SRG 94/W83/13
Poonindie Native Institution
Selected Correspondence,
1854 – 1889
Transcribed by Joe Lane, August 2013 –
Poonindie Correspondence
54/1 [N.B.: Lane’s eccentric numbering system]
To: G. S. Hawkes Esq. MP? MD?
Government Offices
Adelaide
Port Lincoln
February 5th 1854
My dear Hawkes,
God bless you for kindness and readiness in attending to my matters in Adelaide.
I cannot tell you what comfort it is to me [to] find anyone prompt & punctual in doing my little commissions.
The windows have arrived in safety and are this day on their road to the station. With respect to the payment, what can I say ?
I did not ask, neither did I for a moment expect that you should have anything to do with the payment for them. But if you wish it I would be the last to discourage your forwardness in so good a cause. The gifts of our ?tried friends are a great help& at?? to me, but their sympathy & good will and above all their prayers which go up? with their gifts are in still greater support & comfort.
I am losing Mrs Hale & two of my children by the “Bandicoot” this trip. Mrs Hale is going to pay a visit to Western Australia: it is a serious undertaking for her: but she feels that her ?presence may be of essential service to her family at the present time.
Believe me,
My dear Hawkes, …..
M. N. Hale
Cf.
54/2
June 2 1854
My dear Hawkes,
I am putting a second floor on the top of my school room (a ?low place for a store & granary) for which I want windows, viz.- 5 (five) windows to ? our kind friends cut from the ?forms, but only half the width, say 3 feet 3 from the apex of the ? – over all – frame & everything. As there are not for the school room itself, I expect to pay for them myself but I venture to trouble you to get [ ] them. Will you kindly have the frames put in hand as soon as maybe with a view to their being forwarded by he earliest opportunity as our building is now advancing rapidly; there is no great hurry ?with the windows themselves. I would like three of the windows to open, , they might open bodily by hinges like a door.
Forgive the exceeding short[ ]ness of this note; we have no regular mail going but the captain of the “Bandicoot” takes a few letters to the head of the Gulf; he is just sailing.
Remember me kindly to Minnie,
I remain,
My dear Hawkes
With every ??
M. N? D? Hale
If the windows can be got ready to come with the frames all the better; it will probably be as much as six weeks before the [ ] “Bandicoot” will again leave Port Adelaide for Port Lincoln. It may indeed be a much longer time, and therefore if any unexpected chance should occur, pray send the frames if possible.
54/3
Undated, unsigned [Hale ?]
If the Bishop wants Mr Hammond to come up for Ordination at the end of the month let him come, he is useless to me and takes no interest in the work of the place.
And as to the Native Children, he has lost all control of them.
I would sooner do this work my self than see him strutting about, it is no use speaking to him to keep the boys in Order, he will say yes and that all one can get out of him.
56/1
Poonindie
Octr 20th 1856
G. C. Hawkes?
My dear Sir,
When in Adelaide the other day, I took the opportunity of looking at various descriptions of lamps – and was deterred from making a selection from not knowing exactly the height of our School room – which I now find to be 11 feet.
This height will I think be sufficient to enable us to use suspended lamps which in many respects will be better for the purpose than the same lamps on brackets.
This being the case, I would [ ] suggest a set of fourmediumsized ?Mederatrum?? lamps with suspending apparatus – and with Globes. The cost of these I ascertained would be about £ 11. 0. 0.
From what Mr Russell said on the subject I am led to suppose this to be the amount collected; ??and I have therefore enclosed an order for £ 3. 0. 0, which will cover the cost of a 5 gallon can of oil with the utensils for feeding, cleaning and trimming which it will be necessary to have at the same time.
[ ] I should much prefer the lamps to be (if possible to obtain a set of perfectly plain Hinges- at any rate the plainer the better.
I regret that I had not an opportunity of seeing you to hear? In Adelaide – when I next have occasion to go up I trust I shall be more fortunate.
We are going on pretty well here at Poonindie – No further sickness has occurred and the shearing will I expect be concluded this week.
