FUN OF THE FAIR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1931, Page 7

FUN OF THE FAIR

CHINESE GOODS SOLD. PICKLED FROGS; SHARKS’ FINS. KEEN BIDDING AT AUCTION. (Auckland “Star.”) “It may be good, but 1 don’t like to try it” said one man at Turners and Growers auction room laut week when the entire stock of a wholesale Chinese dealer, who had gone out of business was put under the hammer. The man who made the comment was referring more especially to the lines of foodstuffs, packed in afl .sorts of ways, which met with a ready demand from the crowd of Chinese market gardeners, who were eager to buy many of the table delicacies, which, perhaps they had not tasted since leaving thei homeland. The auction room wa s packed with a,n eager, throng of Chinese of all conditions, who provided the auctioneers and the few white people present with plenty of amusement. STRANGE GOODS. It was, said one of the auctioneers, the strangest sale they had made, not merely because it wag wholly Chinese but also on account of the strangeness, to a European, of many of the articles offered for sale. From the business point of view the auction was a wonderful success, fo rthe bidders, although keen to drive a hard bargin were eager to buy, The auctioneer had (i brisk timo but found time to enjoy thoroughly the amusement caused both by the articles and their bidders.

Often he was only selling from guess work, as many of the lines were only described by their Chinese namps, and those who might have translated were too busy buying to do so. However, none of them was disappointed, as the broad smiles which lit up their laces when they were successful in obtaining the goods they coveted testified. The Chineso probably knew better than .the auctioneer the value of the various articles put under the hammer and they would not let him beguile them into advancing the price just a little over what, they considered was reasonable He lmd a shrewd idea, however, that they “put one or two across him.”

DRIED FISH STOMACHS. The collection of goods was probably the strangest that has been put under; the auctioner’s hammer in New Zealand. Such Chinese delicacies as pickled frogs, sharks’ fins and dried fish stomachs met with a ready demand. The frogs were packed in tins, but the fish stomachs were hung by strings from the auctioneer’s stand and looked for all the world like pieces of dry chamoi s leather. The packing on many of the tins was as humorous as the auction itself. The pickled frogs were boldly displayed as “Frogs.” and the manufacturer’s note on the wrapper testified that ‘‘these fruits are packed in the vicinity of our orchards under our personal supervision.’ That wrapper was phrased in jrerfect English, but another packer’s attempt‘was ludicrous, tie proudly announced: “These fruits are hnckedin the vicinity otour or chards under our personal nhervition. Every possible caie has been tnkefor their frahness and naturity. Weiganaratee that our fruits rdtain their nateral flavor and areof the finest quality. Hoping any customer will putiani/.e with us,*’ PEANUT OIL. 0 nail those lines bidding was brisk but the briskest chatter started when the aruiumer’s assistant announced several bottles of “dry gin” for- sale The bidders started off quickly, but their enthusiasm waned when it was discovered that the yellow-looking liquid was peanut oil. However, it went in small lots, the man with the hammer stating that if it were good for nothing else it would do to oil the car Pig oil met with a ready sale and the auctioneer’s assertion that water lily roots were good was bonie out by the quick manner in which they went. LITTLE DEMAND FOR CRACKERS. A white man might have expected the superstitious Chinaman to be eager to obtain a quantity of crackers but evidently those who have become naeturahsed Rritish citizens have lost their superstition, for a hne of exceptionally good “throw-downs” did not raise a great deal of interest. Ihero were many other lines, tco numerous to enumerate, and they all met with the shrewd Chinese scrutiny, with perhaps a hit of tasting or testing here and there, before they were bought. There were one or two white people among the bidders, but they stuck to lines they knew were safe, such as dusters, brushes and joss sticks, and did not venture to invest in some of the more mysterious, but probab'y excellent, delicacies. Their attitude was, “Even if it is good, I won d probably not like it,” and they leit such to their rivals, who knew what they wanted, and got it.