Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 42, 6 November 1894 — MY STERIOUS. [ARTICLE]

MYSTERIOUS.

A Fall In Opium. The worthy Collector-General of customs must have been somewhat puzzled when he learned this morning that the market price of opium had dropped since Saturday last from $25 per pound to $14. The high custom official is a man of great intelligence. In regard to opium he is simply a snorter. We admit that he never has caught any either personally or through his employees but nevertheless, he is there with both his good sized feet. The public, in the meantime, would be interested in learning if Mr. Castle considers the drop in opium due to a decrease in consumption—since Friday, or if ihe connects the arrival of the Australia with the undisputable fact. On Saturday morning we were paid not less than $25 for our Hongkong opium, today our agents tells us that $14, is all that they can offer. Upon enquiry among them they admit that the arrival of the Australia changed the market considerably and they also insinuate that a number of boxes on an express waggon delivered to a certain Chinese firm last night at 8 o'clock may have something to do with the drop. The ColIectorGeneral and the ever - vigilant Port-Surveyor may explain the manner in which the said boxes were able to “take a ride” from the wharf to Maunakea street at that time of the evening. We only ask for the sake of information and because we hate to see brother Jim being the boss of a concern in which "mysterious" transactions are the order of the day. And then we like to see opium go "up."