CHINESE SMUGGLERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12999, 15 December 1902, Page 5

CHINESE SMUGGLERS.

At' tie Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Ah Yee ' and Liin Chun, two Chinamen, were charged with having opium illegally in their possession, upon which no duty had been paid. , They were further charged with importing opium suitable for smoking into the colony ■ without being authorised by the Commissioner of Trades and Customs. Mr Stringer appeared for the prosecuv tion, and Mr Homan for 1 the accused. Mr; Stringer applied for a remand, and asked if his Worship proposed to fix bail to make it very heavy. : Mr Homan opposed this suggestion, and said that the case against his clients was not a very strong one. He asked that bail should be fixed in a small amount. ■. Mr Stringer said that the case against the accused was the discovery of the opium .in their possession. They had no license, and no Customs duty had been paid on the drug.' The accused were intercepted at . Springfield on their way to the West Coast ■ and when questioned denied that they had - opium ■in their possession. They Were searched and about thirty tins were found concealed, in some bedding. “ Mr Homan said he understood that the . accused had a good defence, namely, the legality or otherwise of being in possessionof the opium. Mr Bishop: Of course, that is a ques- •" tion. Mr. Homan said the accused understood very little English, and it would be necessary to employ the services of an interpret ter. . Mr-Bishop said it was. an exceedingly difficult thing to get an interpreter who was intelligible and reliable, and as far as his experience went there was not a satisfactory, one to be had in Christchurch. It was only the other day that an interpreter ■ was employed by the Court, and he was found to be almost useless. Mr Stringer agreed with his Worship', and said the Crown would l do its best to . provide an interpreter, but there were very , few in the colony.

, The accused were then remanded until Dec. 19, bail being fixed in one surety of £2OO in each case or two of £IOO each.