In 1876, when the Maryborough and Avoca Railway was opened by Sir George Bowen, the Governor of Victoria, Chinese residents were present at the ceremony and the festivities that followed.
The Illustrated Australian News of 29 November 1876 reported the Chinese participation and published some sketches:
The Chinese, of whom a considerable number reside in the district, mustered in great force, and joined in the procession of the inhabitants to and from the station. Many of them were arrayed in their native costume, which it is needless to say was of the fearful and wonderful character, and quite sufficient to make the juvenile population look on in awe. … A platform was erected at some short distance from the station, and to this his Excellency the Governor and the members of the Government attending were conducted. Some thousands of persons were assembled, having arrived shortly before in procession, in which the Chinese inhabitants and the children attending the schools in the district formed a considerable part ….
The Chinese subsequently presented a loyal address, to which his Excellency replied in suitable terms.
A fuller report appeared in the Avoca Mail on 24 October 1876.
… The Chinese also must not be forgotten, on account of the excellent manner in which they showed their loyalty to the Queen's representative and their sense of the importance of the event. The good spirit thus shown will no doubt greatly tend to still further improve the friendly relations existing between the Europeans and Chinese in this colony.
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About half-past one o'clock the Chinese pageant made its appearance in the town, coming from the direction of the Avoca Load where the preparations had been made during the morning. This was, without doubt, the chief feature of the procession— not even excepting the grand display made by the children. To minutely describe every portion of the show would be impossible without explanations from the Chinese themselves of the various mysterious emblems, banners, and properties, which were carried. As usual on such occasions a sample of the Chinese music was given, and it scarcely accorded with European ideas of melody and harmony, it was evident at least that good time was kept by the players, and that they played together with a precision that could only come from long practice. The dresses were of the grandest, being mostly composed of silk richly embroidered and worked, and we presume that several of the costumes may be taken to be robes usually worn by the mandarins and other high officials of China. In addition to these were specimens of celestial warriors with their weapons, and fierce fellows they looked, although probably the loose drapery worn would be found somewhat in the road in a hot hand-to-band encounter. One of the most instructive features of the pageant was that in which the weapons were shown. There were two warriors with large shields and short broad-swords, something after the fashion of those with which the ancient Greek heroes are represented. Then there were sword-like instruments attached to long staves, suggestive of "chopping;" others mounted in the same way much like our own sword bayonets ; a peculiar kind of spike with a cork-screw blade, which would give an ugly wound, and a three-pronged pitch-fork looking weapon which would be awkward to evade, and would be sure to " spit" the enemy without being particularly well directed. Altogether the display was a most creditable one, and shows that the Chinese had gone to considerable expense and trouble to do honor to the vice-regal visit. We hear that the cost for the hire of dresses and weapons was not less than £130, and nearly all of this large sum was raised by voluntary contributions of the Chinese in this district, and this, also, at a time when we are sorry to say this industrious people are not so prosperous in the way of gold- winning as formerly. They have shown by this demonstration their loyalty and good feeling, in an unmistakable manner ; and we are sure that they will be pleased to know through their head men and interpreters that their efforts and liberality on this occasion were well understood and appreciated. The railway authorities liberally allowed the Chinese and their paraphernalia free transit, and His Excellency specially authorised the Shire Secretary to convey His Excellency's appreciation and interest in the Chinese procession.
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The Chinese procession having approached, Mr Loo Chin, of Percydale, presented an address on behalf of Chinese residents, of which the following is a translation " To His Excellency Sir George Bowen, Governor of the Colony of Victoria.— Most honourable Governor.— We, the Chinese residents of the Avoca district, welcome the representative of the most illustrious Queen Victoria.What the good father is to the family, the good Governor is to the people. We are told, Oh honourable Governor, that you are a just and good ruler. We thankfully acknowledge the freedom from oppression that we enjoy under your rule. Religions are many ; reason is one ; men are all brothers. So taught our great Chinese Governor Confucius— (Kong-fu tse); and that every man should govern himself and his family according to the sacred maxims, and should render to the Emperor, as the father of his people, that filial obedience which preserves domestic peace, social order, and national safety. Hence on this day of rejoicing we humbly lay our most respectful obedience at your feet, as the worthy representative of your great Queen, and of the law, order, and justice which native-born subjects and foreign aliens alike receive throughout her vast dominions. Finally, Oh worthy Governor, our earnest desire is that you may be happy on earth, and that when you exist no more you may ascend to the sky."
Sir George Bowen replied,—" I receive with satisfaction this loyal address from the Chinese residents of this district, who I am informed show a praiseworthy desire to obey the laws and to live in harmony with their neighbours of European descent. It is a remarkable fact that the Queen of England and the Emperor of China now reign over more than 600,000,000 of people, i e, over about half of the entire human race. I would direct the attention of the Chinese in the country districts of Victoria to the advantage of extending still more their cultivation of vegetable gardens, for which their habits of patient industry seem especially to fit them, and in which pursuit they can contribute largely to the comfort and convenience of the entire community. The rapid extension of railway communication will render it more easy to send all garden produce to any profitable market in the chief towns. Once more I thank you for this address, and I wish you all prosperity."
Three cheers were then given for the Governor and the Avoca railway, after which the Chinese procession marched past at the request of His Excellency, and the children sang the National Anthem accompanied by Neihoff's Band.
In that year,1876, there were some 600 Chinese miners reported on the Avoca goldfields, well down from the 2,000 reported in the Avoca district from 1867 to 1871.
The Opening was a well-managed civic occasion. Its success seems to demonstrate the existence of a considerable reservoir of goodwill between the Chinese and European participants.
Relared post:
2 thoughts on “Chinese pageant and speech at the opening of the Maryborough and Avoca Railway in 1876”