A CHINESE FUNERAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 94, 24 April 1891, Page 3

A CHINESE FUNERAL.

A Chinese burial is of such infrequent occurrence in Auckland that the funeral of a young Chinese woman, which took place on Wednesday afternoon lash, aroueed considerable curiosity. The deceased waa a relative of Ah See, about 23 or 24 years of age, and she was buried as nearly as possible in conformity vith Chinese custom. The corpse was dressed in a shroud of white liberty silk, made at the D.I.C, with a new frill round the neck and gathered in at the waist, and deposited in a coffin. The coffin was placer! in a hearse and taken to Waikomiti at the fastest possible speed consistent with safety. Behind the hearse there were live carriages, the foremoet occupied by a female relative of the deceased and the remaining , carriages by Chinamen. As the cortege passed along the road fragments of rice paper were thrown broadcast to propitiate the erode on behalf of the deceased. On arrival at Waikomiti the coffin was deposited in a grave without ceremony, and after it had been covered large quantities of rice and other food were placed on top of the grave to keep the departed from starvation during the journey she had undertaken for another world.

Ab the R.M. Court to-day, in a judgment summons case, Burleigh and Williams v. Potter, claim £40 0s 6d, Mr W. J. Napier submitted that the Court had no jurisdiction, because the certificate did not seb out before whom the case was heard. The objection was upheld by Dr. Giles, and on the application of Mr Keesing the case wan adjourned, to permit a new certificate to be obtained from the Bay of Islands.