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For other articles on the Beagle Bay l£lssioa, see thefollowing cattlBgs .:.-j

"The lustralasian", July 27, 1^29 - August 24, 1^29.The Trappist Mission at Beagle Bay.

"West Australian", July 1, 1925The Late Bishop Glhney

"journal of Department of Agriculture, W,A.,"July I5UIieoaslhllltles of Tropical Agriculture In the

Bor'West •• The B.B, Mission Experiments.

"Year Booh of W.A." 19^2-04 do

"Ihe Woman", Bot. 27, 19^9The B.B. and Blsofcer Bay fiatlTes

"The Social Kodah", 4th Dec. 19^2 • 29 Jan. 1905Among the Trapplsts at Beagle Bay

. *>

"Sydney Morning Herald", April 9, 1954A Whinrd Vigil

"Sunday Times", Hot. 27, 1927Mission Work In W.A. From a Bishop's Diary.

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Article on Beagle Bay Mission (early article)

Eotes on Surveying done at Beagle Bay Mission

•. •. ;..t .• . "V •-'* !• • •. Correspondence relating to formation of

Beagle Bay Mission by Bishop Gibney.

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91 BEAGLE BAY

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Boteboolc 27, Page 8-1$

Whea Bishof Gibtiey twelve years ago selected the country la

the Tlciatty of Beagle Bay for the purpose of utllizlog it as a

Blssion for the clvilisatioa and Christianizing of the natives in

that district, it was looked upon hy many as rather a hopeless

undertaking, "both from the point of view of the apparent barren

ness of the countiy and also from the fact that the natives of

Beagle Bay and the surrounding country had a most unsavoury

reputation, Ihey were reported to be fierce and bloodthirsty

cannibals, impossible to reclaim, a people who held the character

that the Kimberley blacks now seem to be the possessors of, wild

and untameable. The countzy had already been selected by sue.

oessive white pioneers who became discouraged with their selections

in a very short time and forfeiting their deposit fees sought

farther afield for a district, with a better outlook and one which

would be developed with less danger than that around Beagle Bay.

Trom its remoteness and its central position as regards the various

tribes of blacks who existed there. Bishop Gibney felt that it

was the most suitable spot for his purpose and in 1888 a lease

of the lative fieserve of 8oU,uuu acres on the Northeastern coast

of the Berth ieat Ctepe was applied for, also a fee simple of

10,ouG aores which were to be seleoted within the Bsserve area

with the proviso that a number of missionaries should be intro.

duced and a sum of £5uuu expended on improvements within a stated

period.

The then Government granted the lease of luu,oUU aores andin

4IS0 promised the grant of the lu,Quu/fee simple as soon as it

eould be shown that the vimprovements as described in the Land

Bogulations had been effeeted. All this is anoient history now,

bat in view of my recent visit to Beagle Bay it is interesting to

read that "the place was chosen as it appeared to be the best for

gardens iSiere native labour could be made to help to produce

them food". Ifeat a true prophet Bishop Gibney has proved himself

te bet part of the land which from its hopeless outlook had dis.

gusted so masgr intoi^ag settlors has now booomo one of the most

fertile gardens area in the ler* *e#t. In the days bsfere Bishop

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GLlbne/ had made his tour of those regions, a devoted missiooary,^

Fr. UeSah, had already heea worJcing aaosgst the natives at Disaster

Bay, encountering innumerable difficulties and only relln3]aishing

his worlc through pbysioal weahness, brought on by his arduous

single handed labours in the Christianizing of the poor natives.

5-/, On the coast at Disaster Bay the four poles of his poor hut still

stand, but when I went there, no other vestige remained of his

work, except his name and the location of his hut, pointed out to

me by some of the old natives, Bot far from where his hut atoi^

the Trappists had built a house and chapel and trenched ai^

planted a garden there; two or four missionaries resided at Dis

aster Bay and carried on their work there until illness foreed

them to return. The Disaster Bay house still stands and prob

ably by the time these words are in print, will be again occupied

by fresh bands of monks who have come to take the place of those

who were compelled by sickness caused through the hardship ef living

and labouring in an uncongenial climate, to leave their boloved

flock and tiy to regain their broken health in order to continue

their missionary labours.

