GAMBLING IN AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 34

GAMBLING IN AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, December 16. The Star sheds its searching light upon another two-up school in to-night's issue. " For two years and a-half," it 6ays, " a gambling den has systematically carried on business in, the very heart of ' the city, and^ during that period a coterie of Sydney 'Thugs' waxed opulent on those addioted to the gaming vice. The revelations made in these columns some weeks ago had the desired effect of closing , this den, and the establishment has ceased : — for the present, at least — to carry on its nefarious work. The daring effrontery which enabled the ' proprietary ' of the Upper Queen street gambling den to carry tfn successfully for co long a period is equalled by the flagrancy of another outdoor gambling school. That it should be possible for 200 people to congregate in ] the open and devote the whole of Sunday ! to the fascinating and exciting pleasure of ' two-up ' seems incredible. • Sunday after Sunday large numbers devote themselves to the delights of the game. As in the case of the school in the city, the promoters evidently consider that suspicion ,is .least likely to be courted by ; establishing themselves right under the nose of the law. Thus it comes about that strangers who pass round Freeman's Bay are often at a loss to understand the reason of go large a congregation ac is to be found in a natural hollow formed by 7 the oliffs. Possibly they pass on with the belief that it is a prayer or a political meeting- In reality the assembly is a large 'two-up' school, which meets in this spot every Sunday for the express purpose of indulging in an undisturbed game. 'The thoroughness wUh which, the gam•hWs entrench thenßelyes ift inaccessible

positions is borne out by trfe fact that the • two-up school ' is held Sunday after Sunday with the utmost regularity and impunity."-