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2. Marriage.
Quong Tart was married in 1886 at the residence of the late Hon. J. H. Want, Darlinghurst. The late Dr. Steel performed the ceremony in the presence of twenty friends, many of whom have since joined the Great Majority. The honeymoon was spent in Ballarat, Victoria.
“Mr. and Mrs. Tart were met at Melbourne and escorted to the Spencer Street Station by Messrs. D. Ham, M.L.C., J. Oddie, D. M. Davies, A. Young, and J. Russell, M.L.A. At Geelong Station a large number of the leading citizens were assembled to meet the newly married couple. Hearty cheers were given by the Geelong people as the train steamed away from the station, and when it arrived at Ballarat East there were fully three hundred persons—the ladies, of course, predominating—assembled to witness the arrival of the Chinese merchant and his wife, and when the train drew up, the carriage occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Tart and a couple of friends was rushed by quite a hundred persons eager to see them. As the party alighted three cheers were given, and Mr. Tart shook hands heartily with those to whom he was introduced by ex-Mayor Scott; in turn he introduced Mrs. Tart to the various Town Councillors, who had assembled to do him and his wife honour.”
Seven of the busiest days of their lives were spent at that time, visiting institutions, attending banquets and entertainments of every character. An instance of one day's programme—“Mr. and Mrs. Tart visited the various institutions in the district yesterday. They were accompanied by Mr. W. Scott, J.P., Miss Scott, Mr. J. Ferguson, J.P., and Mrs. Ferguson. The first place called at was the Benevolent Asylum, where the party were received by Mr. Joseph Phillips, the President, and Mr. Oddie, J.P., Member of Committee. Mr. Tart, who made a thorough inspection of the institution, asked a number of questions regarding the mode of management. Before leaving he said the Asylum was a credit to Ballarat, and as he took considerable interest in kindred institutions in New South Wales, he would endeavour to turn his visit to good account upon his return to Sydney.”
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When going through the house, a number of Chinese inmates, upon being told who the visitor was, rushed forward, and clasping Mr. Quong Tart's hands exclaimed, “Him welly fine gentleman; him welly good gentleman.” Mr. Tart conversed with the Chinese in their native language.
The next place of call was the Hospital, where Mr. Alexander Hunter, J.P., was in waiting to receive the visitors. Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart and the other members of the party spent some time here, visiting all the wards, Mr. Tart shaking hands with the patients lying in the various beds, and making enquiries as to their state of health.
The Sydney merchant and friends next started for the Orphan Asylum in Ballarat East. Quite a display was here made in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart. The boys paraded on the “square” like soldiers, and, headed by their band, stood to attention as the party approached. Then the band played “For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.” Mr. Tart then addressed the boys, expressing pleasure at their healthy appearance, and at the tidiness which was shown in their attire. He then presented Mr. and Mrs. Kenny, on behalf of the orphans, with lollies. Cheers were given for the donor as he left the yard, the band playing “Auld Lang Syne.”
The Female House and the Water Commission Offices were next visited in turn.
At night Mr. and Mrs. Tart were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Gale.
“Mr. Quong Tart and his wife were entertained at a banquet at the Eastern Town Hall by a number of leading citizens. The Council Chambers were nicely decorated for the occasion and every provision had been made for the comfort of those in attendance. During the banquet the Ballarat East Band played a number of lively airs in Barkley Street in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Tart, and subsequently the band serenaded the newly-married couple. The loyal toasts were drunk with enthusiasm; Mr. Quong Tart, who glories in being a naturalised British subject, calling for three cheers for the Queen and Royal family. The Mayor next proposed, amidst applause, ‘Our Guests.’ In so doing, he formally, on behalf of the residents, welcomed Mr. Quong Tart and his bride to Ballarat. A number of other toasts were proposed and honoured. During the evening, Mr. Scott, J.P., on behalf of her husband's intimate Ballarat friends, presented Mrs. Quong Tart with an elaborate Colonial gold bracelet, with a tiny padlock fastener, which bore the following inscription—“Presented to Mrs. Quong Tart, Ballarat, 3rd September, 1886.” Mr. Quong Tart returned thanks in a feeling manner on behalf of his wife. A poem in honour of Mr. Tart's wedding, and composed by a resident of Ballarat, was read during the evening as follows:–
Welcome and Good-Bye
No strangers here—but brothers all;In harmony each loving heart
Bids welcome in this festive hall,
At Friendship's call
To thee, Quong Tart.
