The Petition of Daniel Hart

Daniel Hart's petition, reproduced here in full, in the exact form in which it was written, was sent to the Governor in 1884. ' Hart hoped to obtain some form of reward in either cash or land, for the personal effort he felt he had put into opening up the Mossman- area to European settlement. He appears to have been the first permanent occupant of land on the ^, and his selection now forms part of the Town of Mossman. His petition did not evince any response from the Colonial Government. It reached the Colonial Secretary, Samuel Griffith ^ who minuted on 20 February 1885 : I am unable to recommend that any action be taken upon this petition. Although it was unsuccessful in its original intent. Hart's petition provides an interesting insight into an aspect of the European penetration of North .

To His Excellency Sir Anthony Musgrave K.C.M.G. The Governor in Council Of the Colony of Queensland

I, Your Petitioner, Daniel Hart, being a British Subject, a native of The West Indies, and a selector on the Mossman River in the Colony of Queensland, Humbly place before Your Excellency in Council the following facts, the fullest details of which can at any time be submitted to Your Excellency, together — if necessary — with numerous signatures from and Cooktown as well as this large district.

1. About June 1874 Your Petitioner organized a party of eight 7. After a careful search, they were unable to find anything (8) men at Cooktown with himself as leader, for the purpose which they thought payable either on the , of exploring for Sugar Lands, Cedar and Minerals. or on that which discharges itself into Weary Bay

2. They first thoroughly explored the Right and Left Branches 8. They discovered further North a Creek near a prominent of the , finding magnificent sugar land and Headland; from there they ascended the Range and found a plenty of cedar. little scrub and plenty of good forest land, all of which has since been selected. 3. They then crossed to the and found excellent land and cedar in abundance for 20 or 30 miles up the Right 9. On returning to Cooktown, Your Petitioner made a full report Branch, and good land and a quantity of kauri pine — of to Warden Somerset which they took samples for exhibition — up the Left Branch 10. Your Petitioner then organised a party of cedar-getters to go to 4. They passed the sites of the two towns now known respec­ the Mossman, and himself returned to the Daintree with tively as Cairns and Port Douglas, finding nothing to en­ another party. courage them 11. Both these expeditions were broken up in consequence of 5. They then reached, ascended and thoroughly prospected the all hands except Your Petitioner, taking the fever, two of Mossman River, discovering abundance of cedar and excellent them dying in Cooktown hospital sugar land 12. Two other parties were organized by Mr. O'Grady and 6. They next discovered the mouth of the , which Captain Phillips respectively, upon Your Petitioners rep­ they explored thoroughly with the most satisfactory results resentation. Two men of O'Gradys party were speared and both as to land and cedar. conveyed to hospital by Your Petitioner

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Page Twenty-two Queensland Heritage 13. After recovering from a severe attack of fever your petitioner organized another party and with difficulty obtained a cargo of cedar on the Mossman which was shipped to Sydney Cooktown'' through the Bank of New South Wales in the Brig "Ariel" — Captain Brady — The venture was not sufficiently profitable and the party broke up

14. Your Petitioner organized another party and took charge of six (6) Kanakas to get cedar on the Mossman. Owing to the Miles Km failure of your petitioners new partners, this his fourth ex­ pedition since the original explorations, fell through, yielding no returns. I i 15. Your Petitioner remained on the river alone and began clearing scrub and planting and sowing such seeds and roots • I as he had by him; living by his gun, and carrying his life in d'Jcury Bay -]20 his hand. I

16. Various other parties of cedar getters began to arrive, and 20;^ shortly afterwards both rivers were monopolised by Melbourne cedar speculators, and the whole of the country explored, -'40 opened up, and persistently advertised by your petioner and those whom he had persuaded to join him, besides large areas of adjacent lands to which attention was thus drawn is now selected, thus fully endorsing his repeatedly expressed opinion as to their value for sugar growing ^60 17. After repeated fruitless applications to Cooktown and the 40 newly formed township of Cairns, Your Petitioners applica­ tion for a Homestead Selection on the ground he had chosen, was granted by Mr. E. Morey the land commissioner of the still younger district of Port Douglas, and he became the . .^%man River iViossmari^vy^ 80 Pioneer Selector, as he had been the Pioneer Cedar-getter and . -"^ K>^/^Island Point Discoverer on these Rivers Port DouglasV;\d,o\'ioray' River 18. This land is now freehold. About January 1877 Your Petitioner became, and still is, a member of the Acclimatisa­ 60 tion Society. He has, through Mr. Bernays and others received '100 many plants and seeds which have enabled him to prove the suitability of this soil and climate for the profitable production of the various varieties of sugar cane, coffee, cinnamon, nut­ megs, tobacco, ginger, oranges, mangos, jeremiah, coca nuts <:•:'.•:• Double Island and many other plants and fruits

