Chauffeur's Exciting Story: How Much More is There Sull another big opium smuggling coup has come to the knowledge of the police, who, though they have only secured the comparatively small quantity—as things go now—of about $3,000 worth of the drug, have gained information which may quite likely lead to the breaking, up of another gang. About 1.30 a.m. on Saturday a chauffeur reported to the Central Police station that he had found some opium in his car and he handed the packets over, these proving on examination to be of the value stated.
The man's story was that, carlier in the evening, a man who ho thought was a Portuguese. hired his car and three others to transport some Juggage. The cars were kept waiting in Chapoo Road, near the Customs Club, whilst several boxes were brought out from an alleyway near by. Then the cars were directed to) the junction of Shantung Road and Avenue Edward Here the boxes were taken off the cars and carried towards an, alleyway in the centre of one of the most notorious districts in all Shanghai. It is a place where, the police say, they could arrest practically any of ° the residents and without difficulty prove some crime against them, it being the rallying place for thieves, receivers, gamblers, opium smokers and When the cars were paid off, the police informant took his back to the garage and was tidying up when he found the packages which had evidently been overlooked and he promptly reported the matter. His honesty should prove worth his while, for ho is entitled to claim 5 per cent, of the value from the Customs when the opium handed over for destruction. But what is troubling the police is—if four cars were necessary, and if $3,000 worth of opium could be overlooked. how much was_ there altogether? Even the North Szechuen Road case begins to look small as against this.
Leaping members of the Netherlands community met at the Shang-' hai Club last Friday to entertain to luncheon Sir William Oudendijk, the Dutch Minister to China. His Excellency is generally referred to in Peking as Sir William, al-' though this is a peculiar title for a Minister of the Netherlands to bear. As a matter of fact, he received the K.C.M.G. from King) George personally in recognition of the admirable work he did in looking after British interests in Russia after the departure from that country of Sir George Buchanan, Lady Oudenijk is English. Sir William, who has been staying with Mr. J. W. H. Ferguson, statistical secretary of the Chinese Maritime Customs, leaves for Peking to-day.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.