CUSTOMS SEIZURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VI, Issue 1628, 9 February 1869, Page 3

CUSTOMS SEIZURES.

A seizure of illicit spirits was made at Onehunga between ten and twelve o'clock oil tsunduy morning last. Jn eonsequencc of information received, Mr. Hewson, of H.M. Customs, Auckland, and Mr. Brewer, of H.M- Customs, Onehunga, proceeded about tlmt time to the Hibernia Hotel, Queen-street, Onehungn, nnd discovered a quantity of illicit spirits, consisting 54 gallons of rum, and 52 bottles of Geneva! Hie License for the Hotel is taken out in the r.nme of Mr. Paterson of the Pitzroy Hotel, and the house was kept by his brother-in-law, Mr. McKelvey. The latter was apprehended, and the smuggled spirits were removed to tho Customhouse store at Onehunga. Yesterday, at Onehunga Police Court, Ihomas McKelvey was charged on the information of Henry Scott McKellar, Collector H.M. Customs, witb a breach of the 163 rd section of the above Act. Mr. Brookfield appeared for tho Customs. Prisoner applied to have the

case remanded until Wednesday, for the purpose ot obtaining legal assistance. 'Ihu Court, granted tho application, and admitted defendant to hail, himself in £100, and two securities in £100 each.

• v omo excitement was caused upon the Queenstreet wharf yesterday s-.fternoon by the rumour that some .smuggled spirits had been seized on board the schooner Saucy Lass. Upon enquirv, however, we are glad to be able to state our belief that the seizure which took place has arisen from little OFer-stretclied zeal on the part of the Customs authorities. A quarter-cask containing a quantity of rum was found on board, which was not mentioned in the vessel's clearance. Captain McKenzie states that the liquor is the remnant, of a cask of rum on which, duty had been paid some time ago, and that when the cask became low the balance of the liquor was drawn off into the quarter cask for convenience, and we believe that this will be found to be the true version of the case.