To lock at the gardens now surrounding the monastery at Beagle

Bay one would never dream that twelve years or so age it was as

If- . unlovely plain, unredeemed by a gSingle feature, Ceeoenut asd

date trees lend their graceful charm to the faint rise upon idiioh

they have been planted. Howere abousd in the amaUer garden, the

many fruits and vegetables named below add to tho homeliness of•iV

the soene and best of all is the spectaele of those fine stalwart

natives, working, singing and praying in what is realiy their

hone, their faces expressive of the change tiuit eome into

their lives, their happiness showing itself in the engezvess wdth

which they take up their daily tasks sad their love and affection

for those idien they know live but to do good to then and whom

they trust implicitly.

The monks have pursued the happiest eeurse in their effects

to reclaim the natives. Instead of trying to oiviline them aeeer«

ding to our motions of civilisation the eim has bses te weld

Christianity as far as serality, clean living asd daily isdust^

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are ooaoerned tlito the ordinary daily liyes of the natiTes, hreah-

infi them away gradually from their old habits, meanwhile instilling

into their minds the rudiments of the Christian religion. Their

old customs have been gradually abandoned, fights are not now in

dulged in, a mild and hazmless corroboree has taken the place of

the sensual corroborees foimerly in reauest, cleanliness is in-

eulcaied, industry is stimulated, plurality of wives, drinking

of blood, cannibalism - all these are things of the past and a

peaceful and happy settlement is the result of the devoted labours

of the Trappist missionaries during the last twelve years.

That the results have been slow in coming cannot be wondered

at when the character of the native is taken into account. In

the first years of the mission, the unwearying patience of the

monks was giTen full scope. To teach the natives the rudiments

of agriculture seamed almost a hopeless task. They would come

one day and stay away ten; they would leave their work and sit

and watch the monks labouring quietly. i.n church when they were

induced to go, they lay on the floor, smoked, .spat and talked

4ad made merry over the religious ceremonies, but quietly and

patiently the monks worked oe^ all the «^le studying their lang.

mage and eharaoter, the monks kept on their self appointed task,

while there was not the faintest coereion exercised, slowjy and

gradually the patient working told and they were gradually eeaned

from their evil ways and initiated into better things. They were

taught gradually the use of the spade, the how and other garden

ing implements and today in the well-tilled gardens, the cleared

paddeeks, the hapjy busy useful lives of the natives attest the

wisdem #f the methed adepted by the monks in dealing with the

native eharaeter.

la ne eivilised ehmreh during the whole of ^ travels lure |

seen sueh single hearted devotion as was Manifested by the natives

on this missiea. Paring my stay there, I daily attended morning

serriee and watehed them clesely amd I could not doubt thoir sin-

cority. Tho first morning I attoaded tho sorvioo happonod to bo

on a Sunday, a day oa which they uaually sing after mass is ever.

The epening hymn was ths "Beaediotms" set te a Crregorian ehant,

Ndtleh they sang with a dtTotienal abaadeamsat that had a weird

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and strlMng effect upoa those of us vdio heard it sung for the

first time hy natives. Afterwards they sang hymns in their ova

language which had heen composed and set to music hy the first

Superior of the Mission^ yr. Ambrose, iriio had made a thorough

study of their language, who also compiled a dictionary and I

believe before ill health forced him to relinaiiish his labours

for a time, he had almost completed a grammar of the dialect of

those regions.

X must say that when X visited the Mission X had no expec.

tation of finding the blackfellow anything better than a snehlCit

or a sycophant, a sort of "flour and rice" Christian as it were

but a very few days' stay amongst them and close observation of

them convinced me of my error in so thinU.ng. The simplicity

of the Esthers' lives, their goodness, their endless patience,

their love for the spiritual well-being af the blades and their

disregard of their own comfort, have all tended towards bringing

out what is good in the native character and until X saw the

results achieved, X did not believe there was much good to be

worJced upon. The character of the natives is like that of child-

ren, a small" word of Judicious appreciation spurs them en to

big efforts, the petulance of a child too is manifested occasion,

ally, and monotony is always to be avoided in apportioning their

work. Grubbing gum shoots, weeding the gardens, tending the

bananas, making ready the ground for sugar cane planting, brdaj^.

making, carpentering, sawmill and smit>j;;y work, are continaaily

varied. There is not the slightest doubt that the mission will

eventually become self paying; that it has nod been a smecess

as far as the primary object of the monks is ooneemed, that is

in the Christianixing and sivilising of tha natives, anyone who

spends a few weeks amongst them will be thoroughly eonvinood of.

