The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-02-16
IMPORTATION FROM THE GUS
TOM HOUSE.

There is no such officer in the Ha-
waiian civil service as the "Superin-
tendent of Gu TOMS" mentioned in
the foregoing report of Captain Mar
tins trial and conviction. A repre-
sentative of the Bulletin, in order
to enlighten the public on the actual
facts regarding the expectation of
opium by the Government on the
Velocity, called on Hon. A. S. Cleg-
horn, Collector General of Customs,
for the necessary information.
Mr.. Cleghorn smiled when told of
the story related by the venerable
and erring skipper. He described
the method pursued in getting rid of
accumulations of opium seized here,
but called in Mr.. Geo. +. Boardman,
Deputy-Collector, for the details of
the Velocity shipment. The Collect
or-General was absent from the King
dom at the time.
The Custom House sells the opium
here for whatever it will bring. That
sent away on the Velocity CORES
pended in quantity with what was
seized at Hongkong and realized
$4,000 or $4,000. 1t was sold like
all other lots on condition of being
carried beyond the kingdom.
Reports had been current that the
buyers had arranged to have the
opium landed clandestinely some
where on these islands. In conse-
quence of these reports Mr.. Board
man chartered the steam tug Alice
TO follow the Velocity. An armed
force went on the steamer and the
bark was followed TO sea about rs
miles. 1t was rumored afterward
that the stuff had been landed on
Kauai. The denouement of the
bark's voyage occurring in the Hong
kong Police Court shows that all the
opium was carried to that port.
Mr.. Boardman considers that the
ridicule some smart Alexis chose to
bestow on the Alice expedition has
lost all its sting by the developments
of Captain Martins scrape. Captain
Martin will probably be back here
in a few weeks, when it will be in Or
der for him TO explain his slur on the
Customs authorities, making them
appear as accomplices in an attempt
ed fraud on the laws of their coun-
try.
The reporter asked how it was
that the opium did not appear on
the vessels manifest on arrival at
Hongkong. In this it proved he ex-
posed an ignorance OF methods which
may be shared by many uninltiated
people. Vessels leaving here only
receive clearance and health cerfif-
Gates. No duplicate manifests are
issued. The outward manifest is
filed in the Custom House. The
master of vessel makes up his own
inward manifest for the port of DIES.
tination from the bills of lading and
swears to its accuracy. The manifest
of the Velocity filed in the Honolulu
Custom House exhibits the same
quantity Of opium as that seized OF
board the bark at Hongkong.
1t has transpired since the Velo
city's departure that Captain Martin
stated he had been approached to in
duce him to land the opium on these
islands. He refused positively to b'
a party to violation of the law o.
the kingdom, but would undertake
TO deliver the opium to another yes
sci on the high seas, outside thu
jurisdiction of any nation. Such I
bargain was probably struck, but thu
Intervention of the little revenue
cutter Alice, doubtless, spoiled tn
snug arrangement. The "mysteriou
schooner" was thrown off her reckon
ing, and hence Captain Martins peel
of trouble.