CHINESE OPIUM DEN RAIDED

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1949, Page 7

CHINESE OPIUM DEN RAIDED

WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. Eight Chinese, whose ages ranged from 42 to 73, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to-day on charges of smoking prepared opium at 52 Haining Street, Wellington, on Friday night. One of the accused, Arthur Wong, was charged with allowing his premises to be used for the smoking of opium. Pleas of guilty were entered to all the charges and fines ranging from £2O to £6O were imposed by Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M. Sub-Inspector W. J. K. Brown said in evidence that whenthe police visited the premises concerned one room had all the appearance of having been set up for opium smoking. The air at the time was thick with opium fumes and some of the accused were found lying on benches. One or two of them had been smoking at the time. Opium pipes and a quantity of prepared opium were found by the police. All but one of the accused had been before the court before on similar charges, he said.