CHINESE REVELRY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24, 30 January 1911, Page 8

CHINESE REVELRY.

v ' .-J.OY ON THE STBATHALBYN. High revelry and the gladness of a. festive 'season^, celebrated in true Oriental ©iyleV have prevailed among the Chinese on the' British tramp steamer Strathalbyn, now at Wellington, during the^past 'Eight or two. To-day is the Chinese New iYear, but- 'none of the smiling bTighteyed Celestials could tell a Post representative what their year was. It was a season of gladness, and the evidences cf their testivity are to be seen about the '-forecastle. Cra-ckers and bangers strewed the ioc'-sle entrance. These "had been let off this morning, but the merry din, and the added risk of fire, were- too much for the cantious officers. The result was that the order went forth for the cel-abrants to adjourn ashore, and take their explosives with them. A considerable number accordingly came ashore to look tor a vacant section, on wliich to hail their New Year. On Friday the Chinese, numbering thirty in ail, were given a wages allowance, -and they immediately • cam© "up town" to lay in a store of provisions for the festivity. Live and dead ducks and fowls, strange- looking puddings and culinary concoctions, of mysterious texture were laid* up in huge store. "They have been cooking since Friday," observed an officer. The result of the feast was "seen in the foc'sle this afternoon, where half v dozen Mongols were sleeping the hours away. I hey looked well fed and happy. , Alongside one was the fascinating opium pipe and appliances. To-day, however, all the Chinese have been given a holiday, and the day ' is being ebseived as such. it is xeported aLo that while in Wellington these thirty Chinese are having their queues cut off, in accordance ■yiih. an edict of the Chinese Emperor. The Strathalbyn was visited by large crowds of' Chinese from ashore yesterday, and the gabble and din of preparations were bewildering.

Sir. Justice Denniston received an enthusiastic welcome home to-day (states a Press Association message from Christchurch) from members of the Bar on Ins return from the Old Country. He goes to Timaru to-morrow for the quarterly sitting of the Supreme Court. Negotiations afe' in' progress, it is for 'amalgamating the two New Zealand Labour journals, the Weekly Hcraia r and the Maoriiand Worker. A conference between the two directorates •will be hold early next month. Miss Kathleen Anderson, 101, Coroman-del-street, rJtumes the "teaching of the pianoforte on Thursday next. / Employers are notified' by advertisement that the financial card of the Amlaecraate'd. Sctiefy of. Carpenters and Joiners'for the quarter ending March as white.