Published: 8 Jan 2018

There had been an uneasy air among the folk of McBride’s Point for some days. Lachlan felt it on the Wednesday while visiting the General Store for Groceries, also while visiting the hotel for William’s supply of beer and Sunday’s church service brought whispering from the back stalls.

At first Lachlan believed the level of tension could be the expected arrival of Federation Fathers, for their final visit before returning south to arrange the voting but they had visited before without such tension. Usually their presence in general had little effect of the town, other that a pro and anti division that died away as soon as they departed.

It was true a number of farmers were unhappy with the coming federation, which found the disbelievers congregating and whispering but this was something more. Lachlan could feel menace in their tones, as secret conversation paused when women folk passed but on returning to the farm he placed it all aside.

On the following Sunday reverend Marsden’s sermon also had an edge of accusation. Bringing forth passages referring to ‘abomination in the eyes of God’. Lachlan heard the words but took little notice. He was not a religious person, nor did he believe in God and if it had not been his position to drive his mother to church each Sunday he would never have attended at all.

Sitting quietly, head bowed, eyes almost closed and fighting sleep from boredom, Lachlan waited for the service to end, while Marsden fired brimstone over the heads of the congregation. He had tried waiting for his mother in the buggy but that only brought displeasure from womenfolk as they arrived to attend the service, so to please and avoid comment he sat in silence and tuned out the gospel. He did enjoy the singing, not so much the words but found the harmony of voices most uplifting but not knowing the words he would simple pretend to be singing.

At the service conclusion Reverend Marsden brought forth three men from the front row and introduced them to his congregation.

“Ladies and Gentlemen may I introduce his Worship Chief Justice Griffith of the Queensland Supreme court.” A relatively tall man with deep searching eyes and a well groomed beard stood and gently bowed to the congregation’s courteous applause. After straightening his stylish waste coat and watch chain, he without speaking a single word was once again seated.

“Mr. Griffith and his committee are here in relation to the Federation vote which will be soon held and there will be a general meeting on Friday evening here at the Church and before you depart, could the women of the Women’s Association see me to arrange refreshments for the evening.”

There was a soft murmur among the congregation but no one spoke out either in favour or against the forthcoming vote and as they departed none but McBride and his chosen council cronies remained to greet the committee, albeit out of protocol rather than interest.

At the church stairs Reverend Marsden called upon the parting congregation. “If anyone is interested in looking it over, the Steamer Lucinda is at the dock.” Then finished with his flock the reverend returned to chair his meeting with the Women’s Association.

The Paddle Steamer Lucinda was owned by the Queensland Colonial Government and during that decade had been used exclusively for the promotion of Federation. It had powered its way up and down the Queensland and New South Wales coasts on many an occasion but had never before travelled so far north, so its presence in port was a welcome distraction for the town.

During the first vote for an agreement to create a Union, Queensland did not participate. It was far too busy trying to divide itself into three individual colonies to consider such an act, and wasn’t invited to participate because of the blackbirding, a chapter that now even Jock McBride considered closed.

Opinion was at last swinging with more people in the north of Queensland in favour of the union than in the south. Possibly the modifier of opinion was to reap revenge on Brisbane for not allowing succession in the north, although the area from Cairns to Townsville, McBride’s Point included, appeared to be against federation while still wishing for their own colony but folk were intelligent enough to realise they were few in number. Also with Germany in control of the northern half of the New Guinea Island and the bulk of the British navy twelve thousand miles away, they were beginning to feel somewhat threatened.

The Lucinda was an elegant boat with its duel paddles, black hull white superstructure and varnished woodwork. She wasn’t a large craft but had style and comfort and that night convened a party for men of importance. Jock McBride had placed himself at the top of that importance list, while the lesser folk, children and women satisfied their curiosity from the jetty. The champagne flowed until the early hours, as did expensive food. All paid for by the Federation Committee as a bribe to obtain the district’s vote.

Friday evening’s meeting at the church was to a packed house, with many outside the doors, while others surrounded the building using the open windows for advantage. Jock McBride and his town council joined the men of the Federation Committee at the head of the gathering behind a row of bench tables covered with Union Flags and red white and blue bunting, while at pride of place was a copy of a painting of a young Queen Victoria, wearing more jewels than a Christmas Tree in decoration.

Samuel Griffith was seated with his support at his side. He stood bringing silence to the hall before receiving a round of applause even before he spoke and when he did so; his Welsh intonation was pleasant and soothing, almost melodious.

