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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3194, 23 September 1881, Page 2

The Customs and Excise Duties Bill, having been rushed through tbe Lower House, was passed through all its stages by the Legislative Council yesterday. This important measure substitutes in place of the import duties now in force on the following articles new duties, viz.:—Bacon and hams, 2d per lb ; iron nails, 2s per cwt.; iron tanks of under 200 gallons, 2s 6d each ; jams, jellies, marmalades, a»d preserves, l£d per lb ; maize, 9d per lOOlbs; maizena and cornflour, Is per lOOlbs; scented and fancy, soap, 25 per cent, ad valorem; woolpacks (known as wool pockets, not exceeding 18in. by 21in. by 30), Is 3d per dozen. The following articles are to be exempt from Customs duties :—Alum, axes and hatchets, borax, calicoes, (white and grey in piece), carriage material, namely, American cloth, shafts, spokes, felloes, naves, and tacks; chaff, cheese, cloth, chloride, cotton shirtings in piece, corduroy (cottoa) in piece, cotton, dress print, navy blue or other similar description in piece, gold size, hessian bags, iron wire netting, moleskin in piece, nitric acid, rough brown holland in piece, sewing cottons, silks and threads, spades, shovels, and forks, tailors' trimmings, namely, black and brown canvas, silesnia, veronia, Italian cloth, metal and bone buttons, silk and cotton bindings. An excise duty of Is per lb on tobacco is imposed. The excise duty on New Zealand distilled spirits is to be 8s per gallon at proof, tbis, unless altered by Parlinmeot, to remain in force till 31st December, 1886; if excise duties be increased before that date, no claim for compensation to be entertained. Bonded warehouses for the manufacture of perfumery, &c, may be appointed under conditions as to security ; also power is taken to allow drawback on articles specified by order in Council, but no drawback to be allowed on spirits, cordials, liqueurs, bitters, tobacco, cigars, chicory, spices, perfumery, or jewellery, or any goods of less value than the amount of the drawback claimed. Drawback of full duty on particular goods may be allowed on certain conditions. The penalty for fraudulently claiming a drawback is £200 or treble the value of the goods, which will also be forfeited. The Act is to come into force on Ist October next.