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  5. Dictation test and arrangements for survivors of SS Clan Ranald shipwreck

Dictation test and arrangements for survivors of SS Clan Ranald shipwreck

Minute to the Inspector about accommodation, dictation tests and bonds, with annotation

A minute to the Boarding Inspector, Port Adelaide, about accommodation, dictation tests and bonds.

Minute to the Inspector about accommodation, dictation tests and bonds, with annotation

A minute to the Boarding Inspector, Port Adelaide, about accommodation, dictation tests and bonds.

Details

Learning resource record

Creator:

WP Stokes, Boarding Inspector, Port Adelaide and Australian Customs Service, State Administration, South Australia

Date:

1909

Citation:

D596, 1909/687

Keywords:

  • dictation test
  • migration
  • White Australia policy

Transcript

[Page 1.]

[Printed letterhead in brown ink:] COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE OFFICE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

MINUTE PAPER.

[Blank space labelled 'T. & C. No.'. Blank space labelled 'C. & E. No.']

[Blank space labelled 'Subject'.]

[End printed header section.]

The Inspector.

Acting under instructions and in company with Messrs. Lightfoot, Naughton, Baily [corrected in black ink to 'Bailey'], and Fairweather, I met the tug "Eagle" at the McLaren Wharf at 7.25 p.m. [The words 'last evening' have been added by hand.] On board were F. H. Rose (chief officer-, J. P. Wilson (3rd. officer), Thomas Fordyce (2nd. Engineer), William Shaw (carpenter), and 20 colored men, being survivors from the S. S. "Clan Ranald" which was lost off Troubridge Hill on the 31st. Jany., 1909.

On interviewing Mr. G. J. Abernethy, the agent for the owners of the "Clan Ranald", he obtained cabs which conveyed the colored crew to the Sailors' Home. After tea had been taken and arrangements made for sleeping, each of the colored crew were taken separately into an adjoining room where the dictation test was applied by myself, and each failure witnessed by Mr. Lightfoot. Hand prints were taken by Mr. Naughton.

2. Nineteen of the colored crew failed to pass the test although some of the men speak good English. The quartermaster (Lucano Orico) known as No. 18 on examination showed that he not only could read and speak English fluently but could also write the dictation test without any hesitation. Consequently the test must be put in another language than English and one with which he is unacquainted. I would suggest that Detective Segerlind be employed for this purpose.

3. Mention must be made of the assistance tendered in interpreting by Mahomed Assak, 2nd. tindal, whose knowledge of English

[Page 2.]

[Printed letterhead in brown ink:] COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE OFFICE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

MINUTE PAPER.

[Blank space labelled 'T. & C. No.'. Blank space labelled 'C. & E. No.']

[Blank space labelled 'Subject'.]

[End printed header section.]

English and of the individual members of the crew greatly lightened the work of prohibition and enabled the work to be completed more quickly than otherwise.

4. After the examination was completed Mr. Lightfoot discovered that the two (2) manilla quarter masters, Lucano Orico and Blass Rainos, were known by him in Broome, W.A., and this fact materially assisted in carrying out the provisions of the I. R. Act.

The colored crew are comfortably accommodated in a large room in the basement of the Sailors' Home and Mr. G. J. Abernethy states that the firm of Bagot Shakes and Lewis, agents for [inserted phrase: 'the owners of the'] "Clan Ranald", are quite prepared to enter into the bond required.

Nineteen (19) hand prints of rejected immigrants and one (1) specimen sheet of Lucano Orico's attempt at the test are attached. Lucano Orico will be subjected to a further test.

[Handwritten signature:] W.P. Stokes

Baording [sic] Inspector.

2/2/1909.

[Handwritten annotation in black ink:]

Through the Actg. B.I. [acting boarding inspector.]

Forwarded to the Inspector.

[Illegible name, possibly 'Mr. Bohlmann']

Actg B.I.

2/2/09.

[Handwritten annotation in black ink:]

The Collector

Forwarded

[Illegible handwritten signature.]

Act [illegible] 2/2/09

 

 

Related records

Record

Telegram from Customs regarding the survivors of Clan Ranald ship wreck to sail to Port Adelaide.

Survivors of Clan Ranald ship wreck to sail to Port Adelaide – telegram from Customs

Telegram from Customs, confirming the departure of survivors (of the Clan Ranald ship wreck) sailing to Port Adelaide.

Record

Acknowledgement letter regarding the departure of survivors of the Clan Ranald ship wreck.

Departure of survivors of Clan Ranald ship wreck – acknowledgement letter

Letter from the Secretary, Department of External Affairs to the Acting Collector of Customs about the departure of survivors from the Clan Ranald ship wreck.

Record

Handprint and dictation test answers of Simeon Magallanez, Quartermaster, SS Clan Ranald.

Handprint and dictation test answers from SS Clan Ranald – Simeon Magallanez

These are the handprint and dictation test answers from Simeon Magallanez, Quartermaster, SS Clan Ranald taken 1 February 1909.

Record

Record of a phone call and urgent telegram to the Collector of Customs, Adelaide.

SS Clan Ranald crew members and migration policy – telegram to Customs

A record of a phone call and urgent telegram to the Collector of Customs, Adelaide.

Record

An urgent telegram written to Customs.

Advice not to apply dictation test for SS Clan Ranald crew members

An urgent telegram written to Customs regarding dictation tests.

Record

Newspaper article – published correspondence of Senator Pulsford

Migration rules for shipwrecked survivors of SS Clan Ranald

Newspaper article publishing correspondence of Senator E Pulsford.

Record

Telegram to the Collector of Customs at Port Adelaide regarding a Vessel sunk off Troubridge Hill.

Clan Ranald sunk off Troubridge Hill – telegram to Collector of Customs, Port Adelaide

This is a telegram to the Collector of Customs at Port Adelaide regarding a Vessel sunk off Troubridge Hill.

Record

Wreck of Clan Ranald.

Fingerprints from the crew of the shipwrecked Clan Ranald not approved by Minister

This is a memorandum from 4 February 1909 for the Secretary, Department of External Affairs, Melbourne, regarding the wreck of Clan Ranald.

Record

Handprint and dictation test answers of Mahomed Assak, 2nd Tindal, SS Clan Ranald.

Handprint and dictation test answers from SS Clan Ranald – Mahomed Assak

This is the handprint and dictation test answers of Mahomed Assak, 2nd Tindal, SS Clan Ranald taken 1 February 1909.

Related themes

Theme

British migrant tradesman shakes hands with Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

Migration and multiculturalism

Migration has been central to Australia’s identity, prosperity and security. Explore Australia’s migration history since 1901, including the challenges and cultural contributions of our migrants.

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