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FRONTIER CONFLICT AND THE NATIVE MOUNTED POLICE IN QUEENSLAND Search results for 'Mactaggart ' Documents 7 entries Title Text File Tools Title Text File Tools Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. Advertiser, 27 January 1870, p2 ARRIVALS. January 24. — Maggie Logan, ketch, from Brisbane, to Rockingham Bay. January 24. — Eliza Firth, brigantine, 145 tons, from Auckland, in ballast. January 26. — Queensland, steamer, Captain Cottier, from Brisbane. Passengers — Mrs. Daly, Miss Grant, Miss Nicholson, Mrs. Nichol-on, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Mullet, Messrs. J. Butler, R. W. Miller, A. Walker, J. Graham, G. McCullum, H. H. Lloyd, J. D. Mactaggart, H. Croaker, Ross, Greenup, and forty-two in the steerage. January 26. — Clarence, steamer, Capt. Smith, from Northern ports. Passengers — Mrs. Bray, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Williamson, The Hon. W. Thornton, Messrs. R. M. Shaw, Hoitsman, E. B. Cullen, R. H. Palmer, Berens, H. Ham, W. P. Murray, Linnavan, Sub-inspector Armstrong, and 16 in the steerage. North Australian, Ipswich and General PARLIAMENTARY PAPER Advertiser, 24 February 1857, p4 NATIVE POLICE FORCE. The select committee of the Legislative Assembly, appointed on the 8th November last, "to inquire into the present state of the Native Police Force employed in the colony, with a view to the improvement of its organization and manage meant;" and for whose consideration were referred certain "papers relating to the management of the Native Police Force in the Northern districts," have agreed to the following report:— Impressed with the serious importance of providing protection for life and property, from the outrages and depredations of the aborigines, so urgently claimed by the settlers residing in the unsettled parts of the colony, and more particularly those inhabiting the outskirts or frontiers of those districts which have been most recently opened to occupation, your committee, in pursuance of the duty devolving upon them, to inquire into the present state of the Native Police Force, with a view to the improve went of its Title Text File Tools organization and management, have availed themselves of the evidence of the under mentioned witnesses: — 1. Francis Nicoll, Esq., J.P.. Lieutenant of Native Police, Wandai Gambul. 2. William Colburn Mayne, Esq., Auditor-General, late Inspector-General of Police. 3. Charles Archer, Esq.. J.P., of Gracemere, Fitz Roy River, Port Curtis District. 4. Charles Leith Hay, Esq., J.P., of Rannes, Leichhardt District. 5. Colin John Mackenzie, Esq., J.P., of Warra Warra, Darling Downs. 6. Richard Purvis Marshall, Esq., J.P., late acting Commandant Native Police. 7. William Thomas Elliott, Esq., Fitz Roy River, Port Curtis District. 8. Robert Strathdee, Esq., of Coranga, Burnett District. 9. Richard Purvis Marshall, Esq., J.P., second examination. 10. Henry Hort Brown, Esq., M.B.C.S., late of Qayndah, Burnett District. 11. Arthur Brown, Esq., of Gin Gin, Wide Bay District. 12. A. Orpen Moriarty, Esq., of the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands' Department. 13. William Forster, Esq., M.P., formerly a resident in the Wide Bay District. 14. Gideon Scott Lang, Esq., M.P., formerly a resident in the Murrumbidgee District. 10. Richard Bligh, Esq. J.P., Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Clarence River District. 36. John McLerie, Esq., J.P., Inspector-General of Police. Your committee would, at this stage of their report remark, that the di culty of obtaining the evidence of witnesses before the committee, practically conversant with the subject of the Native Police, at so great a distance from the localities where the force is employed, has, for the present, prevented their prosecuting a more extensive examination of evidence on this very important subject. Their investigation, however, as far as it has gone, has furnished a very considerable amount of evidence of a practical character, from which your committee will proceed to draw their deductions, which they are desirous should be submitted to your honorable house before the Title Text File Tools estimates of expenditure for 1857 are brought under consideration; and in the absence of further viva voce evidence, they are desirous of drawing the attention of your honorable house to the means a orded them of examining the written testimony furnished in the answers to a circular addressed by their chairman to his constituents residing in the Northern Districts, and others acquainted with the requirements of those districts. A copy of the circular, with the questions to which the answers referred to are given, is hereto appended: — "Ipswich, Moreton Bay, 14th July, 1856. "Sir—The di culty of organizing a public meeting of the inhabitants of these scattered districts has suggested the step of inviting those interested in the important question of the Native Police Force, to express their opinions in writing on the subject and your favouring me with an answer to the annexed questions, and with any information or suggestions you may deem useful for the better organization of the force, will be esteemed of service. "Your answer, addressed to me at the Legislative Assembly Chambers, Sydney, will oblige. "I am, Sir, your faithful Servant, "GORDON SANDEMAN." "Proposed:— Fifteen men for each section, to be divided into two detachments of six each, allowing three men to be left at barracks for sickness and accidents. One o cer for each detachment; each o cer to be independent of the other, and responsible for his own particular charge. The whole of the Native Police Force to be under the superintendence of a Local Inspector-General or Commandant, whose duty it should be, frequently, to inspect the various sections, to be assisted, if necessary, by a Deputy Inspector, or Assistant- Commandant. "Each trooper to be furnished with two serviceable horses; two pack-horses and gear for each section. Each section to have attached to it a farrier, or man capable of shooing horses and keeping the saddlery, &c., in order, and taking charge of, and issuing Title Text File Tools stores at the di erent barracks." "Are you of opinion that it is absolutely essential an o cer should be immediately appointed to the Local Superintendence of the Native Police Force, either as Commandant or Inspector, or both ? "Do you consider that an augmentation of the corps is essential not only to the interest as at pre sent existing, but to the future progress and security of the frontier districts; and to what extent in each district should such augmentation be made ? And will you have the goodness to make any suggestions you consider may be of service to the future management of the force, either as regards the general supervision or details of management." The circular referred to was addressed to the undermentioned persons, from whom answers have been received:— John Balfour, Esq., J.P., Moreton; Messrs. Robert and Bryce Barker, Burnett; Joshua Peter Bell, Esq., J.P., Darling Downs; James Bennett, Esq., ditto; Henry Boyle, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands, Maranoa; Henry Hort Brown, Esq., Burnett; Thomas R. Boulton, Esq., Leichhardt; J. D. Bushman, Esq., Darling Downs; Pollet Cardew, Esq., J.P., Leichhardt; A. W. Compigne, Esq., Moreton; John Ferrett, Esq., J.P., Darling Downs; William O'Grady Haly, Esq., J.P., Burnett; Charles Robert Haly, Esq., Leichhardt; Frederick R. Hutchinson, Esq., Wide Bay ; Matthew Goggs, Esq., Darling Downs; W. P. Gordon, Esq., ditto; Lieutenant Colonel Gray, Police Magistrate, lpswich; Clark Irving, Esq., M.L.A., Richmond River; Joseph King, Esq., Leichhardt; W. F. Kennedy, Esq., Darling Downs; Messrs. J. and J. Landsborough, Wide Bay; Messrs. A. and R. Lawson, Burnett ; Clement Lawless, Esq., Burnett; Colin John Mackenzie, Esq, J.P., Darling Downs; J. D. Mactaggart, Esq., Wide Bay; Thomas De Lacy Mo att, Esq., J.P., Darling Downs; Francis Nicoll, Esq., J.P., Darling Downs; P. J. Pigott, Esq., J.P. Burnett; R. B. Ridler, Esq., Burnett; Frederick W. Roche, Esq., Darling Downs; Title Text File Tools Messrs. C. J. and E. M. Royds, J.P., Leichhardt; Messrs. R. and W. Strathdee, Burnett; John Scott, Esq., Leichhardt; Simon Scott, Esq., Moreton; Alfred Sandeman, Esq., J.P., Darling Downs; James Taylor, Esq., J.P., Darling Downs; Joseph Thompson, Esq., Leichhardt; Honorable Robert Tooth, Esq., M.L.C, Darling Downs; William Henry Walsh, Esq., J.P., Burnett; J. Ker Wilson, Esq., J.P., Darling Downs; William Henry Yaldwyn, Esq., Leichhardt. The above cited list includes, it will be