SMART WORK

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12023, 29 December 1924, Page 6

SMART WORK

BY CUSTOMS OFFICIAL THE LADY, THE RING—AND THE DRAPERY. A RUDE AWAKENING. It is understood! that a Customs official made a smart capture on Saturday afternoon at the Union Company’s steamer Moeraki, which had just previously berthed from Melbourne.' It appears that while several of the Customs officers were examining .the passengers baggage a woman was noticed leaving the examination shed with a rug Over her arm, which was bulkier than any ordinary rug should be. Being questioned outside the shed whether she had any dutiable goods she replied in the negative, but not being satisfied, the official askpd her to open out the rug, and in it was drapery on which tnie duty on same will run into a fair sum or money. The' lady probably thought that as it was an off day and a holiday, the Customs officials would be dilatory and display a diristrassy and sort, of tired feeling. But it must have been an unpleasant surprise to the cube ones when the Customs officials (with a full knowledge of all the Varied kinds of smuggling that goes on) exposed the fraud/ The same official, it is understood. Was responsible, for the big capture of opium which was prevented from coming ashore recently. On another , occasion hie noticed a woman going 'aboard a vessel with only two rings on her fingers, while on coming off -she had' three, the extra one being brought over here as a'present to her! No doubt-more will be heard of the capture which took place on Saturday, •but all that can he said at present is that there is a lady in Wellington who knows not what the morning glow or the dusk' of eve will bring forth, and that a .certain Customs official is smiling the smile that comes of a duty Well done!