36 



On the Condition and Prospects of the Aborigines of 

 Australia. By W. Westgarth, Esq. 



(Continued from vol. liii. p. 241.) 



9. Past and Present Methods, and Proposed Plans for the 

 Welfare of the Aborigines. 



All plans that have been hitherto adopted for the civilisation of 

 the Australian Aborigines appear to have proved almost uniformly 

 unavailing for the accomplishment of any permanent good. Amidst 

 the difficulties which beset the subject, and the discordant opinions 

 as to the methods that are best adapted to their condition and cir- 

 cumstances, it is not to be supposed that the eye of the Government 

 possessed the faculty of discerning the proper path more clearly than 

 others. Various apparently feasible plans have been tried, and are 

 still being followed out by the authorities ; and expense has not been 

 spared, where there appeared any prospect of benefit. 



Missions, — The following table, taken from the appendix to the 

 Committee's Report, contains an abstract of Mr Auditor-General 

 Lithgow's Return for the Colony of New South Wales, of the ex- 

 penses of Missions to the Aborigines, from the 1st January 1821 

 to 30th June 1845. The period of duration of each Mission is 

 taken from Mr Dredge's pamphlet : 



Aboriginal Native Institution, 1821 to 1833, 

 Inquiry under Lt. R. Sadlier, 1826 and 1827, 

 Mission at Lake Macquarie, 1827 to 1841, 

 Mission at Wellington Valley, 1832 to 1843, 

 German Mission at Moreton Bay, 1838 to 



1842, 1,516 14 2 



Wesleyan Mission at Port Philip, 1836 to 



1848, 4,538 8 9 



£3,364 



9 



io* 



388 



4 



4 



2,145 



5 



10 



5,964 



10 



2 



Total expense of Missions, . £17,917 13 If 



Protectorate at Port Philip, established 1838, 32,756 15 6| 



Cost of Blankets, &c, not included elsewhere, 9,74 6 14 7 \ 



Total Expense of the Aborigines, £60,421 3 4* 



* 30th June to 30th December, . . £1,170 1 9 



Making a total (exclusive of Police) of . £61,591 5 1 



One-half of the expense of Border Police, 

 (usually considered to be on account of 

 the Aborigines) 1839 to 30th June 1845, 44,954 5 6 



Total, £105,375 8 10 



