JAPANESE MEN O’ WAR’S MEN

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2950, 8 September 1882, Page 3

JAPANESE MEN O’ WAR’S MEN

Perhaps the most interestingoventof the fortnight, has been the visit of the Japanese, corvette Tsnknba, at Anokland. Her‘officers and'oerw created a. very favorable impression, and made themselves popular with all classes. During their stay in port they inspected everything of interest, or a knowledge of which might be of interest to their country. They spent their, money freely in the port, but all on useful articles,, and from morning to night the almond-eyed, flat-hosed tar's might be seen streaming down to the wharf ladeh with parcels. The publicans alone had cause to grieve, and they , simply compassioned the • poor idolaters' thafethe attractions of beer were thrown away upon them- It is said that, leaving out the hotelkeepers, the Auckland. tradesmen received more money in a week from the Japanese than they did from the crew of the ironclad Nelson (with double the number of men) in three weeks. Such a thing ps a case of street-brawling, of drunkenness, or of straggling through drink was unknown, and the contrast in that, respect between our own-.blue-jackets and the “ heathen ” was by no means flattering to modern Christianity and British civilisation. With the exception of our national infirmity. * everything else English was rigidly imitated—“the dress, discipline, even the very words of command -were given in English. On leaving they took away with them a quantity of New Zealand seeds, shrubs, plants, &o. for naturalisation in Japan, leaving in exchange some seeds from their own country for purposes of experiment, and on which they desired an official report from the Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society, Mr Cheeaeman. The officer who made the presentation was very particular in giving his correct style of address to Mr Oheeseman for future reference, “C, Tamari,_ Esq., Imperial Naval College, Tokip, Japan, so that Japan seems in a fair way of being rapidly Anglicised. Mr J. M. Clark the Mayor of Auckland, entertained our distinguished visitors with his unbounded hospitality, and worthily maintained in that respect the honor of the city. The “Japs” left Auckland with feelings of unfeigned regret, and expressed their hope of returning at no distant date. The Tsuknha’s crew were a smart, cleanly set of men, rather undersized, bnt well knit, and from their vivacity and intelligence, fully entitled to the appellation bestowed upon their-fellow countrymen, of the “French of the East.”—Correspondent “Otago Daily Times,’'