THE CHINESE CURSE.

NZ Truth, Issue 90, 9 March 1907, Page 6

THE CHINESE CURSE.

Trouble m the Occidental

Hotel.

Wouldn't Drink where a Chinese

Cook was Employed.

The employment of Chinese m preference to European cooks m several hotels of Wellington, has naturally enough given rise to bitter feelings on the part of Europeans and whitemen cooks, and one result of this feeling was the appearance of a deadbeat named Frederick Stewart, arid a cook named Dan Williams, Before Dr. McArthur, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of behaving m a manner whereby a breach of the Peace .was occasioned. Williams, a man of most respectable appearance, pleaded guilty under great provocation, and he told the Magistrate that he was invited into the Occidental Hotel on Thursday evening -to have a drink. He went m with his friends, and when drinks were called remarked that Chinese were • employed at .the hotel.

HE REFUSED TO .DRINK and his friends also declined. Hartshorn, the licensee, then attempted to hustle him out of the place, and Stewart, no doubt m order to get a cheap beer, interfered and attempted to strike Williams, who promptly bashe % d-the beer bummer across the face, and did it properly, too, as it closed- Stewart's eye up. A constable then came on the scene and locked them up. Stewart had nothing to say for himself beyond that he went quietly with the police, which drew from Dr. McArthur the query whether thati was not his usual custom. The Magistrate fined Stewart £2 ox, 7 days, and held him to be responsible for the whole trouble. Williams was fined £!.-'■■