Senior Constable Webb’s gold watch

By Carol Holsworth

 

The Bendigo Advertiser on the 14^th of September 1860 published the following article:-

THE CHINESE CONSTABULARY – We understand that Senior Constable Webb, who has had for a very long time the charge of the Chinese constabulary on this goldfield, will be removed to Dunolly by promotion and that it is the intention of the Government to discontinue the services of Chinese constables with the exception of one, who will occasionally receive assistance from the general police force. For his long services in the district, Senior Constable Webb has not only gained the esteem of his superiors, but from his impartial discharge of his duties amongst the Chinese, a large number of the principal men amongst them have requested Mr Superintendent M’Culloch to be allowed to present Webb with a testimonial.

 

Many articles in early newspapers from around central Victoria show policemen being entitled to a share of seizures from illegal grog shops, a share of fines from persons detected without miners licenses as well as awards for capture of wanted criminals.

 

In Harris and Presland’s book ‘Cops and Robbers’ reference is given to the Manual of Police Regulations that states that all members of the force were restricted in their personal affairs. Permission to even get married was required and policemen were not allowed to vote till 1888, but nothing is mentioned about public testimonials, let alone undercover gifts. Mark Finnane’s book ‘Policing in Australia – Historical Perspectives’ gives no information on the official policy concerning police receiving testimonials or gifts.

 

Was it customary for policemen to be given testimonials on the occasion of their transfers? The presentation of Testimonials and gifts was a common practice on the goldfields to departing or retiring, respected community men by their fellow workers, their brotherhood and the public. Many of these testimonial dinners or announcement for subscriptions were advertised in the local newspapers.

 

Was this the first time that the Chinese had wanted to give a testimonial to a policeman? Chinese in Victoria had presented testimonials and public gifts to a lawyer, Chinese Protector, Camp Commandant, Warden, Gold receiver, wife of respected man, and even a Clerk of Courts. This is the earliest public presentation that I have found being made to a policeman who was being removed from the district. I presume that recognition on a policeman’s retirement by the Chinese might have been more acceptable to the government. What would the attitude have been of the serving policemen and officers in Victoria to one of their own being publicly honoured by the Chinese? How was Constable Webb later received in Dunolly? Would the public have thought he was soft on the Chinese? Did the Chinese hope that he might turn a blind eye to their future activities in Dunolly and could he be bought off on later occasions?

 

In fact his impartiality to the Chinese appears to have continued. During a rowdy council election at Bet Bet in 1863 a Chinese contingent wishing to vote was locked out. Sergeant Webb intervened and pointed out that the Chinese had every right to cast their vote.

 

It was not uncommon for the Bendigo Advertiser to reprint articles from many different Victorian newspapers about all sorts of local items of possible interest. Although the Bendigo Advertiser had few Chinese readers or advertisers it seemed to relish printing articles about Chinese. If they did not have a local article about Bendigo Chinese for that day’s paper or at the very least that week’s paper they happily copied something about Chinese from another paper. Looking back it seems as if they wanted to keep the pot boiling. The Bendigo Advertiser on the 15^th of July 1863 reprinted the following article from the Maryborough Advertiser. Possibly they thought that the Bendigo public would be interested in hearing the latest news of their old mate Webb or maybe they needed to be reminded about how respectful the Bendigo Chinese had once been of law and order.

 

“CELESTIAL” Compliments.- We were shown a short time since a rather unusual thing, viz, a Chinese testimonial and present to an European, made about three years ago. The present consists of a handsome English gold lever hunting watch, and Chinese chain of curious manufacture. The latter is of solid gold, and the bar can be bent perfectly double and straightened out again without the slightest injury. Inside the watch is engraved:- “Presented to Senior Constable Webb, by the Chinese residents of Bendigo.” The whole is valued at between £40 and £50. The testimonial, a voluminous affair on red paper, was translated to us by Ah Wing, the well-known Celestial gardener at Dunolly, and the following is the substance of what he informed us it contained:- “Mr Webb welly good man. Him all same to China men, all same to Europeans. Chinamen at Bendigo very much like him.” Mr Webb is now sergeant in charge of the police station at Dunolly.-

 

So Superintendent M’Culloch did approve of one of his policemen receiving gifts from the community even though it was that irritating Chinese community. So maybe a precedent had already occured somewhere else in Victoria. Senior Constable Richard John Webb was stationed at Dunolly and lived in the police residence. He was transferred to Eaglehawk about 1873.  He died in East Melbourne in 1906 aged 74. I doubt that his tombstone records that Chinamen acknowledged him as being a very honourable man. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he left a will recording who was to inherit his valuable watch and solid gold chain?

 

 I suppose the hunting watch was lost years and years ago. The engraved words seen each time the watch was opened up, might have been an embarrassment later to his descendants as the racial hatred against the Chinese heated up. Most likely the red paper testimonial was devoured by silver fish or thrown out by descendants as being too voluminous and worthless. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if the unique chain wasn’t later sold for its appropriate solid gold value.

 

You are visiting Chinese Rural Victoria blog. All Contents by Carol Holsworth Jan 2009.

Tags: Bendigo, Dunolly, goldfield, Victoria, Victoria Police