perceived, the names of forty-three persons, all of whom, with one or two exceptions, have answered the questions proposed emphatically in the a rmative, while the great number have enlarged upon the subject submitted to their consideration, by throwing out various suggestions, having for their object improvements in the management of the native police force. From the various evidence adduced, your committee are of opinion, that the maintenance of the native police in such force, as to meet not only the requirements as at present existing, but the progressive wants of that widely extended class of the community, the frontier occupants, is absolutely requisite for the protection of life and property, and is essential as a most valuable adjunct to the pioneering energies of the extreme outlying district with the progress of which the great producing interests of the country are so intimately connected, and on the advancement and prosperity of which those interests are so largely dependent. Before proceeding to make the recommendations which the evidence before them enables your committee to o er, they deem it proper to bring under review, as brie y as the circumstances will permit, a few prominent points in the past history of the native police force, with the object of better elucidating the grounds on which your committee feel justi ed in proposing the recommendations for the better organization and improvement of the force, which they are Title Text File Tools prepared to submit to your honorable house. It appears from the evidence before your committee that previously to the native police force being introduced into the Northern Districts of the colony, the outrages committed by the blacks in the outlying districts were of frequent occurrence, ex-tending to murder as well as to the destruction of stock to a great extent. That although the native police force, then only recently raised, was not, as could scarcely be expected in a recently organized body, and so composed, in such a perfect state of e ciency, as under proper management there was no reason to doubt it might have attained, that body after its introduction into the troubled districts, e ected a great amount of good in checking the lawless state of outrage on the part of the native blacks that had previously existed ; and although it does not appear complaints existed that some portion of the Wide Bay district did not receive the same amount of protection as others, your committee are inclined to attribute such neglect in a measure to the same serious fault on the part of the rst commandant, then perhaps partially betraying itself, to which so much reference is made in the evidence before them, as well as probably to the weakness of the force, and to the absence of such a distribution over a widely extended space, as a more matured experience would have dictated ; and taking the aggregate result of the e ects produced by the presence of the native police force, your committee are of opinion, that a far greater amount of life must have been sacri ced, and a much greater extent of property destroyed, had the native police force not been established in the most recently, occupied districts and those immediately adjoining. But while your committee believe that much good was e ected by the presence of the native police in the district referred to, they are of opinion that a far greater amount of bene t might have been e ected had the Title Text File Tools capabilities of the force been properly developed and directed, which they are of opinion was not the case,— for which the di culties naturally existing of perfecting the e ectiveness of a recently raised body, composed of such novel material, to the management of which, perhaps, the majority of the o cers had previously been totally unaccustomed, — there appears to have existed for a very considerable time, within the force itself, an abuse quite su cient to have rendered ine ective a body of men far more intelligent than a corps composed of native blacks. It appears that intemperate habits on the part of the commandant had existed for some years— that frequent complaints of misconduct, arising out of those habits on the part of the commandant, had been made to the Government by respectable residents, including magistrates of the districts, — but that no e ectual steps ware taken to remedy the abuse complained of, until the o cers of the force themselves, after a long period of hesitation, arising from the causes which are detailed in the evidence before your committee, were compelled to complain to the Government of the day, — and not till then were any e ectual steps adopted to put a stop to an abuse so glaring, and so obstructive of all discipline and e ciency. The course thus, at last, forced upon the Government, was the institution of a commission of inquiry, and the consequence was the dismissal of the commandant. The next step that appears to have been taken in the administration of the force, was the abolition of the o ce of commandant. In the evidence before your committee there is no just reason or grounds shown for the adoption of such a measure, and the great body of the evidence taken, with the exception of that of Captain Mayne, under whose control the force was at the time, combines to condemn that measure as subversive of the e ciency of the force, and Title Text File Tools strongly to recommend the appointment of an o cer to ful l the duties of the local head, as inspector or commandant. Your committee will only brie y allude to another measure adopted in the administration of the force, viz.— the reduction of the force from its former strength of one hundred and thirty-six men to seventy- two men, the present nominal strength of the force. No reason has been adduced to account for such a step having been taken, while the evidence before your committee tends to shew that that reduction (in conjunction, doubtless, with the impaired e ciency of the force consequent upon the abolition of the commandantship) has been productive of very serious results, in an increase in the number of murders committed since the reduction took place; and not only is the loss of life thus occasioned to be deplored, but the important consideration is involved in the measure that the occupation of the frontier country, and development [sic] of its resources, the spread of population, and the advancement of the productive interests, have been seriously checked, and are still being retarded by the absence of the requisite protection. On the whole, your committee are prepared to state to your honourable house, as the result of all the investigation they have been able to bring to bear upon the important subject before them, and after the most mature consideration : that through out the whole mass of evidence adduced there does not appear the least ground to question, or even to indicate, a doubt of the capabilities and adaptation of the native police force for the duties for which that body was originally raised; but, on the contrary, that, under proper provisions and judicious management and direction, such a force is admirably adapted to protect life and property, and materially to assist the progress of the settler in the unsettled frontier districts. That the abuses and want of protection that Title Text File Tools have been complained of latterly have arisen — 1st. From the weakness of the force. 2nd. An ine ective or improper distribution of it ; and that the ine ciency of the force has been greatly increased by the absence of a local o cer, as inspector or commandant, to supervise and control the conduct of the force generally— a duty the more imperative from the fact of many of the o cers being young men with but limited experience, and a few of them, it is feared, with habits not improved by the force of example be long permitted to remain unchecked on the part of the former commandant. Your committee, therefore, convinced of the urgent importance of the subject, and con rmed in their views by the evidence before them, will now proceed to submit to your honourable House their earnest recommendation. 