With kind regards, believe me, I remain
Very sincerely yours,
O. N. Hammond
Would be better for Mr Weil to send a memorandum up to the ?? I shall have to place it in our account.
Sent 4 lamps
Oil glasses
Wicks &c
& all charge paid to
Weil £ 13. 4. 0
?Rev. E. L.? Russell
£ 8 - 5 : 4 St John’s School
57/4
Dec. 24 1857
April 1217 lbs of Pork @ 1s 0. 17. 0
May 265 ditto 3. 5. 0
August 25Wheat in all, 82 bushels
@ 7/6.30. 15. 0
34. 17. 6
57/3
23 December 1857
M. B. Hale Ld Bishop Perth to Bp Adelaide, J. Davenport, John Bishop, assignment of Chattels & Effects Poonindie Training institution with Declaration of Trusts.
57/5
Memo I forgot when sending the list up
1 Cask of treacle
2 Boxes Sperm Candles
1 Cwt Logs
2 Doz Pickets
1 Can of Jam
?Jos., What will they do Flour at ?Johan, let me know, I have got it sown here at £ 12. 10. 0 on the Station.
57/6?
[undated, unsigned]
Mackay1. 13. 0
Crossing Horses & trap 10. 0
3 Bottles Spirits1. 1. 0
?Sunih?? &c 6. 0
Corn 6. 0
?Gavvatts1. 8. 6
£ 5. 4. 6
57/7?
[undated, unsigned]
1,419. 11. 10
1,203. 17. 1
215. 14. 9
129. 6. 11
86. 7. 10129. 6. 11
65. 11. 2 20. 16. 3
20. 16. 8 150. 3. 7
215. 14. 9
23 Novr due:£ 65. 11. 2
57/8
Wallala Dec 24 1857
Mr Hammond Dr.
To: Robert Myers
1855
Nov 4Eight bowed mended one hook to bullock chain &£ s d
Doz. Keys0. 16. 0
13One shoe on Camel 2. 6
14Two shoes on T. Hawson’s mare to shoes &
two removes on Muley 0. 13. 6
Dec5One hook and link & four bowes mended0. 5. 3
9Three pair bullock bowes1. 16. 0
28One pitch fork two ?furvels fork mended0 5. 3
1856
January 7Five pitch forks and furvels1. 5. 0
24Four shoes on Muley and pump handle mended0. 12. 6
February 4One brand and tongue to buckle0. 8. 6
March8A pump handle0. 15. 0
25Four shoes on Muley0. 10. 0
April 17Repairs to three ploughs two coutters laid &
One plough beam altered & a new clasp for
The beam & wheel2. 10. 0
28Four shoes on Camel0. 10. 0
June 28Two shoes on Camel0. 5. 0
Sep5Iron work for roller one long bar two gudgeons
Two end plates and eight bolts 42 ?lb?2. 0. 0
13. 14. 9
1857
March20Four shoes on Camel0. 10. 0
27Winnowing machine mended1. 0. 0
31Two shoes on bey colt0. 7. 6
April9One Doz bullock keys0. 4. 0
14Two crow bars three ends of three picks
sharped and three ends of ditto steeled & laid0. 8. 0
24Bullock dray tires cut and new iron work & repairs5. 0. 0
Horse dray tires cut ----1. 0. 0
One new bullock bow clay cutter mended one
small hoop0. 8. 0
Carried over22. 12. 3
Brought over22. 12. 3
28Two hoops for roller0. 7. 0
30One key for piano0. 2. 0
May5Four shoes on colt 15s., and ?lampers
Taken out of two horses1. 0. 0
Sep 28Four shoes on Camel0. 10. 0
Octr6Crow bar and three ends of three picks laid and
Steeled other ends sharped0. 12. 0
12Two long bolts 32 ?lb? @ 10p per lb1. 5. 0
Nov4Four shoes on Camel0. 10. 0
12Two shoes on Brooksbank0. 5. 0
13Two shoes on T. Hawson’s horse0. 5. 0
One angle plate 3s and one strap bolt mended &
One washer for machine0. 6. 0
Nov22One plate and bolt for reaping machine0. 6. 0
24Four shoes on Camel0. 10. 0
£26. 8. 3
Omitted0. 12. 6
185727. 0. 9
Feb54 shoes on T. Hawson’s horse 10s
March62 Removes on ditto 2. 6
12. 6
61/1
11th Feb. 1861 ? 1871 ?
