Coronial file for Georgie, South Sea Islander - Goodna Hospital for the Insane - 1898

The following is a transcript of the Inquest of Death, concerning Georgie, a South Sea Islander, at Woogaroo Asylum who died in 1898. It is based on the Microfilm copy held at the Queensland State Archives Item ID 2734577, all statements were handwritten.

The intent with this post is to make primary sources more readily available, hence there is little comment. However I will comment that this inquest is one of three related to death by tuberculosis in a short space of time.

390/98

"INQUESTS OF DEATH ACT OF 1866.”

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICULARS.-- INQUEST OF DEATH. 

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that on the twenty sixth day of September 1898, I held an Inquest of Death at Woogaroo Asylum in the Police District of Oxley and that the following particulars were then disclosed :-- 

Name of deceased : Georgie S.S.I.

Profession or calling : Labourer

Height, colour of hair, peculiar clothing, and any other means of identity: [Blank]

Where found and when : Woogaroo Asylum 25th September 1898

Date of death : 25th September 1898

Supposed cause of death : Tubercular disease of the bowel.

Persons last seen in company of deceased, and names of suspected persons: [Blank]

Accused : [Blank]

Names, residences, and calling of witnesses:

Dr Jas. K. Nicoll, Woogaroo 

F. Vieth, Attendant, Woogaroo

Suspicious circumstances: [Blank]

[Signed] W. Galdwyn M.

Coroner or Justice.

NOTE.- One Copy of this Certificate to be attached to the Inquest of Death Deposition and forwarded The Honourable the Attorney-General, and a Duplicate to be sent to the Commissioner of Police. See Section 3 of "Inquests of Death Act of 1866" (30 Vic. No. 3). A Copy must also be forwarded, together with the “Certificate of Information,” to the District Registrar of the District within which the Death took place. 

James Robert Nicoll on oath saith :-  I am a medical practitioner registered in Queensland and acting superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at Goodna. I knew deceased patient Georgie a Pacific Islander. He was admitted to the Hospital on July 20, 1896 in good bodily condition and suffering from Melancholia. He remained dull and despondent and showed no sign of improvement mentally. Last week he was seen to be ill although he did not complain, and he was sent to bed in the Hospital. He sank steadily and died about 5:45 am September 25. Next day day I made an examination of the body and found the cause of death to be Tubercular disease of the Bowel - the pleura and peritoneum being also tuberculosis.

[Signed] Jas R. Nicoll 

Frederick Vieth on oath saith :-  I am an attendant at this Asylum.  I knew the deceased patient Georgie since 17th September last, on that date when I came on night duty I found him in Hospital. When I came on duty on the evening of the 24th Inst. there did not seem to be anything unusual the matter with him, about 5.45 am 25th Inst. I heard some breathing very heavy and on going into the room I found it to be Georgie. He died at 5.50 am 25th September 1898, in my presence. He was visited the evening before his death by Dr Nicoll.

[Signed] F. Vieth

Taken and sworn before me at Goodna this 26 Sept AD 1898.

[Signed] W. Galdwyn Me 

Coronial file for Charlie, an aboriginal - Goodna Hospital for the Insane - 1900

The following is a transcript of the Inquest of Death, concerning Charlie, an aboriginal, at Woogaroo Asylum who died in 1900. It is based on the Microfilm copy held at the Queensland State Archives Item ID 2735482, all statements were handwritten.

The intent with this post is to make primary sources more readily available, hence there is little comment. However I will comment that this inquest is one of three related to death by tuberculosis in a short space of time.

258/00

"INQUESTS OF DEATH ACT OF 1866.”

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICULARS.-- INQUEST OF DEATH. 

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that on the twenty first day of June 1900, I held an Inquest of Death at Woogaroo Asylum in the Police District of Oxley and that the following particulars were then disclosed :-- 

Name of deceased : Charlie (Aboriginal)

Profession or calling : None

Height, colour of hair, peculiar clothing, and any other means of identity: [Blank]

Where found and when : Woogaroo Asylum 21st June 1900

Date of death : 21 June 1900

Supposed cause of death : Tuberculosis of the intestines, Dropsy

Persons last seen in company of deceased, and names of suspected persons: [Blank]

Accused : [Blank]

Names, residences, and calling of witnesses:

Dr K. E. Shaw, Woogaroo Asylum

G. Locke, attendant, Woogaroo

Suspicious circumstances: [Blank]

[Signed] W. Galdwyn M.