1st. That there be appointed an o cer to under take the local charge of the Native Police in the Northern Districts, as commandant and inspector, who shall be responsible to the Government for the e ciency and proper conduct of the force, and whose duty it should be to inspect, from time to time, the various detachments, or bodies comprising the whole force in the northern districts; and whose duty it should further be to control and regulate the movements and distribution of the force; and considering the past irregularities which have already been referred to, your committee recommend, that while the entire control and direction of the force should be in the hands of the commandant and inspector alone, in whose hands, also, should rest the power of appointing o cers to the force, subject to the approval of the government — that o cer shall render to the executive o cer of government to whose department the native police force shall be attached, monthly reports, to be transmitted through the bench of magistrates nearest to the locality when the commandant and inspectors shall happen to Title Text File Tools be at the time when such monthly report shall be due : and that such reports may be accompanied by any minutes that may seem to the bench to be desirable to make on such reports, and that copies of any such minutes shall be transmitted to the commandant and inspector by the bench; and in event of any complaint being made against the conduct or proceedings of the commandant and inspector, such complaint shall be referred to a bench of magistrates near to which the cause of complaint in question shall have occurred. 2nd. Your committee recommend — as the duties of the o cer proposed to be appointed as commandant and inspector would necessarily be of an itinerating nature, and prevent him remaining stationary at any given spot, and attending properly to the clerical duties in detail, including accounts of the force — that an o cer should be attached to the department of the native police in the capacity of secretary or clerk, whose duty if should be to undertake the correspondence and attend to the accounts, and other clerical business of the force, and whose place of residence should be xed at some central locality, where, also, should be xed the head quarters of the commandant and inspector. 3rd. Your committee recommend, as absolutely essential to the due e ectiveness of the native police force — That the force for the service of the Northern Districts consist of not less than 120 troopers, to be divided into bodies or detachments of about 10 men each ; say e ective men 100, and to supply casual ties by sickness or otherwise, allowing 2 men for each detachment, 20 — in all 120. 4th. Your committee recommend, that while the native police should be employed principally as a patrolling force, there should be main camps formed for each body or detachment, to be xed in localities the most central in each outlying district or portion of district where such detachments shall be Title Text File Tools stationed; and that such main camps should be formed in number and in the districts named as follows:— Leichhardt, 4 main camps; Port Curtis, 1 ditto; Maranoa and Lower Condamine, 2 ditto; Burnett and Wide Bay, 1 ditto; Moreton, 1 ditto; Clarence and Macleay, 1 ditto; in all 10 main camps; and that to each main camp there should be attached an o cer as camp sergeant, whose duty it should be to issue and attend to the stores, keep the saddlery in order, and, if practicable, to be able to shoe the horses, and generally to assist the o cer in charge of detachment in drilling and exercising the troopers. 6th. Your committee recommend that the number and respective grades of o cers in the force should be xed as follows, viz.:— 8 rst lieutenants, 11 second lieutenants. The existence of the grades as recommended in the department your committee are of opinion is most advisable; as in a prospect of promotion, an encouragement is held out to increased exertion on the part of the junior o cers of the force; and on the like principle your committee recommend that the pay of the di erent grades of o cers should be xed and apportioned. Your committee, while they would merely remark that the evidence is conclusive as to the propriety of abolishing the grade of sergeant, have not recommended that the grade of sub-lieutenant should be continued; being of opinion that the amount of responsibility devolving upon a native police o cer is far too serious and important to be extended to a grade hitherto generally composed of very young men, or lled by a class of persons not more e cient than could be expected the low rate of salary attached to the o ce would induce to enter — what is in reality a very arduous service. Your committee have therefore proposed, that the o cers shall principally consist of second lieutenants, a grade for which, if proper remuneration is appropriated, it is to be hoped would be lled by persons tted by character Title Text File Tools and competency for its responsible duties. 6th. The distribution of the force your committee recommend should be adopted as set forth in the following scale,— leaving any future alteration in its distribution to the discretion and control of the commandant and inspector, viz: — 1 commandant and inspector, 1 secretary or clerk. Northern Districts. Post Curtis.— 1 second lieutenant, 12 troopers, 1 camp sergeant. Leichhardt (including the whole of the Upper Dawson).— 1 lieutenant, 5 second lieutenants, 48 troopers, 4 camp sergeants. Wide Bay and Burnett.—1 lieutenant, 1 second lieutenant, 18 troopers, 1 camp sergeant. Maranoa and Lower Condamine, Darling Downs. —1 lieutenant, 2 second lieutenants, 24 troopers, 2 camp sergeants. Moreton. — 1 second lieutenant, 8 troopers, 1 camp sergeant. Clarence and McLeay.— 1 second lieutenant 10 troopers, 1 camp sergeant. 7th. With reference to the native police force employed in the Southern Districts, your committee are of opinion, after having investigated the evidence before them on that branch of the service, that the native police are not now required in the district of Murrumbidgee, for the purpose for which the force was originally raised and intended ; and as the duties to which its services are now devoted belong to the ordinary constabulary of the district, your committee recommend that the force now employed there should be withdrawn — to the number of twelve troopers and the two sergeants attached— and that the services of said troopers should be transferred to the force stationed in the Northern districts ; and as, according to the evidence before them, the native police is still required in the Albert and Lower Darling Districts, for the purposes of protection against the aborigines, they recommend that the force to be employed in those districts should consist as follows, viz.:— SOUTHERN DISTRICTS. Albert. — 1 second Title Text File Tools lieutenant, 6 troopers. Lower Darling.— 1 second lieutenant, 6 troopers. In comparing the proposed amended estimate with the sum placed on the estimates of expenditure for 1857, for the service of the southern districts, there will be a considerable reduction apparent. After taking into account the probable reduction contemplated, there will be a large increase in the estimate for the native police for the northern districts; and in conclusion your committee beg leave to state, that while they have been desirous in the consideration of the subject, to which they have devoted much serious attention, to advise and adopt the strictest economy consistent with e ciency, they have no hesitation, bearing fully in mind the important interests involved, strongly to recommend to the approval of your honourable house the alterations and increase they have felt it their duty to propose tor the service — the improvement of the organization and management of which was referred by your honourable house for their consideration and report. GORDON SANDEMAN, Chairman. Legislative Assembly Chambers, 28th January, 1857. QSA86131 1853 Letter from James McLaren to F. Walker Esq Frederick Walker 10 June, Papers re work of Commandant Native Police in the Yabber District (South Wide Native Police Bay) 1851–1857, Mfilm 2434 Calandoon Woologa 10th June 1853. Dear Sir From what Mr Mactaggart told me I thought you would ere this in your rambles have given us a call And as have this in a few days. It is possible that I will not have the pleasure of seeing you previous to my departure. I now embrace this opportunity to return you my sincere thanks for you punctuality in Title Text File Tools sending over Corporal Donald and his men to escort me to Oby Oby. After you left I heard you were likely to have a job for all your men on the Burnett and Dawson and had started the day before Donald arrived. However Donald pulled me up on my way and took my up the River from your marked tree. From the appearance of that part I am of opinion that it is better suited for cattle than sheep and on my return Mr. Mactaggart told me he had tendered for land in Oby Oby and that he intended to use every endeavour to establish his claim. I thought it better to abandon my intention