EASTERN GRANDEUR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 431, 16 January 1933, Page 2

EASTERN GRANDEUR

VALUED COLLECTIQNS REMARKABLE TREASURES IN ' (TIINESE MILLION AIRES HOUSE. ORIENTAL AND MODERN. A short time ago, while staying at Ipoh, a town in the Federated Malay States, remarks a writer in the Melbourne Age, I was lunching with an official of one of the large tradihg companies which' have their headquafters there. During the course of the meal my host inquired if I would care to see over a rather unique house in the neighbourhood helonging to a Chinese millionaire. Such people are not come by every day, at least .in . my world, and was quick to agree to ; his suggestidh, if only for the moral ■ stimulus it provided in conjuring up • visions of untold wealth. The Ofien- i tal owner, learned, possesseu several j tin mines, and his fortune was discussed almost with bated breath. First ringing up the head boy for i permission to visit his master's house, j we drove by car, and after a journey of ten minutes or more arrived at the gates. The house was a large doublestorey hrick building, and stood at the end of a sweeping drive, and in the centre of one of most beautiful gardens have ever seen. The beaming head boy opened the front door in answer to our ring, and assured us that although his illustrious master was not at home, had not, in fact, been to this home" for two years, he, the head boy, would be honoured to show us the humble dwellirig. Humble, indeed! For grandeur and elaborateness it would be difficult to surpass. The Chinaman had heen a great traveller, and during his many voyages to the West had gathered together a remarkable collection of rare and uniqiie curios. Strangely enough 'the house was neither built nor furnished in Oriental style, but incorporated the most up-to-date fashi'ohs in modern decorating, ahd was a marvel of household efficiency. In the centre of the huge dining-room was a table already laid "for 24 people, and we were told by the head boy everything was so arranged that if the master wished a sumptuous banquet could he prepared in the space of two houj;s. At one side was a vast round oak canteen with drawers, in which was every conceivable kind of eating implement, even to asparagus eaters, and all of solid silver. Hanging on the wall was a telephone, and the head goy turned to me and said, "Mem take telephone ! down." I lifted the receiver off its hook, and as did so the front of the box opened, revealing a compliete liqueur set inside. Six glasses and a full bottle of creme de mejithe. Theii i was invited t'o sit in a comfo'rt-able-looking chair close hy," and was instantly regaled by strains of tremulous music issuing from underneath ihe. Elaborate Furnishlngs. Upstairs in the bedroom reserved for the owner of the house we were amazed at the elaborate furnishings and the obvious expensiveness of everything. ' Bfeside the imp'osing bed, which had not been slept in for two years, was a gold cigarette box 'filled with the most expensive cigarett'es, and beside it a beautiful lighter of the most up-to-date design. At the far end of this palatial bed-cham-ber was a long wardrobe contairiihg sujtable cloth'ing for every occasiori. A dozen brand new suits, exclusively cut by the best tailors in London, were waitihg to be worn, while scorOs of socks and ties in matching hues were ready for instant use. A supply of boots and shoes, still in their origina.l bojces, was neatly laid in a special corrier. The Head boy led us to an immacuately white washing basin, and on turhing the handle of the tap but gushed a stream of boiling hot water, "vVhich had been waiting for two years, and was still waiting for its lord and master to wash his illustrious face in. Scattered through'out the house were statues Illuminated by skilfully

concealed electmc lights, and eiectr\city was the 'mo'tivd p'owef for several awesome-looking machines in the wbn'de'rful gymnasium, obviously for the ultinjate benefit of sufferers from obesity. ' A madly leaping, yet at'the sajne time, stationary, horse; a chair possessed of strange habits, arid. various bth'er appljances whichj %hen tixe oipnipo'tenf; button is pressed, p'epform the most hair-raising antics, formed a pp'elude to the 'inevitable electric weighing 'machine. .On the way to the up-to-date electrically fitted kitchen, or cook'ing . house, as it was called, we passed the • wine cellars, completely stocked with evefy cohsujnabl'e liquid, and we }vere hospitabily invited to partake of anything we fancied. The last things we • inspected were the garages, six in number, and each capable of h'ousing a char-a-hahc at leasf. ' The head boy informed us that his piaster owned' th'ree more houses in different towns equalling this in magnificence and quality, and diyided his time as he chose among the four. He was liable to arrive at any time at any house, and always insisted on having th'em kept ready for his instant occupatipp, regardless of how long he was away.