LIFE IN RANGOON AND SINGA1PORE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 800, 25 April 1910, Page 9

LIFE IN RANGOON AND SINGA--IPORE.

A NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. IBy Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Christoiiurch, April 23. Mr. H. P. Toogood, who contested the Cbristchnrch East seat at the general election of 1905, recently returned to New- Zealand after an absence of over three years, in order to take up a position with the Hokitika Harbour BoaTd. He has spent most of his time on tho Malay Peninsula. l Speaking to a press reporter, he said he had spent about a year in Rangoon, and was engaged on matters connected jv}th the improvement of the dock. The idea prevailed that Rangoon was not a very healthy place to live, in, but he found it a charming, plaas and. extremely healthy. The people who were unable to obtain exercise during tho heavy rains took it by dancing. They danced in flannels,' and made it a very healthy exercise. Golf was' vory popular, and tho links, which were well appointed, were situated 011 country that printed numerous natural hazards and bunkers. Horse racing and crickct were ajso vefy popular, . Association Was the favourite form of football, Rugby only being indulged' in to a very slight- extent; . He visited Altyab IJiS connection with some wharf work. Iney had tremendous' falls of ram in Akyab. The rainy 'season lasted • six months, and tho other six months were perfectly dry, no rain falling at all. There was a very large reservoir built on top of a hill for supplying the toffn, anil it was filled solely,by tho ram and the supply lasted till the next ramy season. . The Burmese .were, probably the most charming of the. Eastern people. The women were quite emancipated, and it was a usual sight to see a Burmese rice broker taking his -wife.' with him to. finally choose . whtit' rice ho should ■ purchase.''lt was noKwise when carrying on business to neglect to obtain the wife's signature .to any documents, , as she owned one-half of any property which might have been acquired after' marriage. "Later I. went to Singapore," pursued Mr. Toogoo:!, "where the head oftfice of Messrs Howarth and Erskine, ttd., whom I was encaged by, is sit-: uated.. Singapore is difFerenE in many respects to Rangoon. There is more of tho Scottish element ahout it. Most of the clubs are closed on Sundays, and there seems to :he. an attepipt to observe the Sabbath more or less strictly. In most other places the white pt>mila--i tioil employ Sunday 'as a rlay of relaxation, and play tennis'and cricket, quite openly. Sport- played a vpry important Part- in the lives of Europeans, and tennis, crickct, and football had maiiy devotees. ' The tennis championship of Biwxapore was held by Mr. A; D. Cox, a'New Zealander. Rugby football was mostly supported by. New Zealanders and Australians, The average tem-.poratiire-in Singapore was about 8(5 deg.- in the shade, and it rarely varied month' in and month -out."