REGISTERING CHINESE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 197, 14 May 1908, Page 6

REGISTERING CHINESE.

A WEEKLY SCENE. TAKING THE' FINGER PRINTS. Is the soeiKj a public one? It may not bo intended for such, but in effect it is. It can bo soon weekly, when tho Sydney boat arrives. Lined up along the wall of a largo room in the Customs-Department, of which the door is always open, and clustered about tho duter can be seen a, score or moro of solemn Chinamen, their " pigtails " neatly braided over -tho hat-less heads, and almond eyes expressing various emotions. Callow young Celestials, who have torn themselves away from anxious parents, grizzled veterans who have left grand-children in tho rice-fields, and every' ago between, may usually be seen among the Orientals. They aro strangers in a.'strange land,'that does not specially want them, immigrants, who have paid their' poll-tax, and are awaiting the receipt—with them their kith and kin. of Wellington, who speak the tongue of the " barbarians." : Tho finger prints of those who have arrived for tho first tiino aro taken in a most , elaborate way by a young cadctto, who also takes tho strangers' names and addresses, and generally; puts them through their. facings with a dignity of manner and decisiveness of action' whicn is most admirable.. "Ko Fung," tho young lady calls, after consultation of ! a, list, and Ko Fung steps forward more or less • promptly,, shakes his head to indicate that he docs not understand English, and puts himself in the hands of the interpreter. Name, origin, occupation, and destination aro with some trouble elicited, and the- man has then to make hia mark. On tho form which notifies 'that ho has paid his poll tax there are spaces left for tho finger prints of both bis. hands. Further prints are taken on a duplicate form, so that both parties may have evidence of the payment. Usually tho newcomer regards this performance as fearfully mysterious.: His fingers are smudged with ink, and-he essays to place the tips very gingerly upon the white sheet: Placing a towel above his band, tho young lady presses down quickly but firmly the ends of four fingers—first, tho righV hand, then the left. The name of the next Chinaman is called, i. \ Twelve Chinese..arrived by the Sydney boat yesterda.V, but ten of them had'been in New Zealand before, and when this is the case the finger prints aro taken less' elaborately on a sheet of foolscap for comparison with .the Department's previous. rccords. Several members of the Wellington Chinese colony were present to. hearten up tho strangers'for the mysterious but brief ordeal. ■