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Residents Re depredations of blacks Upper Barron River & remedy
Atherton Upper Barron river near Herberton 1st November 1887
[Stamps: COLONIAL SECRETARYS OFFICE QUEENSLAND 9019 15 NOV 87 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS 29.549 11 NOV 87]
Sir
We, the undersigned selectors, on the Upper Barron River, would again urge your attention to the injuries and annoyances we are suffering under from the depredations of the aboriginals, with the hope that you will take some immediate action in the matter.
The aboriginals are becoming so daring and their robberies so frequent that it is almost impossible for us to live on our farms. We cannot leave our houses, however well they are protected with bolts and bars, without some one accustomed to the use of firearms always on guard; and we can see no prospect of getting any return from our cultivation, for whatever crop we grow these black thieves are sure to rob it.
From our past experience we are of opinion that periodical visits from the native troopers are quite useless; and, without accusing those in charge of negligence or want of zeal, we cannot see how any good can come from a week's visit of four or five troppers with an inspector acting under such instructions.
Without dictating to the government what method they should employ in dealing with this matter, we are of opinion the blacks ought to be brought in and fed. Much of their former hunting ground has been occupied by selections so they are forced to steal, and thus
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thus the individual selector who is making an effort to utilize his farm, suffers most.
If the native troopers, instead of being sent to "disperse" the blacks as at present, were instructed to collect them into a camp and supply them with rations, we think there would be no more stealing, and it would be a more humane and efficacious way of dealing with the matter.
The cost of rations to be supplied ought not to be much, consisting of beef and sweet potatoes both of which are cheap in this district, the sweet potatoes after a time being grown by the blacks themselves. And we think supplying them with rations need not be continued for long, as the blacks, as soon as they are civilized, can earn enough by their own labour.
By taking some immediate steps to rectify this matter you will confer a great boon on the district, as settlement is very much retarded by the present state of affairs.
We have the honor to be Sir your most obedient servants W.B. Kelly on behalf of selectors on Upper Barron Valley
The Hon. The Colonial Secretary Brisbane