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Post by NZBC on Aug 7, 2007 21:22:49 GMT 12
www.wildflowerwalks.co.nz/wildflowerwalks/chinese.htmlTHE CHINESE MINERS OF CENTRAL OTAGO by John Douglas Chinese gold miners who mainly came from villages near Canton, Kwantung province in southern China, were encouraged by the Otago government to settle here as a result of decline in the number of European miners when a large number of them left for the Westcoast goldfields in 1866. The first 200 of these Chinese were recruited from the Victorian goldfields of Australia and by 1868 there were some 1200 of them in Otago. Chinese miners often either re-worked the places where the Europeans had been before or the poorer fields. At nearly all the well known alluvial gravel goldfields, Chinese settlements were established - Lawrence, Teviot (Roxburgh), Naseby, Nevis Valley, Conroy's Gully, Arrowtown, Skippers, Cardrona Valley, on the Kawarau and the Clutha River - Cromwell / Clyde (Cromwell Gorge), Alexandra (Roxburgh Gorge) and Nokomai Valley, Southland. In the summer months, small numbers worked the winter snow areas of the Serpentine, Macetown, Potters No 2 and the Fraser Basin territory, moving back to their river claims in winter.
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Post by Olwyn on Aug 8, 2007 23:51:53 GMT 12
At least 134 Chinese departed dunedin for Sydney in 1879. Why Sydney? Otago Witness Saturday 15th March 1879 pg12 Arrivals - March 6th Wakatipu, s.s., 1158 tons, Wheeler, from Sydney via the Coast. Passengers: From Sydney - Ah Lung
Departure March 11 1879 Wakatipu, s.s., for Sydney via intermediate ports. Passengers - and 27 Chinese for Sydney
Otago Witness, Saturday 12th April 1879 pg17 The steamer Menmuir has arrived at Port Darwin from Hongkong, with 556 Chinese, including 26 for New Zealand. Another steamer of Chinese is expected there in a few days.
Otago Witness April 19th 1879 Sydney, April 15th Arrived: S.S. Zealandia. The steamer Bowen has arrived at Port Darwin with 80 Chinese, including 22 for New Zealand.
Otago Witness May 31st 1879 pg 13 Arrivals May 25th Tararua, s.s., 563 tons, Muir, from Sydney, via intermediate ports. Union Co., agents. Passengers from the West Coast - 24 Chinese from all ports.
Otago Witness July 5th 1879 July 1st Departure - Wakatipu for Sydney. For Sydney - 11 Chinese for Sydney. At least 134 Chinese departed Dunedin for Sydney in 1879. Why Sydney?
Otago Witness 19 July 1879 July 16th Departures Rotorua for Sydney via the East Coast. Passengers - For Sydney 9 Chinese.
Otago Witness 26 July 1879 pg13 Arrival July 23 - Maori from Timaru Passengers - Three Chinese
Otago Witness 9 August 1879 Departure Per ss Wakatipu for Sydney via intermediate ports on August 3rd Passengers for Sydney 2 Chinese
Otago Witness 16 August 1879 The ss Claud Hamilton will take 3878oz of gold, from Greymouth, shipped as follows: Bank of New Zealand 2576oz 19 dwt Union Bank 1230oz 5 dwt Chinese 70oz
Otago Witness 6 September 1879 Departure August 28th Wakatipu, ss for Sydney, via intermediate ports. Passengers for Sydney: 8 Chinese
Otago Witness 13 September 1879 September 10th Departure Rotorua ss for Sydney Passengers for Sydney: 9 Chinese
Otago Witness 27 September 1879 Departure September 22nd Wakatipu ss for Sydney Passengers for Sydney: 23 Chinese
Otago Witness 25 October 1879 Departure October 16th Per Wakatipu for Sydney Passengers for Sydney: 12 Chinese
Otago Witness 15 November 1879 Departure November 12th Per Wakatipu for Sydney Passengers for Sydney: 18 Chinese
Otago Witness 12 December 1879 Departure 11 December Per Wakatipu for Sydney Passengers for Sydney: 20 Chinese
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Post by Olwyn on Aug 9, 2007 0:51:29 GMT 12
Otago Witness Saturday 23 Sept. 1865 pg 12 Chinese Immigration Mr W.A. Tolmie said at the Chamber of Commence meeting "That it is desirable that the immigration of Chinese into this Province be encouraged." His experience with Chinese in Australia was that they made very valuable colonists; were a well-behaved class, and produced large quantities of gold, and were large consumers. Mr R.M. Robertson seconded the motion. The Chinese did not drink, for they were a sober race. They were also a very orderly population generally and did not swell the criminal trails in a greater proportion than Europeans; they were seldom connected with great crimes, their principal ones being those which were connected with canning and cheating, and were clever at making spurious gold. They also labored hard- were content with a small result, and were very frugal in their expenditure. Their organisation and manner of life, enabled them to find gold in sufficient quantities to pay them, where Europeans would not work for it. There was work for Chinese were Europeans would not work...
Timaru Herald Saturday Dec. 28. 1867 Wednesday, February 20, 1867. Chinamen - Yesterday about noon between twenty and thirty Celestials passed through Timaru en route for the Otago goldfields. They carried their swags in true Chinese fashion - on the end of long poles, and passed through the streets at that pace known as a "trot," so peculiar to the Chinese. They had come overland from Hokitika, and declared that the goldfields there were "no good."
Otago Witness November 1869 page 13 Bluff , Nov. 21st The s.s. Tararua, Captain Hagley, from Melbourne. Passenger Mr Wong Tip.
