Wah Lee

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MR. GIN COOK YIN.

Well known in the city, Mr. Gin Cook Yin, who traded under the name of Wah Lee, died on May 14, after a short illness, at his home, 45,Grey Avenue. Deceased, who was aged about 63, had been in business in Grey Avenue for the past 30 years. He had filled the office of Grand Master of the Auckland Chinese Masonic Lodge for the past 30 years. His body is being embalmed, and will be to China for burial. Mr. Dang Yin, his brother, who was in the firm, is still living, also a son, Mr. Arthur Ming Watt, who is in business in Auckland. There are two daughters in China. Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 116, 19 May 1930, Page 3

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U.S. AWARD TO CHINESE NURSE FROM AUCKLAND

By PHILIP MATTHEWS

TO an Aucklander falls the honour, of being the first Chinese nurse to be awarded the United States Civilian Emblem. She is Miss Annie Wah Lee.

Born in Auckland 27 years ago, Miss Wah Lee was educated at the Normal School, then in Wellesley Street, and at the Auckland Girls' Grammar School. After she had had a year's study at the Grammar School the Wah Lee family returned to China, where Miss Wah Lee completed her education.

After leaving college, Miss Wah Lee, who was a brilliant student, taught English. She was at this time staying with a Jamaican girl, and by her she was introduced to a priest, who advised her to take up nursing. Through his good offices she was able to join the Kowloon Hospital, where she gained her first year's training as a nurse. Then followed a further five years' training at the Queen Mary Hospital, Hongkong, at the conclusion of which Miss Wah-Lee was appointed matron of the Hospital of the Precious Blood, which was also situated in the British Colony, and was run by sisters of the Roman Catholic Church.

At the time of the fall of Hongkong, Miss Wah Lee's two sisters, Nancy and Alice, whose exciting escape to Free China and subsequent voyage to New Zealand was reported in the Star last year, were on the island. Miss Wah Lee was on the mainland at the time, but at risk of her life she crossed to Hongkong to contact her sisters. As a nurse she was able, through a doctor, to gain a special pass to make the trip, but even so the hazards were considerable. The Japanese wanted to keep her on the island to nurse their own sick and wounded, but she refused, and since the Japanese were more concerned with subduing the British on Hongkong rather than the Chinese—except those of wealth or high position—the request was not enforced. Sisters in Disguise •Her. two sisters, disguised as old women, were taken to occupied China on a refugee boat controlled by the Japanese, and Miss Wah Lee later made a similar trip. This service was run by the Japanese in order to reduce the population on the island, and it was a dangerous voyage. Apart from the fact that many people were brutally clubbed to death by the Japanese in their efforts to control the thousands of refugees on the wharves and that a large number of old women and children were trampled to death, the Japanese themselves often attacked the boats and robbed the passengers. Furthermore, young Chinese women were liable to be molested by the lustful Japanese soldiers.

Miss Wah Lee was fortunate in escaping harm and after reaching the mainland made her way by foot, ricksha, sedan chair and truck to Free China. The last-named means of transport, though faster than the others, was reliable, for many of the lorries ran on coal when out of petrol and were prone to come to a halt leaving the. occupants to spend a night on the mountains. Nevertheless, the journey to Chungking—a distance of some 700 miles as the crow flies —was completed in .three weeks. In the wwtitne capital Miss Wab Lee contacted a priest, with thf; assistance of whom she obtained a position with the American Red Cross, rising to a position of prominence.
Miss Wah Lee has not said much about her appointment to her family, but they know she had been associated with the care of the sick and wounded American servicemen. Part of her duties have been of an inves'tigatory nature and she also made many trips by air to India in connection with the purchase of supplies. For her services to the Army the Civilian Emblem was awarded in October last. Miss Wan Lee has also been* in contact with Madame Chiang Kai-shek. A few weeks ago Miss Wah Lee went to the United States, where she will further her studies in nursing work. She expects to be in America about two years before returning to China. It is understood by her family that she passed through New Zealand en route, but was unable to land and see her brothers and sisters. Her parents are in occupied China. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19450201.2.42&cl=search&srpos=3&e=-------100-AS-1----0wah+lee+--&st=1

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 27, 1 February 1945, Page 4

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Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 27, 1 February 1945, Page 4

GENERAL STILWELL, then Commander of the Allied Force in China, congratulating Miss A. Wah Lee, formerly of Auckland, when she was Awarded the U.S. Civilian Emblem for services

Attachments:

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FRUITERER'S ILLEGAL SALE.

