Wellington Sights.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 23, 2 July 1894, Page 23

Wellington Sights.

AUCTION ROOMS AND CHINESE.

[By The Man in the Street, j

Nothing strikes the inquisitive strangor to Wellington with greater forco than the sights peculiar to its auction rooms. To convoy an adequate impression of the transactions of those increasing accessories of civilization would bo to picture and deplore the spread and ramifications of tho dread “ yellow agony” of Asia, for these rooms arc in tho main supported by tho custom of Chincso. The fruit and small grocery trade is practically a Chinese monopoly. By virtue of their egregious propensities and cheap mode of living, they have ousted almost in to to tho European vendors. Most of their stock is obtained through tho medium of the auctioneers. Enormous shipments of oranges, bananas, lemons, etc., arc constantly arriving; tho various auc* tioneershavo lorries of their own, and tho transfers to thoir rooms are expeditiously effected. Very littlo advertising is required. By an inscrutable system of transmission tho news soon reaches the ultimate eirclos of Celestial proprietorship, and tho streets soon become alive with hordes of gesticulating Orientals flocking along in tho procossive stylo familiar to us all. One cannot help observing tlioir imperturbable persistency, the child-liko and bland pig-looking countenances they afloat, and tho inward quick working of a fertile brain existing under all this fancied stupidity. Tho auctioneer mounts his overchanging rostrum, tho cases most convenient to his tour round the room, with an agility worthy of a llatger, and starts businoss with a minimum of coromony, superior quite to tho necessity of elaborate “ conditions.”

A perspiring and, considering all circumstancos, polite attendant knocks off tho lid of the first case, and tho fun begins. Tho babel of noise abates temporarily to soar again into disagrooablo voluminosity at short intervals. A fat individual, who has evidently at some period of his existence been smitten with smallpox, leads off with a ridiculous bid, and thon smiles a sickly smile, and the subsequent proceedings, in tho words of tho immortal Yank, “ interest him no more.’’ After this performance, nods do the work, and tho “ lot” is knocked down, with tho option of, say, ten cases. Ho probably takes one, and tho dreary routine is repeated. Each timo a case is opened tho smoking, spitting, hideous crowd jostle ono another to obtain a glimpse of the stato of its contents. Tho few Europeans present are either idle spectators, or, being in tho trade, have moro respect for their olfactory organs than cupidity for a bargain. Thoir bids are purely speculative. Occasionally women, perhaps from the country, are courageous enough to venture into tho reeking throng; but then nothing will dotcr a woman from tho scent of a bargain: the Red Indian after a scalp was not moro relentless.

These “ Chinamen’s auctioneers ” are smart men. If they have acquired nothing else they havo become remarkably pro* iicient in identifying their clients. There is absolutely no confusion. Fung Fat does notdisputo Ah Sole; tho vision of tho auctioneer is too unerring; he knows his “family ” as well as Scotland Yard the most obscure criminal in tho metropolis. Of course, there are certain rooms not devoted to Chinamen and their wares. A favourite resort on Saturday nights is tho “People’s Auction Booms,” in Willis street, tho tutelary deity of which is one Mr. Shortt. Ono night occurred tho following interesting colloquy with the assistant: —“ What's tho volume, William ? ” William (after much diagnosis) “Opera Ciceronis.” Auctioneer : “ Ah, gentlemen, now then you i musically inclined, give mo a bid for Cicoo’s opera.” The Chinamen’s auctioneers fatten and thrive, tho Chinese fatten and thrive, and the Europeans seem emaciated and spirit broken. The prevalence of such a state of affairs is a disgrace to the Empire city ; from a health point of view it is to be deplored ; .the unfailing visits of influenza have been attributed to many causes, but the right one has been passed over. These

outbreaks have been known from time immemorial in Asia,, and but seldom amongst Europeans, until the fell tide of Asiatic im* migration set in. It is at least reasonable to suppose that filth and dirt will conduce to disease, and where would you find a filthier and dirtier race than the majority of the Chinese that infest our cities and add corruption to our nether world ? Surely this Chinese competition, with its concatenation of horrors, is worthy the serious attention of our legislators ; before too late every moans, even extreme measures, should be taken to stop this influx of inferiority. It must be manifest that their contact and intermarriage is disastrous to tho preservation of the highest qualities of our-race. Stockowners do not think of importing inferior breeds. Is the breed of New Zealanders to be deemed of no consideration ? To compete with them we will have to adopt their mode of living; our marriage laws and customs will have of necessity to be set at deiiance. These are the concomitants of the present. To clothe these facts in less uncouth language would be to lessen the impression to outsiders. This is a national question. Even Prohibition and half million surpluses, real or fictitious, sink into insignificance. The law of nations will no doubt be involved, but the progress of the rapidly expanding evil, admits of no delay in seeking means for its arrest. We may buy with you, sell with you, talk with you (per post), but we will neither live with you, sit with you, eat with you. If there is ever to be a United Australia, it will be .caused from a study of this evil. Up then you Legislators, sink your minor grievances, and arm yourselves with the old indomitable spirit of our ancestors, the spirit of a Pitt, a Bright, a Macaula\, and grapple with the greatest evil that can befall our favoured land. Your children’s heritage may go from them. The reward that you toiled for, that you heaped up a national debt for, is going from you. Better far your grand old Maoris than these scum and outcast of the east who benefit us naught. America was roused afew years back—let us profit by their action ; if we only by it secure that which is dear to English prejudice—an almighty precedent. This is New Zealand’s foreign policy. If England bo frightened of reprisals she will have to sacrifice her mere Eastern trade, and think instead of her liesh and blood, who are worth an infinity more. The benefits from our connection with China are far outbalanced by the disadvantages. The dictum must be “No more Chinese.” If England does interpose we must speak out as Dibbs did on an historical occasion regarding Chicago. We have our own people to consider and should keep pegging away until we remove every yellow-faced horror out of the land.