1891:    The Ballarat Star reported “A Singular Case at Haddon”. The report is about a Loo Kim, but it would seem that it is, in fact, Ellen Lew Kim and her husband. The Lew Kims were apparently living in Haddon at the time. Their first four children were registered in nearby Sago Hill and the fifth – Beatrice –  was registered in Haddon. Lew Kim was Chinese and Ellen was half-Chinese. The report is worth quoting in full if only for the quaint telling of the story:

“Considerable excitement has prevailed in the Chinese camp at Haddon during the past week in connection with the disputed ownership of a six-roomed cottage, and the matter is to be brought under the notice of the Ballarat East magistrates on Monday next (20 July 1891). It seems that a Chinaman named Loo Kim, a resident of Haddon, owed Oh Kee, of Ballarat East, between £50 and £60, and in payment of the debt he gave the cottage in question. Oh Kee, on taking possession of the place, was interviewed at a late hour by Mrs Loo Kim, a half-caste woman, who was armed with a new American axe. The irate dame said her husband must have been out of his senses when he gave a house worth hundreds of pounds in payment of a small debt, and she concluded a very forceful address by calling Oh Kee, who stood shivering on the floor in his pajamas, to “clear out” or she would decapitate him. Oh Kee held his own for a few seconds, until the woman flourished the axe over his head, when he made off, followed by the excited female and a sympathiser named Toon Wye. An hour’s hunt then took place, but the unfortunate creditor finally escaped down an old shaft, but not until the woman had made several attempts to strike him with the axe. The whole camp then turned out, each party in the quarrel having numerous sympathisers. Next morning the telegraph wires were brought into requisition, and before 12 o’clock the interested Chinaman had expended £1 12/- 6d in telegrams to and from solicitors in Ballarat. Some of the telegrams were very amusing. For instance, Oh Kee wired to a Ballarat solicitor, ‘What me do Mrs Loo Kim?’ and the lawyer replied, ‘Go on as your doing, eject her’. To this John sent the following telegram, ‘Too muchey Melican axe, too muchey fight.’ The solicitor next replied, ‘Get police, go on,’ and Oh Kee wired, ‘No feah, no savey.’ Superintendent Palmer, of Ballarat, was one of the gentlemen who received telegrams in connection with the dispute, and as he was asked for police protection he instructed two troopers to proceed to the scene of the encounter. Several cabmen were engaged to convey interested Mongolians from Ballarat to Haddon, and the Jehus (?) reaped quite a harvest by the engagements, as a charge of £1 5/- was made for each vehicle. Acting on legal advice, Oh Kee decided to remove the house to Ballarat, and the jinker of Messrs M’Lennan Bros was engaged for the work. On Tuesday the jinker and a full staff of laborers arrived at Haddon, and when the screw-jacks were being placed under the house about 50 Chinamen, sympathisers with Mrs Loo Kim, turned out in a body and attacked the ‘house removers’, who beat a hasty retreat to the adjacent ranges. On Wednesday a second attempt was made to wheel the cottage away, but the jinker men were again beaten off by the sympathing [sic] Celestials, and a third and also unsuccessful attempt to place the house on wheels was made on Thursday. Early yesterday morning, however, before the Chinese had recovered from the effects of their opium smoking of Thursday night, the cottage was safely placed on the jinker an conveyed to Ballarat East, where it now remains. At the Town Court on Monday next Mrs Loo Kim will be charged with threatening to kill, and Oh Kee will be presented for wilfully damaging property. Messrs Barrett and Pearson have been retained in the case. Ah Poy, who is also charged with damaging property, has escaped to the ranges. [01] 1892:    James and Ellen Lew Kim’s eldest son, William Edward, died on 9 June 1892 at the age of 16. His death is reported in Ballarat East but it is unclear whether this is where they were living, a hospital, or some other location.

1894:    James and Ellen’s sixth child – Gladys – was born and registered in Minyip, about 50km north-east of Horsham.