of going up the river than to go to cross purposes with my neighbour altho Mr McT could not describe the Oby. Country I am sure he has never up that far. Donald has ere this doubtless given you a detailed account of our interview with the Blacks just below Oby. I heard a Black call. I told the Black I had from Widgee with me to answer him which he did. I also told him to tell him to come up. After a good deal of coaxing he made his appearance with another four in company. So soon as they had con dence I told them to tell all the Blacks I wanted to see them as I was coming with monkeys to live amongst them so by sundown I mustered 80 strong able fellows. I asked Donald if he had any suspicion that they would attempt to surprise us. He told me there was no danger however I made them camp about 30 yards from us in order that we might see all their movements. But I was soon satis ed that they had every con dence in us and felt quite secure and that the Police would not annoy any of them. I told them so long as they did not trouble the whitefellows and their sheep & cattle. I have sold a portion of my sheep and the land I have here. A Mr. Meikler has purchased them. He will settle at Marodian[?] on the opposite side of the Minna Creek from GA Scott’s old Title Text File Tools Station. I had some intention of going out in the direction of the Messrs Hay’s but from what had befallen his men and the number of children I have and the small number of hands on my concern, I have made up my mind to go out to Mr. Marks who kindly o ered me the use of a portion of his run and the use of his woolshed until after shearing, as I will be more secure there for the present and as lambing and shearing will be on shortly after my arrival after I nish shearing and my teams return from the Bag I will move out to the run I have tendered for if no other person has a prior claim. If you could allow a small detachment of your men to go out with me for a short while until I get a place erected to put Mrs McLaren and the children in you would confer another obligation upon me. I wish I had Donald and his small party I would not be afraid of all the Blacks in the quarter. Donald is a most e cient fellow. He is in my opinion both cautious and has nerve if required. I hope you will excuse this long rambling epistle. I could have wished you had passed this way before we left and stopt a night as I could have given you a glass of something stronger that what we had on your former visit. I trust you will give us a call if you are out the way of the Dawson with many thanks I remain dear Sir Yours respectfully [signed] James McLaren P.S. In reading my note you may from its tense think I could wish a few of your men at present, I will not require any assistance until after shearing. JML QSL 1851 Petition from stockholders in the 51/9286 22nd Septr 1851 Wide Bay District 29 August, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and J & N.L. Hay & others Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.21 Title Text File Tools Reporting murders and outrages by the Blacks Wide Bay & Burnett District and applying for protection of the Native Police Gigoomgan 29th Augt 1851 The Honorable The Colonial Secretary Sir, We the undersigned Stockholders of the Wide Bay District beg to call your attention to the numerous outrages committed here by the Aborigines (since the departure of the Native Police) who aware of their absence think they can commit aggressions with impunity. During the present month Four atrocious murders have been perpetrated, one in this and three in the Burnett District and scarcely one of us have escaped without severe losses both of stock and stores, having in some instances had as many as fty sheep destroyed, besides the great injury the ocks sustain in being driven o the runs, sometimes to a distance of twenty miles. [In margin: 'A man murdered on the Gigoomgan Station and ock of sheep taken 60 of which were destroyed by the Blacks who have also destroyed as many as 150 sheep on three[?] di erent stations besides robbing huts'] Now, Sir, as this is the season when the shearing and lambing are about to commence, and when the Aborigines have always been the most troublesome thereby entailing incalculable losses to us, we sincerely hope you will give instructions to the Commandant of the N. Police to send to our assistance as speedily as possible at least one section of that very e cient Corps, whose presence alone is a great restraint upon the Aborigines, otherwise Title Text File Tools these atrocities will be followed by others of even a worse kind consequently we think it would be very desirable to have one Section permanently stationed in some central part for the protection of our lives and property which at present are in jeopardy. We have the honor to be Sir Your most Obedt Servants James & Norman Leith Hay Gigoomgan C. Lawless Boubiyan P Lawless Winderee B. J. Bertel?? Bonara D Mactaggart Kilkivan James Murray Wulooga [Notes on rear: 'By the most recent reports from the Comt what were his intentions in respect to a ording protection to the Wide Bay district by means of the force under his command? Immediate' '22nd See Extract from Mr Walkers last report enclosed in 51-9055 herewith. The Report itself is under reference to the Attorney General. 22nd FM[?]'] QSL 1852 Letter from Frederick Walker to 52/10709 30th Decr 1852 Colonial Secretary 20 October, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and The Commandant Native Police to the Honble Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.24 the Colonial Secretary reporting on a letter from certain Settlers dated 24th July 1852 Callandoon 20th October 1852 To the Honble the Colonial Secretary Sir, I do myself the honor to report upon a letter addressed to you from several Settlers in the Burnett & Wide Bay Districts and dated Burnett river 24 July 1852. Title Text File Tools 1. I do not consider it necessary for me to name the Settler who expressed the opinions mentioned in the rst two clauses of my letter of the 1 March. That letter was not written with the desire to assault[?] any one but merely to convey my opinion[?] to the Government I serve. It is unnecessary[?] for the Settlers signing this letter of 24 July to protest indignantly against an inference which my letter does not aim at. I have not said sanguinary views were generally entertained by Northern Settlers. 2. The second clause of the letter alluded to contained the only charge these Settlers have made in that letter against the Native Police Force, they state in that clause that warrants have been repeatedly placed in the hands of o cers and that they have generally failed to execute or even to attempt to enforce them. On the Macintyre every one of the ve murderers of Edward Beadley was either killed in the attempt to apprehend him or apprehended, except Boney who died, and many other men accused on oath of murder or felony also lost their lives when resisting the Police. On the Condamine the murderer of Mr Ferrett's man was killed and the attempts to apprehend the men who previous to the arrival of the Native Police murdered eleven Europeans in 1849 are recorded in my reports and these reports are substantiated by the a davits of the Settlers who accompanied the Police for the purpose of identifying the murderers. You will remember that Mr Blaxland, his two boys and the shepherds of Messrs Humphrey, Herbert, Cor eld and Murray were murdered before the arrival of the Native Police. In the Title Text File Tools 7th & 8th Paragraphs of my report of 10 March 1850 I give you an account of the attempts made by Lieutenants Marshall and Fulford to seize several Blacks who had committed murder, the murder of the shepherd s of Messrs Cor eld and Murray. Mr Cor eld, Mr Mactaggart and if I am not mistaken Mr Mactavish accompanied the Police in these attempts and reported to me how well the Police had behaved. The a davits of these gentlemen were forwarded by me to the Attorney General and yet now they state deliberately that no attempts were made. The A davits of Messrs Mactaggart and A.M. Thompson Esqr[?] J.P. relative to an attempt to protect the property of Mr Tooth in June last are also in the possession of the Honble the Attorney General. One of the murderers of the Shepherds of Mr Cor eld was apprehended by Sergt Major Dolan and was liberated by the local Magistrates at Gayndah because Mr Cor eld neglected to prosecute. I have already stated in a former letter that two men sworn to as Mr Blaxland's murderers had been killed by the Native Police. The A davits relative to the death of Mr Trevithan's murderer have been forwarded to the Attorney General and in my reports I have give you account of the numerous attempts made by the Police to apprehend the O enders and the A davits sent to the Attorney General will as I have before stated prove that these reports are true. You are well aware how di cult it is sometimes to apprehend Europeans who have committed felony or murder and that months have frequently elapsed before the O enders Title Text File Tools could be brought to justice, This di culty is naturally much greater when the O enders are wild savages and it is possible that some may never be apprehended but there is no reason to accuse the Native Police of unwillingness to capture them; on the contrary I a rm that their zeal and activity has never in this Colony been surpassed if it has been equalled. It appears to me strange that four magistrates of the territory should place their signatures to such misrepresentation. As to the challenge to particular[?] cases in which I have been prevented from obtaining evidence, among others I may mention one stated in the second clause of my report of 5 January relative to Fraser's Island and another stated in the 5th paragraph of my letter to the Attorney General dated 1 August 1851, relative to a Black called Sandy accused of Sheep stealing. 