Gympie [Camp].pdf - Gilburri

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FRONTIER CONFLICT AND THE NATIVE MOUNTED POLICE IN QUEENSLAND Gympie [Camp] Gympie Map data ©2021 Imagery ©2021 NASA, TerraMetrics NMP camp information Label Gympie Display geometry [(152.6, -26.2), (152.7, -26.1)] GDA94 Comments Gympie only had an intermittent and low-level NMP presence, with never more than 3 Aboriginal troopers, who may have been associated with the gold elds rather than the NMP proper. 1870: 1 sergeant, 9 acting sergeants, 10 constables and 3 native troopers (1870:61) 1871: 1 sergeant, 3 acting sergeants, 10 constables and 1 native trooper (Pugh's Almanac 1871:70). Two native troopers according to QSA846884 1871 Table Return Shewing the strength and disposition of Qld Police Force Qtr ending 31March 1871, In letter 71/935 M lm Z7609 1872: 1 sergeant, 2 senior constables, 11 constables and 1 native trooper (Pugh's Almanac 1872:64) 1873: 2 sergeants, 2 senior constables, 12 constables and 2 native troopers (Pugh's Almanac 1873:64). Only 1 native trooper according to QSA846918 1873 Police Commissioners Annual report 15 January, In letter 73/2320 1874-1875: 1 sergeant, 1 senior constable, 11 constables and 1 native trooper (Pugh's Almanac 1874:113; 1875:93) Earliest known date 1869 Latest known date 1875 Minimum duration of camp/NMP presence 6 Source record characteristics Not listed by Jonathan Richards Documents 6 entries Title Text File Tools Brisbane Some time ago we gave an account of the death of a man named Jones, who was lost in the bush between Widgee and the Courier, 9 July Blacksnake diggings, near Gympie. We now furnish an abstract of the o cial report of the circumstances as supplied to us by the 1870, p3 police authorities : — Constable Kelly, native trooper Bully, Mr. Monaghan (superintendent of Widgee station), and a man mimed Williams, together with a number of black boys, scoured the country where the man was reported to be lost from Wednesday, June 1, until the following Saturday, without success. They several times came upon tracks, but owing to the wet weather were unable to follow them. A party of miners from the Blacksnake found his horses, near a camp where Jones apparently had slept. At the camp they found some of his clothes, a bottle of honey, and a small quantity of corn and cha . The body of the man was ultimately found about dusk on Wednesday, June 7, by Mr. Thornton and two others, lying naked in a creek, with the face downwards, in about two feet of water. His trousers, Crimean shirt, and boots, were found on the bank, near the body. The unfortunate man appeared to have been dead some three or four days when his body was found. Constable Martin was left in charge until Mr. Bligh, the coroner, arrived and held an inquiry, which resulted in a verdict of "found drowned." The country between Black Snake and Widgee is mountainous, and a person not acquainted with it could easily be lost. Jones, the deceased, was said to be eccentric in habit, and was in ill-health when he set out on his journey. There is little doubt that he became insane prior to his death, and went into the water of his own accord. There were no marks about the body. QSA846841 2758 1868 Strength 2 Sept 68 and Disposition of the Force Commissioner of Police August, Title Text File Tools Colonial Secretarys Strength and Disposition of Force for August Office In letter 68/2758 Return shewing the strength and Disposition of the Queensland Police Force 31st Aug't 1868 [Note only stations with NMP are transcribed herein] District Inspectors Sub- [unreadable] Sergeants Acting Constables Horses Horse Native Stations Stations Inspectors Sergeants Allowance Troopers with with mixed Native force Police only Burketown 2 2 6 19 3 1 Barcoo River 1 1 1 1 16 4 1 Belyando 1 1 3 24 9 1 River Bowen 2 1 1 21 15 1 Charleville 1 2 1 4 14 4 1 Gympie 1 1 1 18 14 2 1 Isaac River 1 16 7 1 Mackenzie 1 1 1 2 18 4 1 River Maranoa 1 1 1 67 10 1 River Marborough 1 1 1 3 4 2 2 1 Paroo 1 1 2 17 9 1 Title Text File Tools St George 1 2 4 2 2 1 Springsure 1 1 3 28 3 9 1 Suttor River 1 1 13 9 1 Waverley 1 1 1 1 31 1 6 1 Yo Yo Creek 1 1 1 39 7 1 Humpy 1 28 2 1 Bong [Totals here 2 11 11 11 8 46 373 8 104 14 3 don't include the non NMP stations so are di erent to those on the original] Remarks: One Chief Inspector commanding both ordinary and Native Police in the Northern Districts One Chief Inspector commanding both ordinary and Native Police in the Southern & Western Districts [signed] DT Seymour Commissioner Title Text File Tools QSA846884 Commissioner of Police Strength and disposition of Police in Quarter to 31 Mar 71 1871 Table [In margin: 935 5 Apr 71] Return Shewing the strength RETURN shewing the Strength and Disposition of the Queensland Police Force, Quarter ending 31st of March 1871 and disposition of Qld Police [Table not transcribed - see attachment] Force Qtr ending 31 One Chief Inspector commanding both Ordinary and Native Police in the Northern Districts March, In letter One Chief Inspector commanding both Ordinary and Native Police in the Southern and Western Districts 71/935 Mfilm Z7609 The Hon the Col Sec THB Barron For Commissioner of Police QSA846918 IN LETTER 73/2320 1873 Police Commissioners Police Department. Annual report Commissioner’s O ce 15 January, In Brisbane 15 January 