Mrs Ah Chee Snr

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MRS. AH CHEE, SENIOR. Intimation has been received by cable from China of the death of a very old and highly-respected resident of Auckland, Mrs. Ah Chee, sen. She arrived in Auckland about 45 years ago, and her marriage to Mr. Ah Chee was the second ceremony of this nature An which a Chinese woman took part in Auckland. Mrs. Ah Chee was converted to Christianity about ten years after her arrival in Auckland, and was latterly associated with St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, Remuera. By her life and her work ae a Christian she won the esteem and affection of air who came in contact with her, and her departure, with her husband, some nine or ten years later 'was generally regretted. Of a family lof four sone, only one, Mr. Clem Ah Chee, survives, but she also leaves 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Ah Chee survived her husband, who died suddenly about four months ago, and Mr. Clem Ah Chee, who is visiting China for the purpose of attending to his father's affairs, had only been a short time in the country when the death of his mother occurred. Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 169, 20 July 1931, Page 3

DEATHS.

AH CHEE. —On July in Canton, China, widow of the late Ah Chee, senior, in her sixty-third year. (By cable.) Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 166, 16 July 1931, Page 1

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DEATHS.

AH CHEE. —On March 4, at Canton, China, Ah Chee, the well-known Chinese merchant, in his eighty-first year. Deeply regretted Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 62, 14 March 1931, Page 1

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REVOLVER STOLEN.

THIEVES AT RESCUER A. OWNER ABSENT AT FUNERAL. Whilst Mr. Clem Ah Chee, who resides at 26, Avenue, Remuera, was attending his brother's funeral on Tuesday afternoon, his house was broken into and considerable damage done by thieves who were evidently after money. The intruders left everything in disorder. A revolver wag amongst the articles which were stolen. Entry was obtained through a door which was prised open so that the wood was split. Furniture was overturned, drawers opened, and their contents littered about the place. The total value of the stolen property was about £12, including almost £9 in money. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 15, 18 January 1929, Page 3

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DEATHS.
Ah Chee On January 6 1929, At his residence - 11 Park Avenue, William, beloved husbnnd of Annie Ah Chee. and eldest son of Ah Chee. Fruit Merchant. Queen Street, and dearly beloved father of Norman, Dorothy, Robert. Marjorie. and Alex Ah Chee: aged 39 years. Funeral will take place on Wednesday. January I8 . Time to be advertised later. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 5, 7 January 1929, Page 1

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MR. W. AH CHEE DEAD. OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOY. PROMINENT BUSINESS MAN. HEAD OF FRUIT FIRM. By the death of Mr. W. Ah Chee at his residence, Park Avenue, yesterday, after a long illness, Auckland loses a good citizen and New Zealand a distinguished and cultured Chinese. Although born of Chinese parents in Auckland Mr Ah Chee was in thought, education and habits an Englishman. He was universally popular, kind-hearted to a degree, and in his young days was an athlete who distinguished himself in the boxing ring. He was an ardent and skilful motorist, and took part in motor races at Muriwai.

Mr. Ah Chee took ill last May with a cold, which turned to pleurisy. He was obliged to take to his bed, and had not been able to get up during the intervening months. His brother Clem, the

only remaining brother, becomes head of the firm, which was established nearly half a century ago by Mr. Ah Chee, sen. The latter and his wife are still alive in Canton, whither they retired in 1920, leaving to the sons the business.

Mr. W. Ah Chee, who was 39 years of age, was educated at the Wellesley Street School and at the Auckland Grammar School. He was a great reader, and his handwriting was perfect. He was associated intimately with the Chinese Nationalist movement, aud as. chairman of the Foreign Affaire Committee he always endeavoured to place the English point of view before his countrymen. In speaking of his brother this morning, Mr. Clem Ah Chee said that he had watched his brother's illness very closely, and he was fully convinced that he would get well. "The Chinese have perhaps a different way of viewing life to the European,he said. "'For instance, they go in for fortune telling to some extent, and my brother some time ago had his horoscope cat. He was told that he would have a serious illness before he was forty. and if he got over it he would have a long life. His fortieth Chinese birthday was January 14 and we were all very anxious. His wife is in Sydney, on her way back from China where she reimained it the time my brother and his family visited their parent in 1926. The rise of the firm of Ah Chee reads like a romance. Fifty years ago Mr Ah Chee was a fruit and vegetable vendor, and was a familiar figure with his basket. By honest trading and attention he climbed slowly up the ladder of business respect and established himself in Lower Queen Stivet 12 years ago in premises
The managegment of the firm had been in the hands of Mr W. Ah Chee since 1914. when his father gave up active participation in the business side of the undertaking. He married a Chinese lady and there are five children. The eldest son is 21 year-of age and married, arid the eldest daughter was married a few weeks ago. The whole family went for a trip to China in 1926.

A coincidence is that Mr. Ah Chee. son.re[resents the eighteen generation of Chan-, and the fourth son. Mr. Clement Ah Chee representing the nineteenth generation is the fourth of the line also.

Mr. Ah Chee will be buried at Purewa on January 16. The body will be embalmed as the funeral will not be held until Mrs. Ah Chee arrives. She is due in Auckland Mondav. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 5, 7 January 1929, Page 11

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DANGEROUS DRIVING.

