EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY CHINA WAR OBSERVANCES

EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY CHINA WAR OBSERVANCES Three minutes' silence was observed at mid-day on Saturday by members of the Chinese community in Auckland, at the request of the Chinese Association and Chinese shopkeepers also closed their shops at that hour in recognition of the eighth anniversary of the outbreak of war with Japan. During the afternoon there was a meeting of Chinese, over which the chairman of the association, Mr. Ng Fong, presided, and in the evening a special service was conducted by the Rev. Y. S. Chau at the Chinese Church. Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 160, 9 July 1945, Page 3

COMING FROM PUNJAB.THE HINDU IMMIGRANT 60 THIS YEAR. AND 233 CHINESE. The Maheno on her visit to this port early on Tuesday morning, brought to New Zealand eighteen Hindus and sixteen Chinese. This brings the total of Hindu immigrants up to sixty since the New Year, while 33 Chinamen have made their debut in Auckland within the isamc period. Official records prove that the great majority of these Hindus are coming in from the Punjab, a North-Western province lying along the banks of the Indus, and watered by five tributary streams ito this river. Meet of these men who 'write queer little letters, asking for perniLasion to come into the country, are i from the same village, and there is I reason to believe that they look upon this land as a kind of Paradise before they land here. Still, they live simply according to our standards, make money and return with it to the land of their ancestors. It would appear that many of them mike several trips back home at intervals ot years, and come back again and again to make another little pile. Their earnings are seldom spent out here, but are used partly to act the lord in their own land and partly to pay the paasags money for their relations to come over and join them. The Chinese come from Canton for the most part, and it is always difficult to trace their doings. Few people know exactly where they get the £iOO for each poll tax, but it would seem that a few influential Chinese here have often a hand in the matter. Be that as it may, the Hindus and the Chinese, though absolutely apart in all their standards, always manage to take away from this country of their temporary adoption a great deal more than they bring into it or leave in it. Their fruit shops and laundries are all over Auckland, and almost every week sees a new Chinese concern open. Even in occasional instances they are beginning to trade in silk- and soft-goods. The Hindus are growing in numbers rather rapidly. They have a very simple educational test which presents no difficulty to them, and for the few who work fruit hawkers' barrows, and eventually, after a season of success open a fruitshop at a permanent stand like the one in Karangahape Road, there are iaany who join the encampments down the Main Trunk and engage on contract work on the roads and in the bush in the interior of the land, living cheaply and often in squalor, and in the meaatime, holding the major part of their wages with a view to the future. Although these men are apart altogether from the life of the coatnunitr, yet in a certain sense they continue to insinuate themselves into the city's dealings. They sell their wares at' a much cheaper rate than white men do, and they attract a considerable amount of custom. No more than a bare fraction of their takings comes back into circulation again, and just as they themselves keep within their own little colonies, isolated from all, go also their money is kept among themselves. Ail the evidence that can be gathered points to this fact that they conspire to drain the country. The movement of Hindus into New Zealand is still in its infancv. But it is growing. Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 90, 15 April 1920, Page 4

A CHINESE FUNERAL AT WELLINGTON.

A CHINESE FUNERAL AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OW CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. The Times gives the following description of the funeral of a Chinamtin —A novelty in the way o£ funerals took place in Wellington yesterday afternoon, the occasion being the interment of the remains of a Chinaman, Chong Wow, who died at the Hospital a day or two ago. The procession left the Hospital at about two o'clock in the following order First the undertaker walking by the side of a Chinaman with a white puggaree wound ronnd his hat, who distributed pieces of perforated paper along the road. The coffin was borne by five Chinamen, carrying, in addition, a sack. The friends were very numerous, each Celestial smoking a cigarette. When tie cortege arrived at the English cemetery, where the deceased was to be interred, the gentleman with the puggaree removed the lid of the coffin, and exposed to view all that remained of the late Chinaman. Oat of a bag he produced a new wideawake hat, which he placed on the I head of the corpse. A uew white shirt and two pairs of socks were thrown into tha coffin, and a pair of Chiaess slippers (minu3 the soles) were placed on the feet of the deceased. A number of Chinese -tapers or rushlights were then stuck into the ground and lighted, emitting a smell like that of incense, during which process the mourners put about fifteen shillings' ivorth of silver into the coffin, together with a paper on •which Chinese characters were inscribed. The lid was then screwed down, and, the coffin having been deposited in the grave, the Chinamen distributed biscuits, lollies, apples, cigars, and several bottles of brandy among the Europeans present, ail of which had been conveyed to the cemetery in the coffin. This concluded a very novel and interesting ceremony. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7157, 24 October 1884, Page 3

Wong Hing Leong.

