“February 26, 1874.
R.L.K.”
The following reports, which were laid upon the table of the Diocesan Synod of Adelaide at the opening of the Session in 1873, will, we think, prove interesting to our readers, as showing that the despised aborigines of Australia are not altogether beyond the reach of Christian care and kindness.
Annual Report of Mr. Hawkes to his Co-trustees, 1873.
The year past has been signalized by an event causing great joy to the natives and all persons associated with the institution, being the visit of the reverend founder of the Poonindie Native Institution, the Right Reverend Matthew Hale, Bishop of Perth, Western Australia, who arrived at the scene of his former labours after an absence of sixteen years, accompanied by the Bishop of Adelaide, in November last. On this occasion the natives took the opportunity of presenting a beautiful silver tea-service to Bishop Hale, as a token of their love and esteem.
The result of the inspection by the Bishops was embodied in a pamphlet, entitled “A Visit to Poonindie,” written at the Mission House, on 22 November, 1872, giving a short history of the foundation, trials, and final success of the native establishment. Five hundred copies have been published for general distribution.
On 31st March last there were at the mission station, in residence, eighty-six natives.
I am thankful to be able to say that we have had no cases of diphtheria at the mission. The general health of the natives has been good; cases of slight cold or sore throat are promptly and carefully attended to. Mr. Hammond’s thorough knowledge of the native habit and constitution enables him to check sickness at an early stage by his able and judicious treatment.
The balance-sheet showed a profit for the year of £826 19s. 3d.
The stock at the station on 31st March last consists of 9,499 sheep, valued at 5s. each; 130 head of cattle, at 60s. each, including two well-bred bulls, Gaylard and Canowie; 25 horses, valued at £5 each; 20 pigs, best Berkshire breed, valued at 20s. each; the total value of which is £2,909 15s. The lambing last season was on an average of 92 per cent. There will be at least 1,500 sheep to sell before next lambing, after making every allowance for rations, &c. All land farmed at Poonindie to present time is 332 acres; grubbed, cleared, ploughed, and now lying in fallow as virgin soil, 60 acres; being grubbed, cleared, and ploughed this year as fallow for sowing with wheat next year, 60 acres; land under crop with wheat in January, 1873, 180 acres; land under crop for hay in January, 1873, 30 acres. We have no land sown with artificial grasses, but we intend to try some kinds next year. There are 215 acres of land under cultivation this year, including hay and lucerne crops. Next year about 75 acres of new land will be added to the cultivation, and a part of the land in fallow will be brought into use again.