AH CHEE FINED. William Ah Chee, the well-laio«« Chinese merchant, pleaded not guilty- attlie City Court this morning wta l charged with two breaches of the traffic regulations—having permitted a catout to be used in the motor car he w« driving along Manukau Road on the 7th inst., and with driving his car in a manner dangerous to the public. As this was by no means the first time that Ah Chee had been prosecuted for offence against the traffic regulations, considerable interest was manifested in his case- The defendant did not employ a solicitor, but argued his own case. The evidence of police witnesses statw that the car was making noise like an aeroplane, and that he wss driving at a speed approximating miles an hour. Defendant denied the cut out, there was no unreasonable nofse, clared that his speed had not exceeded 25 miles an hour. The Magistrate convicted on the fir* charge and ordered defendant to pay W; costs of prosecution. On the charge ot dangerous driving a conviction was recorded, and Ah Chee was fined £5, wrtß 15/ costs, and f 1 10/ witnesses' expenses. Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1922, Page 6

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FUNERAL NOTICES.

AH CHEE. -The funeral of the late William Ah Chee will leave the mortuary of Messrs. C. Little and Sons. 200, Hobson Street, at 2 pm to-morrow (Wednesday) for Purewa Cemetery. Friends please accept this intimation. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 1

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CHARGE DISMISSED.

ALLEGED NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

THE KHTBER PASS ACCIDENT.

A charge of negligent flriving, therebycausing the death of Mr. Ernest Whitehurst Nealde, was brought against Norman Ah Chee at the Magistrate's Court. Four witnesses were heard by the Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Henry Richard Hawkes, a motor driver, eaid that about 5.15 p.m. on January 5, he. was driving his lorry down Khyber Pass. When opposite the Lion brewery he saw a motor lorry, a motor cyclist and a motor car travelling up Khyber Pace. The lorry was travelling between the footpath and the tramrails The motor bike was travelling in the centre of the rails and was overtaking the lorry. The motor' car wat» directly behind the motor cyclist. Witness tlonght that the motor car and the motor eycliet were travelling at the same •peed, which would be slightly .faster than the speed of the motor lorry. Before the cyclist drew level with* the driver of the lorry, he looked round. He reached down to the left side of the motor cycle, holding the handle-bars in hi* right hand. Just then the motor erele paused dightly. The motor car ease up at the back and touched the nsad-gaar<L The motor. cycle tipped over toward* the lorry, and the man fell seder the front wheel, which passed over him. The motor car practically stopped dead after hitting the cyclist. The driver of the car appeared to have control of the car.

To Mr. J. Hore (for Ah Chee): When he firet caw the motor car, it was about nine feet behind the motor cycle. The cyclist gave no signal in accordance with traffic regulations. After hearing all the evidence, Mr. Hunt said no jury could convict on the evidence tendered. It was quite right to have the matter investigated, but it would be a waste of public money to send the case to trial. It would be dismissed. Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 59, 11 March 1926, Page 10

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A CHINESE DELICACY.

THE EXPORT OF FUNGUS. NEW ZEALAND QUALITY PREFERRED. SOME INTERESTING FACTS. It is a curious fact that fungus, the familiar grey-backed vegetable canker that is often seen growing on trees, provides what is recognised to be one of the choicest cooked dishes that is eaten in China, where it is also used medicinally. New Zealand's climate seems to suit the natural production of fungus, which here grows thicker and with a cleaner appearance than is the case with the fungus that is collected from the Islands, where the abnormal tropical heat apparently tends to reduce the size and nourishing quality of this parasitic planl. Fungus of various specie grows freely in the New Zealand bush, and has a marked affinity for kahikatea or white pine trees. In view of the great demand for fungus in the Orient New Zealand merchants have given attention to the matter of export, and most people will be surprised to learn that this trade has developed to one of unusual proportions. Messrs. Ah Chee and Co., the well-known merchants, have been prominent in the shipment of fungus for many years, and they now dispatch about 80 per cent of the fungus that is sent from the port of Auckland. The firm buys up the fungus from all quarters, and as a 9 much as 9d per lb is paid now for the product it will be appreciated that there is money in this line for those who can arrange for supply, and thereby contribute to an industry of more than average pretence. When purchased by Messrs. Ah Chee and Co. the fungus is graded according to quality and sacked for shipment. The fact that preference Is snown for the high quality brands exported by this firm is indicated by the straight-out purchase of its specific brands without request for samples as is the case with other fungus that is lanJed in China. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SUPPLY.

The export .of fungus, flowever. Is only a portion of the trade activities of Messrs. Ah Ciiee and Co., whose big wholesale and retail fruit and vegetable I business has attained established favour in Auckland district. It was in 1882 that the late Mr. Chan Wat Chee, father of the present principals, first established a small mixed fruit, vegetable, and tobacconist business at No. 11, Queen Street. The founder, for the sake of brevity, became naturalised under the name of "Ah Chee." The little store gradually attracted increased trale, until to-day the sons conduct and control an organisation that is noted for enterprise. The headquarters are at 13, Lower Queen Street (opposite the G.P.0.). Another shop is at Newmarket, and there are other retail ventures in which the firm exercises interest and supervision. There is no need to dwell upon the high quality of fresh local fruits and vegetables and imported fruits for which the Afo Chee service is responsible. The firm also has a market garden at Avondale, where the choicest vegetables are grown in all seasons, thus assuring a regular supply for public distribution.

Ah Chee and Co. intend, as usual, to have another wide range of healthy edibles to meet the needs of the festive season, and the people can rest assured that their patronage Will be reciprocated in good value. Country oiders will also be given special attention. Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 296, 14 December 1922, Page 8