From the Archdeacon of Castlemaine
??Chiots Church Parsonage
Castlemaine
To: Mr R. W. Holden
Dear William,
I have heard with much pleasure your determination in the Missionary field, & I sincerely pray that God who has been wonderfully gracious to you will in his continued mercy will uphold you guide you & edify you in your new ??of occupation.
When I look back upon the last two years [ ] and remember how you were raised from what I long thought was to be your death bed I feel persuaded that it is God’s gracious purpose to give you abundant opportunity for serving Him. I have observed with interest & thankfulness with which you have devoted your self to the Spiritual welfare of your neighbours and that you may walk ??antly? if your vocation shall be the sincere & earnest prayer of your Faithful friend & pastor,
Archibald ?Crawfurd, Archdeacon of Castlemaine.
61/2
April 1861
Dr to Robert Myers
A/c from January 1858 to late January 1861:£ 34. 19. 7
Mostly shoeing of horses, mending of forks, repairs to equipment, etc.
63/1
Jan 4 1863
Dr to Robert Myers
A/c from March 1862
As above£ 11. 11. 2
65/?
Feb 1865
Dr to Robert Myers
A/c from January [1864?] to December 1864
As above: horses shoed, equipment mended, picks sharped
£ 4. 10. 0
?/?
Torn Note, undated, unsigned: 1870s ?
Cheque Poonindie£ 4. 11. 0
Claim280 Wh. 7. 10. 0
T. Exp. W[atts] Newland 5. 4. 6
66/1-33
Many responses to Advertisement for
Station overseer, January 1866.
[Drought in the Far North]
e.g.
7th Feb. 1866
From: Nathl Oldham
To: Mr G. W. Hawkes
Dear Hawkes,
If you have not already made the appointment to the Poonindie Overseership, please attend to the application from Wm Cook, who I am informed is thoroughly qualified, and of great integrity.
9th February1866
William Hoskin
Rowland Flat via Clare
Gentlemen,
I William Hoskin Hereby makes an Application for the Working Overseer Shipp of the Poonindie station at the Advertised Salary and Additions. I have had 16 years Experiance with stock of every Diccription and 8 years agricultural Farming for my self near Auburn. Since that time I have been hauling for Mr Jacob with stock and on the station I have seen and had a great deal to doe with the Natives in the north in their native state. I may mention I have a Wife and Son he is about 9 years of age. My Wife has seen a great deal of [ ] the natives abut Clare she was in Clare 20 years ago when their was scarcely any inhabitance their but Natives. She was also Sunday School Teacher in Clare for 7 or 8 years and we are also Church of England Proffession.
Please address to Me Post Office Clare.
66/5
Application from:
January 24 1866
William Jessop
Kadina
To: G. W. Hawkes Esq.
Sir,
Observing by your advertisement in the Daily Telegraph of yesterday’s issue that the Trustees are requiring the services of a Working Overseer capable of managing a sheep & agricultural Farm at the Poonindie Church of England native institution, I beg respectfully to offer myself as a candidate for the appointment. I am 53 years of age & am a widower & a colonist of 19 years standing in South Australia, my adopted country.
I believe myself qualified for the duties required by experience in this country & in England. I further beg to trouble you with A perusal of A letter that I brought with me from my Excellent friend the Honble. & Rev’d E. S. Keppel & also one of many that I have received from him since my arrival here which may assist you in making choice of me.