1873 letter 73/2320 Sir I do myself the honor to submit the annual report upon the Police Force of this Colony. During the past year owing to the discoveries made in Gold, Tin, and Copper, the liberal inducements held forth for purchasing and cultivating the lands of the Colony and the great increase of population in scattered parts, a considerable addition has had to be made to the Force and several run Stations formed. The accompanying return (Appendix A), showing the numbers and cash for each year since the Department was formed under the present Act 27 Victoria No 11. Together with the populations at the time, shows that although the population is almost doubled and the increase to the white police is only the same viz our hundred and sixty nine (169) members, the additional expenditure is only £20,870.0.0 in excess of the amount expended in 1864. This amount includes the maintenance of Gold Escorts which is estimated to be £4,500 annually. The rest of the Native Police yearly is estimated at £10,000, this together with the Escort expenses when deducted from the total expenditure of 1872 shows that the cost of the white police for that year was £49,676. In addition to Police duties all members of the Force, with the exception of Inspectors and ordinary constables perform the duties of Inspector of Brands, and Crown Lands Rangers. The statistical returns are collected by the Police. The duties of Inspector of Slaughterhouses are in nearly every case performed by them, of the Inspectors who perform the duties of Police Magistrate four members of the Force are acting as Clerk of Petty Sessions. These additional duties although occupying considerable time and attention of the Force, must be a great saving to the Revenue of the Colony. Title Text File Tools With references to the state of crime last year, it is satisfactory to be able to report that no crime of a serious nature has occurred such as Murder and Highway Robbery excepting in the case of outrages committed by aboriginals. Two supposed cases of murder were reported but in neither case could any traces of the body be found. The crime of Horse Stealing and soldiering has been the most prevalent this may be accounted for in some measure from the fact that the mineral discoveries made during the year caused a large in ux of populations, amongst whom a goodly sprinkling of the Criminal classes are to be found. It is gratifying however to state that more than one third of the horses reported stolen or soldiered have been found, and I have no doubt the number would have been considerably greater, had the owners of each horses reported their recovery to the police. From all that can be learnt, the majority of the horses carried away were not taken for sale, but ridden o by swagmans seeking employment and members of the criminal class to facilitate their transit from one part of the Colony to another after serving which purpose the horses are turned adrift. I beg to suggest, what would be an assistance to the police in faulting down horse stealing. It is form an act similar to one now in force in the Colony of Victoria prohibiting all auctioneers from selling a horse for any one, without rstly having a guarantee from two horseholders that such vendor was known to them, and directing that a list of all horses (including the brands and description) so sold at the end of each week be furnished to the o cer of Police, and the Clerk of Petty Sessions for the district where such sale takes place. This act had so much bene cial e ect in putting down that o ence in the Colony alluded to, and both auctioneers and horse stealers were caught by its provisions and convicted. The e ciency of the Police on the whole cannot be considered otherwise than satisfactory, there is seldom a complain made against them, and but four o enders succeed in trading justice. I have no hesitation in accounting that no more of the Colonies is there such heavy and continuous work performed by individual members of the Force as in Queensland. This may be accounted for from the great size of the Colony, the heat of the climate and the sparseness of the Police Stations which are few and far between. A *** involving long journeys in the pursuit of o enders and escorting prisoners. As a proof (7) seven constables have died during the year from the exposure and hardship incidental, to their calling, and a large percentage are constantly sick and un t for duty for considerable periods this applies more to the Northern postings of the Colony, to remedy which transfers are made as often as practicable. Each applicant I may state has to pass a strict medical examination to prove he is sound and healthy before joining the force, consequently the men recruited may be considered physically the strongest men in the Colony. Owing to members of the force, seeking outside in uences has enabled them to obtain promotions or other advantages, it was found desirable to issue a General Order cautioning members that if found guilty of so doing they would be severely dealt with, this has had the desired e ect and considerably improved the e cient tone of the Force, as every member nds that it is only through their own ability and exertions they can obtain promotion or rewards. In the Southern and more populous portion of the Colony, it has been found easy to