Wong Mee Chang

Notes for Wong Mee Chang: (also known as Wong Kam Cheun in correspondence with Chinese Govt.) Wong Mee Chang was born abt 1839 in Lo Fu Tau Cheun, Village 91, Fa (Hau) County, China, and died abt. 1910 in Canton,China. His birth village was” relocated” during land reforms in early 1950. He married (1) Li ?? in China. She was born abt. 1830 in China, and died abt. 1860 in China. He married (2) Prudence Mary Hodge 16 Jan 1879 in St Johns Anglican Church, Invercargill, New Zealand, daughter of Thomas Hodge and Mary Roberts. Witnesses at wedding were Evelyn Newson and Ah Ming, Dipton. Prudence was born 11 Dec 1845 in Camborne, Cornwall, England, and died 1911 in Hokitika, New Zealand. His father,? Wong Smiler Chang and two sons, Wong Tak Cheung (Wong Dat Jang) and Wong Fung Cheung (Wong Foong Jang) from his marriage to Li, could have travelled to NZ with him. His anticipated arrival at the Port of Otago is abt 1869, as one of the unnamed Chinese, on board a vessel leaving from Victoria, Australia. There is mention of them in Rev. Don’s Diary 1881-1883 as living in the Riverton area. It is in the early writings of the Round Hill and Riverton area that mention is made of a Wong Smiler Chang. This gent rode a white horse and mined in the area and is thought to be the “grandfather”. The Round Hill area became known as “Canton” with over 200 Chinese in huts scattered around the gullies. Supplies were carried on foot and horseback into “Canton” from nearby Riverton The first documented record noted is the “Wises New Zealand Directory 1878-1879 where he is listed as a “fancy goods dealer” in Dee St, Invercargill. It was thought this to be gold and jewellery with opium on the side – a supposed cure for toothache! Gambling was his addiction and he lost everything. They moved to Riverton and on borrowed capital, acquired a Tea House and store near the gold fields of Round Hill. During the next few years there was a degree of stability in their lives and four of their children were born, Minnie Salome 1880, Robert 1881, Richard 1882 and Isabella 1884. The family moved to Tapanui, Otago where they leased a Boarding House and Store. It was here that Sydney Noble Mee Chang (my grand father) was born in Sept 1885. Wong Mee Chang and his son Robert were also approached by Sew Hoy to be involved in the exhumation of Chinese graves for the Ching Shin Tong (Burial Society) so bones could be returned to China for re-internment. It took almost two (2) years to complete the task throughout Southland, Otago and the West Coast and by this time he was in his 70’s. Wong left his family in NZ and in 1907 returned to his homeland to spend his last years. We have no record of his death/burial in China. http://nzchinese.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=surnames&action=display&thread=1843

CHINESE AND HINDU IMMIGRANTS. AUCKLAND, April 21. Another party of Chinese and. Hindus arrived in Auckland to-day by the Riverina from Sydney. The Chinese numbered fifteen, including eight women. There were two Hindus, and they both passed the reading test. This makes 272 Chinese who have landed in Auckland since the beginning of the year. The number of Hindus who have arrived since January 1 totals 96. The Hindu doctor, Manilal, who was detained on the Atua, was granted permission to land with his wife and child to-day. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXX, 22 April 1920, Page 5

A CHINESE DISCLAIMER. (To the Editor.) Sir, —On behalf of the Chinese, residents in Auckland, the majority of whom are members of one or the undersigned clubs, we hereby disclaim the sentiments expressed in the letter published in your paper of the 4th inst. under the heading "White New Zealand" and purporting to be' signed by the "Chinese Association." So far as we are aware there is no such body aa the "Chinese Association" existent in Auckland, but if there is such a body, then it comprises a very small number of the Chinese residents here and certainly does not include any of the members of the respective clubs. —We are, etc., THE CHINESE NATIONALIST PARTY, WAIPAI (President). THE CHINESE MASONIC SOCIETY. CHIN KING LIM (Master). THE KWONG CHEU CLUB, CHUNG MING (President). THE TZE SHING CLUB, LOWE NAM. Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 107, 7 May 1926, Page 13

REV. W. CHAN, of Wellington

REV. W. CHAN, of Wellington, who is visiting Auckland to organise the workless Chinese here. A community garden scheme is proposed. Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 133, 7 June 1934, Page 10 UNEMPLOYED CHINESE POSITION IN -AUCKLAND (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This, Day. Attention was, drawn to-day by one of the leaders of the Chinese community in Auckland, :Mr. Andrew Chong, to the plight of unemployed Chinese. He said, that' throughout New Zealand .Chinese had paid thousands of pounds to the unemployment fund, yet, as far as he could ascertain, not one Chinese had been given relief work or relief nations. The situation became acute last April, when owing to the low returns, from.the market garden business many men had been thrown on their own resources. They were unable to obtain employment with Europeans, and they had been' informed-by the Labour Department .that they! were ineligible-for work or sustenance. ,Yet Chinese in work continued to pay both the levy and the tax. Ho estimated that there were about 150 Chinese in Auckland practically destitute. Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 7, 10 January 1933, Page 9

CHINESE IMMIGRATION. Press Association. Auckland Last Night. The Chinese population of Auckland is apparently on the increase. During the past three months 23 Chinese have landed at the port, each arrival contributing IOO to the revenue. Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7943, 5 January 1905, Page 2

CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. {By Telegraph Press Association], Auckland, Last Night. Twelve Chinese arrived from Sydney by the steamer Manuka. Six proved that they had previously resided in the Colony. The remaining six paid the customary £100 poll tax. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7877, 18 October 1904, Page 5

OPIUM SMOKERS FINED

(TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, This Day. At the Police Court, Frederick Chin an elderly Chinese, was fined £50, 'and Ah Hung £30, and two other Chinese £7 and £5 for being in possession and smoking opium. Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 116, 12 November 1924, Page 6