AN EXPENSIVE GIFT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 267, 10 November 1893, Page 2

AN EXPENSIVE GIFT.

Allan Cockburn was charged at the Police Court this morning with having, on the 9th of November, landed a package of cigarettes, weight 31b, from the s.s. Mariposa, wibhout previously paying duty. Mr Parker appeared, and asked thab an adjournment should be granted, as the Collector of Customs would ehortly be in Court.

Mr W. J. Napier appeared for tho defendanb, and said any adjournmenb was unnecessary, as tho case would nob be defended. He explained thab the defendant had the package of cigarettes given him by an officer on the mail steamer. He brought tho parcel on shore quite openly without oven wrapping ib up, and then waited near the Custom* shed. When stopped by one of the officials he told the officer that the parcel contained cigarettes, and offered bo pay duty. Under the circumstances he would plead guilty to a technical breach of tho Act, bub there was do intention to defraud the revenue. He asked that a mitigated penalby should be imposed. Mr Parker eaid they estimated the value of the cigarettes at 10a per Ib, duty paid. Mr Rowe deposed thab he saw defendant leave the boat at about 9 o'clock last night. When aaked what was in fehe parcel, defendant Baid some toys for the children. He took defendant into the ehed, and it was then he offered to pay the duty.

Defendant, being sworn, stated thab tho toy he referred to was one he was ab the time carrying in his hand. As he had not bought the cigarettes, ib did nob occur to him bhab they were dutiable. The presiding Justices, Messrs F. L. Prime and A. Harris fined defendant three times the value of the goods, namely, £4 10s, and costs 7s.