19. Your Petitioner has in his turn distributed many plants and seeds — most of which have proved successful — amongst his neighbours.

20. Your Petitioner would Humbly draw Your Excellencys at­ CAIRMS tention to the circumstance that during the last ten years in <:: -'-.Fitzroy which your Petitioner so materially conducted to the Island utilisation of these resources, many millions of feet of cedar have been sent to Victoria and elsewhere, paying Export Duty, and attracting large sums of money to the Colony

21. Further, that substantial recognition of somewhat similar services, no greater in degree, has been granted to others by the

I, Your Petitioner therefore, in consideration of the foregoing, and of my advancing years, and limited means most Humbly Pray Your Excellency with the advice of your Honorable Council, that you will graciously pay attention to my case, and grant me such recognition either pecuniary or landed, as you may see fit. And Your Petioner as in duty bound, will ever pray Daniel Hart Port Douglas December 13, 1884.

Queensland Heritage Page Twenty-three History of the Explorations organized and led by Daniel Hart at present Selector on the Mossman River

About June 1874 Daniel Hart, a native of the West Indies, After breakfast next morning they went ashore on the mainland, organized a party consisting of seven other men, viz W. Wilson, and prospected the neighbourhood for five or six hours, but found Borrell, W. Sutherland, Cornish, Bob , and Jim , with no encouragement so returning to Double Island, camped there himself as leader, with the intention of Exploring for Sugar Lands, for the night Cedar and Minerals. Early next morning they proceeded in a northerly direction, and, They started from Cooktown and commenced operations at the passing the mouth of the Mowbray river, reached Island Point Johnston River, where they saw a number of "initialed" trees, where the town of Port Douglas now stands, and pulled up the which they supposed to be the initials of Dalrymple, "^ Hill ^ and Inlet at about 6.0 p.m. About the point where the powder Inspector Johnston ' magazine is now situated they noticed smoke Prior to starting for the Johnston River, Hart saw in the news­ Shortly afterwards they sighted about eight native canoes. papers, an account of Mr. Hill having discovered a large cedar tree at the Johnston, (out of which he had taken a chip for Ex­ The aboriginals were busily engaged cooking fish, and numbered hibition ), ^ on the right branch from the Coast about fifty, including gins and children Hart and his party went up this Branch, as far as they could get Directly they sighted the explorers the natives ran into the with an open boat. mangroves, and the party took possession of their camp, and confiscated a large quantity of shell and other fish which they found They discovered a lot of cedar up this Branch, and magnificent there, half cooked, and on which they supped. sugar land. Then went in search of the Cedar tree reported by Hill, and They then camped there, and went Northwards early next morning; found it proceeding along the coast they reached the mouth of the Mossman river, on the shore of which they noticed chips, apparently made by After prospecting the Right, they went up the Left Branch and an axe, and concluded that there had been wbite men about there explored as far as they could, having left the boat under the at some time protection of some of their party, at a deserted native camp on the left bank. After pulling up the river for about two miles, abreast of what is Camped at the extreme point for a few days. now known as Watsons selection * they camped, and next morning after breakfast discovered straggling cedar on the banks. Returned, and camped on Fitzroy Island for 2 days. On the left bank discovered good sugar land and cedar. They then pulled up as far as the fine selection now held by Mr. R. O. Jones,' where they found a lot of cedar. From this point Crossed to the Mulgrave up to the Messrs Bernetts present selection ^° cedar was very Went up the right branch of that river for about 20 or 30 miles, abundant. leaving the boat about half way, under guard as usual The party camped at the latter point, and returning next morning Found good land all the way, and plenty of cedar to the mouth of the river, coasted northwards, and discovered the Returned to the mouth of the river, and started up the left hand mouth of the Daintree. branch D. Hart was not aware until his return to Cooktown, that these Discovered a lot of Kauri pine close to the beach, and took rivers had previously been named by Captain Moresby, ^' the specimens to exhibit in Cooktown Government Explorer, who however had not explored beyond the Followed this branch for six miles, when the boat was staved in, mouth. but it having been provided that a carpenter should form one of On entering the Daintree the party saw numbers of aboriginals the party, the cargo was landed, they camped for the night, and the on the left bank, and they proceeded up the Right branch and boat was repaired camped The following morning at seven o'clock they were attacked by The natives appeared to be peaceable, and motioned to the about 150 Aboriginals. explorers to come over to them; they declined, and commenced The party was fortunately well armed, and were on the left bank, to get their supper, when, at about 5 p.m. five natives pulled over the natives being on the right bank of the river which at this to them in their canoe. As they appeared to be peaceably disposed, point was about twenty yards wide they were invited to join the party at supper. The spears came in showers, but luckily all from one direction so After supper Hart and his companions examined the canoe, and that the explorers were able to watch and avoid them. finding that it was built of cedar enquired by signs if there was more cedar up the river . . . The natives gave them to understand After about three quarters of an hours fighting the natives dis­ that there was. persed. Hart and his companions then breakfasted and went two miles Next morning, the prospectors pulled up the river to the point now further up the river. They then camped for two days, explored that occupied by the house of Mr. John Stewart '^ near the junction of part of the Country, and started back to Fitzroy Island. the right and left branch. They here left the boat under guard, and explored both branches, discovering excellent sugar land and After remaining on this Island for one night they proceeded along abundance of cedar. They then returned to the mouth of the the coast to the point now known as Cairns river, and again followed the coast northwards, "rhey reached Bloomfield River at night, and camped They entered the bay, and examined it, but seeing that it was all low mangrove country turned back and went to Double Island, The next morning they followed the river up as far as the Falls.— where they camped for the night and in doing so saw limbs and trunks of cedar floating down, so

