In 1868 a Christian missionary, the Reverend William Young, presented a report on the condition of the Chinese population to the Victorian Parliament.
The Reverend William Young (1811-1888) had been an agent of the London Missionary Society. He was of Scots/Malay background and had spent 27 years in China. From the mid 1850s he ran a Chinese Mission in Castlemaine but visited other gold fields. From 1858 he was a pastor of a Chinese church in Ballarat.
Reverend Young had surveyed Chinese interpreters on the goldfields including Howqua of Avoca. Other localities included in the survey were:
- Ballarat: Chinese interpreter Abboo Mason, also Smythesdale
- Ararat: Chinese interpreter Lee Young
- Maryborough: Chinese interpreter W. Ah-Kew
- Castlemaine: Chinese interpreter James Ah Coy
- Daylesford and Hepburn District: Chinese interpreter Low Among
- Beechworth: Chinese interpreter William Tsze-Hing
- Sandhurst (Bendigo): Chinese interpreter Wat Ah-Che
An analysis of the responses can be found on the website Chinese Ancestors Victorian Gold Fields 1860s. It is noted that there were other gold fields that were not recorded in the survey including Stawell, Nine Mile Creek, Maldon, Yackandandah and Geelong.
Report on the condition of the Chinese population in Victoria by the Rev. W. Young. Presented to both Houses of Parliament.
Melbourne, 5th March, 1868
SIR,
In compliance with the desire expressed in your communication to me, under date 17th September, 1867. I have the honor to submit to you a full Report on the condition of the Chinese population in Victoria
The Report divides itself into four Parts.
The 1st Part contains statistics of Chinese population, and particulars of their employments &c., and were furnished by the Chinese Interpreters, in reply to a long series of questions put to them by me. Much interesting information is contained in these statistics, and some valuable suggestions.
The 2nd Part contains a professional report on the condition and wants of the Chinese lepers on Ballarat, by Doctor Clendenning, which is a valuable document.
The 3rd Part contains a translation of a code of rules of a Chinese association, which I considered might be deemed of importance by you, inasmuch as it throws light on some of the social habits of the Chinese. The mode in which the code deals with offenders may possibly suggest to those who are charged with the making of laws for the government of these people a more effectual method of dealing with the numerous Chinese petty larcenies and robberies perpetrated in all directions, and which the mode of punishment hitherto adopted for suppressing has been found to be insufficient.
The 4th Part contains my Report on the condition of the Chinese in the colony, together with suggestions as to how that condition may be improved, and those vicious practices and crimes suppressed which are so notoriously prevalent among the Chinese.
I beg to be allowed to observe, in conclusion, that much more time and pains than I had at first anticipated were required for the collecting of the information embodied in the Report, and many difficulties and delays, unlooked for, were encountered, otherwise the Report would have been submitted to you at an earlier date.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
WM. YOUNG
To the Honorable S. H. Bindon,
Minister of Justice,
Crown Law Offices, Melbourne.
Statement about Avoca from Part I of the report
AVOCA.
Statistics of Chinese Population, and particulars of their Employments, furnished by the Chinese Interpreter, HOW-QUA.
250 total population of Chinese.
- 50 Chinese in the largest camp.
- 150 Chinese married in China.
- 4 Chinese married to European women in this colony.
- 9 Chinese children; four go to school.
218 Chinese are miners. Their average earnings are from 12s. to 13s. a week each. Fossickers earn from 6s. to 7s. a week each.
2 puddling machines, each employing six Chinese, who earn £1 a week each.
2 Chinese employed by Europeans at their claims; they earn 25s. a week per man.
30 Chinese employed last year by Europeans as harvest-men, at the rate of 25s. a week per man. They were employed at this work for four or five weeks.
- Sheepshearers-none.
- 10 shopkeepers.
- 10 market gardeners and sellers of vegetables.
- Barbers none.
- 1 doctor.
- Chemists-none.
- 1 tailor.
- 2 butchers.
- 5 carpenters.
- 1 cook-shop. Fishsellers-none.
- Hawkers of useful and fancy articles-none.
- 6 unemployed Chinese.
No hospital at this place. 1 Chinese patient was sent to Geelong hospital.
Subscription of Chinese to hospital last year, £1 1s.
2 lepers. One of them was sent to the hospital at Amherst, twelve miles distant, and one is able to work.
2 gambling-houses. Evils of gambling: If the gambler happens to be unfortunate, he turns to stealing.
50 Chinese out of 100 are gamblers.
2 opium-shops. Evils of opium smoking: A man comes to get an intolerable craving for it. If the Government were to impose a heavy duty on opium, the number of opium smokers would be lessened by one-half.
50 Chinese out of 100 are opium smokers.
From 11s. to 12s. are spent by rich Chinese on opium per week; 6s. to 7s. by men in middling circumstances; 2s. 6d. to 3s. a week by poor men.
In order to prevent gambling, make the laws regarding it more severe, especially for prohibiting lottery gambling.
To stop opium smoking: A man who sees the evils that spring from it, will of himself cease using the drug.
18 Chinese were imprisoned last year. The prisoners were employed in sweeping, sawing wood, and weeding. The crimes for which they were imprisoned, and the sentences passed upon them, are as below :-
| Number Chinese | Crime | Sentence |
| 1 | vagrancy | 1 month’s imprisonment |
| 1 | stealing | 3 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | obscene language | 24 hours’ imprisonment |
| 1 | Stealing fowls | 1 month’s imprisonment |
| 1 | fighting | 48 hours’ imprisonment |
| 1 | stealing | 7 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | vagrancy | 3 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | stealing from shop | 3 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | stealing fowls | 3 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | vagrancy and stealing | 6 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | vagrancy | 3 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | gambling | 2 months’, and fined £20 |
| 1 | destitute | 3 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | stealing | 4 days’ imprisonment |
| 1 | perjury | 3 years’ imprisonment |
| 1 | petty theft | 4 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | destitute | 3 months’ imprisonment |
| 1 | destitute | 1 months’ imprisonment |
To prevent the manufacture of spurious gold, you must make the laws more severe.
- 4 Chinese baptized.
- 1 Chinese naturalized.
- 2 returned to China last year.
If schools are established for teaching the English language, the Chinese would attend them.
See also:
- Chinese population. (n.d.). Chinese Ancestors | Early Chinese migrants. https://chineseancestor.org/victoria/gold-rush-in-victoria-1860s/gold-field-population/
Related posts:
- Ah Kin How Qua (1829-1873)
- 1855 evidence given by Howqua when examined by the Gold-Fields Commission
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