BOTTLE DF GTN FOR A CHINAMAN.

A Cbini-sse fruiterer named Wah Lee was charged before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., in ihe Police Court yesterday afternoon M»ith unlawfully selling gfn to one Tie Wah on October 7. Sub-Inspector Black prosecuted, and Mr Martin dcfen/l.ed.

Tie W:.*h, who is the cook in an Aucklauci hotel, stated that Wah Lee curried am a fruit shop in Grey-street. About S.IJO p-m. on October 7 he went to the accused's shop to get a bottle of spirits. Wah Lee told him he had none, bul; added that if witness wanted some hadly he had a bottle which belonged to an association or party. The witness said he was then given a bottle of gin, and paid the accused 4/6 for it. 'When he went outside, a police sergeant tuok the bottle from him. in reply to j'lr Martin, witness said he went to Wan Lee because another Chinese told biA to do so and gave him the money.

Sergeani, Hansen, who was the officer on the look out for Tie Wah, said the bottle was labelled '•'Gin." He had previousJy seen Wah Lee hand bottles to Chinese. Witness searched the accused's premises, but only found a small quantity of a kind of rum. He came across a recent invoice from an Auckland firm showing that Wah Lee had ■bought a case of gin, which would contain 20 bottles. He also produced some documents showing that Wah Lee imported liquor into the colony direct. Mr Martini: Did you find any peanut oil on the premises? Witness: No. Do you Ict.iow whether the sales v°u saw were sa.les of peanut oil?— Witness: I do not.

Constable iSims, who was in the company of Sergeant Hansen when the gin was taken from Tie Wah, gave evidence, and was questioned by Mr Martin as to why he watched the premises. The witness, who displayed some hesitation, said that a Chinaman named lip Ming told him there was a quantity of beer, gin, whisky, and rum in Wah Lee's place on sale, si-rid he arranged to watch the place.

I In consequence of the witness' mani ncr the magistrate directed him to give r*his evidence straightforwardly, and leu the truth.

-Mr Martin: What was his object in giving you this information?

The Constable: I could not tell, lou made a suggestion of reward?- Xo

Was it arranged that you should watch and he st.ould get somebody to go to the place?— Yes.

There is an hotel near?— Yes

Mr Martin stated that Wah Lee pleaded guilty, and suggested that the prosecution woukl never have occurred but for tbe injudicious zeal of a young constable. According to the evidence, Wah Lee was unwilling to serve the man who had beeai sent specially to get him to break the law.

Wah Lee swore that the gin which the police had referred to was bought by him on behalf of a number of Chinese who celebrated a feast day. The spirits he imported consisted of "medicine wine."

Mr Martin called John Schisehka, merchant, who stated that during the last sL- months Wan Lee had only purchased two cases of gin from him. The. magistrate convicted Wah Lee and fined him £5, remarking that he was satisfied that there had been a breach of the law, though the illegal sales had not been extensive.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 255, 25 October 1905, Page 6 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19051025.2.52&cl=search&srpos=2&e=-------100-AS-1----0wah+lee+--&st=1

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CHINESE WEDDING

well-known families

CEREMONY AT ST. DAVID'S

Celebrated in Western style, the wedding took place at St. David s Church last night of Miss Minnie Wong Doo, daughter of Mr. Thomas Wong Doo, a prominent Chinese mercnant, and Mr. George Yin, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Yin, of Auckland. The Rev. Bower Black performed the ceremony, assisted by the Rev. Chau. The guests were mostly Europeans, the big dinner given the previous night by the bride's father being attended by Chinese as well as a number of Europeans. A lovely figured ivory satin gown with a train was worn by the bride, and she carried a bouquet of roses and carnations. She was attended by three bridesmaids, Misses Ada Wah Lee, Betty She Chong and Jeannie Doo, who were in charming frocks of green, pink and white floral materials respectively. They carried bouquets of carnations and irises. Also in attendance were .a little flower girl. Miss Wai Ying Chau, and a page boy, Master Dennis Doo. The best man was Mr. Arthur Yin, and the groomsmen Mr. Norman Choy and Mr. Douglas Yin. A reception was afterwards held at the Farmers' Trading Company, and a number of European guests gave the toasts. Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 2 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19420609.2.12.4&cl=search&srpos=17&e=-------100-AS-1----0wah+lee+--&st=1

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CHINESE AT LAW.

