Opium and Gold - A History of the Chinese Goldminers in New Zealand

Alister Taylor, Martinborough, 1977. Bumping to corners.120pp. Previous owner name inside.
In the 1860s the gold rushes of NZ's South Island attracted a small number of Chinese from the Australian diggings and in this fine account of the reception they, and those who followed, received in what was a raciest era is recorded,as are subsequent events. Some did strike it rich and returned to China, however, most experienced hard times, with little reward for their labour and the hostility they encountered,.Those who stayed on in NZ eventually created what became the Chinese community, which prospered to contribute to many fields of enterprise and endeavour although, following the Rush period, many turned. with success, to trading, market gardening and fruit and vegetable shop ownership. Peter Butler's Opium and Gold examines all aspects of the establishment of the Chinese community in NZ, providing a detailed record of this area of NZ's previously little explored social history. This well produced, card cover, first edition of 1977 has 14 chapters and a bibliography...