May peace and love surround thy life,
And never from thy home depart;
May God Keep far from thee all strife;
Preserve and bless thy loving wife
And thee, Quong Tart.
And as we welcome thee this day
With loving and with open heart
So will we speed thee on thy way—
Long live Quong Tart!
“The proceedings were enlivened by vocal and instrumental selections and at the close of a most enjoyable evening wedding cake was distributed amongst the assemblage.
“Each day of their stay in Ballarat Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart were the recipients of public and private hospitality.”
Clipping from the “Sydney Bulletin,” 18th September, 1886:– “It is said that since the marriage of the happy Quong Tart the visits of the quondum lady customers have become comparatively angelic, or few and far between. This doesn't surprise us in the least. We have always declared the dear girls used to go not for their tea, but their nice little Tart, and now he is married! Yum, yum.”
Among the wedding presents, which were numerous and costly, were the autographed photos of Lord and Lady Carrington—four feet by two feet — which were sent with the following letter:–
22nd September, 1886.
Dear Mr. Quong Tart,—
I am directed by His Excellency and Lady Carrington to forward you the enclosed likenesses of themselves as a slight souvenir, and hope that you will accept them and approve of them.
Wishing you every happiness in your married life,
I am,
Yours very truly,
E.W. WALLINGTON, P. S.
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JAMES ODDIE., J.P., of Ballarat,
and His Guests, Mr. & Mrs. QUONG TART, of Sydney.
(Who were on their Bridal Tour).
By “Silverpen.”
When I heard that Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart, of Sydney, were to be entertained by the above-named gentleman, I felt sure a most enjoyable time would be the outcome.
By ten o'clock, a carriage and pair of greys drew up before ex-Mayor Scott's residence, Victoria Street, awaiting, the guests of the day, who were driven to the Grand Studio of Mr. Chuck, Sturt Street. The artist secured several splendid negatives of the bride and bridegroom, together with Mr. and Miss Oddie.
The party then visited Lake Wendouree and the nursery of Mr. George Smith; Mr. and Mrs. Tart expressed themselves highly delighted with all they had seen.
At two o'clock, Craig's Hotel was the meeting-place of the invited guests, numbering about twenty, who sat down to a splendid spread. Amongst those present we might name— Rev. J. W. and Mrs. Inglis, Hon. D. Ham and Mrs. Ham, Mr. D. M. Davies, M.P., and Mrs. Davies, Mr. Young, M.P., and Mrs. Young, Mr. Wm. Scott, J.P., ex-Mayor of the Town and Mrs. Scott, Mr. George Smith, Mr. Henry Glenny, J.P., Mr. J. Ferguson, J.P., Mr. J. Robson, Manager of Mercantile Bank, Miss Oddie, and the special guests, Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart.
Mr. Oddie excelled himself as toast-master, host, and speechmaker—his little impromptu speeches were in every way practical and quite in keeping with the occasion, and of such an enthusiastic and intellectual kind as kept the company in the best of humour.
Mr. John Robson, as leader of the Liedertafel, sang a charming song, accompanying himself on the piano.
Messrs. Ham, Davies, and Young responded for the Legislature—Upper and Lower House. Mr. George Smith, in proposing the toast, declined to say whether or not he approved of their “goings on” down there, and amusingly referred to the strange fact of meeting no less than twenty members of the House at one time visiting the Japanese Village during the session.
Mr. Davies, M.P., responding (amidst much laughter), said the incident could easily be accounted for, inasmuch as it was on the evening of Mr. Harper's diatribe on Theology, and the infliction was too much for the “noble twenty,” so
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they, to escape, were glad to flee to Japan or any other place. He (Mr. Davies) was not one of the escapees, as he “sat it out” to the last.
