STOWAWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1930, Page 2

STOWAWAYS

CHINESE ON THE TOFUA. ___ » AUCKLAND, August 4. Was a deliberate attempt made to smuggle two Cliine.se into Auckland on the Tolua P Soon after the vessel left Suva on her trip to Auckland they were found in the hold, hidden among cases of fruit. This morning the pouoe took charge of them when the Tofua arrived at the Queen’s Wharf. The two Chinese had apparently hidden themselves in the hold before the vessel left Suva. They were discovered by one of the sh'p’s officers some days out when he made a search of the vessel. It is thought that the Chinese must have been assisted in secreting themselves among the cases of fruit. Their hiding place was surrounded by netting, and, as or.e man said this morning, it would have been impossible for a rhinoceros' beetle to get in or out.” The opinion was expressed this morning that the Chinese had gone on to the Tofua while she was loading cargo at,Suva and that other Chinese had helped them to hide among the .fruit, which was stacked deep in the- hold. Apparently they had taken some food to I sustain them on the journey to Auckland. In- ! all probability the Chinese will be ! shipped back to Suva on the outward trip of the Tofua, and their passages will he charged against them. For sofne time : past no Chinese have been allowed into New Zealand except for a limited time, after which they must leave the Dominion. The two Chinese, dressed in light trqpical clothes, appeared at the Police Court this morning. “What can we do with them?” asked -Vlf F. 1 K. Hunt, S.M,. “We can only send them back again.” -Sub-Inspector Shanahan said that neither accused spoke English and there was no Interpreter present. The Chinese had been discovered by the chief officer of the Tofun. The chief officer said lie was sure the Chinese could speak English. “It was a case of ‘No savee,’ when I questioned them, though,” lie added. Mr Hunt adjourned the case until the afternoon.