SECRET "TONG" INVOLVED. PROCEEDS OP AN ESTATE. MONEY FOR WIDOW IN CHINA. 'kn aileemtion of irregular dealing Wt h trust money was involved in a claim for £«3 11/5 made by John W- Walsh, agent, of Hamilton, against Wall Lee, a Chinese merchant, of Auckland which came before Mr. dust.cc ..„=*„rrl-iv Mr. Anderson re- thingyson the defendant. 'In opening. Mr. Anderson said that -laintiff had for many years done busi- Ss or the Chine-e of the Crfng the influenza epidemic of 1020 £v"sited in hospital a market gardener „f Hamilton, one How Cl.ce. who asked m if, in the event of How thees death, would realise on How Chee s estate S„d forward the proceeds to How Cbee s Sow and so,, in China. How Chee died, and plaintiff look ...hand Hie realisation of his estate, consisting of a market garden property partnership ™i,h Wang Hai. There was great difficulty in realisation, ami the services of a Chinese society, really a sort of Masonic Society of Chinese, was enlisted. D oth How Chcc and Wang Hai having been members of the Order. Eventually ,'n October. 1920. the estate was realised on and plaintiff gave his cheque for £102.5 16/10. of which £033 11/-". was the late How Chec's share, and was to be E cnt to the widow in China. On account 0 f the disturbed condition of China at that time it was decided to send tho cash through the firm of Wail Lee, which had representatives in China. Wall Lee j undertook the commission, and received the money. Later plaintiff heard that the widow had not received the cash. end made inquiries from Waht Lee, who B aid £1J» had been sent to the widow and an amount to a Chinese in New Zealand named Bak Sliding. He pro- j tested about this. and. after visiting', China and learning from the widow that £150 was all she had received, he took the present action as trustee in the estate of How Chee. John W. Walsh gave evidence to the above effect. In reply to Mr. thingyson, witness stated that all that he personally got out of the transaction was £.">O, which went to his firm as commission. He understood that Bak Sheung was a nephew of How Chee. but could not say that he was How dice's nearest nextof-kin in New Zealand. So far as witness knew. Wang Hai was a nephew as well as partner of How Chee. The proceeds of the estate were to go to the j widow and son of How Chee, not to the widow and nearest kin in Xew Zealand. The money was not handed to the Chinese Masonic Society and passed by, the society «o Wall Lee as banker in j trust for' the widow in China and j nearest kin in New Zealand. j To Mr. Anderson, witness said it was I not till 1923 that he discovered the j money had not been sent to the widow. A Nonsuit Point. j Mr. thingyson raised as nonsuit points i that plaintiff had no letters of adminis- j tration, and that he had no rights as! trustee. If defendant paid the money to plaintiff, said counsel, and plaintiff happened to lose it before paying it tv the widow, then the widow could come i on defendant for the money again. His Honor remarked that the position appeared to him that Wall Lee had undertaken a contract, which plaintiff; was entitled to hold him to. However,' he would reserve the nonsuit points. Mr. thingyson stated that his client's case was that the money had been obtained, through the Masonic Society, by Bak .Sheung. Counsel held that as Bak .Sheung probably had no money, the plaintiff had taken action against Wall Lee as a man of substance. Wong Hai stated in evidence that he received his share of the partnership estate from Wall Lee. Dang Yen, partner in the firm of Wah Lee, said he was present at the meeting in October. 1020. called by Wong Bak Sheung. Witness said he thought £1025 was handed to Kuk Yen, his brother. He forgot whether it was so or not. The money was placed with his brother to give to Wong Bak Sheung, to send to China. The firm of Wah Lee acted ts bankers. Wong Bak Sheung deposed that Wong Hai was not as near a relative of deceased as he (witnessl was. At the meeting referred to above Walsh wrote cheque and handed it to witness. Wit- Bess called to Kuk Yen. who was to nay the debts of deceased and send the rest to the widow- and son in China. In addition to the £150, witness had sent other iums to China, viz., £30. and £.50. The widow had acknowledged £150, •aid Mr. Anderson. Had Spent the Money. Witness thought deceased's' son was coming to New Zealand, and he held back some of the money on that account. I He thought there would be about £200 left, but he did not know where it was. Witness said he had not got the money now—he had spent it. If the money had been spent, it was the widow's loss, said Mr. .lustice Stringer. The question was, who paid over the money in the first place, and who wa sresponsible for its distribution Mr. thingyson stated that Kuk Yen, the man alleged to have received the money, was too unwell to attend the Court. His Honor adjourned the case till 9 a.m. on Monday. His Honor said that he could not apeak definitely till he had heard Kuk Yen's evidence, but, assuming that the joint realisation of the partner's property was handed to Wall Lee, to pay out Wong Hai's share and send the money to the widow, it was not a question of Walsh being executor at all. It was a case of principal and agent. If established on fact, it seemed that tho action was well founded. Decision would be reserved till the other evidence had been heard. Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 284, 29 November 1924, Page 13 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19241129.2.94&cl=search&srpos=18&e=-------100-AS-1----0wah+lee+--&st=1