The mention of the products here below will show what hasb boom

done during the past twelve years and with the suoeess that has

Already accrued, it only needs more practical hands amongst tho

missionaries and good machinexy to enable sueh predaets as rieo,tobacco, arrowroot and other indmstries to be tamed eat in their

flniidxed state to a market already prepared for them.

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Sarveylng at Beagle Bay

Bro, John's daimm line, cooaaenoing from post marked JNo, 17 onGovt, surveyed road to Bangaduo direction E "by S & E and W"byS A tf Length of line :-

7^ miles, 2 Chains, 45 feet.

Start cross line from h mile post iJfc miles from Bo, 17 roadmark.Length of line :-

100 chains {1i( miles)

Direction H and S hy 5®.

Then we start a line parallel with the Bangaduc line.Length of line :-

120 chains (13fe miles)

Direction E hy S A E and Wby H A W85®.

A cross line is then made to meet the Bangaduc line.Length of line

101^ chains

Direction 5® Wof H A E 0/ S.

A new block is now started to take in land B.B.E, of Bungaduc line.Starting from garden post 5® E of B we run ihe line.

Length of line40 chains.

Then turn 1 by S 83® parallel with Bangaduc line.Length of line ,v

IpO chains, ^ " t; V

Turn off fi.B.E, 3® to take in '*Obedong" well,Lengtii of line

40 chains.

Again turn off E by S 83®,

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Length of line :•»100 Chains "

Another line B.l.S. 3® ,Length of line :• , >

40 chains, '

Again turning E by S, 83® we take in \ rT-";.40 chains

Then we etrike another line S.S.If, 3® ' ^Length of line '

20 Chains, • - V,;-

Again turning E by S. 83° we take ini6o ehaine*

Another turn E of H and Wof 3 to meet main line to BangaducLength of line ,

103 chains

Continue the line E of B and Wof 3 frgm where it joins the Ban**due line down towards Bangaduc house 3 , nanga-

This is now the etAer side of the Bungaduc datum line, we makethe start from corner post,

i^ength of line :•40 chains,

lew turning i hy 8 we run parallel with the Bungaduc lineLength of line t-

80 chains.

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A projected line is to be run from post one mile from mission.This line will be one mile in length (1 mile).Then another cross line one mile wide will meet the line atBangadnc. (Eote : This line is already run in the block enclosing Mission. Length 101^ chains. See Page 1.)

other lines marked

Base line from first road mark W.S.W. tram Bo. 17 on Govt, Surveyed road (between Bos. 17 * IS-)

14 shains S.S.S. to a post on rising ground marked M.G.

From this base line we start BAH«W. 12JjB chains into post in marsh,thence to a post £. on edge of marsh 15 chains from which themarsh runs inland 5*J chains,

Hun line B.B.W, from marsh to beginning of sinamp.Length of line 26 chains,

57 chains all marsh ending in post where base line starts from,viz. road mark next Bo, T/J.

The projected lines which we were unable to mark for want of time:

Starting from % miles below Bo. I7 roadmark between Bos. 17 and18 mark on Govt. Surveyed Hoad a line is to 3run B.B.E, 5®.

Length of line 220 chains,

A line will run S.S.W, 5® to join the line nxn from garden post.Length of projected line :- 80 chains,

(In this block there is a large area 120 chains bj 80 chains whichis all marsh and which is to be excluded from this block.See page 7 in notebook.)

Starting again from corner post in the above mentioned block theline is to be run E. by S.

Length of projected line :- 120 chains.

Turning S.V.W* the line will be run to meet one already marked.Length of projected line 40 chains.

Another projected line will be run £. by S, 85® beyond SuBgaduehouse. Length of line 120 chains.