“Firstly I must introduce my Colleagues, Mr. Charles Kingston and Mr. Bernard Wise. Another round of applause gave Griffith the confidence he had this assembly in his federated pocket, then with a captured audience he commenced to speak at length of the advantage of a union and what it would mean for Queensland.

“Also Federation will abolish the accursed duty that exists between Colonies.” Griffith declared with pride, giving a self-assured nodding of the head to his audience.

“Point of order Sir.” Came from the rear of the room.

Griffith offered the speaker the floor.

“We here in the North are too far away from a colonial boarder to be bothered by such duty,” given to a rise of ‘hear, hear’, from the gathered farmers.

“What we want is freedom from Queensland for the north, vote on that.” Another demanded from across the room, followed by heavy consolidation from most within the hall.

“How about the vote for women.” Mrs. Travis the seamstress demanded as the more militant woman folk turned the meeting into chaos.

“Settle please and give the good gentlemen respect.” McBride demanded, his voice booming across the shrieks of women.

“At present only South Australian women have the right to vote, all other colonies must abide by their colonial law but I must tell you, with federation it will be constituted that suffrage will be granted to women in future Commonwealth elections.”

Griffith appeared most pleased with his answer, which also took the sting out of the fairer sex in the hall. Even if the truth of the matter was, at that point in time women’s suffrage had only advanced to the debating stage.

“What about the Chinks, if we let the little yellow buggers in; we will be overrun in no time!” Desmond Parker anxiously called.

Again Chief Justice Griffith had an answer, which he gave forcefully and confidently.

“Under the new Constitution there will be a White Australia Policy, disallowing anyone coloured to enter.” He paused then turning towards McBride and back to the now silent crowd before him, “This also means that all the Kanakas will have to be repatriated back to the islands; Gentlemen no more blackbirding!” He was adamant on the matter, which brought uproar to the gathering. He continued. “Gentlemen you will have to pay for your labour like the other colonies.”

“What about the blacks?” Came above the crescendo.

“Gentlemen please!” McBride demanded once more, wrapping his knuckles on the table top. The room again became silent.

“The Aborigines will remain the policy of the new states and will not be counted in the referendum or allowed to vote.” Griffith answered in a matter of fact tone, which was greatly accepted across the crowd, “This regulation has been deemed because in some areas of the new federation, if the blacks were given a vote they would be more numerous than we Australians.”

So the peoples of the new federation were to be called Australians, while the original inhabitants were to be considered stateless while living on crown land and government hand outs.

With the meeting at an end and Griffith departed back to the Lucinda, McBride remained behind to conclude with his own council meeting but this time without the town’s folk in attendance. Most of the points of order given by Griffith were acceptable to McBride and his cronies but not the ending of enforced labour or the return of the Kanakas to their homelands, not only would this involve higher labour costs but they would have to pay for their repatriation.

Unfortunately for McBride his group could not advance further suggestion, realising by the mood of most, they would have to live with the outcome if the federation vote was positive and unlike McBride many were warming to the idea of one nation, one people one law.

As for McBride’s cheap labour, seeing he hadn’t success in obtaining Kanakas, he wasn’t loosing anything and without a ship to gather his unpaid workers, he may as well agree to the ‘no slave trade’ clause in the Constitution. Still even without his own Kanakas, with the status quo he could acquire labour for farmers who no longer wished to use them but if all islanders had to be returned to their homeland that would become his future point for disagreement.

“So your black friends won’t be considered Australians.” Daniel declared as he and Lachlan mixed fertiliser in a large metal drum. The dust from the concoction made them cough and their eyes water. “What’s in this stuff it stinks like shit?” Daniel complained loudly.

“That’s basically what it is.”

“William said it was Marl.” Daniel suggested.

“Marl and things we don’t want to know about.”

“So your mates won’t get a vote.”

“I guess it appears that way brother.”

“Why do you think they were left out?” Daniel asked, shovelling another scoop of undefined substance into the mixture.

“Have you read the proposed Constitution?” Lachlan asked. Daniel admitted he had not and guessed Lachlan hadn’t read it either.

“Well I haven’t actually see it but many have spoken of its contents and it states that members of the new Government will be elected by the number of white male voters in each colony and if the natives were included, it was suggested the states with the most natives would therefore have more sitting members over the colonies with more whites, giving them what is believed to be an unfair advantage,” he paused. “An example Queensland and Western Australia have a large number of natives, while Victoria and Tasmania have more Europeans.” Lachlan stirred at the mixture turning his head away from its foul smell, coughed and moved away.

“So?”

“If the natives were given a vote, more than likely they would vote for other natives and who do you know would work for an Aborigine?” Lachlan asked.