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CHINESE AT LAW.

9 MONEY FOR A WIDOW. FIRM OF MERCHANTS SUED. THE PLAINTIFF SUCCEEDS. Finality was reached this morning in the Supreme Court action in which John Wm. Walsh (Mr. Anderson), agent, of Hamilton, proceeded against Walt Lee i.Mr. thingyson), Chinese merchants, of Auckland, for the recovery of the sum of £44.'J 11/5, being the balance of money left by a decease.l Chinese, Won,' How Cliee, for transmission by Walsh to W ong How's widow and son in China, i Mr. Monro represented Wong J'.ak Sheinig, who, the defendants allege.!, was tne nearest oi kin to the widow in New Zealond. Defendants denied liability, and contended that the money had been handed to Wong J'ak Sheim., who was to send it to China. Mr. Justice .Stringer was on the bench. The case was adjourned from Friday after- noon. When proceedings opened this morn- I ing, Mr. thingyson stated that lie had j been instructed to apply for an adjournment. He had been instructed that the Chinese Masonic Society met yesterday, with a view to discussing matters, so that the case might be settled out of Court. j Mr. Anderson said he would have to oppose the application. There had been ample opportunity of giving notice, hut counsel had only heard of this develop-1 ment this morning. Mr. thingyson said he would like to call i some fresh evidence. j Hf. Honor said he could not allow i further evidence to be called. The case j had been adjourned for the purpose of hearing a witness who could not attend j on Friday. It would be highly improper to allow fresh evidence —such a prat- I tice might easily lead to fills, evidence I being given. j Money Held in Trust. I Kuk Yen, a witness, who was too ill I to attend on Friday, was then called. I He stated in evidence that lie was a p -fc-'ci' with Dang Yen, and carried on as Wall Lee. A meeting of the Chinese Masonic Society was held i in Auckland in October., 11)20, but wit-1 ness did not arrive till it was finished,! at about four o'clock in the afternoon. Wong link Shcung called him to the I meeting. Hak Siieung asked him to receive a cieijue. Witness did not 1 receive any instructions as to what to do with the As lis received it 1 from Bak Sheung, he was to pay it j back to him. Witness did no_t know I the address of the. widow in China. A statement produced showed the way in which the money had been disbursed. Witness had paid tlie money back to WOlls Dak Sheung. "One Hundred Oaths." j Uttering a great string of Chinese I ejaculations, the witness declared, with linger pointing ceiling wards, that he I would take one hundred oaths that he had paid it back to Wong Bak Sheung. Mr. thingy-son: That's all right. You are only required 10 take one oath in this Court. "When Wong Bak Sheung got the money, he told mc he was going to send it to the widow in China," said witness. Mr. Anderson: Is it not a fact that a brother of the widow in China called on I you last year, and asked for an account j of the money.—No, a person came and! asked mc if I had paid the money back j to Wong Bak Slicing, and I said yes. Had Acted as Bankers. Mr. Anderson stated that it was acknowledged that the widow in China hud received £190. Mr. thingyson submitted that Wall Lee had acted purely as bankers. He submitted, further, that everything in writing had been in favour of delendaut. Mr. Justice Stringer said he did not require to hear Mr. Anderson. His Honor was of opinion that tho defence I had not been established. In this case, l,is Honor did not agree with Mr. thingyson that the onus of proof was on plain- 1 till—he thought the onus was on the defendant. Walsh had handed over to an agent a sum of money to dispose of in a certain way. The evidence waß quite clear. Walsh had acted on the authority of deceased. Walsh had, with deceased's partner, realised all the assets of the estate of deceased. There was some dispute as to the shares in the partnership, and it was decided to refer the question to the Chinese Masonic Society for determination. It j was eventually decided that the partner, Wong Wai, was entitled to £632,1 and the balance was due to the widow j in China. Thereupon, Walsh handed over a cheque for £102.5 10/10 to Wah Lee (according to Walsh's story), to be disbursed according to the decision of' the Chinese Masonic Society. It had 1 been clearly shown that Wall Lee was to take an active part in the disbursement of the money, in accordance with the society's decision. After paying the partner's share, he was to pay the rest I to the widow, yet he now set up the defence that he was going to pay the money to Wong Bak Sheung. His j Honor did not think the evidence confirmed that. The widow admitted only I £lf>o, and the balance of £443 was due to her- Wall Lee must be held respon- j sible for it. Wah Lee alleged that he had two claims against the estate, for I AT,9 10/ and £91 4/8. Mr. Anderson had undertaken that Walsh would retain the money, so that defendant would have an opportunity of provin" against the estate. His Honor would not accept a letter, which Bak Sheun~ alleged was from the widow in China.!' allegedly acknowledging sums other I' than the £_W). His Honor did not believe Bak Sheung. Judgment was given for plaintiff, for the full amount claimed, £443 11/5 with interest at 0 per cent as from October 11. 1920, plus costs. His Honor granted leave to appeal for variation on the score of interest. Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 285, 1 December 1924, Page 8 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19241201.2.76&cl=search&srpos=24&e=-------100-AS-1----0wah+lee+--&st=1