Then turning S.S.W. 5® the line will run I05 chains

where it will join the main line (Bungaduo end) the line will becontinued S.S.W. on other side Bui^duc line for 4o chains.

Again turning Wby H the lino will be run to meet that aireadymarked below Bungaduc house.

Length of line t- 12u ehalBS,

The marked line (W by B 85®) below Bungaduc house is in leng-^ •100 chains. This will be continued in the same direction for *80 chains.

Then a turn S. by W. 5® will be taken.Length of projected line :- 20 ohaina.

Again turning W. by B. 85* the line will be run.Length :- I60 chains.

Again eemmenclng % miles below Govt. Snrveyed fieadmaik Bo, V7between Bos. 17 A 18, a line will be run, S.S.W, 5®.

Length of line :- 4o chains.

Then turning E "by S b5® tfee line will "be run.Length :> Ibu chains.

This completes the lines marked by the Mission Survey Party,and also the projected lines now being run according to planby Brothers John and i>aly.

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Bishop's House Perth

12 July 1bb8

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Sir

I have the honour to inform you for the information of H.E.

the Governor that the duty of providing for the instruction and

civilization of the numerous Aboriginal inhabitants of the Horth

West parts of the colony is naturally a matter of the greatest

Interest to me.

In this reppect I am in accord with the benevolent intention of

Her Majesty's Government and the Colonial Legislative as manifes

ted in various provisions of the laws dealing with the land

regulations of the Colony, The only opportunity which presented

itself for taking any steps on behalf of the Horth West natives

was when the zealous missionary the Rev. D. McHab opened a mis

sion on the Bative Reserve and laboured to the best of his power

there for seme time. Unfortunately the Mission had to be relinqui

shed for want of supplies both of men and means and the failure

of fhther McBab's devoted endeavours convinces me that it will

net be possible for any single individual or even for any weak

party of men, however zealous, to achieve a work that will be

lastingly effective for the welfare of the natives. This can onOybe done by a strong staff of Missionaries or a numerous communityworking on some such plan as is followed at the highly successful

mission of Hew Horela, which affords the only instance in perhapsall Australia of the eemplete reduction of the Hativcs in more

than solltaiy instances to tho ways and habits of civilized

oemmunity life. I beg to assure you for His Ex, considerationthat a very hopeful opportunity of something being done on behalf ofthe Hatlves of the Horth West is afforded by the present visit ©fHardinal Moran te Emrope.

•f *•:•.-

•'i? upon themselves the charge of an Institution devoted exclusively

J(?c

..#%'•" • '•• -

SLa -Bniaence takes much interest in the welfare of the

Ahoriginals and he acquainted me with an intention he has formed

of trying to get a religious Community of Missionaries to take

to the conversion of the natives of the north West of our Colony.

; r*;.

- ' 5 notwithstanding the Bardinal*s great influence it is not to be

• .•••.:?:.' 4

i'--'

expected that he will be able to succeed unless he be able to

furnish the Superior of whatever Beligious Body he may epp^ "fce.

with reliable facts as to the means that will be available throu^

the liberality of the Government or otheinrise for the successful

working of the Mission. With the view of obtaining such definite

and reliable data and trusting in the Governor's approval of what

is likely to result in good towards the Aboriginal Baces, I

would suggest that His Excellency be pleased to sanction in favour

of a native Mission at the North West the following Concessions

which I hope would when submitted in an authentie form probably

induce a religious body to undertake the task with possibility of

success and which also would be an evidence of the good will and

interest of the government, limited by such restrictions as ars

reasonable in the proposed concessions :*

I. A lease of the Native Reserve of 6uo,uuU acres on the North

ii^stern coast of the North West Cape for stated periods - say of

21 years - renewable mdkile the objects of the Mission required it.

IX The fee simple of 10,uuu acres i^erever the Missioners shomld

select withih the Reserve area for the support of the comwinity

provided that they bring a party of. fO iHisaioners be intredueed

and provided that they bring a capital of or make such

improvements on the Native Reserve as within a stated period

shall amount to the value of £30uc.

