Thursday Island Jubilee - 1927, pt . 4

A four part series on the Thursday Island Jubilee in 1927. This is part 4

Part 3 is here

Telegraph (Brisbane), Saturday 8 October 1927, p. 15

THURSDAY ISLAND'S JUBILEE

Quetta Memorial Cathedral

In the following article, the last of the series on Thursday Island the jubilee of which recently was celebrated, some further recollections of the olden days of the island are given.

Before it was a Town

Mr. E. B. Harris, vice chairman of the Telegraph Newspaper. Co., who for some years was associated with the British-India and Queensland Agency, Co., lived on Thursday Island in the "eighties." It was a very primitive settlement in those days, Mr. Harris says. There was no town, no streets, no horses, and therefore, no wheeled traffic, even a bullock or a cow there. Tall rank grass, some, of it 7 ft. high, grew all over the place, except at the back of the island, where there was a tropical jungle.

There was not even a wharf there in those early days, but the British-India Steam Navigation Co.'s ships, which were employed in the Queensland Royal Mail service between London and Brisbane, berthed alongside an old hulk which was kept there for that purpose. In Mr. Harris's day the James Patterson, which at one time was employed on this coast, was the hulk, and later the Star of Peace.

The staff lived ashore in a small four-roomed cottage with a kitchen. The framework of this small building was of hardwood, and the sides and root were of galvanised iron. The doors and windows were never closed, for although there were doorways and openings which served as windows, they were mere blanks in the walls. There was a veranda all around the little place, but no steps. The cottage belonged to the staff, and not to the company, and it served as a protection from the heavy tropical rains and from the fierce heat of the tropical sun. Howbeit, conditions within were pretty much as sultry as those without very often, for tho galvanised iron became intolerably hot. Mr. Harris recalls such well-known ships of the mall line as the Merkhara, the Roma, the ill-fated Quetta, and others of the company's own line, and tho Duke of Sutherland, the Duke of Westminster, and others of that line which also at times were employed in the service. The cargoes inward were largely composed of "rough stuff" such as barbed wire and grog  with a sprinkling  of "plum duff" ingredients and other dietary items, as a mate of one of tho ships remarked to Mr. Harris on one occasion. 

A Lonely Grave

Exploring the back of the island one day Mr. Harris came across a lonely grave. On it was a wooden cross, on which was inscribed, "Sacred to the memory of William Buist, master of the Rober, ‘drowned’ (then came the date - Mr. Harris thinks some time in 1848); erected by his crew. Mr. Harris made Inquiries but even, the best-informed public on the island knew nothing of the grave. Nobody seemed to be aware previously that it was there.

The Smallest Town

One of those who were associated with Mr. Harris in those days was Mr. W. J. Graham, who afterwards for many years was prominently associated with the business and civic life of the town, which Mr. Graham says is the smallest in the British Empire, consisting as it does of an area of only 188 acres, Including 88 acres of streets. The total area of the place, including the Commonwealth's part at it, used for Defence purposes, is only 500 acres. The Island also has the smallest newspaper in the Empire, or the world, for that matter, Mr. Graham says. This, consists of a dally publication of a slip containing telegrams, and tiny local Items which may be available.

Quetta Memorial Cathedral

Mr. Graham lists among the many extracts from newspapers which he has preserved concerning tho history of the Island the following from a Church of England publication, describing the interior of the Quetta Memorial Cathedral: —

"A Quetta lifebuoy, draped with the British-India Company's house flag, hangs over tho pulpit. Her stern riding light, recovered by a diver after 18 years' submersion, gives light for evensong. The barnacles and coral incrustation on the brasswork of the lamp tell their own tale. The ewer at the font was given to the church by a Mr. McLeod, of Thursday Island. In the chancel hangs another flag and a lifebuoy, hearing tho name, "Kanahooka Sydney." This was a steamer which foundered in the Gulf of Carpentaria two years after the loss of the Quetta.

"The seats at one end of the church are from the wrecked barque Volga, now lying off Goode Island, with one of her musts still plainly visible at high-water mark. A chart, given by Mr. McKenzie, showing the exact locality of the wreck hangs on one side of the main door, and opposite is one of the port holes of the Quetta, the outline and details plainly to be seen under beautiful coral growths. This was given by Mr. Graham, Hotel Metropole, and is one of the most striking relics In the church.

“An altar, erected near the gates is the gift of a Rotuman boy, from the South, Sea Islands, named Tom Mann, who desired thus to keep his memory green among his South Sea friends here after his return to his own island.

"The larger of the two bells was first used in Townsville Cathedral, and the smaller is the Quetta's ship's bell."

In addition to the Quetta memorial tablet, there also is a tablet to the memory of the 302 men who lost their lives in the great hurricane off Cape Melville on March 5, 1899, to which reference previously has been made in these articles. At the foot of this tablet are the words, "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee."

School Teacher’s Recollections

Living In retirement at Kent Street, New Farm, Is Miss O’Brien, who for some years was in charge of the Thursday Island State School. Miss O'Beirne treasures her recollections of Thursday Island and its many splendid people. Of the late Hon. John Douglas, as he was invariably called, she speaks in the very highest terms. "He was a splendid man," said Miss O'Beirne, "a most upright and just man; everyone respected him and his word was law in the Island, not only because of his position of authority, but also because we all trusted his knowledge and judgment. The coloured people shared our respect and even our affection for him.

An Island Wedding

Miss O'Beirne recalls with particular pleasure an island wedding in which she took some little part. It was that of the Rev. J. G. Ward, who afterwards died when in charge of the Presbyterian Aboriginal Mission at Mapoon in 'the Gulf, to his bride who had come up to help her betrothed in his good work. Mr. Ward stayed with Mr. Douglas until the wedding arrangements were completed and Mrs. Ward as she became, was the guest of Miss O'Beirne at the school residence. Miss O'Beirne suggested to the mothers of half-a-dozen girls attending the school that they should dress the girls as bridesmaids for the occasion, and this was done. The late Rev W. Maitland Woods, who was the founder of the Quetta Memorial Church, officiated. As illustrating the interdenominational spirit of such places, here was a Presbyterian missionary married by an Anglican clergyman, whose bride went forth to the ceremony as the quest of a member of another faith, with bridesmaids drawn from other denominations. Miss O'Birne said her heart went out to Mrs. Ward and also to Mrs. Hoy, who heroically accompanied their husbands to that wild part of the coast in which the missions were located, not knowing what was before them. Mr. Ward died, but Mrs. Ward continued there in the good work, and Mr. and Mrs. Hey retired after 20 odd years' service there.

