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Petitions
Residents Palmer Gold Field

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COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, QUEENSLAND
0,046. ✓
5. JAN. 86

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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 Euro-
peans, and Chinese have been driven away from Lime-
stone 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 Right-
Hand 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

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