Ill The fee simple of loG acres of the Reserve te eaah married

Aboriginal as soon as the Natives become civilised amd eapmble of

settling upon and utilising the land: sueh grant to be giveu at

the iastanea

•f

• X.<5.

•.• • • V'vAt--••^^-'!14-v^^^•'-^^•^-^•^.:- - - .-.t._; . :.r,,--;c-'i.-"3/ >••• -f 'T .»'«•, •<« j' . .«. •V-' ^ ^ .s . *» • , . . . . ^ t.i- , f ♦

0 • - A - "v • • H , - -•'y •• - • • (♦• - . . . • . . . . - , ' »i M • ,. .| - . , . J. . . ^ V- 1 ^^ ' ' ' »» I > - . . • - •*i . • •. • i .. •.*** »•'

••

••ri:

the instauoe of the Superior of the Missioa and upon such

eondltions as he may deem most advisahXe. Should H.£. the

Groremor he pleased to sanction the above concessions it will

enable me to forward to His Eme. Cardinal Moran presumably

tentative data. ihrnished with these definite and reliable

details the Cardinal will I trust be successful in inducing

some religious body to undertaJce a Mission to the Horth West .

a Mission which if not begun with adequate resource must ever

result in failure as to bring great or lasting good to the

native population,

X have the honour to be

Sir

Your obedient Servant '

.V-

The Hon.

Colonial Secretary

Perth,

ft

"N ." y. , ly. •* -ivi I- «.. •

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M. Gibney

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No. JLgb64

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Colonial Secretaiy's Offic®,

Perth.

28th July i8o3.

My Lord

In reply, to your letter of the 12th instant I

directed "by His Excellency the Governor to infoi» you that thia

Government will he prepared to grant to a Missionary Body

established in the manner mentioned in your letter, a pastoral

lease of l(JU,uuu acres of the Kings Sound Native Eeserve under

the Land Regulations in the ordinary way, and also to grant t«

euch a body }0,uuu acres of the land leased, in fee simple. When

they can show that they have spent £5uUo on "improvements"

as described in the Land Regulations,

The grant to be made in trust for the benefit of the Aborigines.

I have the honor to be

My Lord

Your most obedient

humble servant - "

Malcolm ITaser

Colonial Secretary

To

The Right I^vereni

Bishop Gibney

Perth.

.-i:.JBSSBBks;;

\-W.:

Sir

Sishop*s House

Perth 6 Maj Ib^O

-• v " ••—•«.•• •'•.•A; i'V.'* -•'' •'̂ '•*j."v •"••I.*"". '-1 '

7 . ^ • ;57.-.-; .• •—. . • :•? •" .7. ' •;.

. •. *• •• '.Xi .i-v;-:

following up the correspoudeuca initiated. 12th July 18&8

the Governor*3 reply thereto dated 28 July 1888 xa a Ulssion

to the A8original3 of our Horth West coast I have the honour

to state for the information of His E, the Admor. that I have

secured the services of a staff of Missionaries to undertake

this work at Kings Sound,

Two Pioneers of the celebrated order or La Trappe - Very

Bar Abbot Ambrose and mther Alphonsus have already arrived

and I propose placing them on their field of labour soon as I

can make necessary arrangements. I shall take as a favour any

sxifiestioa H,£, may be pleased to make,

I have etc.",'il - . .... .

M. Gibney -ra

•

The Hon. Actg. Col. Sec.

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and

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Colonial Secretary's Office

Perth

9th May l#9a: :: -iCf ja

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Bo 75/1^6

My Lord

I have the honour tiy direction of His Excellency the

Mministrator to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the

6th instant notifying the arrival of a staff of Missionaries to

undertake a Mission amongst the Aboriginal Hatives of the North

West Coast of the Colony*

I have the honour to he

My Lord

lour Obedient Servant

Oct. Burt

Acting Colonial Seoretaxy I

The Bight Beverend

Bishop Gibney

Perth,

xrs^T.

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9th Fehuaiy I89I• :rri- .• J:-... ..... • .^. :'•

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The Hoh, the Com. ^ands

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Sir

I have the hononr to request that the loo^uoo acres which stacid

in njr naae as shown on the accompanying chart "be made a

Eeserve for the Batire Mission in lieu of an eaual extent of the

6uu,uuu already reserrel for that purpose.

