SEARCH FOR OPIUM

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 66

SEARCH FOR OPIUM

PREMISES AT PALMERSTON RAIDED. PALMER STON, January 18. Sergeant Stagpoole, Mr Johnson (Collector of Customs, Wellington), Deleotive Maddern, and a number of police constables visited the residence of Yea Kern Lee, the keeper of a boardinghouse and laundry in Main street, shortly after 9 o’clock this morning. Sergeant Stagpoole, Constable McDonald, and Mr Johnson made a brilliant move on the centre of the building, leaving Detective Maddern pasted on a point of vantage to intercept any retreat on the part of the garrison. Little resistance was offered, however, the gates being opened without remonstrance. When they had made their triumphant entry' the trio discovered Yee Kem Lee, who wore a guileless expres sion, sorrowfully regarding the remnant of his breakfast, such sordid matters as opium being apparently foreign to his mind. But a search party was organised, the lining of the walls and other unlikely places coming in for special attention. It is stated that Yco Kem, who had at first excitedly offered every assistance to the searchers, gradually subsided as by degrees a heap of empty tins were collected. When a pipe which contained some unsmoked opium was brought forth from some deep recess, the yellow man is reported to have lifted up his voice and excitedly offered to lead the search party on a mighty campaign through Wellington, where he said they would indeed find spoils worthy of conquest. The house of Yee Kem Lee being disposed of, the search party moved on to a Chinese garden in Ferguson street. Nothing of a lawless nature was discovered in this locality. A hurried march then enabled the party to arrive at another garden in time to find a European stretched at luxurious ease, while by his side was a pipe and opium. There will be a temporary cessation of hostilities, the Courthouse King the next rendezvous.