Page Twenty-four Queensland Heritage proceeded past the various falls, after again leaving their boat in Hart remained on the Mossman alone with plenty of firearms and charge of some of their party, as the natives were very numerous. ammunition, some maize, cabbage seed and a few yam seeds They found nothing payable, and returned to camp that evening. obtained from some Kanakas when in ; these he sowed he also was fortunate enough to find some sweet potatoes which The following morning after returning to the coast, they shortly he planted, and thus managed to exist. reached Weary Bay, and ascending the river which empties itself therein, as far as they could with the boat, they again left it Hart was astonished and pleased one morning to hear a boat in charge, went inland, and after finding but one large cedar tree coming up the river. Captain McGhie and another gentleman — a during the day, returned to the boat and camped. cedar speculator — and two hired men. Hart thought this was on a Friday but was told that it was Wednesday. Next morning they regained the coast, and proceeding further north, came to a small creek and headland. Here they left their boat Captain McGhie kindly sent back to his vessel for beef and under a strong guard, as the natives were worse and more numerous salt, and left Hart very comfortable than they had yet found them, and ascended the Range, where they About a week afterwards a party of cedar getters were sent to discovered plenty of forest land and a little scrub. the Mossman by Mr. Freshney, with Mr. Blair in charge; they All these lands have since been taken up. camped where Mr. R. O. Jones' house now stands, and amongst their party were Page and two men whom Hart had known in Hart and party returned to the boat and camped, starting next Maryborough. morning after breakfast they reached Cooktown about seven o'clock that evening They came to Harts camp and hailed him (as they knew he was there), their camp being a mile from Harts, however, they sent On arrival in Cooktown, Hart and his party interviewed Mr. back to their camp for a supply of beef for him. Warden Somerset, and made a full report to him. Immediately after this the Daintree and Mossman Rivers were Dan. Hart then organised a second party in addition to the first, monopolised by Melbourne Capitalists and the whole of the bought a larger boat and taking charge of the new boat proceeded country explored by Hart, and his party and which he so per­ to the Daintree with a crew who were engaged for one month to sistently advertised and opened up to the public is now selected, fall cedar, whilst the other boat with a fresh hand, as Harts besides large areas of adjoining lands to which attention was substitute proceeded to the Mossman thus drawn, thus fully endorsing his expressed opinion, as to their Before the end of the month every man in Daintree was sick with value for sugar growing, based as that opinion was upon a life­ fever. Hart managed to get them back to Cooktown and into the long knowledge of the subject, obtained in the West-Indies hospital, before they were too bad to travel. All this party Having, by this time got a nice little clearing in what he con­ recovered. sidered the best part of the river, finding that his cedar work was All the Mossman party, consisting of eight men, were sick, and completed, that the district was getting populated, and that he all went to hospital could then get communication with the rest of the world. Hart Two out of their number to wit Burrell and Peter Farris (the decided to make application to take up some land. latter being Harts substitute) died in the Cooktown hospital. His first application was made in Cooktown, and refused, as he The Mossman party now