GOLD FROM AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21251, 3 August 1932, Page 14

GOLD FROM AUCKLAND

SEIZURE IN AUSTRALIA THOUSAND POUNDS' WORTH SYDNEY COURT PROCEEDINGS About £IOOO worth of old gold, jewellery, and sovereigns was the subject of proceedings in . the Central Police Court and Equity Court in Sydney last Friday. Percy John Wince, aged 36, steward, was charged during the morning at the Central Police Court with having had the valuables, which might reasonably be suspected of having been stolen, in his possession on July 16. It was stated that the gold and jewellery had been seized by the customs authorities when Wince arrived from New Zealand. The police were called in and Wince was arrested. The police announced that they had no evidence to offer on the charge, and Wince was discharged by the magistrate, Mr. Laidlaw. Counsel for Wince asked that an order be made for the return of the gold to Wince t who had been carrying it to a Sydney firm of gold buyers. He understood that as the export duty on the gold had not been paid in New Zealand, the police intended to ship it to New Zealand that afternoon on the Zealandia. The interested firm was prepared to pay the duty. 1 The magistrate said he had no power to make an order, and counsel announced that he would take the matter to a higher Court immediately. Early in the afternoon a solicitor applied to the Chief Justice in Equity for a mandatory injunction to restrain the Commissioner of Police from shipping the gold taken from Wince, and the HuddartParker Company from handling it. Arrangements had, he said, been made to send the gold to New Zealand by the Zealandia sailing that day. The application was made on behalf of a firm of metallurgists. The Court was informed that the firm had employed one, George Washington, to buy gold in New Zealand, and that Washington, having purchased 350 sovereigns and £650 worth of broken jewellery, placed the gold in the custody of Wince to take to Sydney by the Niagara. The proceedings at the Police Court having been outlined by counsel, His Honor granted the injnetion asked for. Wince was again brought before the Police Court late in the afternoon. He was charged by warrant that at Auckland on July 13 he was knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion or attempted evasion of duty payable on the export of gold. Mr. Shepherd, S.M., remanded him until August 5, on bail of £iso.