In loving memory nf our dear fatner, Wong Hing Leong. who passed away December 12, 1936. Always remembered by his loving wife. From Ping, and family. So Chee, Rose Carter and Ruby Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 294, 11 December 1943, Page 1

CHINESE DINNER EUROPEAN GUESTS NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

CHINESE DINNER EUROPEAN GUESTS NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS On Saturday night the Chinese- New Zealand Society, recently formed, entertained about 80 Aucklanders to dinner in the cafeteria of Auckland University College For neariy all the European guests it whfoh ,u ew ex Pfrience, and one which they keenly enjoyed. Thev nin< L Chinese dishes, and nne Chinese hospitality. Their predifficulties in the use of cnopsticks Overcome under the ar ce o{ their hosts, they relished such delicacies as bird's nest soup, bamboo shoots, dried mushrooms and oysters. The president of the society, Mr. Henry Ah Kew, welcomed the guests and read a message from the Prime Minister. The Mayor, Mr. J. A. C AUum, as principal guest, the Rev. Chau, whose speech was interpreted by Miss Finlay, and the R ev. C. W. Chandler gave brief addresses, the theme of which was the desirability of promoting culuak rel at .i° ns between China and the Dominion and the necessity of a closer understanding between them both in war and in peace. After the dinner the guests spent a social hour in the smoking room. The Rev. Mr. Chau spoke yesterday afternoon to a large gathering in the city of members of the New Zealand People's University on "China and the Whole World." In the evening he officiated at a service held in the Chinese Church, Cook Street. An address was given by Madame M. Milburn, who spoke of the fellowship of Christian nations in arms and also outlined the history of Chinese-American diplomacy. The other important celebration held in Auckland was the service held on Saturday afternoon in the rooms of the New Zealand Chinese Association in Grey's Avenue, which was attended by nearly 100 members of the Chinese community. The Chinese National Anthem was followed by the repeating in chorus of Dr. Sun Yat Sen's message to the people of China. The religious service was conducted by Mr. Gum Leong Low. The principal speaker was Mr. Ng Day Pak, who was followed by Mr. Y. S. Cham and the Rev. Y. S. Chau. The function concluded with two items by a Chinese orchestra, with Chinese instruments. Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 241, 12 October 1942, Page 5

"DOUBLE TENTH" CHINESE CELEBRATE OBSERVANCE IN AUCKLAND

In celebration of the thirty-third anniversary of the foundation of the Chinese Republic about 500 Chinese and a few European friends gathered in the Tivoli Theatre yesterday afternoon. The meeting, which was organised by the Auckland branch of the Chinese Association of New Zealand, opened with the Chinese National Anthem. The gathering made the customary three bows to the portrait of the late Dr. Sun Yatsen, founder of the Republic, and the chairman, Mr. Gum Leong Lowe, read Dr. Sun's will. The chairman then declared the meeting open, and he was followed in addresses in Chinese by Mr. Ng Fong, Mr. Y. S. Chan, the Rev. Y. S. Chau and Mr. Ng Dai Bak. The speeches referred to the significance of the occasion and to recent developments in China. Listeners were exhorted not to be depressed by bad war news, for there were always ups and downs in wars, but to work the harder for victory. Being so far away from their home country, they were urged to give as much financial assistance to China as possible. The same theme ran through the Chinese vocal items, which were accompanied by a Chinese band. A collection was taken up and realised £554. The screening of a Ministry of Information film on China and a coloured film showing Madame Chiang Kai-shek in America followed. A welcome tb the English members of the audience was tendered by Miss Betty Ah Chee. "If you have not entirely comprehended our proceedings," she said, "let us hope that this afternoon has been sufficiently different to interest you enough to want to learn more of our customs and our language. I assure you it would afford us much pleasure to assist you over small obstacles in return for the guidance and toleration we have received in learning your language." The function concluded with four cheers for China: "Together! To victory!" "Down with the aggressors!" "Long may we have the Double Tenth to celebrate!" "Long live China!" Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 241, 11 October 1944, Page 6