“Bootleggers”

Tahiti And The

A Sensational Story

Liquor Transhipment

Business

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, July 20.

PEOPLE who are of serious mind are asked not to regard seriously a highly-coloured story which appeared recently in an Australian weekly newspaper, about the operations of a “bootlegging syndicate” in Tahiti, an alleged battle on the steamer, Lake Galewood, and the holding up of Papeete by gangs of armed ruffians, primed on whisky filched from the vessel’s holds.

All this was cure sensationalism, fabricated probably by a disgruntled sailor from the Lake Galewood, and published to the discredit of those concerned.

Apparently, there was trouble on the Lake Galewood at Tonga, for the story reached Tahiti on her return voyage. But it had nothing to do with the liquor cargo, which had all been safely landed here weeks before, with out a single case being broached.

No doubt, also, the cargo of whisky landed here was destined for the United States, though nobody could swear to the fact. What of it, anyhow!

The distillers of Scotland and Ireland must have a shrewd idea of the ultimate destination of the great whisky cargoes going westward across the Atlantic, to say nothing of the Canadian distillers. But I have never heard any one suggest that Scotland is a booze depot for Scarface Al Capone. The whole story is too ridiculous for words.

So far as Tahiti’s transhipment business is concerned, it is well and efficiently conducted, like any other big and successful concern—so much so that one scarcely hears about it outside the Customs sheds. ... ===