“You would for a start.” Daniel assumed.

“Maybe I wouldn’t go that far, they would need to be educated in running a business of government first.” Lachlan answered.

“Where will this new government meet?” Daniel asked.

Lachlan laughed and disrespectfully shook his head. “They can’t make up their minds.”

“McBride’s Point,” Daniel made light.

“Sydney wants it there as they were settled first; Melbourne wants it because it was their idea, so they are still arguing about it all.”

“Who do you think will win?”

“I believe Griffith has agreed it will have to be in the colony of New South Wales and Victoria is arguing it must be at least one hundred miles from Sydney while having its own slice of territory.”

“For all I care they can hold it in a shit house.” Daniel crudely suggested while pouring too much of something stinking into their mixture, causing more coughing and watering of eyes. They both backed away.

“When I was in town last week, I felt there was something going on.” Lachlan said after their bout of coughing abated.

“Like what?”

“I don’t rightly know but it was more a feeling than anything.”

“Dunno but dad and a few others had a meeting over at the O’Brien’s place the other day.”

“What was that about?”

“Haven’t a clue, I did ask Rodney O’Brien but he said his dad sent him into town as the meeting commenced – it may be about Marsden’s idea of separating the half-cast kids eh?” Daniel suggested.

“Na, don’t think so, I felt something more sinister is developing.” Lachlan concluded as they hoisted the drum of fertilizer onto the cart. “I’ll say one thing; the longer I live around this district them more I don’t like it.” Lachlan breathed a sigh of disappointment.

“I like it.” Daniel disagreed.

“You would but not everyone spends all their free time prying into other’s people’s business.”

“You do seem to like hearing about it all.” Daniel sharply remarked.

“I supposed it passes the day, come on best we get this muck over to William or he’ll be down here bellowing at us.” The cart moved forward with a jolt.

“What is it you don’t like about McBride’s point?” Daniel seriously asked.

“It’s name for starters, more to the fact what is it you mostly like about it?” Lachlan turned the question onto his brother.

“Like about it? Well for starters there is a captured population.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Firstly, if you live in the big towns or cities, people are coming and going all the time. As quickly as you get to know someone, appreciate their company, they have moved on. I like it here because it is always the same. You grown up with folks and I guess die with them, there is comfort in that and it gives a feeling of belonging.”

“That is strange coming from you Daniel; by the way you often speak I got the impression you didn’t like people.”

“That is where you are wrong, it is obvious you don’t really know me at all and perhaps you never will.”

Possibly for the first time Daniel had shown a serious side to his character and possibly Lachlan was somewhat harsh in his opinion, while behind that façade of frivolity and crudely concocted banter there was some strength of character. Still it would take more than one serious confession to change Lachlan’s estimation.

“Where have you two been?” William shouted as the brothers arrived.

“Mixing your crap where do you think?” Daniel sharply answered.

“Come on it shouldn’t take all morning, it’ll be dark before we finish and father want’s me up at the house.”

“What does the old man want?” Daniel asked as he and Lachlan, with help from Cameron commenced to manoeuvre the large drum from the cart.

“No leave it there. How in hell do you expect to transport it along the rows, on your flaming backs?” William demanded.

“Sorry boss what does he want us for?” Daniel repeated sarcastically as they edged the drum back onto the cart.

“Not you me, you lot have to finish the fertilizing.”

“That’s right shit work for the crap workers.” Daniel advanced somewhat acerbically.

It was a school day and a time for examinations and all pupils were in attendance at the small McBride’s Point School house. Firstly there was to be an hour’s paper on English, followed by equal time on Mathematics but their teacher Ralph Williams was missing.

Past ten o’clock and still no sight of their teacher, Mickey Davis, the oldest boy decided to go down to the school residence to establish if Williams was ill. Firstly he hoisted the flag to its mast head and pondered if he should have the younger boys resite their oath of allegiance, to the queen, country and parents but choose instead to first visit the cottage.

Davis nervously tapped on the partially opened door without receiving response. “Mr. Williams,” he called, poking his head into the gap but refraining from entering further. “Mr. Williams, it is Mickey Davis, are you there?” Still no answer, “Mr. Williams,” he called a final time while pausing at the door, believing it wise to find an adult. The lad stepped back from the door and spied a cart approaching from some distance along the west road.

Lachlan was at moment passing on his way to collect the farm supplies and on seeing Davis hurrying along the road towards him, brought the cart to stop while waiting for him to catch up.

“What’s the rush young Michael?” Lachlan enquired as the boy approached.