Otago Witness Saturday 2 March 1872 Arrivals Feb. 28 - Whirlwind, ship, 868 tons, Graham, from Hong Kong, 22nd December. Neill and Co., agents. Passengers: Mr Small; 2 Europeans and 350 Chinese.
October 26 1872 Alhambra, s.s., 497 tons, Pearce, from Melbourne. Passengers: 31 Chinese for Hokitika.
Otago Witness November 2 1872 Arrivals Wellington, s.s., 261, tons, Carey, from Onehunga, 18th inst., via Northern Ports. Passengers: Mr Ah Tong Mr Ah Foy
Otago Witness November 30 1872 We clip the following from the Tuapeka Times : Mr Ah Tong, Mr Brogden's Chinese emissary, accompanied by a few of his Celestial friends, departed from Lawrence by Cobb and Co.'s coach on Monday. Induced his fellow countrymen to work as navvies on the Clutha Railway. He obtained nearly the whole number of Celestials Mr Brogden wishes to employ on the Clutha Railway, viz., about 500. Mr Brogden wished to despatch Mr Ah Tong home to China as an emigrant agent, but he declined, as he believes that a large immigration of celestials would conduce neither to the benefit of the colony nor the immigrants. Mr Brogden, we believe, has secured the services of another agent, and purposes importing large numbers of Chinese - the first batch of which he purposes locating at Manawatu. pg 16. Also see pg 13.
Otago Witness January 18 1873 pg 7 Mr John Ah Tong writes.... Otago Witness November 30 1872 Departure Nov. 22 - Alhambra, 497 tons, Pearce for Melbourne, via Bluff. In steerage for Melbourne - 23 Chinese.
Otago Witness April 19 1873 Departed - April 13 - Nebraska - 69 Chinese for Hong Kong.
Otago Witness 22 March 1879 pg 13 Auckland, March 13th Arrived City of New York, Cobb, commander. Left San Francisco February 19th. The mail was delayed one day crossing the Atlantic. Passengers - 119 Chinese for a sugar plantation at Honolulu.
Evening Post 24 March 1877 Port Chalmers, 24 March The barque Gloucester has arrived from Hong Kong. She left on the 13 January, and brings 120 Chinese and one European passenger. Small-pox broke out ten days after leaving Hong Kong. Fifteen cases in all have occurred, with three deaths - two Chinese, and one Fijian sailor. The last case appeared on the 15th February. Four cases are now raging. The vessel was quarantined, a guard boat rowing round her.
Otago Witness July 25th 1879 Departure: Hawea, ss 462 tons, Kennedy, for Northern ports. For Wellington - Messrs Ah Wih
Otago Witness 16th August 1879 Departure August 7th Wanaka ss (McGillivray) for Auckland via the East Coast Passengers for Wellington Ah Yun Mr
August 13th Tararua ss (Tozer) for Sydney, via the East Coast Passengers for Wellington Ah Lun Mr
Otago Witness 30 August 1879 August 27. Arawata ss (Sinclair) for Melbourne, via the Bluff Passengers: Tin Kin Mr Ah Kan Mr Ah Chow Mr Ah Kin Mr
Otago Witness 20th September 1879 September 17th Tararua ss (Muir) for Melbourne Passengers: Wong Chock Mr Wong Long Mr Wong Lee Mr
Otago Witness 4th October 1879 September 30th Per Wellington ss (Anderson) for Northern ports Passengers for Westport Ah Kim Mr
Otago Witness 25th October 1879 Oct. 16 Per Wakatipu (Wheeler) for Sydney via intermediate ports. Passengers for Sydney: 12 Chinese
Oct. 16 Per Tararua (Muir) for Melbourne Passengers for Melbourne: Ah Nien Mr Kam Wy Mr
Otago Witness April 14 1883 Per Rotomahana for Napier- Ch__ Ah Chung Ah
Otago Witness September 29 1883. Pages 14 & 15. Thursday. Departures. Per Waihora for Auckland- Ah Chung Mr
Otago Witness 10 November 1883 Departures: Manapouri for Wellington - Ah Wing. For Gisborne - Ah Ching.
Waimea South Historical Society. From River to Range. HOCTON, Appo (Ah Poo Hocting) 1819-1920
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Post by Olwyn on Aug 9, 2007 1:26:08 GMT 12
Otago Witness 1 March 1879 pg12 Feb. 26th Tararua, s.s., 563 tons, Sinclair, for the North and Sydney. For Wellington - Mr Ah Tung For Sydney - Messrs Tone How, Chee Kum, Yon Toon.
Otago Witness November 22nd 1879 Per Rotorua (Tozer) for Auckland, via the East Coast Passengers for Sydney: Leong Cheong Mr Sum Lung Mr
Otago Witness Saturday 28th Dec. 1872 pg12 Arrival Dec. 23 - Phoebe, s.s., 416 tons, from Onehunga, 16th inst. Passenger: Chew Chong
Otago Witness Saturday July 28th 1883. Pages 14 Monday. Departures. Per Hawea for Akaroa- Lack Miss Leong Sing W_ng
Otago Witness August 4 1883 Page 15. Thursday. Departure. Per Te Anau for Melbourne- Chung Yoon Ling
Otago Witness September 8th 1883 Per Tarawera for Auckland- Toug Ching
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Post by NZBC on Aug 9, 2007 19:27:24 GMT 12
Can you tell if there are records available of the Chinese travelling back to China. I would like to know how my Uncle, 2 Grandmothers and an Aunty travelled back to China in 1933.
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Post by fgnfg on May 14, 2013 12:09:42 GMT 12
thankyou, this is vey informative and will help to assist me in my further studies of chinese mining and finding my ancestors. Peace
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