RAID IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 11

RAID IN AUCKLAND.

NEARLY EIGHTY ARRESTS,

(rBES.S ASSOCIATION TKLKORAM.)

AUCKLAND, April 0

Between -'.30 and 3 o'clock this afternoon four detachments of police, under Sub-Inspector Hendry, Senior Sergeant McKinnon, Sergeant Eergjison (of the water-front police;, and Sergeant Bird, simultaneously raided the premises eiccupied by John Ryan, billiard saloon keeper, Vulcan Lane; Robert Portur and Charles Taylor, Coombes Arcade, Lofty Richards and John AVesi-on, British Buildings, and Daniel Tnohill, Coombes Arcade, respectively, and detained all persons thereon on charges of being found :n common, gaming houses. It is fairly well known that although the passing of gaining legislation some two years' ago made the bookmaker's business : 1legal, a number of men who were formerly licensed still carry on flourishing businesses. Eroru time to time th-.-police in various parts of the .Dominion, have made more or less successful attempts to suppress gambling of this character. It appears that, since Sergeant I'orguson took charge ot the water-front police, he has noticed a great deal of gambling going on about the wharves and other places. It is understood that tho raids made this afternoon wero the outcome of many weeks of careful investigation- To passers-by in the vicinity of Coombes Arcade, Vulcan Lane and Theatre Lane, just prior to the raids, there wa. nothing to indicate- that thero wasanything of an unusual nature on foot. Business appeared to be going on as usual in the premises which were U) be disturbed a lew minutes later by the entry of large bodies of police that suddenly mado Their appearance. The arrangements of the police were evidently complete in rvory detail, ide four raids being made at precisely the .same moment. There was no possibility of any warning being given to the eiccupants of any one of the premises of the raids on the others.

When all the persons found on tho premises in epiestion, together with the principals, had been taken to the polico station, it was found that in ail nearly eighty had been arrested. They were brought before Justices of tho .Peace, who let thorn all out on ha.l. Tho principals were released upon :\ bond of £'200 each, and those found on the premises, in bonds of .(.'lO. All will appear in Court to-morrow, when it is probablo an adjournment will be asked for.