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The expense of all these requisitions cannot be deemed unreasonable on behalf of the aborigines; when it is considered that they have never received one farthing from the British Government, save one blanket a year to such as apply for it either at Newcastle or this establishment; whilst hundreds of pounds are received for the sale of single allotments in the town from which the blacks must of necessity be expelled, to seek for shelter on an open beach.
By deed of thrust a grant of ten thousand acres of land are reserved in trust for the aborigines, near Reid's Mistake, lying waste, or at best but occupied gratuitously by those whose cattle graze thereon. If this portion of land be let by auction, the proceeds could be appropriated for the annual expenses of repairing the buildings, boats, &c. for the aborigines of these districts assembling at Newcastle, as already suggested, and no heavy annual expense to Government would be required.
Thus the aborigines would have the offer of being enabled to live in comfort, and might be prevented from lying about the ways and streets, or on the sea-beach, at all hours, in a state of intoxication and wretchedness, a disgrace to a Christian land. Several of the younger branch might be most usefully employed as auxiliaries to the police, some having proved themselves very serviceable in tracking out bushrangers, if suitable encouragement be held out to them for such services, which are always engaged in at the peril of their lives. The robbers already mentioned, whilst plundering a neighbour some seven miles off, avowed their intention of shooting every black, lest they should track them out! providentially they are now taken and safely lodged in gaol. A mere trifle from His Excellency the Governor would induce the aborigines to a much greater activity in such services than a large donation from a private individual.
A natural curiosity was brought under my notice in the person of an aborigine, a young lad, who accompanied the horse police in search of robbers. He has six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot; but from one of the hands, and from one of the feet the blacks have amputated the extra member; in every other respect he appears only a sturdy young fellow. He comes from the interior.
In residing at Newcastle, if a residence can be obtained, daily opportunities will be afforded of attending to the aborigines, as well as acceding to the wishes of several persons, both bond and free, who have expressed a desire for my services amongst them, and in thus devoting my time and abilities according as God has given to me, for the spiritual benefit of the aborigines and my own countrymen, the few remaining years of my life will be occupied, I trust, as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, whose I am, and whom I wish to serve; and although in this wilderness sixteen years have rolled on under the hope of congregating the aborigines at this Lake, and for which purpose I chose my present residence, but without effect, yet I trust that those years have not been spent in vain in the Lord.
Hoping that His Excellency will feel authorized to sanction the pecuniary assistance necessary to carry out the measures contemplated, and now proposed, for the amelioration of the condition of the aborigines in this vicinity, on whom no government subsidy has ever been expended, save to each black the annual donation of one blanket; and that the measures submitted in this report may prove to be in perfect accordance with the [indecipherable] benevolent intentions of His Excellency, to do that which is just and right to a hitherto disregarded people, and for whom the Christian sympathies of the United Kingdom loudly plead,
I have the honor to remain, Sir,
Your most obedient and faithful servant,
LANCELOT EDWARD THRELKELD.
PRINTED [indecipherable]ROOD, KING-STREET, SYDNEY.
The Secretary of the Aborigines Protection Society London