FAN TAN.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 151, 3 August 1881, Page 2

FAN TAN.

We recollect euce hearing -..Sir.., Reds, mond Barvy^— a judge of the Supreme Court, and a colonist of some thirty years standing — ask a witness : with the most seraphic innocence to expiate -what he meant by saying the. prisoner had "shouted" for. him, as he (the learned judge) was somewhat mystified by the expVession. Of course it was only ineeQthat? such an august judicial functionary should, repudiate an acquaintance with siichfa plebian proceedings but nevertheleW there were not a few members of the Bar present who had not only treated him to a "liquid coo-ey," but asserted that the Judge's stoye pipe had more than once fe't the rattle of "a shake m thehat." A perusal pf the. following debate,on the Gaming and Lotteries Bill lends us to swppoae that our worthy legislators hadjheai # ci|t bU story before, and had taken a leaf out of. bir Redmond's book, for we~ are afraid our law makers are not quite 60 iunc cent as they would wish to make it appear :-=^ ■ — " y eoabei« generally displayed -the,- most . l>iuaeot.tble'i<'Qoi'aQce on the subject of this most iaieresting game, and no sooner wwans n the clause avi i\- ed at than half-a-dozen hon. members joniped up sad pressed , the unha.opj Colonial ,Seeietarv to " lighten thyir darkness,' ' as to the naiqre of fan tin. Fiopa Me. Dick's attitude it was at once seen ttistfc" this was a " posec" for he buried his! facei m his h»inds and seemed to undergo fi-igbt-fnl menial augnish. Mr. Bowen didu'.t tut at fan t*n was worse than loo,; and thought it would b«j well if the' Minister m charge of the Bill would explain what r the formac game was ; air. Speight was soiely afraid of h wing his morals corrupted- bythe defioition of this unrighteous game, and he expiessed a hope that the minister would not make any explanation, as it .might con;, tamiuate the puiity of boa. members /'Mr. George wanted the term defined m the in> fei i pretation clause ; Mr. Levastam prayed the Colonial Secretary to educate: him on' the s '.bject ; Mr. Biyce beliered that faa tan was the Chinese for cb^&j ; Mr. EeeSres hr 4 his doubts as to whether it wasn't siojii, lar to kiss m the ring, which was decidedly a game of chance, aad be begged the -Mm* ister m charge of the B.HI to postpone the clause till he had ascertained :.w,hi'J{ really was the nature of the gaaie ; finally Mr Barxoa implored Mr Dick m plaintive tones to relieve the painful suspense of hon membeis, and give a lucid explanation of this dreadful Chinese game; Upon this the Colonial Secreiavy slowly and solemnly, rose, am id roars of laughter, and I ' said': " Sir, I beg to inform honoiable 'inepftbers] I don't know what itis. (Gieatliangh'ei 1 .) I hare eoqulied, bat caa get: no salisfactory aubwer, it is not the only clause hr.many; that I have had^Q take upon trust, as far as my own knowledge goes. I have no doubt the potent, grave, andreverentl seigr ;: niois m ' apothac place,' have carefully considered the matter before sending f--tbev bill down here." Mr BroWif was.led.to be-, lieye— or said' he was, which' a"raotnita' ta Ihs same thing— that Mr Dick could not be m the coufideiipe of Ministers; .beoauw it wasusuJilfor^ail Governimeßt bills to be ca< ef ally considßred m! ■ Cabinet ere, tbej. ware brought before Parliameat. * 'Mr. Speight took -it for : grunted that aa the Co-. lonfal Secretary did'nt understaad the into, esting game of fRa-iaa, all xefertneefo it wpuld have to be oßaitteed fiom the clause ; but he wai aDXtous for an exDJajia.-. tionof ihe meaning of the «uccoediog woids '.'or any other similar game." Mr. Dick': did not condescend lo explain but Dr. Wallis who is a man of vast and varied experience, came to thu rescue wilt an explanati nof the game itself. ; His explauation was not quite olea.r to the uninitiated; but ' some of our readers T^ight be able tp makfc: something of it. It was to this effect j— A lot of Chinese stood round a table on which a lot; of oounters'wei'e thrown do j».^,. Tbtn one Chinaman* swept all tine counters up except one, and it depended on which comer b£ the table that counter was' nearest who won.' ' ■•;-■'.■■■■;•: ■