QSA847184 1886 Letter from David Seymour to Colonial Secretary 21 January with petition, In letter 86:552 Colonial Secretarys Office In Letters DR78147

[centred] Police Queensland

[oval stamp, left of centre] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, QUEENSLAND 0,552. ✓ 22. JAN 86

[left margin] In your reply be sure to give 86-110 Col Sec this number in the margin.

POLICE DEPARTMENT, COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, BRISBANE, 21 January 1886.

Report re appln of Residents Palmer River Gold Field for Native Police protection

Sir,

I have the honor to report with reference to the petition addressed to you by certain residents on the Palmer Gold-field praying for increased Native Police protection, that there is a now a detachment of Native Police at Glenroy near Palmerville whose whole time is taken up patrollng up and down the river. – The officer is so seldom able to attend to the wants of the run holders that it has been found necessary to form another Station on the Mitchell, and as trackers will be attached to all ordinary Police Stations in the Palmer district, I do not think it will be found necessary to form any new Native Police Stations near Maytown. –

I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient Servant [signed] D. T. Seymour Commissioner of Police

The Honorable The Colonial Secretary

[written diagonally, in left margin] Previous 85.46 Petitions

Inform petitioners accordingly [signature] for Col Sec. 26. 1. 86

C. L Hill MLA 27. 1. 86/314

Dec. 30th 85

To the Honble The Colonial Secretary Brisbane

Sir

I have the honor to Enclose herewith petition from May Town & the Palmer gold field with reference to additional Native Police protection If the fact set forth in the petition that there were three detachments of Native Police stationed within 30 miles of Cooktown be correct I consider it would be a good thing to move one detachment further out As there is no doubt that the Blacks have been exceeding troublesome and dangerous is [sic] the broken country about the Palmer River

I am Sir Yours faithfully [signed] C. Lumley Hill MLA

[written across top left] Commr of police for report. S[?]C S.W.G. 6-1-86

[right side of folded page] [written diagonally, on left] Commr. of Police for Report Secy 6. 1. 86 B/C

[centred] Petitions Residents Palmer Gold Field

[oval stamp, top left] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, QUEENSLAND 0,046. ✓ 5. JAN. 86

[oval stamp, top right] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE QUEENSLAND 110 Col. Secy JAN. 8 1886

To the Honble S.W. Griffiths [sic], Colonial Secretary

Re Want of Native Police protection

We the undersigned European and Chinese – Merchants, Storekeepers, Miners, and other residents upon the Palmer Gold Field, desire most respectfully to represent to the Honble the Colonial Secretary, the state of insecurity for life and property, which now prevails in this District caused by the depredations committed with the most perfect impunity, owing the lack of "Native Police protection"

Your memorialists would most respectfully re= present that while no less than three strong detachments of "Native Police" under the Command of three Sub-Inspectors are quartered within a radius of less than thirty (30) miles of Cooktown, the only force available for the protection of this District, is one detachment quartered at Palmer ville, and which has to patrol over 150 miles below that place and for 70 miles above, besides numerous Cattle Stations on the Palmer, Mitchell and Walsh Rivers. – Within the last twelve months eight of the Chinese – miners on Fine Gold, and Stoney Creeks, have been – speared and eaten by the savages, and a large amount of property in horses has been destroyed, and the Europeans, and Chinese have been driven away from Limestone and other Creeks running into the Mitchell River, which abound in rich reefs, (as the yield of one was 34 ounces to the ton) but have been compelled to abandon inconsequence [sic] of want of protection against raids made by the natives who are numerous in this locality – Within the last few days no less than ten horses belonging to a Chinese packer were driven away from the RightHand Branch, and killed, and eaten in the Ranges entailing absolute ruin upon an industrious man.

Your memorialists would ask that a – small detachment of "Native Police" should be Stationed

stationed some where upon the St George or Mitchell Rivers, for it is by the Blacks of that locality that all the recent outrages have been committed, and who at present have a secure get away in the direction of the Nobbies.

Your memorialists have always paid their Business licenses, and taken out their miners [sic] rights and paid all other rates and taxes, and now with confidence approach the Honble Colonial Secretary, praying for that protection which every other part of the Colony is afforded to residents of whatever nation, peacefully persuing [sic] their avocation. Should the prayer of your memorialists be disregarded, (which they would be very loath to think probable, they will have no option but to abandon to the Savages all the out lying portions of this district, where at present neither life nor property is safe)

And your petitioners are in duty bound &c &c.