Should you entertain my application, I beg to refer you to W. Fisher Esq., manager of A Branch of the National Bank of Australasia at Kadina. And also to the Rev’d W. Wilson, [ ] Congregational Minister at Kadina, who will testify as to my character and abilities.
I have long felt a desire to assist in doing something for the poor Aboriginies of this Country & now there seem to be an opening.
66/26
Application from C. W. Stuart
Feby 19 1866
Kingston, Lacepede Bay
To: Hon. Sml Davenport
Adelaide
My Lord Bishop and gentlemen,
In answer to your advertisement in the Adelaide papers for a working overseer for the Poonindie establishment, I beg leave to tender my services.
I am an old colonist and was on my first arrival in Adelaide, appointed Superintendent for the South Australian Company and [ ] from the Company’s Manager, the late Mr Wm Giles and from the late Mr Edward Stephens, I hold the highest testimonials.
On leaving the Company I became agent to the late Mr Samuel Bryan and Stephen & Edward George Henty for sale of sheep from Launceston & Portland Bay; also contractor for fencing & supply of timber to the South Australian Government & was at the same time employed in farming [ ] my own land at the fifth creek. After the active and working life I have led in the Colony, I believe myself fully competent in every way for the office I solicit and beg to subscribe myself.
C. W. Stuart
Lately Inspector S.A. Mounted Police
P.S. I am writing from Kingston where I am engaged for a few days. My testimonials which are of the highest character are in the hands of C. K. Richardson Esq to whom I beg to refer.
[Watts Newland appointed]
?67/1?
Section 102 near Port Lincoln ??
Rent paid to 1 January 67 £ Cr. 2: 10/-[Side-note] Robert Myers
1st July 148. 8. 3133. 8. 3?Convey committed?
? July 15. 0. 0 15. 0. 0
133. 8. 3148. 8. 3
?67/2?
Port Lincoln
June 6 1867
Mr Hammond Dr.
To: Robert Myer
May 12 – 4 shoes on mare, 2 do Camel 12. 0
June 2 - Crane & 3 hooks1. 0. 0
August 1 – 4 Shoes on Camel0. 8. 0
“ 11 -4 Ditto on chestnut horse0. 8. 0
Decr 27 -$ Ditto on Camel,
4 Ditto on Chestnut horse,
2 Ditto roan1. 0. 0
£ 3. 8. 0
68/1
The Parsonage
Kew
Melbourne
January 11th 1868
To: The Right Reverend Lord Bishop of Adelaide
My Lord Bishop,
I beg your Lordship to pardon me for the liberty I am taking in addressing your Lordship in Missionary work in your Doicese. The Reverend R. Hayward kindly wrote to me of you chaplin, the Reverend Mr Webb?/Will? Asking him if there were an opening in the Mission Field under your Lordship – In his reply he held out hopes but stated your Lordship wished [ ] to know more about me.
In reply permit me to lay before your Lordship briefly my past work & future plans D.V.
In February 1860 I was appointed lay missionary under the direction of the Ch. Of E. Mission Society for the Doicese of Melbourne. For the first two and a half years I was stationed at our head station for experience – At the end of that time I was appointed itinerating missionary (alone) for the upper Darling & its tributaries – N.S.W.
After a journey of over three thousand miles laboring both with whites & blacks, I had to return to Melbourne to lay [ ] my plans before the Committee about farming station three hundred miles back from the Darling &c &c. On my arrival in town, my health gave way owing to the rough life I had while on the journey. On consulting my medical men they said that a long sea voyage was absolutely necessary to resolve my health. The committee very kindly granted my twelve months’ leave of absence paying my expenses to England.
On my return my health was sufficiently restored to resume work which I did for a time at Warrnambool.
Being anxious to return [ ] to the Darling district I wrote a long letter to the Committee about the advisability of sending missionaries towards Cooper’s Creek. Not having sufficient funds themselves, they sent my letter to his Lordship the Bishop of Sydney who at once promised to support me in the direction named.
