Second Burial, NZ Chinese Experience 1883 and 1903

'Newsletter Tauranga West Coasters Association
vol 9 no5"

A book, "Second Burial, NZ Chinese Experience 1883 and 1903" written by Helen Wong and

published recently is of interest to Coasters.   Chinese goldminers came to NZ hoping to find

riches and then to return home. Many died here and the Chinese believed that that after death the

soul hovers over a grave. If a Chinese man died in a foreign country his soul would be homeless

and unable to rest until his body was shipped back to China. Local newspapers in 1883 reported

that bodies were being removed from the Greymouth and Reefton cemeteries. Again in 1901

the exhumation of Chinese from 40 cemeteries around the country saw the remains cleaned,

washed, wrapped in linen and placed in watertight zinc coffins which were soldered shut. The

steamer Ventnor left Dunedin with 263 coffins, picked up 173 in Greymouth and a further 86 in

Wellington. The steamer was bound for Hong Kong but tragically it struck Cape Egmont and

foundered with the loss of all coffins. The steamer Energy was employed to locate the wreck and

recover the bodies but very few were found.

Ventnor Trail Part 1

http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/aft/nzsociety-20130524-1420-nz_society_-_the_ventnor_trail_part_1-00.ogg

S.S. Ventnor Historical Trail

The Radio NZ Documentary about the S.S. Ventnor Historical Trail and the very memorable road trip to the far North to commemorate Ching Ming will begin broadcasting tomorrow afternoon from 2:30pm on the Afternoons Programme with Jim Mora.

This is a four part documentary, so each 12 minute segment will broadcast at the same time each Friday over the next month as follows:

Fri 24 May, 2:30pm: Part 1 – 499 Hungry Ghosts

This opening programme introduces the history, the powhiri at Te Roroa HQ and the Bei Jey ceremony at Kawerua Beach.

Fri 31 May, 2:30pm: Part 2 – Bei Jey, what about aspects of Tapu?

This segment focuses on discussing difference in cultural rituals with members of our community and Kaumatua Alex Nathan from Te Roroa Iwi during the Bei Jey ceremony at Kawerua Beach.

Fri 7 June, 2:30pm: Part 3 – the pilgrimage to Mitimiti

This segment focuses on travelling to Mitimiti, the powhiri at Te Matihetihe Marae and the unveiling of the Red Gate Plaque

Fri 14 June, 2:30pm: Part 4 – Appeasing ancestors

This segment focuses on interviews with the descendants of Choi Sew Hoy, the Skipper who fishes off the Ventnor wreck and Wong Liu Shueng on appeasing our ancestors.

If you miss the live broadcast you will be able to listen the podcast after it has been posted by going online to our website www.radionz.co.nz

Second Burial: New Zealand Chinese Experience 1883 and 1902

Second Burial: New Zealand Chinese Experience 1883 and 1902 - Researched by Helen Wong
ISBN 978-0-473-24298-5


The Cantonese custom of secondary burial, the idea of exhuming the dead, cleaning the bones, and then burying them again, helps to explain why so many (overseas) Chinese were not only willing to exhume their dead but also to clean the bones and put them in containers for shipment back to China. * Reburial: Exhuming the Dead and Returning Them to China http://www.cinarc.org/Death-2.html#anchor_14

There were two periods of mass exhumation of Chinese in New Zealand, organised for the Panyu people, by the Dunedin Sew Hoy family.

In 1883, 286 Chinese from the South Island were repatriated on the Hoi How.

And in 1902, 499 were aboard the ill fated Ventnor when it sank 10 miles off the Hokianga Heads. This time Panyu men from both the South Island and the North Island were included, as well as eleven Wellington men from the Jung Seng county of China.

helen.familytree at gmail.com

To purchase email helen dot familytree @ gmail.com

Chinese in Dunedin 1905

We have received from Mr Wong Tape a cheque for £25 3s Ocl, collected from Chinese residents, for the Hospital Extension' Fund. The following is the detailed list:—Toons Lee (gardens) 10s Cd, Hip Fong Tie 10s Od. Yo"g King Yin IDs Gd. K.wo".ig Lee (gardens) 10 s Gd. Ycung Sum 10s 0:1, Dsniel Ynt T<ce' 10.5 Gd, Wall Sang 10s ;Gcl. On Lee (ccok c llop") ]os. Pe'er Ah Chew 10s,' Yip Chong IDs, James Cliin Sing 10s, Sun Young Ghong 10s, Joe -Ciiing 10s, Chik Kmig 10s.' Kum Yo'm Leo 10 s, Leong Man 10s. Joe Say 10s, Foil Han Ying us. Yip Chan ss, Paiil Chan os, Clian Tuck Pon ss. Chuee Lee ssr Tung AYali 59, Key. "Villi-m Chan ss. Jfathev; Chin;! Hoy ss, C. Hon Yep ss. See Wall ss, Joe Bun ss, Joe Kill ss. Wong Tuck ss. Wong Sni liun ss, Wong Hak ss, J. Chuie Kum ss. Wong Kew ss. Shu Shee ss. Ng JJoii ss. Wong Mo ss, Y'eung Yuen ss, Shu Yon ss, Wong Toong Yow Ss. Toong Quon ss. Jvoo Choo ss, Kwok Man Cheuk' ss, Wong Chung "i'ee ss, Ciini Ting Choy 4s. Yeung La; 3s, Chan Yun Kv.-ee 3s, Yeupg Kum 3s, Chi Chi Hoy 3s, Leong Yut Chong .is, Ho Yee'fiip 3=" Chafi Sang ."s, Lqong ICwai Lun 3s, Wong Kung 3s, Tommy Joe 3s. Wong Sing 2s Gd, Laii Hihg Si fid, Chin Fo?i 2s Gd,' "Ping Quong 2s 0:1. Ycung Kuiiii '2$ Gd, Wong Yau Foon 2s Gd, Ho Yiipg

