DRUGGED.

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 524, 5 January 1889, Page 3

DRUGGED.

The hoatiion Chinee is not popular in these colonies ; the more we sco of him the less wa like him. Fronde speaks well oi' him in 1 Oceana," and seems to regard him in the light of a man and a brother, but then Frcude doesn't know John. A mere tourist who pays a flying visit to the colonies, and travels as quickly as special trains and fast steamers can take him, can hardly bo expected to know everything about the now world he honours with his presence for a few short weeks. And so the great historian was favourably impressed with John. Had he known as much about him and his little ways as some oi us do he would probably have thought differently. 1 # * "* Fortunately we have not very many Chinese in Auckland. They prefer Australia, and Sydney especially, where they have a kind oi township of their own. Long may be before they form such a community m Auckland ! ■» * * And that brings me to a little story F. heard last week. In a certain hotel in this city a Chinaman is, or rather was, cngagtil as cook. One afternoon the publican went cut leaving the house in charge of his wife, his female domestic and the Chinese cook. He said he would net be back cor some hours. Shortly after he had gone the landlady told the girl to go into the kitchen and make a cup of coffee for her. adding that she (the girl) • could have a cup herself if she cared for it. The girl went downstairs accordingly, but John would not hear of any interference with his own particular duties. The kitchen was his and he didn't allow trespassers. He Eaid he would make the cotter- himself and bring it upstairs. * * . * In a little while the coffee came up and the two women eipped it while they chatted, after the manner of wornenkind. The landlady haring swallowed half of her's was suddenly seised with drowsiness and fell back in a heavy sleep ; the girl also got terribly drowsy .yet had her wits sufficiently about her to run to her room, where, after bolting the door on the inside, she fell in a swoonlike sleep on her bed. * x * Of course the coffee was drugged, and^ John was carefully noting its effect with a view to move No 2 when, as good luck would have it, the landlord returned, quite unexpectedly, and taking in the situation, promptly went for^ the Chinaman, who was literally quaking with fright in the corner. He gave that worthy such a hammering as he is hardly likely to forget this side of the grave, and finished up by kicking him clean out of the place. What John's idea was in drugging that coffee may be imagined. Most fortunately his design was frustrated. * * * Now, I may be told that this is only an isolated case, and that there are black sheep in every flock. Granted, but yon have only to road the records in the Australian and American papers of crimes committed by Chinamen, to be convinced, I think, that John is vary fond of amusing himself in this particular way. He is treacherous, sensual and cruel, and the less he is encouraged to settle in these young colonies tne bettor for the colonists.