Quetta Memories

Miss O'Beirne was at the island when the Quetta was wrecked, and never can forget the thrill of horror which passed through that little community when the awful fact became known there. She remembers well little Quetta Brown— as she was afterwards called — the ill-fated ship's foundling,  coming ashore, and tho loving care which was bestowed upon her by Captain and Mrs. Brown who adopted her, and by others.

Concluded

Thursday Island Jubilee - 1927, pt . 3

A four part series on the Thursday Island Jubilee in 1927. This is part 3

Part 2 is here

Telegraph (Brisbane), Saturday 1 October 1927, p. 18

JUBILEE OF THURSDAY ISLAND

3. On and Around the Island

Custom’s Officer Letter and First Mayor’s Memories

In the following letter, written by a Customs officer at Thursday Island shortly after it was proclaimed a municipality, is given a description of life on and around the island in these days; To this are added the recollections of the first Mayor of the island.

The customs officer referred to is Mr. A. S. Booker now in the Brisbane office, who had two terms of service on Thursday Island. His second period was that of sub-collector there.

Custom’s Officer’s Story

Mr. Booker, writing to a friend at the time, described a trip which he made in the steamer John Douglas to the picturesque Albany Pass, through which Thursday Island is approached from the southward. Captain J. A. Bruce was in command of the steamer, which was named after the late Hon. John Douglas for many years Government Resident at the Island. The letter fortunately was published in a newspaper at the time and thus preserved

"Somerset House," wrote Mr. Booker "Is beautifully situated on a hill overlooking u bright little bay, about halfway through Albany Pass. This pass is unquestionably one of the sights of Australia. We visited Saville Kent's cottage on Albany Island. It seems sad to think that he will never return to the spot which he had grown to love so well.

A Griffin Relic

''At Somerset, on Sunday evening, Frank Jardine and his guests were discussing, among other subjects, Australian literature. I happened to mention that the first Australian novel I had read was written by the sister of the late Hon. H. E. King, once member for Maryborough, and was entitled 'Lost for Gold. Frank Jardine immediately produced Griffin's- sword. The night before Griffin, the gold warden, was hanged, he sent for Frank Jardine and gave him the sword he had worn as an officer of the British army, saying: ‘this is clean, Frank, and I hope you will accept it.' At that time Frank Jardine's father was P.M. at Rockhampton. Frank Jardine Is now 76 years of age, has lived 50 years at Somerset and last week rode his horse 60 miles in one day. Most hospitable people are the Jardines, and the old gentleman is a wonder considering what he has gone through."

Amongst the Islands

''On a still, calm sea," writes Mr. Booker further, "last evening, Major Cox Taylor and family, with my family and myself, were the guests of Mr. J. R. Arthur on a launch run. We visited Goode Island, Waiweer Island, Black Rock, and other places of Interest, returning before midnight. Such outings as these are frequent here, and are very enjoyable.

"Life here is deeply interesting, and there is a change of constantly visiting ships, both ways, nearly all calling at the Government Jetty.”

Sprinkling of Whites

"The white population is very small, the ratio being, say, one white to 20 blacks.' Japanese predominate, but the Malays are gradually replacing them so far as I can see. The stores are nearly all open every evening till 10. o'clock, and at this time of the year the coloured people appear to live in the main street after sundown, Gaily-decked-out ice-cream vendors and their handcarts are a feature. The niggers do like ice creams. The Torres Strait Fresh Food and Ice Company has a fine establishment, with ample cold stores. One can always obtain a rabbit or hare off the ice, not to mention fish, fruit and. vegetables. Cattle are killed at Red Island and brought into cold stores once a week. Red Island is 20 miles away. In the old days all cattle were killed on the Island. Burns, Philp and Co. run a fine store here— needle to anchor sort. They also have a private bond built of concrete — a fine structure.

Seventeen Years’ Progress

"Since my time of 17 years ago living is much more comfortable. Coconut palms are all over the Island, making the settlement very picturesque. I believe that within the next six or seven years the Commonwealth Government will spend £200,000 on defence works on this and the adjoining Islands."

"Thursday Island was proclaimed a municipality a fortnight ago (January 12, 1912); The Torres Straits Hospital is a splendid institution, with a large sum at fixed deposit, brought about in this way. The Government compelled every person employed in the pearl-shell fisheries to contribute a shilling a month to the hospital fund. The Government has appointed its representative on the Hospital Board. There is a really good town hall and entertainments take place very frequently. The School of Arts is run by the Municipal Council, and the town clerk is librarian.

"The military barracks are a fine block of buildings, and the occupants are regarded as a great protection to the whole population of the Island.

"Fish is very plentiful, and is hawked around every morning. To-day I purchased three fine lobsters just taken from the reef for a shilling the lot. The lobsters in these waters are very fine food. The Customs quarters are the best on the island. When I saw my chief (Mr. E. J. Hennessy) planting mango trees, coconut palms, etc., in the sub-collector's garden nearly 20 years ago I little dreamt that someday I would be enjoying the fruit of his labours. We have been enjoying the mangoes for quite a month now.

"We are all very sorry to lose Mr. Millman, late Government resident here. He was a really fine type of man, both officially and socially.

"The sub-collector's duties here have a somewhat unpleasant side — namely, the identification of dead coloured divers by photographs and indent documents. The duty of identification falls sometimes three or four days after decease. Twenty years ago 30 fathoms was considered dangerous diving; now the Japs go down 45 fathoms for pearlshell."

First Mayor's Recollections

Thursday Island's first Mayor (Mr. W. M. Hayne) for many years past, has been a. prominent citizen of. Brisbane. He is the present president of the Stock Exchange. He went to Thursday Island as a school teacher in the eighties, but resigned from the department, and subsequently went back there to engage in business. He had an interest in pearling, and was just married when the hurricane referred to in last week's article occurred, constituting Australia's most serious disaster to date. The disaster was a serious one, not only for the families of those who lost their lives in it, but for these who wore interested in the Industry otherwise.