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CHINESE IN COURT.

TROUBLE OVER ACCOUNT. JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF. For two hours this morning Mr. Justic Herdman sat in the Supreme Court and listened to the sing-song jargon of a Chinese litigant, whose evidence was translated into English by an interpreter. Wah Lee, merchant, of Auckland, was the plaintiff, and Wille Chong, market gardener, of Wanganui, the defendant. Mr. Hogg appeared for Lee, and Mr. Slipper, of Wanganui, for defendant. Plaintiff set out in his claim that he had supplied defendant with certain goods, to the total value of £762 6/8. Defendant then gave plaintiff furniture valued at. £210 16/6. Judgment was asked for the difference, £551 0/2. As an alternative cause of action, plaintiffalleged'■ that he had shown defendant aa account for this sum, and that Chong bad agreed verbally that it was correct. Defendant admitted that he had been supplied with goods, but denied that their value was £762. On the other hand, he declared that the value of the furniture: he supplied was greater than that set out by plaintiff. Chong denied that he owed any money, also that any account had been taken, or shown to him, and that, if it was shown to him, he did not agree that it was,correct. A Chinese account book and some letters were produced. A Chinese with a, University education swore to the translation of the documents. During his evidence he stated that some English names of firms had been written in as they would be pronounced by Chinese. Asked by Mt. Slipper whether it was possible to recognise Chinese handwrit* ing, witness said that it was, if the writer adopted a plain style, but if a script—a sort of Chinese shorthandwas ueed, it was very difficult. Mr. Slipper explained to the Court that his client was not present. 'In view of the evidence, counsel did not address the Court or call any evidence. His Honor said that it was quite clear from the evidence that an account had been stated, and that Jefendant had admitted it. Judgment was given for the amount claimed, with costs. Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 94, 22 April 1926, Page 6 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19260422.2.33&cl=search&srpos=28&e=-------100-AS-1----0wah+lee+--&st=1

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R.M. COURT.MONDAY.

(Before Dr. Giles, R.M.) judgments for plaintifts. Hesketh and Aitken v. Wah Lee, claim 14s 6d, costs 7s Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 6, 8 January 1889, Page 8

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CHINESE GIRLS THROUGH PERILS TO AUCKLAND

OOME 15 years ago two young Chinese girls, Alice Wah Lee and Nancy Wah Lee, accompanied by other members of their family, left New Zealand for China. A few days ago the two sisters completed the return journey under vastly different conditions.

The journey began months ago and has involved travelling by river boat, train, aeroplane and ocean-going steamer.

