Correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's Office

[oval stamp, upper left corner] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE. No. 2756 JUN 2 1883 QUEENSLAND

[centred] [signed] Wm Summers

In re Murder of Dan Wea & wife, also ^ one of Crew of Cutter by Mainland Aborigl "Cookie" }

[centred] 2 should be ready to return when a Mainland Native named "Cookie" (who is well known in the Straits) came on board and remained, on this night. the boat anchored at a small uninhabited Island off the Mainland and Dan Wea with his wife slept ashore in a hut.

About daylight this Cookie crept into the hut, and taking the rifle from the sleeping man's side, deliberately shot Dan and his wife, Killing both. Cookie then made off, and the Crew brought the boat back to the Station, leaving all the "returned boys" at their homes.

I immediately reported the matter to Mr Duff the Officer in Charge during Mr Chester's Absence, but was told that he could take no action.

After this affair; I did not trouble about getting the natives back; until they sent repeated messages to me through the Manager of this Company's other station "Roko" (situated within half a mile of the Mainland) requesting me to send a boat for them, as very many of them were desirous to return.

It was not until receiving these messages, I decided to send for them, and accordingly on 20th inst. I despatched a boat in Charge of two trustworthy men "Tom [Rolinerah?] and Jimmie Mawa" with a crew of 4 Mainland boys to bring back as many as wished to return to work.

On the 23rd inst., the boat with 16 of the boys

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[oval stamp, upper left corner] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE. No. 2756 JUN 2 1883 QUEENSLAND

[centred] [signed] Wm Summers

In re Murder of Dan Wea & wife, also, ^ one of Crew of Cutter by Mainland Aborigl. "Cookie" }

[centred] 4 the Police in effecting his Capture. Mr Chester replied, beyond reporting it south he would take no action in the matter.

I would respectfully point out to you, that should the perpetrators of these dastardly murders, be allowed to escape imprisonment, a feeling will assuredly be engendered amongst the natives, which will embolden them to such an extent; that they will commit further outrages and render it highly unsafe for any man to set foot on the Mainland upon any pretext whatever.

My Company employs 34 boats, there also is a large number belonging to other stations engaged in the shelling in the Straits, these are frequently fishing close to the Mainland, and the Crews often have occasion to land for wood & water. In heavy weather during the norwest season, large numbers of the boats are forced to seek shelter under the Mainland, then again there is always a probability of a boat being blown ashore and wrecked, in such case and under existing circumstances; the crews would have but a very poor Chance of escaping with their lives, in the event of their falling into the hands of the natives.

Besides this, the Company's other Station "Roko" is separated from the Mainland by only

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