SEALING SHIPS' STORES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11152, 19 December 1901, Page 5

SEALING SHIPS' STORES.

FURTHER.. COJfPLIOATIONS. ACTION BY THE NORTH GERMAN ' LLOYD'S COMPANY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraphs-Copyright. (Received December 18th, 10.24 p.m.) ADELAIDE, December 18. On the arrival of the German, steamer Sqnneber it was discovered! that the Customs seals, placed on the stores at Fremantle, had been broken. It is understood the company intend to fight the matter out with the Federal authorities. (Received December 19th, 1.10 a.m.) ' SYDNEY, December 18. Further complications have arisen in connection with Prinz Regent Luitpold. On the arrival of the steamer from Melbourne it was found , that the Customs seals had- again been broken, and stores used. Fresh seals were affixed, and pending further action the discharge of cargo is prohibited. When the Luitpold was released in Melbourne it was on the understanding that tihe captain would accept service of three eummonses for alleged breaches of the Customs Act, and if the seals were broken en route to Sydney ithe venue would be changed to Sydney, where the. previous three and the additional charges for which the captain accepted service upon arrival would be Itteard. In &c meantime, the agents of tihe North German Lloyd Company submitted the case to the German Coneoi-General, who is comannmeating with the German Government. v The company's case is .that it was absolutely necessary to break tibia seals to obtain etoree for the maintenance of the people aboard tie -vessel The agents guaranteed under protest to .pay dirty on *he stores consumed in port only, pending instructions from the company's head office at Bremen, but they refused to give a guarantee with reference .to the stores consumed outside the three miles limit, on the ground ti&fc payment of duty on tihe 'high seas could only be executed by the German Government.