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All the abovementioned names come from the Westpac archives (WBC1)
where they appear in the Current Account Ledger of the Australian Joint
Stock. Bank for 1874-1876. Another source provides further names, Sam
War, a baker at Wilcannia in 1882 and Toy Kit, a storekeeper during the
same period, (WBC2) but again I have been unable to establish any
definite links between these names and those of the Chinese at Milparinka.
The only other identified Chinese resident of Wilcannia was Charlie Bow,
Chinaman labourer, who appeared in the Wilcannia small debts court on
October 11, 1880, having not paid J.Sheahan £14/6/9 for goods sold and
delivered. (The Wilcannia Times, 14 October 1880)
Only those Chinese who operated accounts with two of the four banks in
Wilcannia during the 1870s or who appeared in court are mentioned
above. On this basis it is possible numbers of other Chinese were present
in the town.
3.2.2 Attitudes towards the Chinese at Wilcannia
The records reviewed during my research provide little insight into attitudes
towards the Chinese at Wilcannia. A news item in The Wilcannia Times
(Thursday February 24, 1881) may suggest the Chinese in that town were
not entirely without vices, but it should be noted the Chinese are not
actually mentioned in the article, which is as follows:
"Dens:
'Of these there are even in Wilcannia a few of the most loathsome
description which the Police acting under instructions are
determined to purify. We are glad to note this raid on such hotels of
iniquity.'
What the raid comprised, and which 'hotels' were involved is not stated.
However, an article from The Wilcannia Times strongly suggests that when
gold was discovered at Mount Poole old enmities quickly reappeared...
'The mail from Mount Browne arrived in Wilcannia last night. The
news from the diggings is assuring. The population numbers nearly
five hundred and good order prevails. The diggers appear
determined to prevent if possible Chinamen from participating in the
Rush. One mongolian's life has been threatened and he has had to
clear out. ..' (The Wilcannia Times, 10 March 1881 :2)
As reflected by the subject of my research, the Chinese did not move far
from the vicinity of Mount Browne, and provided an essential service to the
community. They may well have been members of the largely ignored
Chinese who failed to accumulate large sums of money on the goldfields
and took up rural pursuits in order to meet their filial obligations. However,