broke up could not define the District in which the land was situated. Hart then engaged a fresh crew for the Daintree Some time afterwards one Ned Lee arrived with cedar getters and provisions for Freshneys party, and informed Hart that Cairns was About this time, from information received from Hart and party. proclaimed a Township — Hart told Lee that he had accumulated Captain Phillips organized a timber party, and O'Grady with eight bags of maize, and Lee offered to take them to Cairns for another party also went to the Daintree. Two of O'Gradys party four of the bags. Hart then accompanied him to Cairns, and sold were speared, and Hart took them to Cooktown in his yacht. the corn to the first man he met, viz Police Inspector Clohesy for He himself then returned and took the fever, becoming delirius. £1 per bag. O'Gradys party took him from the Daintree to Cooktown hospital. He returned to the Mossman in a cutter of Freshneys which Hart then gave up the Daintree interest to Cleve and Henriquez happened to be in Cairns at the time. who were his former partners for the Daintree, on account of his On his return he again, at the first opportunity made his sickness application for land, this time to the Land Commissioner at Cairns. On his recovery. Hart organized another party to wit. Page, George Hart received a reply to the effect that there would shortly be a Pritchell, "German Harry", "Old Alick" and two Mauritius natives; Land Commissioner at Port Douglas and that he would receive the they bought a boat and three months provisions amongst them application. With very great difficulty they obtained a cargo of cedar at the Port Douglas was, about this time, proclaimed a township. Mossman; they returned to Cooktown, and, through the Bank of Hart subsequently applied to E. Morey Esqre Police Magistrate New South Wales engaged the brig "Ariel" Captain Brady, to take and Land Commissioner, and obtained his Homestead selection '^ the cargo to Sydney. Port Douglas then became a good market for his produce, and From that cargo they realised £11 each, after paying all expenses. continued so until the influx of chinese competition when the The cargo was "sold to deliver" in Sydney. The party not being market was ruined for him, as cabbages were popping and bursting satisfied with the result of their labor and enterprise, broke up, day and night, and other splendid produce spoiling because there and the boat and tools were sold. was no sale for them. Hart next organized another party in company with Grey and Tait About this time or say January 1877 Hart became a member who were to provide fresh outfit whilst Hart was to receive one of the Acclimatisation Society, and has continued so ever since. third the net profits for managing the venture. He has received many plants and seeds through Mr. Bernays ^* and is still obtaining them when required, with the object of testing Hart started for the Mossman River in charge of six newly arrived and proving the suitability of the soil and climate to the profitable Kanakas, unused to work. Sometime afterwards a boat was sent to production of such crops as the various varieties of Sugar cane, Cooktown for provisions, but failed to return through bad weather. coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, mango, jeremiah, '^ tobacco, cocoa nuts A special boat was subsequently sent from Cooktown to bring the and many other plants and fruits. " party back, as. Harts partners having become unfortunate in busi­ He has distributed many plants and seeds amongst his neighbours, ness, this special partnership had to fall through and the trip be­ most of which have proved successful, and is still distributing to came an entire failure. all those who ask him.

