Correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's Office

[oval stamp, upper left margin] - COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, - No. 1304 MAR 16 1882 QUEENSLAND. 38/1882 [circled]

[round stamp, centred] OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 883 [signed] I. Cook 13. 3. 82 QUEENSLAND

Away

[written diagonally, left margin] previous 82. 1225 (Benches) -------------------------

[centred] Police

[right of page] Police Office Cooktown March 2nd 1882

Sir

I have the honor to forward a letter received from the Harbour master here, which resulted in my interviewing the man Steven Barry and ascertaining that he had taken forcible possession of this gin, a child, about 10 or Eleven years old, on the plea alone, that he spent his money on her for clothes &c. -

I directed him to return the gin at once to the vessel where he had taken her from ^ to the companionship of her countrymen but he refused to do so. -

I then found the Police Magistrate who accompanied me to the Public House where the gin was kept; and an order was given by him to take her into custody - pending inquiry ---

I saw myself this man Barry taking the gin through the Main St. unwillingly: and [on?]

The Comm. of Police Brisbane }

[centred] Police

[oval stamp, upper left margin] - COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, - No. 1304 MAR 16 1882 QUEENSLAND. 3/1882

[round stamp, centred] OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 883 [signed] I. COOK 13. 3. 82 QUEENSLAND

Away

[written diagonally, left margin] previous 82. 1225 (Benches) ----------------

[right of page] Police Office Cooktown March 2 : 1882

Sir

I have the honor to forward a letter received from the Harbour Master Line, which I resulted in my interviewing the man Steven Barry and ascertaining that he had taken

[written on back of bottom-left folded corner] B.C. the Hon the Colonial Secretary -------------

This forcible carrying away of gins is the cause of much of the ill feeling existing towards whites but I do not know any way of preventing it.

[signed] D.T. Seymour Cmr 14. 3. 82

[written lengthwise on folded bottom-left corner] this much [?]n, between

I have the honor to be Sir Your obed. Sert [signed] H FitzGerald Insp

[initials] [R.A.?] No. 8 [B.C.?] 15 . 3 . 82 ~~~~~~

[bottom left corner, on page beneath] ag[ainst] you[ng] resis[t.] this gin ago from by a recruit[ing] was in Capt[ain] in his boat. was about to e[nter] agreement with

The Inspector of Police Cooktown

82 / 1385

[upper left corner] 41/82 -------

[round stamp, centred] OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, - 883 [signed] I. Cook 13. 3. 82 QUEENSLAND.

[top right of page] Customs Cooktown 28th February 1882

Sir

I desire to bring under your notice a scene enacted in broad daylight in the main street of this town today and which was a disgrace to civilisation.

One Steve Barry held a young gin, about 13 years old, by the wrist and dragged her from the wharf towards a a [sic] Public House, evidently against every effort the poor young gin could exercise to resist. Upon enquiry I find this gin was taken a few days ago from Hinchinbrook Island by a recruiting Party that she was in Captain Webb's charge, in his boat, that the latter was about to enter into an agreement with her and

The Inspector of Police Cooktown

82 / 1385