Mr. Haynes spent some 20 years on the Island, and like all who lived there speaks in glowing terms of its natural beauty, its salubrious climate, and the charm of its people. Even the coloured people were law-abiding folk, Mr. Haynes says. In all his time there he did not remember one white, woman being molested by them. He [recalls a fight] between Manilamen and South Sea Islanders, but that, he says, was due, [he] certainly recalls one serious fracas as he understood, to a misunderstanding by the Manilamen, when they interviewed an official[1], who told them to come back and see him at. 4 o'clock, that they could commence an attack on the Kanakas at 4 o'clock. They waited until the tick of 4, when they started the fray, and a right willing one it proved, and not at all one sided, although naturally the islanders were taken somewhat unaware.

Mr Hayne recalls that there were three pilots stationed at .Thursday Island in the olden days — Captain Hannah, Commodore Keating, and Binstead. It was pilot Keating who was on the Quetta when she struck the unchartered pinnacle which sent her to her doom. The first medical man on the Island was Dr Salter, who afterwards figured as a leading authority on plague at Sydney. Dr. Tilston followed Dr. Salter. Then came Dr. Wassell, a son of the late Mr. J. Wassell, so well-known in Brisbane for many years. Dr. White followed Dr. Wassell.

No reference to residents of the Island would be complete, says Mr. Hayne, which did not include the name of Frank Summers. Mr. Summers at one time was practically the uncrowned king of Thursday Island. He did well in the pearling Industry, for some years, but he was a big-hearted man, and spent his money freely. He was a great supporter of local institutions and charitable causes. When a piano was wanted for the School of Arts it was Mr. Summers who gave it. Nor did he buy a cheap one, but the best that could be got. It cost him 110 guineas, which was a very high price for those days.

Mr. Hayne remembers the vessel to which Mr. Outridge referred in his last week's list of shipwrecks as being sold for £5. He adds that she was an Australian ship, and that huge holes were found in her hull. The buyers got the ship, which was named Le Jubirod, and her cargo of 100 tons of coal, worth £3 a ton at Thursday Island, for the modest "fiver" mentioned.

---

[1] The official was John Douglas!

Using duty stamps instead of postage stamps in Queensland in 1876

Using duty stamps instead of postage stamps in Queensland in 1876

Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 10 October 1876, page 2

Mr. W. J. Cosgrove, in his capacity as chair-man of a meeting held at Thornborough, forwards us the following message with a request for its publication:

Thornborough, Sept. 8

A meeting has been held here to-day, at which five hundred miners and others were present to rebut certain statements that appeared in a paper called The Week reflecting on the character of Howard St. George, Esq.; also, to forward per mail complimentary address, thanking him for the impartial and able manner in which he conducted the business of this field as warden and Police Magistrate.

From a note accompanying the foregoing, it appears that it was transmitted to Cooktown Post Office with duty stamps largely exceeding the cost of postage, the senders not having postage stamps at command. Acting, probably, on the regulations of the department, the postmaster at Cooktown refused to receive the duty stamps, and returned the letter to Thornborough, which accounts for its long delay in reaching us. Mr. Cosgrove and his friends will, no doubt, appreciate the strict sense of departmental routine which prevented the postmaster at Cooktown from taking on himself the formidable task of exchanging their duty stamps for postage stamps and forwarding their message on to its intended destination, instead of returning it, because of a difficulty so easily to be got over. Wo have no idea who the gentleman may be, but we certainly think so much devotion to "red tape," and so little disposition to oblige the public, as this affair indicates, is most undesirable especially …  pioneer settlement ought to be dealt with in a common-sense way.

Sea mail routes from Queensland in 1876

Information on the mail routes from Queensland to the rest of the world in 1876

Rockhampton Bulletin, Monday 10 September 1877, page 2

The report of the Postmaster-General for 1876 has come to hand, and shows the operations of his department during the year. The information supplied is interesting and on the whole affords encouraging evidence of the continued progress of the colony.

The first part of the report is devoted to the ocean mail services. The contract of our Government with the E. and A. Company for the mails via Torres Straits has been carried out in a highly satisfactory manner; and although instructions were given by the Company to their captains not to anticipate the time of arrival at Brisbane by more than twenty-four hours, the average duration of the numerous voyages from Singapore was only six hours in excess of the previous year, while on the outward trip to Singapore, it was positively shorter by thirty-two hours. This at first sight seems paradoxical, but it is explained by an examination into the circumstances attending the operations of the service in 1875, as it was only during the latter half of that year the Company had a sufficient number of their new boats ready to maintain a ten-knot speed, and the average of the year was unduly increased by the protracted voyage of the steam-ship Brisbane, which ran upon the Angelica Reef, where she remained eighteen days. The average time occupied in the outward trip in 1875, was 19 days 19 hours ; and omitting the trip of the Brisbane, 18 days 7.5 hours; while the average time to. Singapore last year was only 17 days 11 hours The average time for the inward trip from Singapore to Brisbane, last year, was 18 days 23 hours.

The E. and A. Company having been naturally declined to maintain a ten knot service for a subsidy insufficient for a nine-knot service, the speed stipulated for in the contract, the Postmaster-General endeavoured to induce the Company to keep up the higher rate which their vessels had proved their capacity for, in consideration of a premium being paid for every twenty-four hours earlier arrival at Brisbane than required by the time-table arranged in terms of the contract. This would have greatly enhanced the value of the service by ensuring time for replies in Brisbane by course of post all the year round, whilst by the contract time this is only possible during six months of the year. But the premium offered was considered by the Company a paltry remuneration for the extra expense it would entail in maintaining their steamships, and they promptly declined to undertake the proposal at all in the form submitted. The matter was brought before Parliament dining the latter part of the session of 1876 by Mr. Palmer, who carried a resolution for a committee to consider the advisability of increasing the subsidy during the remainder of the contract term lo an annual sum not to exceed £40,000 in consideration of a ten-knot service being given and Brisbane being made the postal terminus of the contract; but the Government exhibited a decided hostility to any increase of subsidy, and the matter was allowed to drop. The speed maintained during the past year is, not-withstanding, greater than the contract rate, and the time occupied compares favourably with that of the two other services.