The Mission Station stands somewhere ahout midway between P4_5

and F47• You will obserre that the whole country is vacant

about. Unfortunately there is a poiaon plant there known as the

Darling pea. But this place was chosen as it appeared to be the

best for gardens where native labour could be maae to help to

produce them food,

X havo the honour

M. Glbney

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Ho. 47/276

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Crom Lands Officei"-'. .• f,

A ~ . * 'i. ;rrx.

.-If-;;':.:-;-,Serth )2th June 16^1

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ISy Lord

^ hare the honour to Inform you in rajpiy to your letter of

the 9th *f ftrhruaiy last that the boundaries of the Eeservo

747A for a Hatire Mission at Kings Sound hare been amended as

reauosted in your letter, so as to include late pastoral lesM

71/203, which will now be removed from the gazetted list of

leases liable to forfeiture,

2: The amended boundaries of tiie reserve will be gazetted as

soon as possible but some delay has been unavoidable owing to

want of information for a correct description of the land,

1 am My Lord

Your obedient Servant

tf.K, Marmioa

Commissioner of Crown Lands

r" ':i:'

His Lordship

Bishop GibneyIf •

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The Palace

Perth^ 2ttth February l^uO

The Beagle Bay Trapplst Mission

:..' .i-':

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Sir

I have the honour to state for your infomation that in

the year JbbS I entered into an agreement with the then

(Jovernaent to introduce a body of Missionaries to labour on

the Government Reserve Seagie for the welfare of the

Aborigines,

The conditions were fixed and mutually agreed upon vide

ay letter of j2th July l88b : also reply of Colonial Seoretaiy

no 72/084 and other correspondence*

The conditions have been fulfilled by us and it only remains

for the Government to carry out their side of the agreement,

I enclose statement of improTements made, furnished me by the

Superior of the Trappists.'•4,-

I have the honour to be, —, f

Sir, '"- V-:'

Your obedient servant,

The Bight Hon. Sir John Forrest P*C. M.C.M.G,

Perth,

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Statistics relating to

Beagle Bay Mission for Aborigines,! • ,'t .

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The members of the Community

Conducting the Mission consist of

5 priests

5" lay brothers

4 Labourers (Manila-men)•.r.r

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since the foundation of the Mission the number of natives fuHy

instructed and made Christians by Baptism

is

The number of Adult natives, for the most part living at aol.

supported by the Mission, is about :-

45

Other Adult natives call at the Mission and are occasionally faa.to the number of about :-

\oo

•'•.'a"' '*"•

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S.....k ......... ...1.. y...... ft''. ^1*.- «• fc..^ . .« .. .m ..... /••.«.t.. J..- .>..*... . . ..' : •" t .r-r-.r, ;/.-r;rX;:?A;';.-..,^r.r j,... ^ _.•

.x.,."-*. • . =' - »• ,- I« -•'":• .-.ii-: u.

• ;

These couldl be regularly kept and employed permaneatiy, did

means permit.

The number of children living at the Mission are ;-

26 Christian boys and girls

12 Boys and girls receiving religious

instruction in preparation for baptism. .r. " ;

In y(i99 Constable McKeller of Derby visited the mission and on

personal inspection drew up a list of very old, blind, decrepit

and diseased native men or women numbering

31 cases.

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. v.*** -•>*•>. < '*»t •. ••• A . ,'•.*»» •- • • ' "(fit.- •••••-• • . . •• <• . • •, • - . ... »»*» .rlfc . Vi, .. .1^. • »• f*fi X - •• '• • .' • • ' . - • .*r .i' ♦- - • • • •• V «s -. •.» v.- . . .f,-; • .. . - -. .. .i•• -. ti.- i ' >...•• •• •-V-f' - •'v'**" «.»• tmr- t» . . k* • -.... .^_ -m' -•• ..•« ..=..»y. -'... ^ • «, .' - - \ -

Z' r,tx-. • :• ::.-

; r.^.vr;... vrrr£rriC'r.rteA;:^':r^;-'.".v^ir-\:.. A*,,.— . .

