A CHINESE FORTRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21994, 1 July 1933, Page 12

A CHINESE FORTRESS

RAID ON OPIUM DEN FINES OF £lls IMPOSED (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 30. Breaking into a heavily barricaded house in Haining street late last night, the police arrested four Chinese on charges associated with opium smoking. The raiders made their call at the house, No. 4 Haining street, at. about 11.30 p.m., and spent 15 minutes in endeavours to break thro'ugh its fortress-like defences. The entrance to the house is at the rear, and there the police found a specially constructed door reinforced by steel mesh, so that they could not gain entrance to the building without the use of a timber jack against the door, which was heavily barred. j Once inside, they found that another door awaited their attentions before they could reach the staircase. This door was strengthened by coverings of iron, apparently the sides of benzine tins. Having battered this door open, Senior Sergeant Scott and his men found that the staircase presented further difficulties. Stout wooden barriers had been driven into the walls of the staircase parallel to the stairs, so that it was impossible to climb the stairs while upright. These and other banders were broken down, and in an upper room a quantity of the paraphernalia connected with smoking opium was found, and 1 a number of Chinese, including the occupier of the house, were arrested. This house was raided three months ago, and convictions were then obtained.

1 As a sequel to the raid fines totalling £lls were imposed on five Chinese in the Police Court this morning. The police detailed how they made forcible entry into the barricaded place, and after getting in searched and uqearthed from beneath the floor eight smoking pipes and a quantity of opium and other gear, including nine wooden pillows, a seagrass mat, a set of scales, and a box of papers used in Hvrapping up opium. It was stated that the premises had been used consistently since the raid on March 23, when the keeper was fined £SO. It had changed hands more than once, and the present occupier bad been in it for a fortnight. _ v For permitting the premises to be used for, smoking opium Doun Hong was fined £SO, in default three months’ imprisonment, artd for obstructing the police £lO, in default three months. _ Two others were fined £ls each for being on the premises, and two more £l2 10s each.