It is shown by tables accompanying the report that the average time occupied in the transit of mails from Brisbane to London via Brindisi was 53 days 9 hours, and via Southampton 61 days 13 hours. Taking the Brindisi route, the Torres Straits mails averaged from London to Brisbane, 50 days 6 hours, and from Brisbane to London 53 days 9 hours. The Queensland mails via San Francisco occupied, in transit from London to Brisbane, 53 days 22 hours, and from Brisbane to London 49 days 22 hours. The time occupied by the Melbourne-Suez-Brindisi route was, from London to Brisbane 51 days 7 hours, and from Brisbane to London 53 days 1 hour. It appears by a comparison with these figures, that the. Torres Strait service gave quicker communication inwards, from London to Brisbane, by hours than the Suez-Melbourne line, and by 3 days 16 hours than the San Francisco line; while the time outwards, from Brisbane lo London, was against the Torres Straits line, being 8 hours shorter via Melbourne-Suez, and three days 11 hours shorter via San Francisco. The unfavourable relative position of our own line on the outward trip is owing to the delays at Singapore, the efforts to make an arrangement with the P. and O. Company to dove-tail with their India and China lines at that port having been fruitless, and the negotiations with the Messageries Maritimes to carry our mails between Singapore and France having been allowed to lapse without result. However, all the Queensland ports of call, other than Brisbane, derive greater advantage by the Torres Straits service in proportion to their distance northwards.

The E. and A. Company's steamers have been permitted to call at Cooktown, for purposes of trade, conditional on the detention thus occasioned not interfering with the contract time for the whole trip; and advantage bas been taken of their calling at that port, to make arrangements for landing and shipping English and other mails, and the necessary action for carrying out this arrangement was taken in connection with the London and other offices. Cairns at Trinity Bay and Thornborough, on the Hodgkinson, have also been included in the sorting lists, and correspondence at these places is now sent via Cooktown.

The nett cost of the service is estimated at £15,921 for 1876, which is a few hundred pounds larger than for the previous year, but there was a large increase in the quantity of correspondence last year; and the total cost of ocean mail communication is some £1500 to £2000 less for 1876 than for the year immediately preceding the establishment of the Queensland service, when the quantity of correspondence was comparatively very small. The receipts last year by- "Less estimated proportion of postage due by the United Kingdom, less amount due by Straits Settlements, and less nett balance" in favour of Queensland on Intercolonial account, make up a sum £4508 which is a set-off against the £20,000 paid to the E. and A. Company as subsidy.

The facilities which the Torres Straits mail steamers have afforded to Chinese immigration undeniably constitute a drawback lo the value of the service, but it may be hoped that recent legislation will remove all danger of further injury from this source, and in that event the service must on every ground commend itself to the hearty support of this colony, and more particularly to those portions of it deriving advantage from calls of the mail steamers en route. From Rockhampton northwards the benefits derived from the Torres Straits mail boats are numerous and almost beyond calculation, while the service has really saved the colony a large sum annually of cost by ocean mails.

The proposed alterations of the Suez-Melbourne service to fortnightly mails, carried at a greatly increased rate of speed, may place the Torres Straits line in a less favourable position comparatively; but we believe it will never do away with the desirableness of maintaining the latter, although it may stimulate our Government lo increase the efficiency of the service by securing a speed of ten knots. Our space does not permit of this question been further discussed at present, but we shall probably have occasion shortly to recur to it.

Article on the establishment of the Kangaroo Point post office in 1899

Brisbane Telegraph Saturday 22 April 1899, page 2

Kangaroo Point. Post Office and Telephone Bureau

Representations were made some short time since by the residents of Kangaroo Point and East Brisbane, through the Ratepayers' Association, as to the desirability of establishing a post office in their immediate vicinity, and also as to the facilities afforded in other parts of the city and suburbs by the telephone system. The Postmaster-General (the Hon. W. H. Wilson) was favourably "impressed by the arguments adduced, and directed that steps should be taken to provide the conveniences required. Arrangements have accordingly been made with Mr. Male to open a post office and telephone bureau in premises adjoining his shop, near the junction of Main Street and River Terrace, and at an early date, probably by May 1, an office for the transaction of all usual postal business, including the issue and payment of money orders and postal notes, will be provided. There can be no doubt that the facilities thus placed at their disposal will be highly appreciated by the very considerable population interested, and although some little time must necessarily elapse before the telephone line can be provided, there will be no avoidable delay in completing this work and connecting the Kangaroo Point office with the central exchange.

John Douglas and his involvement in the Steel Rails affair in 1880

An article on John Douglas and his involvement in the Steel Rails affair in 1880. My PhD chapter on this is here

Capricornian (Rockhampton), Saturday 2 October 1880, page 3

THE HON. JOHN DOUGLAS

It is greatly to be feared that the Hon. John Douglas is steadily deteriorating in political morality. Time was when, however much his opinions were differed from, be was almost universally regarded as the incarnation of sincerity, and the very soul of honour. But that time has long since gone past. Ever since he consented to the degradation of continuing office, as the subordinate of the most profligate and brainless of our legislators, Mr. Douglas’s “moral superiority” has assumed a fossilized type to the destruction of whatever influence be would otherwise have continued to wield as the most accomplished and experienced of the Colony’s public men. MR Douglas has still at command a full collection of fine phrases, and under cover of these he of late almost daily advances the most disingenuous, not to say, indecent, insinuations. During the present session he has done his very best to blast the reputations and destroy the power of more than one Minister of the Crown, and his performance would be beyond praise but for the fact that the business in which he is engaged is in its very nature mean and despicable. Surely such a role is quite unworthy of a leading politician of gentle birth and scholarly culture such as Mr. Douglas may undoubtedly claim to be.