Sing 2s fid, Yeung Wing Tin 2s Gil, Young Kui Liuig 2s (id, Tso Kvyni 2s Gd, Soo Kee 2s 'Gd, Wong Ham 25,6 d, Chui Yung Kiirn 2s Gd, Tso Sing 2s' Gd, Yip Bor 2s pel, Wong' Yeo 2a Gd, Lai Won Hoy 2s Gd, Lee Sun 2a Gel, Chi Hon 2s Gd, Chung Nam 2s (id, Wong King 2s Gd, Clia'n Sai On 2s Gd, Soo Chou Yait 2s Gd, Chang Sui 2s Gd, Paiig Yun Cliueii 2s Gil, Soo Muk Siiin 2s Gd, 0. Ben Sing 2s Cd, l'so Plug Sing 2s Gd. Tso Ho 2s Gd, Cheong Kwoug 2s Gd, Wong Tan 2s Gd, Wong Looug 2s. Yjp Bun 2s, Wong Sik Tang 2s, Kwok Cheong Ycong 2s. L;ui Lut 2s. Ng Ping 2s, Tun Hung 2s'. Yip Lin Tai 2s. Fung Pak 2s, Soo Tai 2s, ToongLock 2s, Joe How 2s, Wong Nga. 2s, Tso Ngn't 2?, Yip Yin 2s, Chan Moon 2s, Soo Chong 2s, Wong Hoong 2s, Lui Kg 2s, Chang' Tin 2s. ,Wco Sang 2s, Geo. Weo 2s, Wong Foon 2a, Wong Hin' Kwong 2s, Wong How Ting 23, Chan ice 2s, Chan Yung Kee 2s. Soo Ho Yaii' Ssj Wong jo Ching "2s, Wong Cluing Yow 2s, Ycung Chin 2s, Ts'e Wai Is Gd, Ho Chin la Gd. Yip Ko Is, Lau Fool; Is, Yenim Chung Is, Chan Choy Is, Tse Chan Is, Chi Ping Is, Choy Cheong' Is, Tse Shing Is. B. Wong Tape'lOsGd;—total, £25 3s Gd. Otago Daily Times , Issue 13449, 24 November 1905, Page 4

Mr. George Sang,

SEARCHING FOR A POLITICAL  BLUE-BIRD.  Now, it happened the other day that the "Square Deal" Party got to Taumaranui and was met with all sotfts of requests to all of which was given ''that jocular phrase of 'Oom Bill-" A Square Deal." To the many requests "Truth" need, not refer, but there was one, and as it comes from the Auckland "Herald" there should the no need of its veracity. The "Herald" reports as follows:— Mr. Shortland introduced Mr. George Sang, an educated Chinaman and highly-respected citizen of Taumaranui who wished to bring over to New, Zealand his wife and child, and two nephews from China. The Prime Minister said if Mrs. Sang paid the poll-tax and passed the education test she would be admitted. Mr. Shortland thought that m the circumstances the conditions should be dispensed with. Mr. Massey said the matter would bo looked into. Miv Shortland, "Truth" might mention, is a local lawyer, otherwise some people might want to know why Mr. Geo. Sang, an educated Chinkie. etc., didn't ask for a "Square Deal" of his, own accord. In the face of things/ however, Lawyer Shortland has some assurance; m -fact, "Truth" doesn't hesitate to declare that Mr. Shortland, m making such a request of the Price Minister, has a pretty' tough cuticle. Why should Mrs. Geo. Sang and his child and two nephews, be admitted free of the poll-tax, ,and all conditions dispensed with? Why could not Mr. Massey have saild at once that  

THE THING WAS IMPOSSIBLE;
that we have too many Chinamen as it is in the country, and that there would be no general regret expressed if the Chinaman m New Zealand took up his capital and, allowed himself to be driven out. "Truth" doesn't quite follow Mr. Massey. How does he propose to have the matter looked into? Does he propose to ascertain if there is a way of defeating the excellent provisions of our immigration laws? Is the great statesman finding himself up against treaty rights, or is it that' he Is not capable of giving, a straightforward answer? "Truth" wonders! It will be an exceedingly sorry day for Mr Massey Whenever he sets out to set at nought our White Now Zealand policy. This matter, on Mr Massey's promise, wants watching. NZ Truth , Issue 411, 10 May 1913, Page 4

CHINESE PARADISE.FOR HUNGRY HORSE.

CHINESE PARADISE.FOR HUNGRY HORSE. AUCKLAND (NZ.), July 5.

A horsebreaker. Lancelot Goodger, got drunk; and rode his horse into a Chmese greengrocer's shop at Te Aroha.

He tied the horse to the counter, and it ate all the cabbages, lettuce, and radishes within reach.

It was eating bananas when the terrified Chinese dashed into the street, shrieking for the policé.

Goodger was sent to gaol for six weeks.Cairns Post Monday 7 July 1941