AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS.

Sir.—As a further reply to your correspondent's inquiry regarding the intelligence of the blacks of Australia, the testimony of. Kev* E. 11. Grjbble, who spent 40 years among them, may be adduced. Mr. Gribble was protector of aborigines for North Queensland and established several mission stations for the instruction and uplift of these people. He says:—"l left Yarrabah with a population of 500 natives, 200 of whom wero communicants. There were 100 married couples, 187 children in the schools, 15 village settlements, 5 churches, a hospital and a fleet of tlrree vessels. One of niv native boys has since been ordained a clergyman of the Church of England (Rev*. James Noble). Seven others held licences as lay readers." Of Rev. James Noble he says:—" At the "synod of North Queensland in 1907 he aroused great interest by his gentlemanly bearing and the fine,, simple speech he made. In the year 1908 he. accompanied me to Brisbane and at a public missionary meeting in one of the city halls made a splendid speech to a crowded audience." After life-long experience of the capacities of this primitive race, Mr. Gribble says:— "It has been proved conclusively that the aborigine of Australia is capable of reaching a fairly high stage of development, if given suitable environment and conditions of life." H. 11. Diuvek.