The latest discreditable exhibition of the honourable gentleman now under notice is seen in Hansard of Tuesday last. On that day, with a display of something akin to ‘malice afterthought’ this honourable gentleman moved the adjournment of the House to initiate discussions on a matter well-known to be still sub judice. But he did even worse than this. With a fatuous persistency which we hesitate whether to impute to unpardonable ignorance or gross indecency, he calmly set about the work of misconstruing the late judgement of the Supreme Court in the suit of Miles v McIlwraith and circulating through Hansard a series of false conclusions with respect to that judgment.  As by this time most of our readers well know, the judgment in questions was simply on a “demurrer:' in which the plaintiff took exception to the pleas lodged by the defendant. Mr Douglas insisted that not only had the Court pronounced the Premier to be a contractor with the Government, but that he had acknowledged the fact; and also that Chief Justice Lilley had laid down that as a contractor he could not sit in Parliament. Mr. Douglas then proceeded to urge parliament to take the matter into consideration as one gravely affecting its honour. At the same time, with what almost looks like unconscious humour, be admitted that as a partisan he was disqualified from discussing it dispassionately. He 'craved’ that some gentleman not connected with the Opposition — 'some member who cared more for the freedom and independence of Parliament than for the aggrandisement of any contractor or party' — would take the matter into consideration. What high-flown aimless twaddle all this surely is. How absurd that the oldest politician in the House should thus gratuitously all its members while pretending to invoke the free play of their deepest moral feelings. But he went farther. After expressing his wonderment at the situation, he affirmed that “the highest court of which we have any knowledge, seemed to assert that-the Premier is a contractor, and disqualified to sit in Parliament.  He then solemnly appealed to the Premier to 'purge himself' whatever' that may mean, regardless of consequences to himself or the country. Which means, that in the middle of a most important session the Ministry should be broken up, and the business of the colony indefinitely postponed, in order that the Hon. John Douglas may again display his incompetence on the Treasury Benches. Surely this unfortunate colony has already suffered too much by this gentleman's limpet-like adhesiveness to office to permit either Parliament or people contemplating his early return to office without a. shudder.

There might be some excuse for Mr. Douglas had be thought fit to proceed in the manner dictated by common sense and justifies by parliamentary precedent. His obvious course, if any action in the Assembly was justifiable — was to take a substantive resolution affirming the disqualification of the Premier, or referring the matter for investigation by the Committee of Elections. Had be taken that course be might with same show of reason have appealed to me impartiality of honourable members and entreated them to record a just judgement. Bat such a course was altogether too straightforward for the honourable John. What he wanted was to occupy the first page of Hansard with a disingenuous and garbled version of the judgement, with a view to excite public feeling against the Premier, destroy his reputation and undermine his influence. His capacity in this way had been already proved by partisan summary published by him in the Courier of Mr. Thomas Hamilton’s evidence before the Select Committee. That evidence, until neutralised by subsequent cross-examination, was a carefully concocted and damaging libel on the Premier, but Mr. Douglas did not find the cross-examination worthy of his facile pen. Under the pretence of securing publicity for a Parliamentary inquiry, he in an illicit and clandestine manner, published falsehoods which he desired to scatter broadcast through the colony. 

That attained, his anxiety for publicity ceased. He has never published a line of the evidence or any abstract from it, since it was laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly and was available for publication in a legitimate manner, and it is evident that he has no intention to do so. He has set himself to pose as a patriot of the purest water in the first page of Hansard, and on the assumption that if mud is skilfully thrown some of it must stick, he has descended to that mean occupation. We think, however, that both Parliament and the country are beginning to estimate this honourable member at his true value, and that his concoctions’ will not be swallowed by any but the most credulous without a free admixture of salt.

The conduct of the Opposition in this matter leads to the conclusion that they do not intend to proceed to trial. It is known that the venerable plaintiff already complains bitterly of the law costs imposed upon him in this fighting the battle of his party in the Supreme Court and that an attempt has been made to procure the sinews of war by initiating a public subscription. Possibly by that means the Premier may yet be farther harassed, but his position is certainly in no way endangered. He has more than enough political vitality to carry him safely through the consequences of this blow below the belt; and his pocket is perhaps as well able to furnish the law costs as is the subscription of his adversaries. But his position is nevertheless one demanding public sympathy. A Premier bent on initiating and carrying through a bold and dangerous policy has quite enough to contend against without those wretched and unjustifiable attacks upon his political integrity and personal honour. We, for our part, do not doubt that he will survive the trying ordeal, and will yet live to see his traducers put to shame and confusion.

Women at the Brisbane General Post Office - 1905

Brisbane Telegraph, Saturday 11 February 1905, page 2


To Sell Stamps. Ladies at Post Office. From Telephone Exchange to Stamp Office


It has been decided to make an experiment at the Brisbane General Post Office in regard to female officers. Some time ago it was ascertained by the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner that a number of the operators at the Brisbane Switchboards were well qualified for other and more important work. The first lot of young ladies engaged for the Telephone Exchange had to pass a very stiff examination. Four or five of them had passed the Sydney University senior and junior examinations, and at least one was a gold medallist. Those who ranked highest in the entrance examinations to the Queensland service at the Telephone Exchange were appointed as monitors, and it is two of these monitors who have been asked to present themselves at the stamp office on Monday morning, when they will be introduced into that branch of the service. Both these officers hold certificate for distinguished passes at the Sydney University junior and senior examinations, and therefore should be well qualified for the highest class of work. The young ladies in question are amongst the smartest and most intelligent of the department whore they have been engaged, and if they succeed it is not unlikely that other transfers will be made to positions regarded as suitable. The stamp sales department affords an opportunity of making the test, for not only is the work of a class where females might succeed, but the staff is short-handed, due to various causes. It is understood the experiment is to be tried for three months. It will not be the fault of the young ladies if it does not succeed. If it fails it will be in spite of them

Chinese and the selling of postage stamps in Queensland

An 1888 article on Chinese licensed to sell stamps in Queensland

Telegraph (Brisbane) Tuesday 17 April 1888, page 4

Stamp Licenses to Chinamen

A rumour has been in circulation to the effect that licenses for the sale of stamps have been, granted by the Postmaster- General to Chinese storekeepers in the north of Queensland. Inquiries have been made at the General Post Office, and it has been ascertained that during the past month such applications have been made and refused: therefore no licenses are being granted to Chinese for the sale of stamps, and that throughout North Queensland there is not one Chinese storekeeper who is authorised to sell postage stamps, and there is only one in the whole colony. The single exception is at Toowoomba, and the man has held the license for many years.

Queensland postal changes, January 1880

A newspaper article documenting the extensive changes to the Queensland postal system in January 1880.

