Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Selected letters from Quong Tart and family papers, 1831-1940
MLMSS 5094
Bon voyage letter to Tart family from employees, 20 April 1894
To
QUONG TART, Esq.,
Of Sydney
Dear Sir
As you are about to depart on a prolonged visit to China, we desire on behalf of the whole of your employees, to give expression to the feelings of high esteem which we bear towards you.
Many of us have been in your employment for a number of years, and we gladly acknowledge your constant interest in our welfare, your uniform kindness, and your frequent acts of generosity towards us.
Sincerely and with respect do we say that we have found in you not only an employee but also a friend; and the friendly feelings that have at all times existed have caused us to feel a pleasure in the performance of all our duties.
We congratulate you on the high position of respect and influence to which you have attained both in Sydney and throughout New South Wales, and we, who by our daily duties are brought into such close relationship to you, say, with all our hearts, that the praise and honour which have been so abundantly conferred upon you by the press and by prominent public men have been richly deserved.
We feel confident that you need no assurance from us that we will be loyal to your interests in your absence.
It is our earnest wish that Mrs. Tart, yourself, and family may have a pleasant voyage, an enjoyable holiday, and a safe return. We wish you farewell, and bid you God-speed.
We remain, Dear Sir,
Yours respectfully,
Alfred M. Hooper
General Manager on behalf of Male Employees.
M.S. Redford
Manageress on behalf of Female Employees.
Letters received by Quong Tart, 1902
Your Honour Mei Quong Tart [Mei Guangda],
From the last letter, we have learnt that Your Honour was robbed and seriously injured by a Western man. We are writing this letter, as we don't know how you are now. We greatly hope that you have a qualified doctor at hand for treatment, and recover as soon as possible.
Wishing you harmony and safety, with respect.
I Hsing [Yi Xing] Company
Dear Mr. Mei Quong Tart [Mei Guangda],
I have learnt that your business is brisk with a good profit and you also have good relationship with the Western people. Your success deserves congratulations. Currently, I am living in the mountains and often read some of local newspapers. They said that you were harmed by the Western people. Is it true? How serious was it? I think you should have recovered. I would like to come and visit you but am separated by afar. I also can't get enough travelling expenses as I have no income. I sincerely hope you'll excuse me for greeting you by this rough letter. I also hope to get the good news about your complete recovery in order to free me from care. I feel pity for what happened and hope you will not take it to your heart. I am sure that the good fortune will be back to you.
With sincere thoughts.
Su Ch'üch'ang [Su Juchang]
P. S.: My previous boss at Chü Tê Ch'ang [Ju De Chang] asks for your guidance and help.
7 Sep. 1902
Recently, I received your daughter's letter brought by Ms James [?] from Sydney. It said that a Western man broke into your office, hurt you with ironware and robbed you of capital and goods. I was exceedingly frightened by the news. I think it must be Liu Juhsing [Liu Ruxing] of the Tung Wah News, who hated you for helping Li Pu [Li Bu] from intervening their case so that he was defeated in that lawsuit. Therefore it is no doubt that he paid the European man to assassinate you. However he is a man and we are men too. We have nothing to fear him. Ruxing had his assassin while we also have our chivalrous persons. If the investigation shows any evidences to prove that the assassin acted on his instigation, we will declare all over Australia and its neighboring countries to rise in revolt and get rid of this kind of evildoer. I imply far more than I can express in this letter.
Wish you for safety and peace.
Letter of introduction for Quong Tart from Sir Henry Parkes, 1894
To whom it may concern
This will serve to introduce Mr. Quong Tart of this city - a Chinese merchant in extensive business.
During the many years of my official life as Head of successive Administrations I have had many opportunities of observing Mr Tart's conduct which has been uniformly such as to secure to him the respect of his fellow citizens. He has established a character for energy and integrity and has at all times largely and liberally joined in the charities of the community.
Mr. Quong Tart is married to an English lady and has a small family.
Henry Parkes.