Coroner or Justice.

NOTE.- One Copy of this Certificate to be attached to the Inquest of Death Deposition and forwarded The Honourable the Attorney-General, and a Duplicate to be sent to the Commissioner of Police. See Section 3 of "Inquests of Death Act of 1866" (30 Vic. No. 3). A Copy must also be forwarded, together with the “Certificate of Information,” to the District Registrar of the District within which the Death took place. 

Robert English Kane on oath saith :-  I am Assistant Medical Superintendent to the hospital for Insane at Goodna. I knew the deceased Charlie (aboriginal) who was admitted into the Hospital for the Insane at Goodna on the 3rd May 1899 attended him during his illness up to the time of his death which took place on the morning of the 21st June 1900. I immediately viewed his dead body before removal from the Male Hospital Ward No VI. 

He Cause of Death which was ascertained by postmortem examination was Tuberculosis of the intestines followed by Dropsy

[Signed] R. E. Kane L. R. ??? 

Taken and sworn before me this 21st day of June 1900 at Goodna

[signed] W. Galdwyn Me 

George Lock on oath saith :-  I am an attendant at this Asylum. I knew the deceased patient Charlie since the second of the present month on which date he was received into the Hospital from No. 1 Ward and put to bed. He took his foods fairly well but did not seem to improve. When I came on duty this morning he appeared in a sinking condition. He died in my presence at 8.30 am 21 June 1900.

The body was viewed after death by Dr. Kane.

[Signed] G Locke

Taken and sworn before me this 21st day of June 1900 at Goodna

[Signed] W. Galdwyn Me 

The Minton Majolica Peacock at MAAS

In September 2019, I visited and photographed the Minton Majolica peacock on display at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.  My interest in this bird stemmed from the survival of an identical piece now labelled as the "Loch Ard Peacock". I have written previously about this artefact in my investigations into the wrecking of the Loch Ard in 1878.

The MAAS peacock dates to 1875 and is on display as part of the Icons: From the MAAS Collection exhibit (https://ma.as/206174).

Strangely the MAAS display indicates that one of these peacocks had been on display at the 1880-1881 Melbourne Exhibition.  That exhibition was the destination for the Loch Ard Peacock, and but I could not find any record of it making it there.

The main purpose of this post is to provide some photos of the Peacock 'conservatory ornament', a task that is not as easy at Flagstaff Hill as the Flagstaff artefact is behind glass.

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The Milton Peacock overlooking a 1928 Bugatti at MAAS.

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Tail view

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Tail detail

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Vine view

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Head detail

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Blackberry leaves

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Fungi

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Claw

Sergeant Dan, Creamoata and the Maheno.

In this post I will allow you to ponder the charm of a cartoon boy scout and a set of rhyming couplets being used to advertise breakfast cereal.

Readers who have read the "Letters from the Maheno" posts in this blog (use the 'Maheno' keyword in the label cloud if you are interested) will know that those who travelled on the Hospital Ship Maheno spoke very highly of her.  While the Maheno was a New Zealand ship her fame certainly travelled over the Tasman to Australia, as all of the letters I have published to date have been from the Australian Press. She was admired also by an advertising agency for the fast porridge, 'Creamoata', a product made at Gore in the South Island of New Zealand.  They used the Maheno's name and reputation to promote the product 

"Creamoata" suits everyone. Infants, growing children, grown-ups, invalids, and old folk. So easily digested and suited to convalescents, it was chosen by the authorities in charge of the Hospital Ship "Maheno" in preference to all other Oaten products, because, under analysis, "Creamoata " has been proved to contain 15% higher food value than ordinary Oatmeals or Porridge meals which bear no guarantee of purity." (see advertisement 4 below).

