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New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6147, 30 July 1881, Page 4

After the lengthened, dreary," and somewhat fruitless debate which has concluded, members yesterday amused themselves while, in committee on the Gaming, and Lotteries, Bill. ; The ninth clause of the Act is: " The Chinese game, known as • fan-tan, or ;any similar game, is hereby declared to _bei a irame of chance within the meaning of this Act," and-.therefore. illegal.-.'.Mr. hereupon asked Mr. Dick, who is in charge of the Bill in the House of Representatives,, to explain what fan-tan wa3. Mr; Dick is a strictly religious and unsophisticated Scotchman of the most pronounced Calrinistic type, and had to confess - his entire ignorance of the nature of the game which he asked the House to prohibit under severe penalties. He could only say that the Bill had come down in this shape from the Legislative Councillors, and they, especially Mr. i Whitaker, who drafted the.Bill, no doubt knew all about it. One member suggested that , fan-tan was chess, ■ another • loo,' and could not see why, if so, it'should be prohibited. A West Coast member suggestedthat fan-tan might be as innocent as kiss-in-the-ring, which we should consider'highly probable. Dr. Wallis is not to be beaten on this or any other subject,.and proceeded to give an explanation of the game, which' does not, however, make the matter very clear, • although seeming to show that the game is as innocent as 100 or. cribbage. i Mr.- Sb.eeban informs tho world of the interesting fact that thirty now hats changed hands over the recent division. We suppose that the : evil of fan-tan- is, that it is played at a gaminghouse, where enticements are held out to risk 'money. : '■■■■ ■ ■ "■' r -" - ,; '.' -.; - "