CHAPTER XIV.
Riots at Lambing Flat.
As at the present time but little is known of the Lambing Flat riots, I have endeavoured to give as full an account as is possible in a work of this description.
The account of the first riot, which took place in the early part of 1861, is taken from the “Official History of New South Wales,” and I have besides given copious extracts from my own notes.
In December 1860 serious riots occurred at Lambing Flat, owing to the influx of Chinese in large numbers. Several grog shops and gambling shanties were burnt, many persons were wounded, and a large body of police had to be despatched to restore and maintain order.
The following account is taken from the “Official History of New South Wales, 1788 to 1880”:—“The goldfields recently opened up at Burrangong having proved extraordinarily rich caused a rush thitherwards. When at the end of January 1861 crowds of Chinese arrived on the ground, the miners held a great public meeting for the purpose of deciding ‘Whether Burrangong was a European or a Chinese territory.’ They also addressed a petition to the Assembly, which was presented by Mr. Robertson on the 12th February, complaining of the recent arrival at Burrangong of several thousand Chinese, and praying that such a measure might be passed by the House as should relieve them of all Chinese who had occupied or intended to occupy those goldfields. Unfortunately peaceful measures were not the only ones resorted to, for the meeting above referred to culminated in a riot. After various inflammatory speeches a band struck up, and the crowd moved towards the place where the Chinese were located. The Commissioner cautioned the mob against any violence. The Chinese hurried away before their victors, a few tents were burned down, and while the bulk of the diggers were engaged in ‘shifting’ the Chinese, a drunken fellow galloped over two or three of them, whereupon he was locked up. On the return of the diggers they demanded the release of the captive; and as the threats and demeanour of the mob, numbering upwards of 4000, grew very alarming, and there were only eight policemen to guard the place, the Commissioner consented to take responsible bail. This was found, the man released, and next morning he duly appeared before the Commissioner, who reprimanded, cautioned, and discharged him. A Miners’ Protection League was then formed on the goldfield, having the twofold