concentrate bodies of police where their services may be required on emergency, but not so in the northern portion. Steam communication being so irregular that at times a month may elapse before additional police can arrive. Such was the case in the late riot at Charter’s Towers, a su cient force is now Title Text File Tools stationed in the North and when concentrated will be able to quell any such disturbance that may arise in future. In the Northern portions of the Colony where living is expensive, the climate trying and the rate of wages high it was found necessary to increase the rate of pay as few members cared to remain in the force when they could earn double the amount out of it. The appointment of a Travelling Superintendent has proved of great advantage but I fear that in so large a colony, one o cer will scarcely be able to supervise as often as may be deemed desirable. The Return attached (appendix B) a ords the information of the disposition of the Force at the end of the year inclusive of Native Mounted Police showing in all eighty ve (85) stations, an increase of forty ve (45) since 1864. The police have hitherto been armed with a variety of weapons of di erent bores which caused confusion in the ammunition issued. This is being remedied by the issue of the same class of carbine to all and breech loading revolvers of one description and bore only. During the past year the Gold Escorts have been running without the slightest accident. The Gilbert and Etheridge commenced running in the month of April. The gold being carried on pack horse there being only a bridle pack from the Etheridge to Cardwell. I append a return (Appendix C) showing the quantity of gold escorted thoughout the Colony during the year and the fees received for the same being about equal to the expense incurred in the maintenance of the escorts. With reference to the Native Mounted Police it has been found that recruiting within the Colony is not desirable as the troopers when tired of service, under whatever conditions they may be serving return to their tribes. On this account it has been recommended that aboriginals be recruited from the Southern colonies to serve a certain period and then be returned to their country of tribe. For this purpose a depot is being formed to thoroughly drill recruits before telling them o to detachments. It is of vital importance that this branch of the force should be kept thoroughly e cient for the purpose of checking the aboriginals in their outrages which during the last year have considerably increased as civilization has advanced and the country become occupied for pastoral, mining and other purposes. The aboriginal population has been estimated at 50,000, to check the outrages of these aborigines one hundred and fty (150) Native troopers are allocated, a force scarcely adequate to cope with such numbers but still their services have been such as to prevent gre… murder and bloodshed. In conclusion I beg to draw your attention to the desirability of framing a short act making telegrams of legal force in the apprehension of o enders for whom warrants have been issued. I instance the case of William Gardener Fraudulent Insolvent from Melbourne who having been arrested upon information received by telegram was ordered to be released by His Honor the Judge as the warrant could not be provided, the o ender has since evaded the police. I have the honor to be Title Text File Tools Sir Your most obedient servant [signed] W.H Barron Acting Comman’t of Police The Honorable The Colonial Secretary Brisbane _______ Appendix A Return showing strength of Police Force, and Expenditure in connection therewith during the years 1864 to 1872 inclusive, also Population of Colony at end of each year. Year: 1864 Number of persons in Department: 3 Number of persons in White Police: 178 Number of persons in Native Police: 164 Total: 345 Expenditure during each year: £43,397 Population: 74,036 Year: 1865 Number of persons in Department: 3 Number of persons in White Police: 239 Number of persons in Native Police: 124 Total: 366 Expenditure during each year: £44,972 Population: 87,804 Year: 1866 Number of persons in Department: 4 Number of persons in White Police: 267 Number of persons in Native Police: 151 Total: 422 Expenditure during each year: £52,297 Population: 96,201 Year: 1867 Title Text File Tools Number of persons in Department: 4 Number of persons in White Police: 267 Number of persons in Native Police: 112 Total: 413 Expenditure during each year: £53,888 Population: 99,849 Year: 1868 Number of persons in Department: 4 Number of persons in White Police: 301 Number of persons in Native Police: 106 Total: 417 Expenditure during each year: £60,223 Population: 107,427 Year: 1869 Number of persons in Department: 4 Number of persons in White Police: 288 Number of persons in Native Police: 114 Total: 406 Expenditure during each year: £57,045 Population: 109,897 Year: 1870 Number of persons in Department: 3 Number of persons in White Police: 299 Number of persons in Native Police: 114 Total: 416 Expenditure during each year: £57,716 Population: 115,567 Year: 1871 Number of persons in Department: 3 Number of persons in White Police: 309 Number of persons in Native Police: 118 Total: 430 Expenditure during each year: £58,326 Title Text File Tools Population: 125,146 