AN IMPUDENT BOBBERY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143788, 11 May 1912, Page 3

AN IMPUDENT BOBBERY.

FROM ANCHORED STEAMER. The E. and A. liner Aldenham, which has arrived in Sydney from Hongkong, brings news of the big silk robbery on the company’s steamer Empire at Hongkong. The Aldenham was lying close at anchor with the Empire in Hongkong Harbour on the night the silk disappeared, and everyone aboard both vessels is balfled as to how the valuable material was got away without detection. On each of tho Eastern trading steamers is a special silk-room, into which silks, always considered us valuable cargo, are stowed. This ;'s in tho ’tween decks, and it is locked up, the key being the special care of one of the officers. It was from the Empire’s silk-room, under No. 4 hatch, that the stuff disappeared. There were 36 cases of tho goods, valued at £SOOO, missing when an inspection of tho room was made while tho Empire was at Hongkong. From particulars gleaned aboard the Aldenham it appears that the cases were about 3ft. square. On the night of April 4 while the ship was at anchor, it was blowing hard, and no vessel was expected to come alongside. It is presumed that Chinese robbers wero the culprits. An officer remarked that no European would attempt such a barefaced deed. What is supposed to have happened is this; A Chinese secreted himself in the hold before the hatch-cover was put. on for the night, and subsequently opened up ouo of the ’tween deck s square ports. These are about 4ft. square, and would allow of the cases of silk easily passing through. The ports are generally used for the loading of rice and other cargo in tho East. One of these was found wide open in tho morning. From a junk which had been quietly manoeuvred alongside it is supposed that several Chines© scrambled aboard, broke the lock of the silk-room, and hastily nroceeded to tumble the cases into tho junk. The cases were heavy ones, and loaded in Japan, and it would take perhaps four men to handle each of them. Even then their operations, it is said, would not be too quickly carried out. Once into the junk the silk would be hurried off to some obscure place, and subsequently transferred to Canton, or some other city, where it could bo disposed of without much trouble. That all the junks in tho harbour would be searched the Aldenhani’s people had no doubt, but as there were hundreds of them at anchor and continuously moving about, the chance of discovering tho missing goods was very remote. The Aldenham left Hongkong on tho morning following the robbery, and the result of the search was not known. The silks were consigned to Sydney firms.

If your headaches result from eyestrain we will tell you so; if not we will be equally candid and our advice costs you nothing.—J. E. Campbell, Sight Specialist, A.M.P. Buildings, New Plymouth, every Tuesday.* “May wo never desire what we cannot obtain.” This is a popular toast—but we can always obtain Martell’s Three Star ,and how often we need itl The story of tho Stars —Ask for Martell’s Throe Star. ■ Different countries have different customs. This does not apply to Martell’s Brandy which is drunk everywhere. ■*