THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2716, 2 December 1881, Page 3

THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington. Dec. 1. Great indignation is felt here at the action of the police in prohibiting sweeps at the races yesterday. Some time ago the detectives made a raid on a Chinese store, and arrested a dozen Chinamen for playing Fan Tan, and the Press of the city hinted strongly that they would not be so ready to proceed against Europeans in good positions. Evidently smarting under the taunt, they made arrangements for detecting sweepstake parties at the races, and the was that the names of about 30 prominent citizens were taken down, and they will be proceeded against in due course, if the law officers of the Crown recommend such a course. Sir W. Fitzherbert, Speaker of the Legislative Council, and President of the Racing Club, seeing what was going on, did what it is asserted ho had never before done in the course of his life, took a chance in a sweep. He did this in order to make a test case, and called the attention of the police to the fact. His name was at once taken down, but lie had the satisfaction of winning the sweep. Among those whose names figured on the detectives’ note book were a couple of ex-members of the House, bankers, merchants, and Justices of the Pence. No doubt the police did their duty, but they have come in for a good share of odium in the performance of it.—“ Lyttelton Times ” correspondent.