“Mr. Williams hasn’t turned up for school,” Davis answered through heavy breath, “and it is examination day.”

“Have you tried the house?”

Davis caught his breath, “yes sir but no one appears to be there, the door was open a little but I didn’t go inside.”

Lachlan smiled at being addressed as sir. It was only three short years since he himself was one of Williams’ pupils.

“You go back to the school and look after the young ones’ – I’ll have a look around.”

The front door to the school residence was slightly ajar as suggested by Davis but there didn’t appear to be any movement within. Lachlan called and rapped heavily on the door’s flimsy panelling. Not receiving any answer he entered. Once inside Lachlan noted that the main room was in a state of disarray. Furniture was upturned and belongings strewn around depicting a struggle had taken place; as was the kitchen, with broken crockery and pans across the floor and towards the back the rear door was wide but still no sign of Williams.

Satisfied the teacher wasn’t in the cottage Lachlan searched the yard without trace of Williams there either. Then as he was about to leave something caught his eye at the edge of the forest. A few steps in there grew a large strangler fig tree that had long since taken control of its host. Its lower branches were quite high and discovered dangling from these branches was the listless body of Ralph Williams dressed only in his night shirt, his tongue blue and swollen through his almost purple lips while the dead gaze from his bulging eyes was cast downwards as if in some unspoken shame.

At first Lachlan thought of cutting the poor man down to give him at least a small measure of respect in his demise but as quickly decided it proper for some authority to do so, as with any death the police would need to be notified and there would be an inquest, even with suicide. If he were to tamper with the body, possible evidence could be lost, or worse he would be reprimanded for doing so.

As there wasn’t any police establishment in the town it was left to Mal Taylor, the undertaker to arrange the removal of the body and to advise authorities. The Tully police quickly sent their answer in as short telegraph message, if Taylor was satisfied it was obviously suicide than he as their representative in McBride’s Point could handle the matter but would need to carefully document what he found as at some stage there would need to be an inquest.

Some weeks later the district police superintendent conducted a hearing into the death of Williams and many of the local citizens were called to relate their opinion of the man, all of whom supported the verdict of death by suicide, giving depression brought on by excessive alcohol as the most probable catalyst, while nothing was spoken of the man’s alleged molestation of his pupils.

All except Lachlan appeared convinced, true Williams had been a most abrasive man who argued freely with most and was known to drink excessively in private, often ending in bouts of depression but to Lachlan the inquest had been a travesty, appearing to arrive at the conclusion everyone wished for.

During the taking of evidence nothing was offered about the O’Brien lad’s accusation, nor was Lachlan, being the one who discovered the body, called to give his version of the incident, while believing he had relative information. As for Daniel, he assured the verdict was sound, based on his dislike for the man.

Some time after the inquest, the matter of Williams was once again discussed between the brothers, brought about by the appointment of a new teacher to the school and Daniel’s continuing disdain towards the deceased man.

“You never liked Williams anyway.” Lachlan declared.

“Na he was a nasty mean old bugger.”

“I didn’t have any bother with him.” Lachlan assured.

“You were teachers pet.”

Lachlan ignored his brother’s quip. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out while shaking his head. “You do realise it wasn’t suicide?” His words delivered low and to the point. He had not spoken about the teacher’s demise to anyone since the inquest and now felt he must speak, even if it were to only to his brother.

“What gives you that idea?” Daniel asked.

“How does one suicide with their hands tied behind their back?”

“How do you know that?”

“Don’t forget I found the body.”

“Have you told anyone?”

“No and I won’t as I believe our father had something to do with it.”

“Why would he?”

“That I don’t know but he attended a meeting at the O’Brien house only a matter of days after you told me about the accusation against Williams.”

“That doesn’t prove anything.”

“True but there was also something going on in town that week; I could feel it when I went in for supplies and now I think of it, that Sunday’s church service had Marsden on about abomination in the eyes of god.”

“He’s always going on about such things, again why would you believe father was involved?” Daniel appeared disbelieving.

“I can’t put it to words, it’s mostly a feeling. Father was at the meeting at the O’Brien house and he also disliked the man.”

“Father dislikes almost everyone.”

“True but he often had words against Ralph Williams.”

“I think you should keep that to yourself.” Daniel warned.

“True I will and I think you should also.”

“I’ve forgotten it already. I thought you were going to go and visit the rat?” Daniel asked.

“Soon, firstly I have to look in on my horses and I will need to find father in the right frame of mind to ask for time to do so.”

“That will be difficult, he still rabbits on about you letting the boongs go amuck in the store house.”

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