CHINESE OPIUM SMUGGLERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81843, 8 September 1906, Page 2

CHINESE OPIUM SMUGGLERS

Per Press Association. Auckland, September 7. Two Chinese members of the crew of the Aparima were defendants in an opium smuggling case in the Police Gurl this morning. Thev were Ah Wing (alias Wing Tow-, a seaman, and Long Tang (alias Wong Wank), a carpenter. Tincharge was that they brought into the colony threp tins of opium in t. form suitable for smoking, thus incurring liability to a penalty of ,£IOO each. George Rowe, a Customs officer, said he saw the two accused leaving the wharf, and called out, "Hullo, John, what have you got under your coat?" One of them replied, "Oh, me got nothing." Witness went up to them and drew a tin of opium nut from each of the three pockets of the man Wing. The other man, Tang, said, "Excuse me, him my friend, lie carry that for me." Witness thereupon gave both into custody. Tong p'eaded "not guilty," and explained through an interpreter that he did not mean to say that Wing was carrying opium for him, but was endeavouring to interpret for his friend, who asked him to say, "excuse me this time." His Worship accepted Tong's explanation and discharged him. Wing pleaded guilty ,and was fined a minimum fine of ,£25, with an order for imprisonment till the money was paid, with a maximum of six months. Mr May (for the Crown Solicitor) observed that the Union S.S. Company woi-j'd probably come to the rescue, as they would otherwise be responsible for the men, under the Chinese Immigration Act.