SECRETING RIFLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1917, Page 4

SECRETING RIFLES.

The well-laid schemes of Loo Qaong

and Ah Duck, who were charged in the Melbourne Police Court a few days ago with attempting to take out of ihs country articles prohibited from export, came to grief in a most unexpected manner, gays the “ Age.” f l be two Chinese were on beard a vs.-ssl ready to depart for Chios, aud wete taking with them two new Winchester rifles and about HOO ivucds of ammunition.

Their object was to beat the Chinese Customs, in pursuance of which the articles were cunningly hidden in prepared cavities in the lids of their tin trunks. Lio Qaong and Ah Duck went to much trouble in this respect, and had their ritDs and cartridges actually built into t e inside of tbs lids, so that tbs only methods of getting them out would be either to out out the enclosing sheet of iron or unscrew innumerable nuis. Unfortunately for them, just prior to their sailing Customs Inspector Gleeson and other officials paid a visit to the ship in order to see if any gold was being taken away by any of the numerous Chinese on board. L.e Qaong and Ah Duck owed that they had no gold, but the sceptical inspector, neticing the formation and weight of the lids of their boxes, instructed a cooper to open them. The rifles quickly came into view, and the cartridges which were done up in fish tins, followed.

The Chinese were then arrested, Mr Ah Ket, who repreieaud them in the Court, asked for the minimum penalty of £5, as both accused had losl> their passages together wi h their rifles and ammunition. They were taking the rifles to China, ha said for their own protection, as it was a popular superstitatiou ia tbeir country that money wu3 easily obtained in Australia, and some of their compatriots might be inspired to pay them an unexpected vie t at night. The Bench fined each accused £lO, with £i 1/ costs.