DUTY ON PIANOS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7258, 18 January 1889, Page 6

DUTY ON PIANOS.

[press association telegram.]

AUCKLAND, January 17.

A quantity of pianos, valued at about .£IOOO, were opened out yesterday at the receiving shed, Queen street wharf, for inspection. The instruments had been recently imported. There were present the Customs officers, the consignees, Mr Shannon . (Customs Inspector), and an expert called in by the Government to make a valuation. The pianos are stated to be German pianos but the goods are invoiced from an English firm in London and the bill of lading from London being brought out here in a ship from that port. Of late the Customs have made importers make a new declaration, owing to certain cases which have occurred throughout the colony, stating that they have shown all the invoices and documents. The firm, it is stated, produced two invoices, a higher and a lower one, and claimed to pay duty on the lower one. The Customs authorities refused to accede to this, and the whole of the information in connection with the matter has been forwarded to the Wellington authorities, to enable them to come to a decision in the case. It is stated that the firm in question have placed all the documentary evidence in their possession at the disposal of the Government. The case excites considerable interest in mercantile circles.