But being the collector that I am I could not stop at one advertisement, I needed to collect all six advertisements in the series. The advertisements trace the life of a fictional Sargeant Dan and all of them presented here are from the The Mercury (Hobart). The advertising has two cycles, starting first in 1916, and then a second run of the ads in sequence starting early in 1917.  After the final in the series, No. 6, which coincides with the end of WWI, advertising returns to something with a less clear narrative arc.  But in 1920 it is clear that 'Cremoata' wants to break into the Australian mainland market and Sergeant Dan returns, flying a plane over Sydney to drop treasure by parachute to would-be customers. These 'gifts' were silver spoons on a parachute, which segued nicely into the next part of the advertising cycle, which had a strong focus on spoons.

Later advertising for the product will see a tilt to the female market, especially the Girl Guides. But for now here are seven advertisements for 'Creamolata'.

No.1 Display Advertising (1916, August 5). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 5. 

In this picture, dears, behold, 

Sergeant Dan at nine months old.

Far from being his parents' joy,

A grizzling, grouchy little boy

Never chuckled, never goo-ed, 

Made a lip at bottle food.

Till his Ma in desperation

Said : " No more of hesitation.

He'll only have in future what'll

Make him thrive. No more of bottle.

For milk I care not one iota, 

I'll put the darling on "Creamoata."

No 2. Display Advertising (1916, September 2). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 9. 

From that moment Daniel grew,

In this picture he is two.

Good as gold, with face of tan, 

Such a sturdy little man.

Hard as nails and strong of muscle,

Always eager for a tussle.

This brave Daniel in the picture

Not unlike the one in Scripture.

A den of lions wouldn't scare, 

Or take our Daniel unaware.

When callers praised his health sublime

Said Dan : "Cweemoata evwy time."

No. 3 Display Advertising (1916, October 7). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 11. 

A schoolboy now is "Sargeant Dan,"

See him, "Every inch a man."

Pot-hooks, sums and A.B.C.

Just as easy as can be.

When it comes to health and vim,

None there are to equal him.

"What makes Dan big?" said teacher wise,

"What gives him healthy skin and eyes?"

" Come, let us put it to the vote." A

Chorus loud : ""Why, ma'am, Creamoata."

"What's the ticket," laughs our man,

"Bosker food," says Sergeant Dan.

No 4.Display Advertising (1916, November 4). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 11. 

When a Scout Corps was enrolled,

Dan was first to join we're told.

Khaki substituted flannel,

What a soldier now is Dan'l

One good action, Scouters know,

Everyday is " comme il faut" 

So when Dan an old man found 

Weak and faint upon the ground.

He hied away, intent to save,

And straightway him "Creamoata" gave.

"First-rate," quoth the poor old man,

"Real hot stuff," said Sergeant Dan.

No. 5 Display Advertising (1916, December 2). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 5. 

In his scouting Dan put zest, 

Always did his very best.

Here is pictured quite complete,

His most famous Scouting feat.

One day hungry was his Corps,

Lunch done, still they hungered more.

So Dan said, "I'll commandeer,

I'll get something, never fear."

When there's bread and jam and bloater,

There is sure to be " Creamoata."

And he found it, dauntless man,

"All is fair in War," said Dan.

No. 6 Display Advertising (1917, January 6). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 11. 

Dan was fine at semaphore, 

Quite the smartest in his Corps.

One day, practising for play

Saw a Warship in the Bay.

And the cook was signalling, 

Arms going like anything.

"There's a panic in the pantry,

Since we left the Bay of Bantry.

We are out of porridge meal, 

Tell us one to buy or steal,

"S.O.S.'' So Sergeant Dan 

Waved his answer to the man. 

Paid New Zealand food its quota,

Signalled out one word, "Creamoata."

The Aeroplane Advertisement -- Advertising (1920, February 19). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 5. , it also appeared in the same paper the following day.

The Hospital Ship Maheno and influenza quarantine - 1919

Empty beds on the hospital ship `Maheno'. Photograph taken by John Dickie during World War I. https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23179980

As I write this blog the world is in various states of quarantine for Covid-19.  Today's media audiences are wanting political leadership in the face of the disease and simultaneously expressing scepticism about the motives of that leadership.

In 1919 the world faced another pandemic, and the Hospital Ship Maheno was caught up in it.  Soldiers who had faced the rigours of WWI now faced the risk of a dangerous strain of influenza.

