I must not omit to mention the repeated relief the institution has given to the wurley natives in times of sickness, such as oatmeal, sago, arrowroot; in short, everything that is recommended by our medical officer. They receive constant medical attendance from Dr. Hammond, at the cost of the institution.
Many cases I might refer to where the poor sick wurley natives have been brought from a distance for the comforts and attention received at Poonindie. One man is now in the institution who has been ill for over twelve months. He is unable to work; in fact, for weeks he is confined to his bed.
When a wurley native dies he is placed in a coffin and buried in our cemetery, which you know is fenced and well cared for.
I beg to state we at all times hold out every inducement to the wurley natives, so that they may look upon Poonindie Institution as their home. From time to time, first one, and then another of them leaves the camp life and joins the institution permanently.
In conclusion, I have but to say, whenever the wurley natives are with us they attend the services in our little church. Their conduct is good throughout the district, so much so that there has not been a single wurley native had to appear at Port Lincoln Court for over five years, either for drunkenness or anything else.
R. W. HOLDEN,
Superintendent of Poonindie Native Institution.
The following extract on the Aboriginal Mission Station, at Poonindie, is from the recent work of the Misses Florence and Rosamond Hill—“What we saw in Australia”:—
“Early in the history of South Australia, a school for the aborigines was established in Adelaide, and continued in operation for some years. The pupils displayed much aptness for elementary knowledge, but it was found that, on quitting school, they did not take to any settled occupation. Most of them returned to their wild life, while the few who hung about the town were shiftless and destitute. The present Bishop of Perth, Dr. Hale, was, at that time, Archdeacon of Adelaide. Taking great interest in the native school, and deeply lamenting its failure to reclaim its pupils from savagery, he cast about for some permanent method of civilizing them. He resolved to form them into an agricultural community, and to establish them in a district, remote from the evils he feared. The form of government was to be patriarchal, and Christianity its guiding spirit. Besides aiding it with his fortune and influence, he resolved, with generous self-devotion, to be himself the pastor of this humble flock.
“In September, 1850, Dr. Hale, bringing with him eleven aboriginals, five married couples and a single man, who had all been educated at this school in Adelaide, settled on the banks of the Tod, where the present little village gradually arose.
“Here a run with about 5,000 sheep was purchased by the Archdeacon. Government added an extensive tract of land, forming an aboriginal reserve, and the Colonial Treasury and the S. P. G. made important contributions to the funds. Under the direction of skilled white workmen, some of the natives erected the present buildings, while others were being instructed in the various duties of the farm. A native school which had existed for some years in the district, under a German missionary, being amalgamated with Poonindie, increased the number of inmates, while individuals were from time to time persuaded to leave their tribes, and join the mission. In spite of numerous deaths during its early existence, the population exceeded sixty when the Archdeacon left, and had reached almost a hundred at the time of our visit, many infants having been born of late years, while the deaths have much diminished.