Sydney
New South Wales March 1. 1894
Dear Mr. Quong Tart [Guangda],
I heard that you were hurt by the Western people at the teahouse. I am not sure how serious it was. I think that it doesn't matter if there was only the loss of the property but it is important that you are safe. Today Chinese businessmen who live in England are always restrained or controlled by these kinds of wolfish-men. It is a nerve-racking problem for Chinese businessmen but we can't help it. We can only expect that the God will know that, and one day this kind of problem would be solved. Please let me know if you have recovered. I mean far more than I can write. Please don't be offended too much by the incident and take good care of yourself.
Wish you good health.
Lei Weisun [Lei Weixun]
3 Sep. 1902
My kind Sir. Quong Tart [Guangda],
Since we parted as floating clouds, cold and heat alternated. I sigh that the time goes so fast like a fleet horse passing by a crevice and I am ashamed that I only wrote a few letters to you. I bustled about my business for the necessities so that we became estranged. But I always miss you at night when the moon came up on the eaves. Besides, it is just the time to greet for your blessedness while every family starts to husk rice with a pestle and mortar. I have just got the news from a telegraph, saying that you were attacked by a robber. He not only robbed the capital and goods from your home but also dared to hurt your body. I was frightened at the news and have a gnawing regret for it. In my opinion, you have a noble character like pearls and jade and your honest behavior deserves praise. You have been held in high esteem for a long time not only from the Chinese community but also from the Western society. But today you unexpectedly met with violent treachery and suffered from your injury. Isn't it because you practiced divination for wealth or because some of the Chinese pressmen wanted to use it for demagogue? It would be doubt but it is helpless as the telegram was too sketchy and the assassin has not been arrested. But I think the government officials are deeply concerned at the suffering of the masses and all of the cases will be concluded. I believe that they will investigate the case, apprehend the assassin and make the assassin disgorge the spoils as your revenge. I hope you will carefully recuperate yourself with a good treatment. If heaven keeps good out of harm's way, you will recover without discontinuing of medicine. Please don't put too much in your mind for the loss of the property.
I respectfully wish good fortune for you and your family.
Sung Hanch'ing [Song Hanqing]
23 August, 1902
Prospectus of the Quong Tart Tea Company, 1900
Quong Tart
Prospectus
of the
Quong Tart Tea Company
Limited.
{TO BE REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT.}
Nominal Capital £20,000 : in 20,000 Shares of £1 each.
First issue of 15,000 Shares, payable 2s.6d. per Share on applicaton, 2s.6d. per Share on allotment. It is anticipated that it will not be necessary to call up, for a considerable time, more than 10s. per Share.
Of the 15,000 Shares, Mr. Quong Tart accepts 4,000 fully paid Shares without any cash for the goodwill, leaving 11,000 Shares of first issue to be offered to the public.
The whole of the application and allotment money will be placed to the credit of the Company without any deduction beyond the actual expenses relating to the formation and registration of the Company.
Managing Director:
Mr QUONG TART.
{Two other Directors to be elected by Shareholders after formation of the Company}
Bankers :
BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.
Solicitors :
MESSRS. MINTER, SIMPSON & CO.
Temporary Offices :
137 KING STREET, SYDNEY.
The Company is being formed for the following purposes :-To carry on business as Tea Merchants; to import Teas and realise same, both in bulk and packets; and, if thought advisable, to carry on business as Merchants, including the sale of every description of marketable commodities, wholesale or retail.
The name of Mr. Quong Tart being so well known, and his Tea bearing such an excellent reputation throughout New South Wales, the trade is practically assured. All the Teas used and sold by Mr. Quong Tart in his well-known establishments will be bought from the Company. Mr. Quong Tart, who started in 1881, having 19 years' experience, is in a position to import Teas of the highest quality at the lowest possible cost, which will ensure to the Company a very satisfactory margin of profit, and at the same time admit of the best class of Teas being sold to the public at prices which should be withn the reach of all consumers. It is intended, on the formation of the Company, to grant to Shareholders who purchase Tea,
[Translation by Jiasong Ye, State Library of New South Wales, 2003.
Spelling of Chinese proper names is based on Wades-Giles system, which is in keeping with the times, however modern Pinyin transliteration has been included in brackets.]