3. In the third clause of the letter these Settlers solicit the Government to institute an enquiry into the Proceedings of the Native Police. These proceedings are well known to the Government. His Excellency the Governor General would I feel sure not consent to an enquiry being suddenly instituted when I would have to answer charges of which I previously had no idea and to prove which these settlers state they are prepared to produce disagreeable evidence. These Settlers ought at least to make the charges rst when His Excellency would be able to see whether an enquiry was requisite and if it is to give some timely notice. I feel the more con dent in this matter because His Excellency cannot anticipate that he will be convinced of the necessity of reforming an organisation which during three years has been so completely successful in the Macintyre and Lower Condamine country. Title Text File Tools 4. The facts mentioned in the 4th clause of the letter do not prove the incorrectness of my opinion that the system of not allowing the Natives at the stations is a principal cause of their outrages, they rather tend to prove the correctness of my statement that those persons who carried on that system had managed to intimidate[?] their neighbours who acted more kindly towards the Blacks. As for the system not being general, I di er with these Settlers and I may point out that I have more opportunities of judging of this matter than they have. In other Districts attempts have been made with success to conciliate the Blacks of this Colony. The object I presume of the Government is to make the Blacks feel the strength of the law, not that they should feel the strength of individuals. If it is justi able for Settlers to make the Blacks feel their strength it is equally justi able for the Blacks to retaliate. The occupying of a country inhabited by savages must always be dangerous but I think that is it less dangerous to conciliate them, than to [page missing from micro lm copy] as by Sergeant Major Dolan and Sergeant Skelton, the zeal and activity of these o cers has been repeatedly praised by several of the Settlers we can therefore put up with the unthankfulness of a few persons and the petty malice of a faction. I have the honor to remain Sir Your most obedt Servt Frederick Walker Commandant Native Police Title Text File Tools [Notes in margin: 'This report appears be be a perfectly satisfactory refutation of the statements contained in the letter referred to; but as the rect of that letter was r???ly acknowledged it does not appear to be necessary to take any steps which wd only have the e ect of continuing the controversy. 1st Decr CAF' 'Mr Walker 8 Decr'] Sydney Morning Herald, 11 September 1852, p3 To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. GENTLEMEN,–In consequence of the publicity given through your columns and remarks to Mr. Commandant Walker's charges against some of the northern settlers, they have felt it their duty to address the accompanying letter to the Government, and to request your publishing a copy of it in your journal. I remain, your most obedient servant, WILLIAM HENRY WALSH. P.S.–I may add that, doubtless, many more signatures from the Burnett would have been added if circumstances warranted our waiting for them; and that all the resident Wide Bay squatters have signed it with the exception of two—one of whom I know has not had the opportunity. W. H. W. Burnett River, July 29th, 1852. (COPY.) Burnett River, July 24, 1852. Sir, –A document, signed by Mr. Frederick Walker, purporting to be a report on the causes of di erence, presumed by the writer to exist between himself and some of the Northern settlers, having appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald of June 16th, 1852, we desire to place on record our dissent from the conclusions at which it points, and our disbelief of the statements in which they are founded. We have the honour, therefore, to Title Text File Tools request that you will convey to his Excellency the Governor-General the following results of our experience on the subject referred to. If it should be found somewhat awkwardly to clash with that of Mr. Walker, we trust that he will be called on to explain the incongruity. We think it scarcely necessary to vouch for the accuracy of our statements of facts, which are unfortunately too notorious to all residents in the two adjacent districts of Wide Bay and Burnett River. In the rst two clauses of his report Mr. Walker attributes certain very extraordinary sentiments to three settlers, whose places of residence are not indicated. We con dently challenge Mr. Walker to produce the names of these individuals, without which we must express our doubts of the accuracy of his interpretation of their opinions. At the same time we most indignantly protest against the inference at which Mr. Walker's despatch seems to aim, that such sanguinary views are generally entertained by the northern settlers. We do not consider "it necessary, and the duty of the Government, to evince a certain amount of vindictiveness against the blacks,'' and we deny that such an opinion is at all common among us. 2. Clause 4 requires no comment beyond the mention of the disgraceful and notorious fact that innumerable warrants on capital charges, granted by the local magistracy, have been repeatedly placed in the hands of the o cers of the native police, who have so generally failed to execute or even to attempt enforcing them, that it is by no means wonderful if complainants should have grown tired of "trying to produce evidence upon which the police can legally act." We again challenge Mr. Walker to particularise the cases in which he or his subalterns have been prevented from obtaining evidence. Title Text File Tools 3. To the insidious calumny conveyed in clause 5 we can give no better answer than by soliciting the Government to institute an enquiry into the proceedings of the native police and the settlers towards the aborigines. In such case we pledge ourselves to produce more evidence than will be agreeable to the o cers of this corps, and which we anticipate will convince the Government of the imperative necessity of reforming its organization. 