UNDECLARED GOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14146, 23 August 1909, Page 6

UNDECLARED GOODS.

ANOTHER CUSTOMS SEIZURE. [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday. When the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Tongariro was last searched by the Customs authorities at Wellington suspicions -were aroused that two or three members of the ship's company still harboured a quantity of " undeclared " dutiable goods! No further action was taken at the time, however, and the vessel left Wellington for Southern ports. She has since then been plying round the coast engaged in Homeward loading, and on Saturday morning she returned from Waitara and berthed at the Glasgow Wharf. Mr. 0. S. Nixon, Collector of Customs, immediately gave instructions to have the ship searched, and a party of three or four boarded the vessel shortly after nine a.m. on Saturday, and as a result of their examination goods to the value of about £120 were seized. The ''contraband" was found in the possession of the ship's storeman and the barber! It consists of a number of ostrich feathers, a quantity of Teneriffe lace, and several overcoats (these three items being collectively valued at £71), 37 boxes of cigars (valued at £1 each), 161b of tobacco (valued at 6s or 8s a lb without duty),, and a quantity of cigarettes. The goods were found stowed away and carefully concealed in the storeroom. The vessel has come to Wellington only to complete loading work preparatory to sailing for London next Thursday. According to law the seized goods should have been declared at the time of the first visit paid to the ship by the Customs authorities when she arrived from London. -"'"