RAIDING CHINESE GAMBLING PENS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 28

RAIDING CHINESE GAMBLING PENS.

AUCKLAND, July 31, ' Xast night nine police, under Chief. Detective Grace, raided a Chinese gamblingden in Wakefield street. In three small rooms they found 60 Chinamen /playing dominoes, fantan, and smoking opium. , They arrested 22 fantan players, handcuffed them in pairs, and took them to the police station, a large crowd of people coming from church following. The prisoners were charged "with keeping and being found in. a common gaming-house. A number of other Chinamen came down to bail out 10 of the accused, but these latter refused to go unless all were bailed out. Two of the Chinamen had intended leaving for Sydney,' en route for China, to-night with a large sum of money. The prisoners are chiefly suburban gardeners, who knock down their cheques and have to return to work again in a week or .two. The Police Court was packed with spectators this morning when the Chinese prisoners charged with playing fantan were brought up before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M. The accused pleaded not guilty, and all were remanded till Friday, 'bail of £5 each being allowed. The Chinese were bailed out this afternoon. The "'banker" of the party escaped last evening by climbling over the partition, du6 it is expected that ho will be arrested. WELLINGTON, July 31. •In the Magistrate's Court, Mister Sam, Chinese "keeper of the gaming-house raided last -week, was fined £25, in default three months' imprisonment.- Hong, who acted as banker, was fined £5, and five others £1> each, with costs. A number of other cases were adjourned.

The Bluff Harbour Board have decided' by a narrow majority to .send the harbourmaster (Mr Mac Donald) Home to get a new tug. The minority objected that he was nob an expert, and that he might be absent from 12 to 18 months, wnile the work of supervising the building of the vessel could lie entrusted to an expert,