Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 261, 18 August 1891 — OPIUM AGAIN. [ARTICLE]

OPIUM AGAIN.

Yesterday morning the community was somewhat startled to hear of an opium seizure having been made, and many were the congratulations among the friends and supporters of the Government and of the Police Department in particular at the sleepless vigilance of Marshal Wilson and his force; that the seeming cessation of opium seizures was only an ominous truce to afford that gentlemen to at once break up the balance of the opium smuggling. To be sure in doing this, opium has gone down to about seven dollars a pound and is a drug, in the market,— something unprecedented in the history of the illicit business. And then, as we understand it, it was only allowed with the view to lull the smugglers and pounce down upon them after they had gorged themselves with their profits, so that it would be a satisfaction to make a pull and fleece the robbers. But our astonishment was increased, when we were told that the seizure was made by Mr. W. Sheldon lately of the Port Surveyor's force, that the opium, a hundred half pound tins, was found in the stable of Col. John Holt the late appointed Port Surveyor of Honolulu, and a cousin of the Prince Consort. We had our misgivings that the appointment would redound to no credit to our friend and fellowtownsmam, Mr. Holt as the post was one full of temptation and snares, and was also a descension from the honored position in which he was in, as a member of her Majesty's Staff. Let it not be understood, however, that though the opium seized was found on Mr. Holt's premises, he himself had anything to do with it, oh, no, we think to much of the Colonel, and of the high regard he has for his position near her Majesty to believe that he would be implicated in anything of a cloudy nature, unless perhaps he has been unfortunately mislead by others behind him. However, except the finding of the opium on Mr, Holt's premises, there is nothing whatever to lead us to believe that the vile stuff was ever known by him to be at all near his premises. And this is still more likely to be the cause as the opium was seized from a Chinaman who is said had been lately in the Colonel's employ, and knew the premises thoroughly, and where to stow it away snugly and safely.