As I tidied the attached text on Trove, I was aware that I may have passed over this a few months ago, and yet in our own pandemic it seems strangely prescient.

The following appeared in the Albany Advertiser of Wednesday 15 January 1919

MUCH has to be accepted without question in the matter of quarantine. That is admitted. The medical advisers of the Government define what is necessary in the public interest, and the professional officers of the department see that the regulations imposed are carried out. It is not for individuals to reason why, but to submit to the restrictions placed on them with a ready acquiescence and manifest a desire to co-operate with the authorities in every possible way. This also is admitted. But when the necessity arises to make quarantine so general on the coast as it is at the present time, it is surely only due to the intelligence of the people that less mystery should be made, and more consistency should be dis-played by those in charge of the arrangements. Above all, it is essential to the peace of mind of the community that no cause should be given for suspicion of political juggling in the conduct of the business. Albany, as an important port on one of the main ocean trade routes of the world, is equipped with accommodation for quarantine purposes on an extended scale, and is consequently very much interested in what is going on, and the towns-people behind the port are entitled to just as much consideration in the circumstances as those behind Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. The fact that they are fewer in numbers does not warrant discrimination against them. That, is where the distrust of political influence comes in. And if there are misgivings locally on this score the authorities are entirely to blame for them. Experience with the unfortunate transport Boonah started this distrust. The Boonah returned to Fremantle with pneumonic influenza on board, and anchored in the open roadstead to land her patients and local contacts at Woodman's Point. She wanted coal to take her on to the Eastern States, but excitement rose to fever heat ashore as to the danger she was to the good people of Fremantle, and no effort was made to take her in the harbour for it. A period of indecision on the part of the authorities followed, and when finally the Returned Soldiers' Association took a hand in the interest of the men remaining on board, the steamer weighed anchor and ran for Albany. Here, without hesitation, she entered the harbour, and overtures were made for shore labor to supply her bunkers. It is obvious that but for the row in Perth and Fremantle the Boonah would have entered the harbour there and sought to coal. That she did not do so, and did here what public opinion prevented elsewhere established for all time the fact that the authorities are willing; to treat this port in a way they do not dare treat a port with a bigger vote behind it. The lumpers at Albany saved the situation by refusing to coal the Boonah unless fully secured against possible contingencies, and the boat coaled herself. The next doubtful visitor was the New Zealand hospital ship Maheno, which, although apparently a clean ship, arrived from the Dominion before the quarantine period had expired. Nevertheless, shore labor was asked to deliver the coal on board, while the trimming was done from within. As in the case of the Boonah, this was said to be a perfectly safe process, but the men declined to proceed because of the inconsistency manifested by the authorities in their changing attitude. Complications similar in character have arisen over the steamers War Armour and Malta, both of which are still in harbour in strict quarantine. Now, in the case of these vessels, there is no certainty that perfect isolation has been secured, and if that is so, why is discrimination of the kind shown? In the first place there are not enough medical men in the town to cope with the work and offer absolute security to the town. The authorities in this regard are displaying especial carelessness, for the least the community can expect is that the very few private medical practitioners in its midst shall be disassociated for the time being with quarantine work. It is all very well for a Government department to say that every precaution is being taken, when merely casual observation proves the contrary, and it is small wonder that public confidence is failing. This, of course, applies to vessels known to be infected. There is no danger in their case of shore labor being implicated. But there is another kind of ship to be considered, and that is the ship apparently clean, but open to suspicion because she is not sufficiently long out from an infected port to be absolutely safe. What is wanted, in such cases, is a better understanding with shore labor, so that the men's services may bc secured and the men's interests protected. The community, as well as the men, would be glad to see an intelligent agreement reached. Much time would be saved if a quarantine battalion of workers were formed, under reasonable guarantee, on a voluntary basis. Such a step has everything to re-commend it, and it is surprising the authorities have not seen fit to so organise the labor of the port. During the nest few weeks many ships within the time limit may be expected, and some such plan is essential to the safe conduct of the business of the port. In any case the people of Albany have no great reason to be satisfied with the measures taken for their protection.