JOLLY FRENCH TARS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1568, 11 October 1912, Page 4

JOLLY FRENCH TARS.

VISITORS TO WELLINGTON. Strains of the French National Anthem were heard being lustily sung in the vicinity of Lambton Quay last evening, and pedestrians and others wondered. Presently there hovo in sight a number of jolly French Tars, some of whom had been seen in the streets of Wellington from an early hour in the morning. The sailormen had attracted a good deal of attention, and one. heard tho question asked repeatedly, "What French man-o'-war is in purtp" As a matter of fact the Frenchmen aro through passengers by (lie Aorangi to the French colony of Tahiti, and numbered 29 bluejackets and four officers. The visitors appeared to be greatly interested in the shops of Wellington, and walked about the town in little groups. They seemed to ho most taken with tho chemists' and tobacconists' windows, and whenover a squad came oppnsito these a group would bo formed, and with hands clasped behind them members of tho littla body would indulge in animated conversation with each other. Shoulders were raised, lively French gestures made, and jokes cracked. Late in the night there was no mistaking the heartiness with which they woke the echoes of the streets with tho "Marseillaise." and tho usual policeman, no doubt reflecting that French man-o'-warsmen do not get. a run ashore every day, turned a deaf car on the chorus, buttoned up his coat, and strodo on elsewhero into tho gloom,