4. With regard to the system adopted by many settlers of not allowing the natives access to their stations, Mr. Walker's opinion that it is a principal cause of the out-rages of the natives is not borne out by facts, inasmuch as it is too well known that most of the murders and outrages perpetrated by these savages have taken place on stations to which they were admitted, and where they were supposed to be on friendly terms with the residents. We need only allude to the murders of Mr. Blaxland and his two shepherd boys, of Mr. Trevethen, of Mr. Wilkins' two servants, of Messrs. Humphreys and Herbert's, Mr. Cor eld's, and Mr. Murray's shepherds, as a few out of many instances contradictory of Mr. Walker's observations on this point. We would most respectfully repre-ent that this system is not general, prevailing only in the most dangerous localities, and has been in a manner forced upon its favourers by their repeated experience of the danger and ruin resulting from a contrary course. We must impress upon the Government that it is no less our interest than our desire to be on friendly terms with the native tribes, but that, as with most other barbarous people, attempts at conciliating their favour, however de-irable, cannot always be safely made, until they become thorougly [sic] convinced of our superiority in strength. We are not insensible Title Text File Tools of the advantage to be de-rived, and which might accrue to these districts from the presence of a well managed native police force, and are of opinion that had the present corps done its duty, by the cap-ture or punishment of well known and easily recognised o enders, we should have found the task of conciliation much easier ; but we must confess we have little hope that the force will ever be useful without a complete reform of its present defective management, which seems to us to be in a great degree owing to that unlimited con dence reposed in the Commandant by his Excellency the Governor- General, spoken of with such complacency in clause 17. In conclusion, without a ecting to be surprised at any of Mr. Walker's statements, we cannot avoid the respectful expression of our regret, that the Government should adopt, without discouragement, the calumnious mis- representations of an individual against and respectable community. We have the honour &c., Signed. Wm. Humphreys, J.P. – Arch. Thomson, J.P. Henry Herbert, J. P. – Jno. Landsborough J. O. Mactaggart – Thos. Herbert James M'Laren – Robert Wilkie, J.P. Wm. Henry Walsh – H. C. Cor eld Joshua Sewell – A. Mactavish Wm. Richardson – George Herbert Wm. Forster To the Honorable the Colonial Secretary. Sydney Morning Herald, 4 February 1857, p3 PARLIAMENTARY PAPER. NATIVE POLICE REPORT. The select committee of the Legislative Assembly, appointed on the 8th November last, "to inquire into the present state of the Native Police force employed in the colony, Title Text File Tools with a view to the improvement of its organisation and management;" and for whose consideration were referred certain "papers relating to the management of the Native Police force in the Northern districts," have agreed to the following report : Impressed with the serious importance of providing protection for life and property, from the outrages and depredations of the Aborigines, so urgently claimed by the settlers residing in the unsettled parts of the colony, and more particularly those inhabiting the outskirts or frontiers of those districts which have been most recently opened to occupation, your committee, in pursuance of the duty devolving upon them, to inquire into the present state of the Native Police force, with a view to the improvement of its organisation and management, have availed themselves of the evidence of the undermentioned witnesses : 1. Francis Nicoll, Esq., J.P., Lieutenant of Native Police, Wandai Gambul. 2. William Colburn Mayne, Esq., Auditor- General, late Inspector-General of Police. 3. Charles Archer, Esq., J.P., of Gracemere in, Fitz-Roy River, Port Curtis District. 4. Charles Leith Hay, Esq., J.P., of Rannes, Leichhardt District. 5. Colin John Mackenzie, Esq., J.P., of Wanna Wanna, Darling Downs. 6, Richard Purvis Marshall, Esq., J.P., late Acting Commandant Native Police. 7. William Thomas Elliott, Esq., Fitz Roy River, Port Curtis District. 8. Robert Strathdee, Esq., of Coronga, Burnett District. 9. Richard Purvis Marshall, Esq., J.P., second examination. 10. Henry Hort Brown, Esq., M.R.C.S., late of Gayndah, Burnett District. 11. Arthur Brown, Esq., of Gin Gin, Wide Bay District. 12. A. Orpen Moriarty, Esq., of the Chief Title Text File Tools Commissioner of Crown Lands Department. 13. William Forster, Esq., M.P., formerly a resident in the Wide Bay District. 14. Gideon Scott Lang, Esq., M.P., formerly a resident in the Murrumbidgee District. 15. Richard Bligh, Esq., J.P., Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Clarence River District. 16. John McLerie, Esq., J.P., Inspector-General of Police. Your Committee would, at this stage of their report, remark that the di culty of obtaining the evidence of witnesses before the committee, practically conversant with the subject of the Native Police, at so great a distance from the localities where the force is employed, has, for the present, prevented their prosecuting a more extensive examination of evidence on this very import- ant subject. Their investigation, however, as far as it has gone, has furnished a very considerable amount of evidence of a practical character, from which your committee will proceed to draw their deductions, which they are desirous should be submitted to your honorable House before the Estimates of Expenditure for 1857 are brought under consideration ; and in the absence of further viva voce "evidence, they are desirous of drawing the attention of your honorable House to the means a orded them of examining the written testimony furnished in the answers to a circular addressed by their chairman to his constituents residing in the Northern districts, and others acquainted with the requirements of those districts. A copy of the circular, with the questions to which the answers referred to are given, is hereto appended: "Ipswich, Moreton Bay, 14th July, 1856. "Sir,— The di culty of organizing a public meeting of the inhabitants of these scattered districts has suggested the step of inviting those interested in the important question of the Native Police force, to express their opinions in writing on Title Text File Tools the subject, and your favouring me with answers to the annexed questions, and with any information or suggestions you may deem useful for the better organization of the force, will be esteemed of service. "Your answer, addressed to me at the Legislative Assembly Chambers, Sydney, will oblige. "I am, sir, your faithful servant, "Gordon Sandeman'." "Proposed:—Fifteen men for each section, to be divided into two detachments of six each, allowing three men to be left at barracks for sickness and accidents. One o cer for each detachment ; each o cer to be independent of the other, and responsible for his own particular charge. The whole of the Native Police force to be under the superintendence of a local inspector-general or commandant, whose duty it should be, frequently, to inspect the various sections, to be assisted, if necessary, by a deputy inspector or assistant commandant. "Each trooper to be furnished with two serviceable horses ; two pack-horses and gear for each section. Each section to hove attached to it a farrier, or man capable of shoeing horses and keeping the saddlery, &c, in order, and taking charge of, and issuing stores at the di erent barracks." "Are you of opinion that it is absolutely essential on o cer should be immediately appointed to the local superintendence of the Native Police force, either as commandant or inspector, or both ? "Do you consider that an augmentation of the corps is essential not only to the interests as at present existing, but to the future progress and security of the frontier districts ; and to what extent in each district should such augmentation be made? and will you have the goodness to make any suggestions you con- sider may be of service to the future management of the Force, either as regards Title Text File Tools the general supervision or details of management." The circular referred to was addressed to the under-mentioned persons, from whom answers have been received :— Name. District. 1. John Balfour. Esq., J.P. Moreton. 2. Messrs. Robert and Bryce Barker, Burnett. 3. Joshua Peter Bell, Esq., J.P. Darling Downs. 4. James Bennett, Esq. Ditto. 5. Henry Boyle, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Land Maranoa. 6. Henry Hort Brown, Esq. Burnett. 7. Thomas R. Boulton, Esq. Leichhardt. 8. J. D. Bushnan, Esq. Darling Downs. 9. Pollet Carden, Esq., J.P. Leichhardt. 10. A. W. Compigne, Esq. Moreton. 11. John Ferrett, Esq., J.P. Darling Downs. 12. F. A. Forbes, Esq. Moreton. 13. H. B. Fitz., Esq. Darling Downs. 14. W. O'Grady Haly, Esq., J.P. Burnett. 15. Charles Robert Haly, Esq. Leichhardt. 16. Frederick R. Hutchinson, Esq. Wide Bay. 17. Matthew Goggs, Esq. Darling Downs. 18. W. P. Gordon, Esq. Ditto. 19. Lieut.-Colonel Gray, Police Magistrate Ipswich. 20. Clark Irving, Esq., M.L.A. Richmond River. 21. Joseph King, Esq. Leichhardt. 22. W. F. Kennedy, Esq.. Darling Downs. 23. Messrs. J. and J. Landsborough Wide Bay. 24. Messrs. A. and R. Lawson Burnett. 25. Clement Lawless, Esq. Burnett. 26. Colin J. Mackenzie, Esq., J.P. Darling Downs. 27. J. D. Mactaggart, Esq. Wide Boy. 28. T. De Lacy Mo at, Esq., J.P. Darling Downs. 29. Francis Nicoll, Esq., J.P. Ditto. 30. P. J. Pigott, Esq., J.P. Burnett. 31. R. B. Ridler, Esq. Ditto. 32. Frederick W. Roch, Esq. Darling Downs. 