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^^ .i-V* Trappist Mission Brooss . /"V:*- '

/'i:, >

Memljers 1 priest 1 "brother

Chsistian adults 6Q

•• Children 22 lU of them are supported"by Mission

' Infirm and old 7*• "f ' *

^ European Catholics 14 •

. - ' "••ix- 'j ' Manilla men 200' ;'r.: aV I

. . r .... A,

..' • •; 4 • • .. ' .

• • • ' .V

Buildings

Old KoMdence of Missionary was converted into an hospital

for Manilla men. Burchase of Land £2^

Old Church sawn tim^ber frame covered with canlras 30

Hospital huildlng 25

Orphanage (timber and galvanised iron) 25

^ Hew Residence, two rooms and verandah,sawn timber covered with

c galvanised iron, supported on piles lot)

Site of Residence, title, postal expenses 25

Fence old reiiidende wood uprights 8 ft. 4 ch 4

' present residence post and wire fenceV 10 ch \ j

r.„ church building 72

SJjook Herd of goats 2w

£p>t)

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M--'..,c.,- -•

Trappist Mission Disaster Bay

f t

MemtevB 1 priest 1 stniLent

Christian adults 37

children 12

Pagans 3U

• .. « «• -f X•i» ^ "'•• • ' t ^ t *'j*"' ' '->'••• -•

' ' •*•.

•If*' ' * • • •* - »-».«<•

Very naqy pagans yisit the Mission from Derh/t Swan ir'oint &Cignet Bay

sawnBuilding 32 X 20 Walls 10 ft. timher covered with galvanised

iron. Cast of huildlng £130

Garden contains a large emhanfcment ^0 ft. long and irrigation work

large native shed (valuation not given)

Cost of fencing stocJc yard and garden 43 chains £43

Stock b cart hollooks

Some cows

plough Harrow

£100

I.. —,' , .r:

Bead from Beagle Bay Mission to Disaster Bay 30 mis. £40

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(Letter 2b Feb. I^uuto Sir J. Forreet)

Sir,

W-

Perth 30 May »uO•35V

•\

I beg to call your attention to some facts in connection

with the aboriginal Trappist Mission at Beagle Bay,

Between priests ancL brothers, there hare been 1$ working

on the Mission and mission Stations (2) besides 4 Manilamen,

The priests have tnoroughly mastered the native language

and taught them in their own tongue. Hence they have been

enabled to instruct and baptize in and around Beagle Bay 1u8,

At this Mission they mefatain and instruct ^b children of whom

26 are baptized. They also m^tain 31 old blind decrepit and

diseased persons.

Total maintained 3fi children

31 old persons

Brnome tilfision Statloa

One priest and a brother attend this Station, Here •t;hety have

6o Christian adults and 22 children who attend instructions

regularly,

On the maintetiance list they have only 10 children and 1 inilra

old people.

Total maintained 10 children7 old people

—

aigjgttr Sfty MlaaiflB gtatlca

One priest and a brother attend this Station*

They have 37 Christiana Adults, and 12 children*

Total maintained here : 12 children.

Grand total maintained by the Missions

Beagle Bay 69

Broome 17

Disaster Bay 12

9fa

, My.

V:«f:A . .*S' •

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arr

•wo /

v

I v/as astounded when the missionaries told me how little help you

gave them since you "became Chief Protector of Aborigines, It was

bad under the aborigines Board and very bad, but under you it is

worse, Now I notice you do not treat ny mission as you trea t

the Church of England half cast mission on the Swan, And I am

entitled to know why not? There is nothing so invidious as to

slight one institution and liberally help another where both woric

for the same object. And bear in mind my institutions are far

out in the wilds and yours is at home.

Our missionaries have written to me that they must give up

as they are unable to support the mission and themselves. If

they do give up 1 will hold the Government responsible who have

thrown away the opportunity to save the race because they refused

a fair allowance for the work. I wired yesterday to the sup

erior directing him to still carry on the work, that 1 would

come to his relief , I lam veiy intent on this - give mine the

same per caput as you give the Swan institution and I will be

satisfied. Otherwise I must feel agrieved.

I have the honour etc, ,

The Chief Protector of the Aborigines,

Perth,

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