In August 1866 I started with a brother lay missionary for Cooper’s Creek which we reached in the following August well examining all the country rivers, creeks & Waterholes between the Darling & Burk’s depot on Cooper’s Creek – A journey of four thousand five hundred miles laboring both [ ] with whites & blacks. We had to return to Melbourne for want of sufficient funds to carry on the work.
Such my Lord is a brief outline of my past work. In reference to the future, my Lord, my desire is to be admitted into holy Orders – to be duly & properly sent forth as his blessed Lord did with his disciples.
I have felt my deficiency much – The last seven years my work has been of such a nature that I have had no time for study. The will is mine but not the means.
I would now go to [ ] St Augustine’s Canterbury to be properly prepared if I could afford it.
My reason for mentioning this to your Lordship is that you may see my desire. I feel the uncertainty of my position.
I also know - or feel that it is not in accordance with the Church to send out labourers without authority. I beg to ask your Lordship if you do kindly give me work in your Doicese, would I have time to study the holy Orders ?
I herewith enclose two letters one from Mr Taplin of Point Macleay and from Mr C. B. Young, the ?perspect? of ?? ??
[ ] In deference to Mr C. B. Young’s offer of Lacepede Bay Mission, if your Lordship would advise, I would at once proceed to South Australia to manage it pro tem or any sway your Lordship would please to direct.
I beg your Lordship to pardon me for writing so plainly but I am anxious that your Lordship should know exactly my feelings, education &c.
Hoping your Lordship will kindly consider the matter. I am, my Lordship, MOS, R. W. Holden
P.S.
My Lord, I herewith enclose four testimonials (copies). I beg your Lordship will kindly pardon me for not sending the originals. On two occasions I have lost testimonials through the post – I am sorry to say that two of my best testimonials were lost last week by Revd Mr ?Hopesicre?, one from the Committee & one from a clergyman I laboured with some years back. I should have liked your Lordship to have seen them.
If anything be amiss in this I trust your Lordship will pardon me through a letter ?of ?great importance ?but I am compelled to write in haste [ side-note] I have not five minutes to spare now. Mr Hayward has kindly promised to write to your Lordship on my behalf. R. W. H.
[Note} – I am just twenty seven years of age. R. W. H.
68/5
Robert Myers in Acct. With Poonindie InstitutionCr
1855Amount of purchase money
for Sect. 102 150 0 0
Balance of Interest due to
A/Dn Hale 11 7 0
1856Interest to close of 1856 15 0 01856By work done for PNI27 0 9
1857Interest do do 1857 15 0 0to“ wheat supplied
£191 7 01857 82 bushells @ 7/630 15 0
“ Meat supplied 4 2 0 “ Balance due to PNI 129 9 3
£ 191 7 0
1858Balance brought down129 9 31858By work done for PNI 34 19 7
toInterest to close of 1858 12 19 0toto close of year 1861
1861Do Do Do 1859 12 19 01861Balance146 5 8
DoDo 1860 12 19 0
DoDo 1861 12 19 0
£181 5 3 £181 5 3
1862Balance brought down146 5 81862For Work 9 11 0
toInterest to close of 1862 14 6 0toBy cheque pd to PNI
1863Do Do 1863 14 6 01864by Oct H. 5 3 5
Balance due PNI160 3 3
£174 17 8 £174 17 8
1864Balance brought down 160 3 31864By cheque (Myers)
to PNI 30 0 0
Balance due PNI130 3 3
£160 3 3 £160 3 0
1865Balance brought down 130 3 31865By work 4 10 0
Interest to close of 1864 13 0 0By cheque (Oct Hd) 7 1 0
By cheque (Hustwell) 20 15 0
Balance due to PNI109 16 7
£143 3 3 £143 3 3
1866Balance brought down109 16 7 1866By work 3 8 0
Interest to close of 1865 10 19 9Balance due to PNI117 8 4
£120 16 4 £120 16 4
1867To Balance brought forward117 8 41867By Cheque (Myers) 15 0 0
Interest to close of 1866 11 14 6Bal. due to PNI114 2 10
£129 2 10 £129 2 10