33. Messrs. C. J. and E. M. Royds, J.P. Leichhardt. 34. Messrs. R. and W. Strathdee Burnett. 35. John Scott, Esq. Leichhardt. Title Text File Tools 36. Simon Scott, Esq. Moreton. 37. Alfred Sandeman, Esq., J.P. Darling Downs. 38. James Taylor, Esq., J.P. Ditto. 39. Joseph Thompson, Esq. Leichhardt. 40. Honorable Robert Tooth, Esq., M.L.C. Darling Downs. 41. Wm. Henry Walsh, Esq., J.P. Burnett. 42. J. Kerr Wilson, Esq., J.P. Darling Downs. 43. William Henry Yaldwyn, Esq. Leichhardt. The above cited list includes, it will be perceived, the names of forty-three persons, all of whom, with one or two exceptions, have answered the questions proposed emphatically in the a rmative, while the greater number have enlarged upon the subject submitted, to their consideration, by throwing out various suggestions, having for their object improvements in the management of the Native Police force. From the various evidence adduced, your committee are of opinion, that the maintenance of the Native Police in such force, as to meet not only the requirements as at present existing, but the progressive wants of that widely extended class of the community, the frontier occupants, is absolutely requisite for the protection of life and property, and is essential as a most valuable adjunct to the pioneering energies of the extreme outlying districts, with the progress of which the great producing interests of the country are so intimately connected, and on the advancement and prosperity of which those interests are so largely dependant. Before proceeding to make the recommendations which the evidence before them enables your commit-tee to o er, they deem it proper to bring under review, as brie y as the circumstances will permit, a few prominent points in the past history of the Native Police force, with the object of better elucidating the grounds on which your committee feel justi ed in proposing the recommendations for the better organisation Title Text File Tools and improvement of the force, which they are prepared to submit to your honorable House. It appears from the evidence before your committee that, previously to the Native Police force being introduced into the Northern districts of the colony, the outrages committed by the blacks in the outlying districts were of frequent occurrence, extending to murder as well as to the destruction of stock to a great extent. That, although the Native Police force, then only recently raised, was not, as could scarcely be expected in a recently organised body, and so composed, in such a perfect state of e ciency, as under proper management there was no reason to doubt it might have attained—that body after its introduction into the troubled districts e ected a great amount of good in checking the lawless state of outrage on the port of the native black, that had previously existed ; and although it does appear complaints existed that some portion of the Wide Bay District did not receive the same amount of protection as others, your committee are inclined to attribute such neglect in a measure to the same serious fault on the part of the rst commandant, then perhaps partially betraying itself, to which so much reference is made in the evidence before them, as well as probably to the weakness of the force, and to the absence of such a distribution over a widely extended space, as a more matured experience would have dictated ; and taking the aggregate result of the e ects produced by the presence of the Native Police force, your committee are of opinion, that a far greater amount of life must have been sacri ced, and a much greater extent of property destroyed, had the Native Police force not been established in the most recently occupied districts and those immediately adjoining. But while your committee believe that much good was e ected by the presence of the Native Police in the districts referred to, they are of opinion that a far greater amount Title Text File Tools of bene t might have been e ected had the capability of the force been properly developed and directed, which they are of opinion was not the case—for with the di culties naturally existing of perfecting the e ectiveness of a recently raised body, composed of such novel material, to the management of which, perhaps, the majority of the o cers had previously been totally unaccustomed—there appears to have existed for a very considerable time, within the force itself, an abuse quite su cient to have rendered ine ective a body of men far more intelligent than a corps composed of native blacks. It appears that intemperate habits on the part of the commandant had existed for some years—that frequent complaints of misconduct, arising out of those habits on the part of the commandant, had been made to the Government by respectable residents, including magistrates of the districts.—but that no e ectual steps were taken to remedy the abuse complained of, until the o cers of the force themselves, after a long period of hesitation, arising from causes which are detailed in the evidence before your committee, were compelled to complain to the Government of the day ; and not till then were any e ectual steps adopted to put a stop to an abuse so glaring and so obstructive of all discipline and e ciency. The course thus at last forced upon the Government was the institution of a commission of inquiry, and the consequence was the dismissal of the commandant. The next step that appears to have been taken in the administration of the force, was the abolition of the o ce of commandant. In the evidence before your committee there is no just reason or grounds shown for the adoption of such a measure, and the great body of the evidence taken, with the exception of Captain Mayne, under whose control the force was at the time, combines to condemn that measure as subversive of the Title Text File Tools e ciency of the force, and strongly to recommend the appointment of an o cer to ful l the duties of the local head, as inspector or commandant. Your committee will only brie y allude to another measure adopted in the administration of the force, viz., the reduction of the force from its former strength of one hundred and thirty-six men to seventy-two men, the present nominal strength of the force. No reason has been adduced to account for such a step having been taken, while the evidence before your committee tends to show that that reduction (in conjunction, doubtless, with the impaired e ciency of the force consequent upon the abolition of the commandantship), has been productive of very serious results, in an increase in the number of murders committed since the reduction took place ; and not only is the loss of life thus occasioned to be deplored, but the important consideration is involved in the measure that the occupation of the frontier country, and development of its resources, the spread of population, and the advancement of the productive interests, have been seriously checked, and are still being retarded by the absence of the requisite protection. On the whole, your committee are prepared to state to your honorable House, as the result of all the investigation they have been able to bring to bear upon the important subject before them, and after the most mature consideration: That throughout the whole mass of evidence adduced there does not appear the least ground to question, or even to indicate, a doubt of the capabilities and adaptation of the Native Police force for the duties for which that body was originally raised ; but, on the contrary, that, under proper pro- visions and judicious management and direction, such a force is admirably adapted to protect life and property, and materially to assist the progress of the settler in the Title Text File Tools unsettled frontier districts. That the abuses and want of protection that have been complained of latterly have arisen— 1st. From the weakness of the force. 2nd. An ine ective or improper distribution of it ; and that the ine ciency of the force has been greatly increased by the absence of a local o cer, as inspector or commandant, to supervise and control the conduct of the force generally—a duty the more imperative from the fact of many of the o cers being young men with but limited experience, and a few of them, it is feared, with habits not improved by the force of example so long permitted to remain unchecked on the part of the former commandant. Your committee, therefore, convinced of the urgent importance of the subject, and con rmed in their views by the evidence before them, will now proceed to submit to your honorable House their earnest recommendation. 