EVADING THE CUSTOMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 270, 14 November 1893, Page 5

EVADING THE CUSTOMS.

A FINE INFLICTED.

MrR. S. Bush sab in bhe R.M. Courb ab noon to-day to deal wibh a case under the Cusboms Lawn Consolidabion Act, 1882. The defendant was a man named Alexander Fleming. For the Collecbor of Customs (Mr Rose), the prosecution was conducted by Mr McAlisber. He stabed that the defendanb was charged under the 240bh section of the Act. which enabled the Collector of Customs under certain circumstances, nob bo lay an informabion, bub bo bring the accused up at once, and have him dealt wibh and a mibigated penalby inflicted. Thereupon an information had. nob been laid. The defdndanb had been dotained, and as he had given no brouble, bhey would deal wibh him under bhe lightesb clause in bhe Acb. There were bwo charges, one of landing ljlb of cigars, value £1, without paying duty, also one dozen bobbles conbaining two gallons of wines and spirits, value £2, on which no duby had beon paid. The facts of bhe case were that the vessel came in yesterday and Mr Parker, the landing surveyor, had cause to suspect tho accused of smuggling. He charged the accused with the offence, which was admitted. The vessel arrived ab 11 o'clock lasb nighb. Under the circumstances, he would ask thab the maximum penalty under bhe mibigabed clause be inflicbed, as there had been a good deal of small smuggling going on of late, and ib must be pub down. The officers had to be constanbly on bhe alert. Accused pleaded guilby to bobh charges and was fined £3 and costs 23s in bhe firsb case and £6 and costs 23s in the secord instance. The defendant said as soon as Mr Parker charged him, he offered to pay the duty. Mr McAlister said, bad nob the defendanb assisted Mr Parker all he could by admibting the charge, they mighb have gone under bhe £100 penalby.