SOVEREIGNS FOR CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1919, Page 4

SOVEREIGNS FOR CHINA

QUEER SCENE ON MELBOURNE WHARF. Sydney, October 9 The law to-day says that only 20 sovereigns may be taken out of Australia, and they must be taken openly. The sovereign is worth np to 30/ in the East to-day—and so the Chinese try to smuggle them ayay. There was a queer scene on a Melbourne wharf this week, just before the steamer Eastern left for China with 100 homeward bound Chinese among her passengei’s These Chinese carried their luggage very carefully down to the wharf hours before the boat was to sail, piled it there, and sat on guard. The Customs detectives, always suspicious of the Chinese, decided to have an extra-careful inspection. A group of them gathered before the mountain of luggage, and the Chinese stirred uneasily. An official opened a box and noticed a small mirror. It seemed heavy. “Undo the back,” said the inspector. The Chinese owner protested earnestly. The back was ripped open* and 34 sovereigns were found there, gummed to pieces of paper. Kim Sow was arrested. A cube box puzzled the detectives They could not get at the inside of itThey forced off the lid. There, imbedded in a most ingeuious fashion in the woodwork, were 105 sovereigns. Chin Lin was arrested.

An aged Chinaman, who clung affectionately to a bag of raisins, aroused attention. A detective thrust a speculative hand among the raisins, and the old man shrieked. Eleven sovereigns were found. Ah Chow was arrested.

The detectives examined curiously an alarm clock, which was ticking innocently. “ Whaffor, break clock ?” said the agonised owner. They took the back off; nine more sovereigns. Looey Foo was arrested.

Then one of the distressed onlookers, a Shanghai man, threw up his hands, shrieked, and ran towards the gates. He was pursued and brought back. “ Why should he run ?” asked the official. They examined him carefully. Inside the leather lining of his hat they found 25 sovereigns. Ling Sing was arrested.

A detective picked up a photograph from among some clothing. The owner gave a sort of jump. So they cut open the back of the photograph. Two more sovereigns, arid Ah Chee was arrested.

The Eastern sailed eventually—but nearly a dozen Chinese and more than 200 sovereigns, booked to China, stayed behind in custody.