Year: 1872 Number of persons in Department: 3 Number of persons in White Police: 337 Number of persons in Native Police: 145 Total: 485 Expenditure during each year: £64,267 Population: 135,497 _______ Appendix B Strength and Disposition of Queensland Police Force on 31st December 1872 [Only stations with Native Troopers listed] … Station: Burketown and Norman Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 2 Senior Constable: 1 Constable: 2 Native Troopers: 8 … Station: Barcoo River Acting Sub-Inspector: 2 Native Troopers: 9 … Station: Belyando River Sub-Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 7 … Station: Bowen Downs Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 7 … Station: Bulloo Title Text File Tools Sub-Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Native Troopers: 8 … Station: Cunnamulla Inspector: 1 Senior Constable: 1 Constable: 3 Native Troopers: 3 … Station: Comet and Nagoa Acting Sub-Inspector: 2 Native Troopers: 6 … Station: Curriwillinghi Senior Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 1 … Station: Cashmere Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 6 … Station: Dalrymple Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Native Troopers: 10 … Station: Etheridge (Georgetown) Sub-Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Senior Constable: 2 Constable: 6 Native Troopers: 3 … Station: Gympie Inspector: 1 Title Text File Tools Sergeant: 2 Senior Constable: 1 Constable: 13 Native Troopers: 1 … Station: Gilberton Senior Constable: 1 Constable: 2 Native Troopers: 1 … Station: Kirknee Creek Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 11 … Station: Nebo Sub-Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 2 Native Troopers: 5 … Station: Mitchell Downs Senior Constable: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 1 … Station: Murray River Sub-Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 9 … Station: Mount Emu Plains Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 6 … Title Text File Tools Station: Maranoa Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 4 … Station: Marlborough Inspector: 1 Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 9 … Station: Oak Park Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 7 … Station: Roma Inspector: 1 Sergeant: 1 Senior Constable: 1 Constable: 4 Native Troopers: 2 … Station: Ravenswood Sub-Inspector: 1 Senior Constable: 2 Constable: 7 Native Troopers: 1 … Station: St George Sergeant: 1 Constable: 2 Native Troopers: 1 … Station: Surat Senior Constable: 1 Constable: 1 Title Text File Tools Native Troopers: 1 … Station: Waterview Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Constable: 1 Native Troopers: 8 … Station: Yo Yo Creek Acting Sub-Inspector: 1 Native Troopers: 1 Queensland ANDREW, an aboriginal. formerly employed as a native trooper at Gympie, is charged, on warrant issued by the Maryborough Bench, Police Gazette, with assaulting Martha Warner, there, on the 9th instant, with intent to commit rape. O ender is described as about 22 or 23 years of 6 September age, about 5 feet 3 inches high, stout build, short, curly black hair; dressed in dirty moleskin trousers, light colored shirt with black 1875, p123 stripes across breast. Indenti able. [sic] Telegraph, 9 A ray between Blacks. — The Gyrnpie Times relates the following: — "Last Saturday a very serious a ray occurred between some April 1874, p2 blacks camped in the scrub to the rear of St. Patrick's. It appears that one dusky eon of the soil had become deeply smitten with a lubra — no, we beg her pardon, gin. 'Love rules the court, the camp, the grove,' we are told; and it was quite natural that the enamoured one should ardently urge his suit. Unfortunately for his prospects, however, it was quite as natural that her lawful (according to aboriginal legal precedent) husband, who is one of the most intelligent members of the black police force, should object. The stern parent of the damsel, too, concurred in the objection, and showed himself disposed to maintain it by force of arms. The result was a ght with knives, in which both parent and lover received the most frightful gashes we ever saw on human beings; the poor wretches are now recovering, under the care of Dr. Benson. An attempt was made to get them into the Hospital, but the committee (properly, we think) refused them admittance, as their wounds, through neglect, are moat o ensive and would probably be injurious to the health of the other patients. The lover seems to have had the worst of the row; he has a fearful deep gash, extending from the back of the ear down wards about eight inches; another dreadful cut has laid open the pit of the stomach. The other black bears a deep cut on the right fore arm, and a similar injury on the left calf. It is remarkable that in in icting these terrible slashes, the performers have apparently been careful to miss the large arteries. We understand that this is the usual thing in ghts of this kind. It appears on enquiry that the ferocity of the blacks was in amed by grog ; and a complaint has been made by a correspondent that certain publicans are in the habit of supplying the aboriginals with liquor." Postings 2 entries O cer/Trooper Earliest Latest Camp Tools O cer/Trooper Earliest Latest Camp Tools Andrew 2 Gympie McCarthy, Denis 1871 Gympie