Queenslander (Brisbane), Saturday 31 January 1880, page 151

Postal Changes

The "Queensland Postal Guide" for January contains the following memoranda of changes effected in the postal arrangements of the colony:—

Licensed Vendors of Stamps.—E. Dooley, Albert and Elizabeth streets, and Ellen Starkey, Caxton-street, Brisbane; A. Fiebig, Paddington; J. Clowes, One-mile, Gympie; and C. F. Tomlin, Emerald. An iron letter receiver has been substituted for the receiving office at Paddington.

The following offices have been abolished, namely:—Post offices, Dungeness and Fisher's Creek, and the receiving office, Nine-mile Camp, Stanthorpe Railway extension.

Offices have been established as follows, namely:—Post offices: Boulia (Burke River), Blythedale (Western Railway), North Branoh (near Back Plains, Clifton), Pikedale-road schoolhouse, near Warwick, and Listowel Downs, near Tambo. Receiving offices: Emu Creek, near Warwick; Glenormiston, Herbert River; Lucky Valley, near Warwick; North Maryland school house, near Warwick; Bedrock, near Copperfield; Taldora, near Cloncurry; Thirteenmile Camp (Stanthorpe Railway extension), and Upper Freestone Creek, near Warwick. The receiving office, Cherrytree Gully, has been made a post office. The receiving office, Beechal, has been removed to, and us now called, Fairlie. The post office on the Townsville and Charters Towers Railway line, formerly called "Gap," and the receiving office near Warwick, called Freestone Creek, are now called respectively Kikiambra and Lower Freestone Creek.

Services Abolished.—Nerang Creek and Bundall, Mount Esk and Deep Creek via Mount Brisbane, Swan Creek and Upper Swan Creek, Bundaberg and South Kolan, Copperfield and Aramac, Charleston and Georgetown, Thornborough and Northcote. Services Established.—Brisbane and Gympie via Noosa, by steamer to Noosa once, thence to Gympie by coach twice, a week; Fernvale Deep Creek and Mount Brisbane, once a week; Back Plains, Clifton, and North Branch, twice a week; Cherrytree Gully, North Maryland schoolhouse and Pikedale-road schoolhouse, twice a week; Dalby and Rosalie, via Irvingdale, once a week : Emerald and Aramac, via Sunny Hills, by coach, twice a week; Emerald and Blackall, via Companion Creek, by coach, twice a week; Companion Creek and Tambo, by coach, once a week; Aramac and Lismore, via Coomoola, Upper Maneroo, Maneroo, Evesham, Corona, Silsoe, and Vergemont, once a fortnight, by horse; Cloncurry and Normanton, via Fort Constantino, Conobie, Taldora, and Iffley, once a-month; Clermont and Sunny Hills, by coach, once a-week (to commence February).

Services Extended.—Caboolture and Manumbar to Caboolture, and Baramba, via Durundur, Geddes, Humberstone, Kilcoy, Moneildale, Jimna, Foxlowe, Yabber, Davonport's, and Manumbar, returning via Green's, Porter's, Monsildale, Louisa Vale, Kilcoy, Humberstone, Geddes, and Durundur; Emu Creek station and Crow's Neat to Nukinenda, returning via Eskdale Sta tion; Warwick and Freestone Creek to Warwick and Emu Creek, via Lower Swan Creek, Lower Freestone Creek, Upper Freestone Creek, and Upper Swan Creek, returning direct via Lower Swan Creek; Warwick and Killarney, via Farm Creek, to Warwick and Farm Creek, via Lucky Valley, Canning Downs and Killarney, returning from Farm Creek direct to Warwick; Warwick and Nine-mile Camp to Thirteen-mile Camp (Stanthorpe railway); Gympie and Neureum to Bonara; Rockhampton and Toorilla to Stannage; Hughenden and Bowen Downs to Aramac

Services Altered.—Brisbane and Gympie, mail by home instead of by coach; Bundaberg and Mount Perry to include Kolan; Rockhampton and St. Lawrence, from horse to coach mail; Mistake Creek and Avon Downs to Redrock and Avon Downs; Aramac and Muttaburra to leave out Bowen Downs; Mackay and Nebo to include Hazlewood station, Mount Spencer station, and Smith's; Townsville and Georgetown to include Carpentaria Downs and Charleston; Richmond Downs and Cloncurry to include Nelia Pond and Leilaville; Port Douglas and Thornborough to include Northcote and Beaconsfield; Cooktown and Byerstown by coach, and Byerstown, Gregory, Maytown, Palmer, and Lukinville, by horse, once a-week, to Cooktown and Maytown direct by coach once a-week, and once a-week by horse, Maytown to Gregory, Palmer, Blacksoil, Stony Creek, Byerstown, Gregory, and Maytown.

Services Decreased. —Richmond Downs and Normanton to Richmond Downs and Taldora; Gatton and Nanango, via Mount Esk to Mount Esk and Nanango; Gladstone and Cania to Gladstone and Milton Diggings (Norton); Tambo and Thorgomindah to Listowel Downs and Thorgomindah; Cardwell and Georgetown, via Junction Creek, to Cardwell and Junction Creek.

Communication Increased.—Richmond Downs and Cloncurry from once a-fortnight to once a-week; Gowrie Junction and Gomoran to twice a-week; Mackay. and Nebo to twice a-week; Hughenden and Bowen Downs, from once a fortnight to once a-week.

Communication Decreased. —Ipswich, Fernvale, and Mount Esk, from three times a week to Fernvale, and twice a week to Mount Esk, to twice a week to the former place, and once a week to the latter; Thornborough and Georgetown, from once a week to once a fortnight

Postage stamps and duty stamps will in future serve equally for the prepayment of postage. Insufficiently prepaid or wholly unpaid letters posted for transmission to the United Kingdom will henceforth be forwarded, but charged with the deficiency, and a fine of sixpence (6d.).

The money order system has been extended to Switzerland and Hong kong (including Macao and the British post offices in China).

Urgent telegrams for stations within the colony will in future be forwarded, if desired, taking precedence of ordinary messages, on payment of double the fee for an ordinary message.

