OPIUM PROSECUTIONS.

AN ALIBI PROVED. A further series of opium cases came into the Police Court on Saturday before Mr H. S. Wardell, S.M., and it was suggested on behalf of one oi the defendants that theTe are two Chinese factions in Auckland who were trying to get even with each other over the opium prosecutions. A laundryman named Ah Tan, defended "by Mr J. R. Reed, was charged with having opium unlawfully in his possession on October 17 and 2l", while another Chinese named Ah Bing was charged with the same offence, alleged to have occurred on November 18. Ah Kew, a Chinese merchant of Greystreet, said that Ah Tan visited him on October 17 and offered to sell him some opium. Witness bought one tin, which Ah Tan subsequently left in his backyard. The defendant fsaid that he could supply opium any time it was wanted. On October 21 witness sent a girl to Ah Tan for another tin, which she brought back. Subsequently., the police raided witness' house and discovered the tins. He was fined £10 in the Police Court, and Ah Tan paid half, also refunding £2 of the money wi/tness paid for the opium. To Mr Reed: He did not tell a relative "Ah Tan has done this and we'll fix something up for brim." His Worship: We don't want to make this case a ciearJtog up of a rumpus among the Chinese, unless there is a conspiracy. Mr Reed: I say it is a conspiracy by these men in revenge against Ah Tan. For the defence Mr Seed said he could prove an alibi iv respect to one date. He called Mrs Jane Ward, matron of the Salvation Army Rescue Home. She said that on October 17 she was at Ah Tata's laundry with another Salvationist. She arrived at 3.30, and remained until after 8 o'clock. Ah Tan w*s only out of the laundry during that time except from 7.30 until 7.45. Ah Tan could not have been absent without her knowledge. She was positive that All Tan was in the laundry between 4 and 5 o'clock. Corroborative evidence was given by another Salvationist. His Worsh ; p: I have no hesitation in saying that this evidence creates such a grave doubt in my mind that I cannot convict in regard to the 17th. I dismiss that case. The hearing of the defence in connection with the offence alleged to have occurred on October 21 was adjourned until Monday week. Mr Alexander, on behalf of Ah. Bing, asked for the adjournment of this case until Friday, and this was agreed to.