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Queensland Heritage Page Twenty-seven ENDNOTES

1. Daniel Hart to the Governor of Queensland, 13 December 11. Hart confused Moresby with Dalrymple, who named the 1885. [Queensland State Archives, COL/A411, in-letter 161 Mossman and Daintree Rivers on 6/7 December 1873. Dal­ of 1885.] rymple explored the Mossman for a distance of about seven miles and the Daintree for about eight miles. There appears 2. Selection file. Land Agent Port Douglas, number 35. to be no record of the naming of the Mowbray River. Moresby [Q.S.A. LAN/AG610]. (1830-1922) in H.M.S. Basilisk examined and named Mourilyan Harbour in March 1872, after his Navigating Officer. He also named the Moresby River, flowing into 3. Samuel Walker Griffith (1845-1920), Attorney General Mourilyan Harbour and the Gladys River. Daintree re-named 1874-76, Attorney General and Secretary for Public In­ Moresby's Gladys the Johnstone in honour of Sub-Inspector struction 1876-78, Secretary for Public Works 1878-79, Johnstone in 1873. Although Hart records forming his ex­ Colonial Secretary 1883-86, Chief Secretary 1886-88, Chief ploration party in June 1874, by his own account he could Secretary and Attorney General 1890-93, Chief Justice of not have left Cooktown before early October 1874. He Queensland 1893-1903, Chief Justice, High Court of Aus­ refers to reading 'in the newspapers' of Hill's discovery of a tralia 1903-19, K.C.M.G. 1886, G.C.M.G. 1895. particularly large cedar tree on the Johnstone River, an event which, Dalrymple records as occurring on 6 October 4. George Augustus Elphinstone Frederick Dalrymple (1826- 1874. Hart's party could have been at the Mossman and Dain­ 76), explorer, public servant and politician, leader of an tree about the same time as the Dalrymple expedition, as official expedition Cardwell to the , 1873. Dalrymple did not complete this section of his exploration until Refer J. Farnfield, Frontiersman (Melbourne, 1968), and late November/early December 1874. Refer G. E. Dalrymple, Australian Dictionary of Biography, v. 4, pp. 9-10. 'Narrative and Reports of the Queensland North Coast Ex­ pedition, 1873', Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, II, 1874, pp. 617-68, and John Moresby, Two 5. Walter Hill (1820-1904) Colonial Botanist 1855-81. Hill Admirals (London, 1909) pp. 277-8. accompanied Dalrymple and Johnstone on the 1873 expedi­ tion. Refer Farnfield, as for endnote 4. 12. Portion 57, Parish of Alexandra, County of Solander.

6. Robert Arthur Johnstone (1843-1905) explorer and police 13. Hart made formal application on 5 March 1878. The title officer, Sub-Inspector of Native Police, Cardwell 1871-79. deed for the freehold of his selection was passed on 10 October Accompanied Dalrymple on the 1873 expedition and carried 1883. The selection (Portion 35, Parish of Victory, County out extensive exploration work whilst on patrol and police of Solander) now forms part of the Town of Mossman. duties. Refer Farnfield, as for endnote 4, and Australian Dic­ tionary of Biography, v. 4, pp. 486-7. 14. Lewis Adolphus Bernays (1831-1908), public servant. Clerk of the Legislative Assembly 1860-1908, founder and sometime president of the Queensland Acclimatization Society. Refer G. E. Dalrymple, 'Narrative and Reports of the Queensland Australian Dictionary of Biography, v. 3, p. 149. North-East Coast Expedition, 1873', Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, 1873, II, p. 625. 15. Jeremiah is probably a corruption of Cherimoyer or Cheri- moya, which is, in turn, a corruption of ANNONA Cherimola, or Cherimolia, the Peruvian custard apple. This plant is listed 8. Portion 261, Parish of Whyanbeel, County of Solander, on the as being grown in the Acclimitization Gardens in Brisbane north bank of the Mossman River. around the period Hart was on the Mossman. Refer F. M. Bailey, Catalogue of plants in the two metropolitan gardens, Portion 54, Parish of Whyanbeel, County of Solander on the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Bowen Park (Queensland north bank of the Mossman River. Acclimitization Society) (Brisbane, 1885). 16. See the evidence of Daniel Hart, 'Report of the Royal Com­ 10. Bernett's selection could not be found on contemporary maps, mission appointed to enquire into the general condition of the or the Register of Selections, Port Douglas (Cairns Land Sugar Industry in Queensland . . .', Votes and Proceedings of Agent). [LAN/P9 in Queensland State Archives]. the Legislative Assembly, 1889, IV, pp. 93, 102-7.

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