They were in Hongkong studying at a convent in December, 1941, when the city was attacked. On Monday, December 8, one of the girls was half-way to school when the .first Japanese bombing raid was carried out, the objective of the Japanese on this occasion being the airfield. The attacks came as a surprise, and at first the general feeling was one of bewilderment.

On the following day there was a great scramble to buy foodstuffs and other necessitites, and shops were emptied of their stocks in half an hour. The Japanese then started to bomb the docks and barracks.

The girls, who, owing to the rush on the shops, had been unable to obtain food, were given a sack of rice and some bread by an English soldier prior to the Japanese occupation. The rice was destroyed by a bomb, but they were able to reiain the bread.

Then the land fighting began. The fiat in which they were living was situated in Happy Valley, between the British Army and the Japanese. The flat shook constantly from gun fire and falling bombs. During this time the girls slept fully dressed, their pockets crammed with toast and dry bread. The building was hit, but they miraculously escaped injury, and they went to stay Avith friends. They were in constant danger of death from bullets. "Stinking Horribly" The day Hongkong was taken there was very heavy fire in the morning, but in the afternoon this ceased. They thought the Chinese Army had attacked and the Japanese were retreating. Soldiers'came into sight and in the distance the girls thought they were Chinese, but they proved to be Japs. One of the girls described them as "looking like monkeys and stinking horribly." They had obviously been plundering en route, for all had their pockets bulging with loot. Some had half a dozen wrist watches, practically covering their forearms. Others had numbers of fountain pens clipped in their pockets. Others again carried perfumes and powder, and if they took a fancy to a girl they would shake these over her.

They came into the house and stared at the girls and their friends, and then ordered them outside while they searched the place. The Japanese made them line up in a row and then stood in front of them, training a machine gun on them, but after scaring them ordered them back to the house. When drunk the Japanese would wail that they would lose in the end and the Chinese would win, and they would moan over the thought of losing their wives and homes. The house was visited a second time by Japanese soldiers, but these did no more than look around and ask questions. Nevertheless, the experience was very frightening. Japanese Barbarity They could hear girls screaming and crying from the agonies. of torture by the Japanese. The whites, however, suffered most of all. The Canadian soldiers had to exist on half a bowl of congee (rice boiled to a very thin consistency) daily, and were made to stand in trenches, where they were buried up to their heads and tortured. Civilians were killed like pigs, ohers were cut to pieces, others had ears lopped off. The Japanese were frightened of the population getting out of hand as a result of the food shortage, and their policy was to remove those who were not engaged in important undertakings in Hongkong. Those remaining faced dire consequences if they did not obey the Japanese.

Three Chinese doctors prominent in the community refused to accompany the Japanese to Burma. One had his fingers chopped off, another was disembowelled, and the fate of the third was not known. The Japanese also collected captives for forced labour in Burma.

The Italians and Germans were the only white people allowed to go free. They were given white armhands to distinguish them from the other Huropeans.

In order to reduce the population the Japanese started running refugee boats, and to get on these boats thousands of refugees collected at the wharves. Many people wore killed by the Japanese clubbing them on the head in efforts to control the mob. A large number of old people and children were trampled to death.

The two girls spent three days and three nights on the wharf before they were able to get aboard one of the boats. The journey from Hongkong to their home at Toishan, which normally took a day and a half, occupied ten days, but they were quite well treated.

The girls later went to Kukong to continue their studies at the University, but there they were subject to bombing and machine-gunning three times a day. There was no special military objective, but hundreds of houses were burned. Delayed action bombs were also dropped, and at first many were killed when looking at these. Journey to New Zealand Starts The girls' brother in New Zealand decided that they should join him out here, and with the assistance of another sister, attached to the U.S. Army in Chungking, was successful in making the arrangements. From Kukong the girls travelled for two days in a train to Kweiling, in Kwansi Province. There they boarded a U.S. Army plane for Kunming, in Yunnan Province. They crossed the Himalayas by plane and suffered from bleeding noses and ears in the rarefied air. In Calcutta the warmth of the hospitality of the Indians left nothing to be desired, but with true Indian courtesy they insisted on feasting the girls on large quantities of heavily curried Indian foods, and according to the custom the hosts themselves placed the fcod in the girls' mouths, with the result that the sisters were bespattered with food, while the curry brought tears. On the last stage or the journey, aboard ship, the elder of the girls proved a bad sailor, but the youngerhad a royal time, the captain taking a special interest in the two refugees. At Premantle they were entertained by the Chinese Consul, and at Sydney were interviewed by a representative of a Chinese newspaper.

