CHINESE MINERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 December 1934, Page 2

CHINESE MINERS

GOING HOME TO DIE. DARWIN, December 12. Because they want to die in China, four destitute old Chinese will leave Darwin on the Marella when she sails at daybreak to-morrow. They are being repatriated to their native country by the Commonwealth Government, after having made application to the Administration of the Northern Territory. , The Chinese are between 68 and 80 years of age. and they come from the gold mining' fields of Pine Creek and Brock’s Creek. They have been in Australia since they were young men. having come to the Northern Territory when the railway line to Pine Creek was being constructed. Subsequently they worked on the gold mining fields, and it is said that Chinese working there took away more than £2,000,000 worth of gold. They have become bowed and wizened. The old men said that the Government of Australia was “number one. - ’ They were going home to China io die because their bones would keep longer there. They were emphatic that they would not like to come back. Each of the old Chinese, Yvhose names are Wong On, Lew Sang, Lou Chin, and Que Toy, Yvas given 30/- in money by the Government to get them to their native villages after they reached a Chinese port. They will go to Thursday Island on the Marella, and catch a China-hound steamer from there.