The Poonindie Mission was founded in 1850 by Archdeacon Hale, now Bishop of Brisbane, who invested largely his private means, and isolated himself to carry out this undertaking. He purchased a number of sheep and cattle, and ultimately made the station self-supporting, the Government setting aside 24,000 acres of land, as a reserve.
After six years’ labour, he was succeeded in 1856 by Dr. Hammond. The Government at first rendered pecuniary assistance, but afterwards withdrew it, as the enterprise was rather of a private nature, and no returns had been furnished to justify its continuance.
In 1858, there were under his tuition eleven married couples, nine unmarried boys, and two unmarried girls, making a total of fifty persons. They had 6,000 sheep, 250 head of cattle, and 35 horses; but the finances of the mission were in an unsatisfactory condition.
The Bishop of Adelaide, on his visit in 1858, was much pleased with the mission. There was a village of aborigines, living happily together, cultivating and providing for their own support, not neglecting their spiritual interests, but worshipping God, cheerful and content. There was a good woolshed, a carpenter’s shop, with tools, and grinding-mill, brick-kiln, stockyard, and dairy.
The Bishop says, “God has indeed blessed the labours of that good, self-denying man, the Bishop of Perth. What difficulties he must have had to contend with, freaks of temper, &c.”
The Point M’Cleary Institution was under the care of Mr. Taplin, a devoted missionary. In 1862, there was a Sabbath service performed there, attended by forty-three worshippers. The boys looked very smart in their new jumpers of blue serge, and clean moleskin trousers, and serge green caps. The service was conducted in the aboriginal language. Praise, prayer, and reading the Scriptures, and a short address finished the worship. The singing was good, and joined in by the whole congregation. At that time there were 150 natives at the station—47 males and 58 females. The number of children at school was 25. According to Dr. Walker’s report, there were 425 persons.
Mr. Taplin expressed himself greatly encouraged by the feeling for spiritual things, so much so, that he was warranted in baptizing some of them and their household.
This cheering statement had its counterpoise—that the mortality amongst the blacks was considerable. More children had died amongst them within the last twelve months, than for the three previous years. A large number were infants, and out of thirty-six children who left the school in 1856, six had died. Many adults had died also—twenty-one during the year, of those who had come to the station for medicine and comforts. Numbers died from influenza. It is well to be able to relate that these unfortunate beings had been cared for in their distress.
The report of a Committee of the Legislature in 1860 stated, amongst other things of interest, that the following were amongst the causes of their decrease:—1st. Infanticide to a limited extent; 2nd. Introduction of European diseases, especially aggravated by syphilis; 3rd. Introduction of intoxicating liquors, in despite of existing law; 4th. Promiscuous intercourse of the sexes between themselves and Europeans; 5th. Disproportion of the sexes.
It is singular that some of these reasons are found to operate in the same way to diminish the population of the Sandwich Islands.