
On Tuesday morning I attended the early worship that is regularly held in the chapel, which on this occasion was conducted by Mr. Blackwell. The aborigines present were reverent and attentive, and as the devotions were not too long, the interest in them was well sustained.
I next attended the morning session of the school, and examined two or three of the classes, and inspected their copy books. I was pleased with the proficiency of the scholars, and from what I saw and heard I feel sure that in some respects the work done will bear favourable comparison with the results obtained in the State schools. Mr. Ophel, the teacher, appears thoroughly to understand the peculiarities of his sable charge, and adapts himself to their idiosyncrasies to such an extent as circumstances require. By patient perseverance he has succeeded in securing their attention, and considering the difficulties he has had to contend with, I think the progress made and the discipline maintained is very satisfactory. I may here mention that many of those who have been taught writing at the Mission School avail themselves of the knowledge they have thus acquired, and keep up a correspondence with friends at a distance, and vice versa. I was informed that letters frequently pass through the post from one native to another.
In the afternoon Mr. Taplin drove me round the station, and I could plainly see that agricultural operations can only be carried on to a limited extent. The light and sandy nature of the soil precludes the possibility of a successive growth of cereals, and it is to be regretted that the attempts which have been made to grow wattles and other trees have failed. A paddock of about sixy acres was sown with wheat this season, on land that had not been cropped for five years, and just prior to my visit it was discovered that red rust had commenced its ravages. This diesease developed itself so rapidly that it was deemed advisable to cut the entire crop for hay, and as there is likely to be a good demand for fodder, it is anticipated that, when chaffed, it will yield a profitable return. One great difficulty in the way of keeping the land clean is the sand-drift, and to avoid this all roots and even stalks are allowed to remain in the ground all throught the summer, lest by loosening the soil the
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sand should be driven by the wind hither and thither, or meeting with a wall or fence bank up several feet. As there is a sufficient supply of implements, a smithy, carpenter’s shop, good barn, stables, and some good stanch horses at the station, it is to be regretted that agricultural operations cannot be more extensively and successfully carried on. Rye will grow well, and if a profitable market could be found for it, a fair crop could generarally be obtained. Mr. Blackwell, the Farm Overseer, seems thoroughly to understand his duties, and trains the native labourers to usefulness in his particular department.
The sheep appeared to be in fair condition, but the lambing season has not been a good one, only yielding about 30 per cent., and the clip of wool was light. The wool-shed since its enlargement is capacious enough for a large increase of sheep. It was thought that as the facilities afforded for wool-washing were of so favourable a character, some of the neighbouring settlers might send their wool to be washed, but as yet they have not availed themselves of this opportunity. Mr. Taplin intends by means of a wire rope to convey the wool to and from the wool-shed and the lake for washing purposes. The 300 sheep recently purchased from Mr. Angas will be a valuable addition to the flock, and should there be a good per centage of lambing next season, the deficiency existing will be made up. The consumption of meat at the Institution requires a large number of sheep to be constantly kept.
On Tuesday evening I gave an address in the chapel, which was attentively listened to, and the singing was good.
On Wednesday morning Mr Taplin drove me to the Needles, our branch station pleasantly situated on the Coorong, and worked in connection with that at Point McLeay. The land, with the exception of a strip facing the water, is scrub, and can only carry a limited number of sheep. I walked across the run, and the uninitiated would wonder where a flock of a few hundred sheep could find sufficient to keep them alive. There is a fair supply of water, and under the care of Mr. Whitehead the sheep appear to thrive pretty well. There were between 40 and 50 Coorong natives in this locality, and the aged and infirm among them are supplied with stores from the Government, served out weekly by Mrs. Whitehead. The distance of this station from Point McLeay (32 miles) is a serious obstacle in the way of carrying on mission work, as it is not possible for the Superintendent to pay frequent visits and spend much time there without interfering with his duties at Point McLeay. The express waggon and two horses now used for the journey is a great improvement on the horse and spring cart formerly used, and the time occupied is only about half what it then was.
On Thursday we returned to Point McLeay, which we reached in the afternoon, and in the evening I gave an address in the chapel to a larger congregation than on the previous occasion, some of the neighbouring settlers availing themselves of this opportunity of attending a religious service.
During my stay I inspected several of the buildings at Reid Town, and with the exception of the schoolmaster’s kitchen (which requires a new roof) they appeared to be clean, and in a good state of repair. The additions that have recently been made are decided improvements, and having been effected mainly by native labour, the cost has not been great.
The quantity of limestone at the settlement whilst good for building and cleansing purposes, militates greatly against forming gardens and planting trees; and the absence of these often gives a naked appearance to the houses.
The health of the aborigines at the time on my visit was generally good, and due regard seems to be paid to cleanliness. An aged native in ill health had been sent from the Burra to Point McLeay, and
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the attention he required interfered greatly with the ordinary work of the Institution. As the poor fellow felt keenly the separation from his own people in addition to his ailments, it seemed almost unkind to send him there, and to impose additional labout on those whose hands are already full of work.
The duties of the Superintendent are very varied, and but for the training he has had from his late respected father, he could not possibly fulfil them as he does. The schoolmaster also acts as storekeeper and postmaster, and assists in the religious exercises carried on at the Institution.
An infusion of a little more missionary zeal would, no doubt, be beneficial to the aborigines at Point McLeay, as well as to those at the Coorong, Lake Albert, &c.; but to carry on more mission work, the services of a missionary, wholly or mainly devoted to the work, would be necessary. As far as I can learn tribal jealousies stand in the way of getting the various divisions to assemble at Point Mcleay, or remain sufficiently long to receive instruction.
Suggestions.
The Superintendent considers that it would be an advantage to the Institution if he were to meet the Committee at stated times – say quarterly – and confer with them on various subjects. At such times he would be able to make known his requirements, and would be prepared to give such information as the Committee might require. This plan would obviate the necessity of so much correspondence as is frequently found indispensable under the existing plan. The Superintendent is also of opinion that that on the occasion of the periodical visits suggested he could purchase the necessary supplies for the station, and thereby not only save commission, but procure just the kind of goods required.