Mr. John Robson took the dual part of proposing “The Ladies,” and responding—the fact of having to respond to the toast he proposed caused uproarious laughter. Mr. Robson, however, acted well his part.
The Rev. J. W. Inglis, Presbyterian Minister, in responding to the toast of “The Clergy,” spoke as usual in a “hit-him-all-round” manner, not forgetting the “only bachelor” present, who received several hints as to his loneliness, the reverend gentleman offering to do the business by special license without fee or reward. In closing his neat impromptu speech, the speaker referred to the uniform kindness of Mr. Tart to Ballaratarians visiting Sydney.
Mr. H. Glenny, J.P., responded for the press, believing that the press was the great educational lever of the world, and feeling assured that Ballarat people need not, wherever they go, be ashamed of their local newspapers, represented as they were by “The Star,” “The Courier,” and the “Evening Post.”
Mr. Tart, in responding to the toast of “Our Guests,” made several good hits, and caused much amusement by his native wit. He thanked Mr. Oddie heartily on his own and Mrs. Tart's behalf for his great kindness, and said he had received so much kindness since he had been in Ballarat that he should always have a warm place in his heart for both the place and its people.
The singing by the company of “God Save the Queen” ended this part of the day's programme.
Band and Albion Mine.
After dinner carriages were in attendance to convey Mr. Oddie's guests to the Band and Albion mine. Mr. Waters, the underground manager, met the party there, and kindly took them over the works. The ladies were quite delighted with Mr. Oddie's lucid explanations of the way the gold is extracted from the quartz. The battery was set “a-going,” and somewhat astonished Mrs. Tart and the other ladies as the stampers pounded away at the golden stone. Every part of the machinery shed was visited, the Chilian mills and pyrities furnace not excepted. Mr. Waters washed out about £20 worth of amalgam, and allowed the ladies to handle the golden ball.
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The Observatory.
The observatory, Mount Pleasant, was the next and last visit made; here the party were met by Mr. and Mrs. Baker and family, who were most kind.
It was incidentally mentioned that Miss Baker, who presided over the impromptu tea so pleasurably, was the first lady in Victoria who passed the Matriculation Examination.
Mr. Oddie, at the Observatory, was in his best form, as the place owes its existence to his love of science and his liberality. No wonder the little ones in East and West Ballarat call the place “Oddie's Observatory.” Mr. Baker, the Ballarat Astronomer Royal, took seemingly great delight in showing the party every item of interest in his little “Star Bottling Castle.”
A small steam engine was at work, its action being brought to bear all over the workshop.
The big telescope and its mysteries were viewed with wonder. All wishing that we could but have a peep at the starry firmament, through the aperture in the roof.
Mr. Baker is now busy at work at a much more powerful instrument, so that in the days to come, when the “good James Oddie” has passed away, our little ones will be taught to speak of him as the “Young People's Friend,” who devoted his time and money unsparingly to advance the best interests of the citizens of Ballarat, where he will ever be known as an honoured citizen and a Christian gentleman.
A visit to the Jubilee Singers by some of the party, and a dinner given in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson wound up one of the most pleasant days spent in the colony, and one not likely to be forgotten by the special guests of the day, Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart, of Sydney.
Four Horse Drag and Outriders.
It is as well perhaps to say that Mr. Oddie intended, if the day proved favourable, to take his guests out to Learmonth, and for that purpose had arranged for a four-horse drag and outriders, so that, had this been carried out, the crowd of sight-seers, who surrounded the carriages at Craig's, and cheered the bride and bridegroom before the party left for the Band and Albion, might have had the novel sight of mounted
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postillions, one not often seen in Ballarat. The clerk of the weather, however prevented the programme being carried out by Mr. Oddie in its entirety.
During their stay in Ballarat Mr. and Mrs. Quong Tart visited the Gong Gong, accompanied by Mrs. and Miss Scott, Mr. H. and Mrs. Glenny, and others, Mr. and Mrs. Minogue, the Reserve-keepers, showing the party every hospitality.
Mr. and Mrs. Tart's visit to Ballarat on their wedding tour will long be remembered.