CUSTOMS SEIZURE AT MELBOURNE,

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3197, 20 October 1880, Page 2

CUSTOMS SEIZURE AT MELBOURNE,

The seizure made by the Customs authorities, of jewellery, supposed to have been smuggled, turns out to have been more important tliau was at first anticipated. A man," whose namo is at preseut unknown, oHerod for. sale at the shop of Mr Blaski, Bourkc-street, 13 silver watches at a very low price. Brotu information previously given, two CuStbm-houso officers'entered the shoo while the man was offering therh. On being questioned, he said ho had bean, inatra'oted to by a gentleman1 whose address he gave. '• On proceeding to the address, 3, Bay View Terrace, Grattanstrcct, Carlton, a man named Edward Boillott was found, who stated he was the representative of a number of French firms at the exhibition. On searching the premises the following articles of jewellery were discovered :—ll4 silver watches, 38 gold watches, 35 metal watches, 35 metal chains, .besides _a large , quantity of watch keys, gold hands, and other small articles, valued in all at £1,000; and, presuming no duty was paid, the loss to the revenue wonld be •on that value about £2,000.' Tlie goods were at once seized, and are now hold by: the Government. In Boillot's bedroom was found a copy of the Victorian tariff, so that ignorance of the regulations can scarcely bo pleaded. In an interview with the Commissioner, Boillot pleaded that the whole thing was a mistake on the part of his agent, and he will be able to satisfy the Government that no fraud was intended. (Boillot elected to be dealt with by the Commissioner for Customs, who has inflicted a.fine of thrice Ulrica the value of the goods—£3ooo.

Government will abolish the Shortland gaol on 3lßt inst., long sentence prisoners being taken to Auckland. .