Thursday Island Jubilee - 1927, pt . 2

A four part series on the Thursday Island Jubilee in 1927. This is part 2

Part 1 is here

Telegraph (Brisbane), Saturday 24 September 1927, p. 14

THURSDAY ISLAND'S JUBILEE

2.  Reminiscences of Pioneers

The Old Hands and early Wrecks

In this article is continued the stories of pioneers of Thursday Island who have much to say of interest concerning the early history of the Island, the jubilee of which was celebrated there on Saturday last, the day on which the first article of this series appeared in "The Telegraph."

In the article referred to, it will be remembered, Mr. P. P. Outridge, of Redland had commenced his reminiscences, which he now concludes. The narrative, however, is taken up by Mr. C. D. Savage, an ex-inspector of the Queensland Police Force, and will be continued by others. Mr. Outridge confesses that he has a soft spot in his heart for "The Telegraph." which, many years ago, took up the case of the island when a bill regulating the size of pearl-shell was in danger of being numbered among the "slaughtered Innocents" at the tail-end of a Parliamentary session, and by its advocacy succeeded In spurring on the Government of the day to pass the measure at once.

Mr. Outridges Story

Mr. Outridge further writes; "Besides being the centre of the pearling industry in Torres Straits, Thursday Island in the 80's also was interested in the beche-de-mer fishery as well as to a smaller degree in the collection of black-lip pearl-shell and tortoise-shell. Trochus shell was not fished in the early days; it is a comparatively recent development. Beche-de-mer was found, in prolific quantities on all the reefs from Cape York southward, but the most famous ground was the Warrior Reef, which extended for a considerable distance towards New Guinea.

Beche-de-mer’s Influence

Beche-de-mer was locally called fish, and these engaged in the industry fishermen, rather a misnomer. There were several varieties of fish the most valuable was teat fish; others were red, black, sandfish, and prickly red. The last named had been the most popular on the China market, but one largo shipment which was forwarded to Hong Kong and sold there had boon improperly cured. Results were disastrous to the Chinese epicures. Prickly red fish immediately fell into disfavour, and values dropped to a merely nominal price of £20 per ton, against £120 for other kinds. The beche-de-mcr was shipped at Thursday Island or Cooktown, and those engaged in the industry generally made a good living. Beche-de-mer is responsible for changing the character of the inhabitants of the northern coast of Australia. For Centuries Malay proas from the Dutch Indies have visited the coast as far east as the Gulf of Carpentaria, and as far west as King Sound on the north-west coast. Their object was to obtain beche-de-mer or, as it also is called, trepang. Several months of each year were spent on the- Australian coast, the proas came over with the north-west monsoon, and returned home towards the end of the southeast monsoon. The principal part in the Indies for fitting out these expeditions was Macassar, in Celebes Island.

The visits of Malays had a distinct effect on the aboriginal natives. Right along the Northern Territory coast the natives understand the Malay language, and have adopted some of the visitors' customs. I do not think the praows visited Torres Straits to fish, hut I remember seeing one Malay vessel at Thursday Island, which had been blown out of its course by the strong north-west winds which prevailed at the time.

Some Old Hands

Most of the beche-de-mer fishermen had stations on the various Islands in Torres Straits, where they cured the fish, generally proceeding once a month to Thursday Island to procure stores and sell the fish, or despatch it to Hong Kong. Those engaged in the Industry led a hard and somewhat adventurous life. I might mention some of the old hands, such as Edward Mosby, generally known as Yankee Ned of Yorke Island; Jack Walker, of Dalrymple Island; Tom Randolf, of Stephens Island; Douglas Pitt, of Halfway Island; Andrew Johnson, of Stephens Island; Paddy Wilson, of Warrior Island; John Williams, of Daru Island; Billy Wilson, of the Sisters (Daru); Charlie Mogg, of Yam Island; Captain W. Walton, of the brig Lady Denison; Captain Colin Thompson, of the schooner Coral Sea; Captain Soren Christensen, of the schooner Terrigal Packet. These fishermen were not the only ones engaged in the Industry, but they used Thursday Island as their home port. Many more sailed out of Cooktown principally to the Great Barrier Reef off that harbour.

Old Time Wrecks

Thursday Island, in the early years, was a port of refuge for the crews of many vessels wrecked on the Barrier or on the numerous reefs in the straits proper. Of course, there was no wireless In those days, and for a considerable time no telegraphic communication, until the overland line was stretched along Capo York Peninsula to Cooktown. Vessels getting ashore could not communicate nor could the master get into telegraphic communication with his owners. The master had to act on his own responsibilities. An instance of this type was the case of a large sailing ship laden with coal, which got ashore on the Sisters, she was abandoned, by the crew, who arrived safely at Thursday Island on another vessel. The ship and her cargo were eventually sold for the very small sum of £5, Steps were immediately taken to salvage the vessel, and the salvers being favoured With fine weather she was refloated and sailed Into harbour, having sustained little damage. The master was subjected to some criticism for abandoning his ship, but the sailing directions of the time were obsolete and therefore misleading. Mariners were warned against the natives, who were described as treacherous. They may have been in the very early days, but on many of the Islands white missionaries or native teachers were located and the natives were quite trustworthy. Most of them, in fact, were employed in the pearling or beche-de-mer- fishing Industries.

Many, many wrecks have occurred In Torres Straits, and their crews have found Thursday Island a port of refuge. One large wooden ship, named the John da Cor-, flying the American flag, became a total wreck on Torres Reef about 10 miles from Thursday Island: She was laden with horses, shipped St Melbourne for Calcutta. Shortly after the ship got on the reef, a syndicate at Thursday Island brought the vessel and cargo, successfully landing 117 of the horses, besides large quantities of fodder. The ship, however, soon -broke up, as she was in an exposed position.

A few miles away from the scene of the wreck another vessel got ashore. This was the brig Jemima, bound south from Thursday Island, in ballast. Missing stays, she drifted broadside on to Hammond Rock, and hung there till the tide turned. She then floated off, but had a big hole in her side. Making water fast, she was in danger of sinking. The captain decided to beach her, and ran her on to the sand at Hammond Island in a nice sheltered position, where she settled down, the water flowing in and out of her with the tides. The vessel was purchased at auction by Mr. James Clark, who very soon had her temporarily repaired, and sailed her to his shelling station at Friday Island, where permanent repairs were effected. Eventually she sailed south again in ballast for Brisbane, a cargo of limestone being picked lip at Marble Island. The Jemima afterwards was moored in the Brisbane River as the houseboat of one of the rowing clubs. Her bones lie at low water just below Victoria Bridge, on the North Brisbane side. Another vessel just about this time got ashore on a reef in Endeavour Straits. She was the wooden barque Joseph, loaded with kerosene shale, bound to the East. Sho was abandoned by the crew, who look to the boats and reached Thursday Island n safety. A party headed by Captain K. L. Brown, got out, and very soon had the vessel afloat, but when bringing her into the harbour she got on a reef just at the entrance and became a total wreck. This happened but a few miles away from Thursday Island.

