Letter book page 129

129

No 80
Melbourne 28 Oct 37

Sir
I have the honor to report for the
information of His Excellency the Governor
that I have agreably to his wish commenced
the formation of a Native police Corps, and
as the success of any measure of this description
depends very much upon its beginning I
have taken advantage of what has for some
short time past been effected by a young
man named De Villiers, who has been living
with some of the blacks in the woods and
appears not only to have gained their affection
but a command over them, he is also evidently
desirous of improving their condition, I have
therefore without waiting for His Excellencys
sanction given him charge of the place I have
in view, and beg to recommend he may he
allowed a salary ample enough to cause him
to remain serviceable to it.

In order that nothing should stop or cramp
[crossed out: this attempt] commencement of this attempt -

Letter book page 130

130

I have procured what I think necessary to
carry it on. It is requisite Mr De Villiers
should have some European to assist him
I have therefore engaged a person who I
think will answer at £40 a year with
rations, a man fit for the work cannot
be procured here under that sum, his
name is Edward Freestun and I recommend
his being appointed a Constable that there
may be authority with the Corps to apprehend
persons if necessary when in any distant
part of the district

Those men who have been with Mr
Devilliers have formed the Corps and some
others have been added to it making
15 in number, it was explained to them
what we would do for them and what was
expected from them before they were allowed
to join, and upon their assenting to attend to every
thing that should be told them and
to give up their native habits they were
enrolled and had each a blankett duck
frock and trowsers, shirt and scotch cap
given to them and a daily ration similar
to that authorized for blacks at the mission
station as a further proof of their willingness
to agree to our desire they on the first
evening of being embodied, broke unso
licited, their spears, and other native
weapons and threw them into the
river saying they would no longer be
black fellows. As soon as I possibly
can after the approaching land sale, I
will go with them and fix upon the site
of their head quarters. I will then send
out two prisoners to assist and instruct
them to erect comfortable huts and
forming a village I have procured for
them what they will require for cooking