1st. That there be appointed an o cer to undertake the local charge of the Native Police in the Northern districts, as commandant and inspector, who shall be responsible to the Government for the e ciency and proper conduct of the force, and whose duty it should be to inspect, from time to time, the various detachments, or bodies comprising the whole force in the Northern districts, and whose duty it should further be to control and regulate the movements and distribution of the force ; and considering the past irregularities which have already been referred to, your committee recommend that while the entire control and direction of the force should be in the hands of the commandant and inspector alone, in whose hands also should rest the power of appointing o cers to the force, subject to the approval of the Government—that o cer shall render to the Executive o cer of Government to whose department the Native Police force shall be attached, monthly reports, to be transmitted through the Bench of magistrates Title Text File Tools nearest to the locality where the commandant and inspectors shall happen to be at the time when such monthly report shall be due ; and that such reports may be accompanied by any minutes that may seem to the Bench to be desirable to make on said reports,) and that copies of any such minutes shall be transmitted to the commandant and inspector by the Bench ; and in event of any complaint being made against the conduct or proceedings of the commandant and inspector, such complaint shall be referred to a Bench of Magistrates near to which the cause of com-plaint in question shall have occurred. 2nd. Your committee recommend—as the duties of the o cer proposed to be appointed as commandant and inspector would necessarily be of an itinerating nature, and prevent him remaining stationary at any given spot, and attending properly to the clerical duties in detail, including accounts of the force —that on o cer should be attached to the department of the Native Police in the capacity of secretary or clerk, whose duty it should be to undertake the correspondence and attend to the ac-counts, and other clerical business of the force, and whose place of residence should be xed at some central locality, where, also, should be xed the head quarters of the commandant and inspector. 3rd. Your committee recommend, as absolutely essential to the due e ectiveness of the Native Police force— That the force for the service of the northern districts consist of not less than 120 troopers, to be divided into bodies or detachments of about 10 men each—say e ective men 10 ; and to supply casualties by sickness or otherwise, allowing 2 men for each detachment, 20 ; in all, 120. 4th. Your committee recommend, that while the Native Police should be employed principally as a pa-trolling force, there should Title Text File Tools be main camps formed for each body or detachment, to be xed in localities the most central in each outlying district or portion of district where such detachments shall be stationed ; and that such main camps should be formed in number and in the districts named as follows :— Leichhardt. 4 main camps. Port Curtis. 1 main camps. Maranoa and Lower Condamine. 2 main camps. Burnett and Wide Bay 1 main camps. Moreton 1 main camps. Clarence and Macleay 1 main camps. In all 10 and that to each main camp there should be attached an o cer as camp sergeant, whose duty it should be to issue and attend to the stores, keep the saddlery in order, and, if practicable, to be able to shoe the horses, and generally to assist the o cer in charge of detachment in drilling and exercising the troopers. 6th. Your committee recommend that the number and respective grades of o cers in the force should be xed as follows, viz. :— 3 rst lieutenants 11 second lieutenants. The existence of the grades as recommended in the department your committee are of opinion is most advisable ; as, in a prospect of promotion an encouragement is held out to increased exertion on the part of the junior o cers of the force ; and on the like principle, your committee recommend that the pay of the di erent grades of o cers should be xed and apportioned. Your committee, while they would merely remark that the evidence is conclusive as to the propriety of abolishing the grade of sergeant, have not recommended that the grade of sub-lieutenant should be continued; being of opinion, that the amount of responsibility devolving upon a Native Police o cer is far too serious and important to be Title Text File Tools extended to a grade hitherto generally composed of very young men, or lled by a class of persons not more e cient than it could be expected the low rate of salary attached to the o ce would induce to enter— what is in reality a very arduous service. Your committee have therefore proposed that the o cers should principally consist of second lieutenants, a grade, for which if proper remuneration is appropriated, it is to be hoped would be lled by persons tted by character and competency for its responsible duties. 6th. The distribution of the force your committee recommend should be adopted as set forth in the following scale,—leaving any future alteration in its distribution to the discretion and control of the commandant and inspector, viz.:— 1. Commandant and inspector 1. Secretary or clerk. Events 2 entries Event name Day Year Nature of Description Tools and event month Attack on Europeans/others 28 1850 Attack on Party returning from a reprisal raid - Henry Walker, John December Europeans/others to recover sheep taken from McTaggart and James and Gigoomgan, including men from John Murray, Calgoa Ck, Gigoomgan, Mt Uhra (Henry between Mary River and Walker), Kilkivan (John Dan Gigoomgan station (28 McTaggart) and Woolooga (James December 1850) and John Murray). The party was attacked on their return journey. "Henry Walker of Mount Uhra being duly sworn deposes that I have been residing in this District for the last three years, many of the Natives who have committed murder and robbery are known to me. I accompanied a party of Native Event name Day Year Nature of Description Tools and event month Police under the command of Lieutenant Fulford to point out natives for whose apprehension he held warrants. On Friday the 28th Inst we came up with a camp of Blacks. On our approach one threw a spear at me it passing through my shirt and trousers. They had several unshorn sheep skins in their possession. The black who threw the spear at me, I red at causing his death. [Signed] Henry Walker Sworn before me at Wulooga Wide Bay this thirtieth day of December 1850 [Signed] R.P. Marshall JP [Signed] George Fulford JP " (QSA2969634 1850 A davit of Henry Walker 30 December, In letter 51/02577, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.23) 'On one occasion he [John Dan McTaggart] led a relief expedition to a beleaguered neighbour, H. Cor eld, of Gigoomgan, from whom the blacks had driven o a mob of 500 sheep. The blacks were dispersed, but when returning with the recovered sheep the Mactaggart party was almost annihilated when an arti cial avalanche of giant boulders initiated by the raiders swept down on them as they were fording Calgoa Creek.' (Brisbane Telegraph 29 May 1950, p5) [Deposition] Event name Day Year Nature of Description Tools and event month 'New South Wales To Wit I John Dan McTaggart being duly sworn depose: I sat down upon a station in the Wide Bay District in eighteen hundred and forty eight in the beginning of May of the same year the blacks began to show hostility by attempting the lives of my men. About the middle of the same month I had a shepherd murdered by them. But since then the blacks have been at war with me. I have been obliged to have as many as three men after each ock of sheep and in some instances all of them on horseback. As from the continued threatnings of the blacks my shepherds were in a continual state of alarm. The blacks have made several attempts to take the sheep forcibly but my men being well armed have been mostly able to keep them at bay until assistance could be procured. Latterly the whole of the Wide Bay tribes have been combining in large numbers and have sent messages to me through friendly blacks to say that as soon as the “bunya-bunya” was ripe they intended to take all the sheep in the District and kill all the white men. I had made up my mind to remove my sheep in February such, if the Native Police had not arrived but since their arrival I hope that I shall not be obliged to take that step. Last winter I was constantly employed in assisting Messrs Cor eld and Murray two of my neighbours in the recovery of their sheep and often