Treasure Trove

Pearl shell and beche-de-mere were not the only exports from Thursday Island. Treasure trove at times was Included. Ono of the earliest wrecks was a foreign ship, evidently a Spanish vessel bound from South America, probably to the Philippine Islands. A beche-de-mer fisherman came across the wreck on the Barrier Reef near Murray Island, and found a large number of silver dollars, principally Spanish. The latest date was 1820.

Other Disasters

Another vessel got ashore on Orman Reef, about halfway between Thursday Island and New Guinea. Her cargo consisted of Ingots of copper. These were apparently thrown overboard as the vessel was driven over the reef. The natives of Marbiac Island, diving for pearlshell in the vicinity, found the ingots, which were taken to Thursday Island, and sold profitably. No one seemed to know anything about the vessel, and the natives, an intelligent class generally, could give no information. Evidently it was a ship passing through Torres Straits, in the early days of last century.

On March 5, 1899, a frightful hurricane swept the vicinity or Cape Melville, bringing disaster to 73 vessels and 302 men, Including seven Europeans. Amongst these were Harold Arthur Outridge, a son of mine, and Alfred St. John Outridge, a son of my brother (A. HI. Outridge), who was head teacher at New Farm State School some time ago. The other white men who perished in that disaster were Captain Robert Brown Murray, master of the Sagitta, Captain Edward Jefferson, master of the Silvery Wave, also Robert Cameron, and John Henry Nicholas.

Then, of course, there was the Quetta disaster. This vessel was wrecked In the vicinity of Thursday Island, on February 28, 1890. One hundred and thirty-eight of her passengers mid crew wore lost and 150 were saved. But the history of that tragic affair is well known. Numerous other wrecks occurred, but as the sailing ships passing through the straits lessoned because of the spread of steam, so the wrecks became fewer In number. Vessels even now get ashore occasionally, but Thursday Island, having a powerful wireless installation, can always receive SOS signals and arrange for assistance.

Mr Savages’s Recollections

Mr. Savage, now living in well-earned, peaceful retirement at his homo at Eliza Street, Clayfield, was one of a party of officials which was sent to Thursday Island along with the late Hon. John Douglas, who was appointed Government Resident of the Island In 1885. "There were very few whiles on the island then," said the ex-police veteran, talking with a representative of the Telegraph. There were two stores, Burns Philp and Bennett's, and a shop run by a Frenchman. Apart from officials (there were not many Europeans, but there was a considerable coloured population on and around the Island. I was a sergeant at the time of my appointment to the place, and was sent there to look after police matters, which up till then had been under the control of the water police, who also assisted the Customs. I afterwards was appointed sub-Inspector. I asked the department to send two men to assist me, and they sent two really fine fellows— Constables Conroy and Bain.

A Constable Murdered

Poor Conroy was killed by a coloured man after I left there when in the execution of hid duty. He had a great influence amongst the coloured people, and as I said, was a really good fellow. Bain left the force and started a store, but took seriously ill some time afterwards, and coming to Brisbane for treatment he died here. Speaking generally we had no trouble with the aliens. Gambling, however, was very prevalent amongst them, though, and took some watching.

Some Early Residents

Dr. A. E. Salter, a Sydney man, was the health officer when I was on the island, and a very good man too. In fact, we were very fortunate in the officials and others we found ourselves among at the old island. Mr. Douglas, of course, was a statesman and a very fine gentleman. Mr. F. G. Symes, the first Sub-collector of Customs, was in charge of that department there. Associated with him, amongst others, were Messrs. McMah and Cullen. The latter was a son of Mr. Cullen, the then Under Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. F. W. Raymentt, the first to hold the position was in charge of the little school. In charge of the garrison was Colonel Byron, who afterwards went to South Africa. He was a good disciplinarian, and although somewhat reserved a really fine man. The late Mr. George Cryle, afterwards well-known in Brisbane, was inspector of works for the fortifications. In addition to the officials, some of whoso names I cannot now recall, were some excellent business men, such as Mr. V. R. Bowden, the then manager of Burns Philp's store. Mr. H Bowden, his brother, who was a sort of general agent, Mr. P. J. Doyle, a commission agent, Mr. George Gummo, undertaker, now a big lumber merchant in Cairns, and Mr. and Mrs,. T. McNulty of the Grand Hotel, also Captain Allan Wilkie, senior pilot and harbour-master, Pilots Fawkes, Thompson, and Reid, who afterwards was in charge of the Government steamer 'Albatross.' Then, of course, we had the pearl-shellers. The outstanding man amongst these was Mr. James Clark, who has made good in other pursuits as well of late years, and. who is so well and favourably known in Brisbane.

The Quetta Wreck

"Yes, I was there when the Quetta was wrecked," said Mr. Savage, in answer to a question. "I did not go out in the rescuing boat, the Albatross, but I went out in her afterwards, and passed over the submerged pinnacle on which the vessel struck, Captain Reid succeeded in locating the wreck at the first cast of the lead, which showed some of the red paint from the vessel's bottom, but we cruised around for half-an-hour, casting the lead from time to time before we again got into touch with the hapless vessel. There was a great depth of water all-around that isolated pinnacle, which, as you know, was uncharted at the time the Quetta struck it.

Beauty of the Tropics

Although it is over 30 years since Mr. Savage left Thursday Island, he is not forgetful of the scenic charms of the Island and its surroundings. "I have been all over these islands," he said, as a parting word of the questioning Pressmen. "When Mr. Douglas was unable to go, I made an inspection of them on his behalf, and I saw their beauty. I wonder that they were not become the resort of tourists long before this. The people of Queensland apparently have not realised yet what wonderful attractions there are in the islands of Torres Straits."

(To be continued on Saturday next).