"DISPERSING" THE BLACKS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 15 September 1884, Page 2

"DISPERSING" THE BLACKS.

A correspondent of the Melbourne Weekly Times writes:—Tales of the native police and their doings in Northern Queensland aro by most people supposed to refor to bygone days, but the details of a little incident which A happened less than three months ago % in the far north huve just reached me, and go to show that " dispersals" aro not yet things of the past, A far out eattle station north of the M'lvor had been harried several v times by the natives, and the police, under a subinspector, had administered a couple of severe lessons.. The blacks, however, made another raid, and information was sent to tho officer iu charge of the district, who immediately instructed his subordinate to go out with his tioopers and "disperse" the troublesome blacks. A start was made and late on the third night after leaving his quarters, the sub-inspector came across the tracks of his quarry. He followed them up for a couple of days, and at dusk on the second day he and his men arrived at the edge of a large swamp in which was a marshy island, On this island they could see a large fire blazing, with dusky forms passing to and fro in the fire light, while the lowing of bullocks indicated the nature of the game that was being played, Guided by the fire, the pursuing party rode through the swamp and quietly surrounded the camp, which, according to one of tho fi troopers, contained 40 or 50 blacks. ' Snugly ensconced in tho jungle, thoy waited.until morning, whilst their nostrils were assailed with the grateful odor of roasting meat on which the marauders were gorging themselves, When day broke the signal was given, and a volley was poured into the unsuspecting natives who at first tried to retaliate, but found, themselves hemmed in on every side, and when they tried to escape into the. scrub were shot down. At last they surrendered, aud then came the brutal part of the affair, Tho dead bodies of those shot were thrown into the fire and the excited troopers then seized their captives and bundled tli9m in alsoj men women and children, until not a solitary one of the tribe was left to tell the horrid tale. The story. ... is told on the authority of a respectable resident in this neighborhood, who states that he got his information from one of the troopers immediately after ; the return of the party. :.' &