CHINESE GAMING HOUSE.

ACCUSED IN COURT. CHOW GOW GETS GAOL. 36 OTHERS FINED £2. Among the 37 Chinamen who came forward in the Police Court this morning at the orderly's call there were a great variety of types; young, smiling boys, glum-looking old men, merely bored ones, and frankly disgusted ones; tall, short, tubby, and lean ones; shabby men, and some in tailored clothes. All were caught in the big police raid on Sunday night, when Senior-Detective Cummings got fourteen trusty officers together, and burst in upon a roomful of Celestials at 67, Lome Street. Busily engaged in the absorbing pastime of playing illegal games beloved of the Oriental, who has little to do on a Sunday evening and much time to do it in, the gamblers were fairly caught. They lined up down the side of the Police Court this morning to plead guilty, after each had answered to his name—Ahi Low (21), Chung (28), Yuen Sing (38), Ah Wing (30), Ah Fow (60), Ah Geo (40). Ah Wong (35), Ah Yack (40), Ah Jim (58), Wong Sun (20), Ah Git (34), Ah Wah (33), Ah Cheong (30), Lip Guev (37), Wong Yee (43), Sang (25), Ah Mong (24), Ah Hai (25), Ah Shu (20), Kwong Duck (60), Wong Ton (27), Ah Wong (14), No Gsq Tim (25), Ah Yei (22), Wong (35), Ah Bing (20), Jack (28), Low Kwan (24), Ah Long (24). Ali Wing (44), Ah Hen (60), Wong Yin (40), Joe Mcc (53), All Jim (57), Sing (25), and Ah Joe (57). Chow Gow (68) was charged with keeping a common gaming house at 57, Lome Streot, and all the others were charged with being unlawfully on the premises. Mr. Munro entered a plea of guilty ou behall of all the accused. ENGROSSING HAING GOW. For three months, at frequent intervals, Detective Meiklejohu aud Constable Doel had kept the premises at 57, Lome Street, under observation, said Chief-Detective Mcllveney, nnd these officers had ascertained that a large number of Chinese frequented tho house for the purpose of playing illegal games. Fan Tan, Ilaing Gow, and Ma Chuck were the games played. "And 1 am informed,'' added the chief, "that large sums of money passed in tho course of the games." A large quantity of Oriental gaming material was seized, and also a sum of money—about £0. Chow Gow, the keeper of the house, had £59 in his possession when arrested. Others found in the house had various sums ranging from £10 downwards. Chow Gow leased the house at £30 per month. "I need scarcely point out that some of those arrested are very young Chinese, and if this sort of thing continues they will become inveterate gamblers," Baid the Chief-Detective. SOBER AND HARDWORKING. That a breach had been committed was not denied, said Mr. Munro, but there was something to say on behalf of the accused. The keeper of the house was an old man, nnd no previous conviction had been entered against him. All those caught were sober and industrious Chinese, who worked very hard six days of the week, and on Sunday, the only day on which there was nothing to" do. it was only natural that, "being 1 uneducated men, strangers in a strange land, with no entertainment, they should congregate somewhere and indulge in these games. There was no quarrelling or brawling, and they never inveigled any Englishman into their gnmes. Was it not feasible that Englishmen, cut adrift in China, might do the same thing? Without comment, Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., sentenced Chow Cow to three months' imprisonment. The others were fined £2 each. Mr. Munro appealed for leniency on behalf of Chow Gow. Could his Worship not make it a fine? "There arc no fines in Ibis Court, for a man carrying on a gaming house. I hive already issued my warning." said "Mr. Poynton, S.M., with an air of finality. Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 134, 7 June 1923, Page 8