The girls recalled that time after time in the adventurous weeks since December, 1941, they had escaped death by a hair's breadth. After each escape they would look at each other amazed to find they were still alive.

On every hand they found kindness as they travelled. It made no difference whether they sought assistance from Chinese, British, American or Indian—all helped the two sisters. New Spirit in China They did not, however, leave China without regret. There was a new and vital spirit in China. Men, women and children were all in the fight, and despite seven long years of war and suffering all were as determined to continue resistance to the end. The position of women in China had changed. To-day, encouraged by the bravery and devotion to duty of the "First Lady" of China, Madame Chiang Kai-shek, they were taking part in war activities of all kinds, even to fighting. Reconstruction, too, was being planned. The west was being opened up, and migration there encouraged by the Government. Free schools had come into existence, and the Government was sending its university graduates overseas for further training, so that they might return to China able to give the best possible assistance in rebuilding the country. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19440225.2.49&cl=search&srpos=56&e=-------100-AS-1----0wah+lee+--&st=1 Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 47, 25 February 1944, Page 4

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DEPARTURES—This Day. Ulimaroa, for Sydney, 11.25 a.m. Mrs. Dan Yen, Miss A. Wah Lee, Miss N. Wah Lee, Miss M. Wah Lee, Miss A. Wah Lee, Master R Wah Lee, Sir. C. Wah Lee, Sir. P. Chin Bow, Sir. G. Wah Lee,

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 55, 6 March 1931, Page 4

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A Chinese marine store dealer named I Wah Lee. who pleaded guilty to two' breaches of the Marine Store Dealers*! Act. before Mr. McCarthy. S.M.. this morning, was shown to have been badly imposed upon by his English customer,}.' who took full advantage of Wah Lee's inability to speak or write their lan-; guage. The Chinese was charged with failing to keep an account of his transactions, and also for neglecting to have painted over his warehouse in Grey- street tbe phrase "Dealer in nrarin---1 stores." The prosecution was conducted by Sub-Inspector Black, who said some brass was stolen from the wharf, and the inquiries into the matter resulted in/ the discovery of the fact that Wah Left was breaking the law. Instead of the proper entries in his book, there were a number of obscene phrases apparently written by Wall Lee's customers, the greater part of the book being full of this sort of thing. On behalf of the defendant. Mr. Skelton explained that Wah Lee. not being able to read or speak English, had to get his customers to make the entries in the book. He innocently believed that the entries were correct. The magistrate remarked upon the importance of proper books being kept by marine store dealers, and said the entries could be made in the dealer's own langauge and translated when required. He fined Wah Lee £2 and costs for omitting to keep proper records of his transactions, and recorded a conviction upon tie second charge.Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 120, 31 May 1905, Page 4 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19050531.2.41&srpos=102&e=-------100-AS-101----0wah+lee+--

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WANTED ~to~Lease for the purposes of a market garden from 30 to 45 acres of land within n radius of about 10 miles of city.—For further particulars please apply Wah Lee, Chinese Merchants. Grey St. Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 118, 18 May 1916, Page 3

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Girls Tortured by Japanese Nightmare Memories

Screams of girls being tortured by the Japanese in a Hong Kong convent was one of the nightmare memories of Chinese girls who have returned to New Zealand. The girls, Alice and Nancy Wah Lee, left New Zealand with their family 15 years ago for China. They have just returned after an adven turous escape over the Himilayas by plane. They were studying at Hong Kong Convent, when the Japanese attacked the city. The Japanese arrived, as one sister said, "looking like monkeys, and stinking horribly." They ordered the girls to go out side their flat, and trained a machine-gun on them. They they ordered them back. They could hear other girls streaming from Japanese torture. Many nightmare days followed, the sisters frequently escap ing torture. All round them civilians were kil led like pigs, others cut to pieces, others' ears lopped off. Then, in order to reduc e the population, be cause of food shortage, the Japan ese ran refugee boats, which were rushed by frantic mobs, eager to get away. Many old people and children were trampled to death. The sisters made an adventurous journey to their own home in Toishan. Then they went to Kukong University to continue their studies. Here they experienced heavy Japanese bombing. Singleton Argus Monday 28 February 1944