CUSTOMS RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER QUARTER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10198, 2 January 1895, Page 2

CUSTOMS RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER QUARTER.

the central group was a striking one; the shining golden car, tlte 1 coffin shrouded in the glittering Imperial paH,.aKd the eight horaea caparisoned in black. Justs behind . stood the young Emperor in the umf-QEBft ' of the Preobraj'cnsky Guards, having on* his right the Prince of Wales. The Empress, who walked" nmsupported froiru the carriage, had the Princess of Wale* on one aide, the Princess Alix on the other; her two daughters, Xenia and Olga," were close behind, with the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna; but all the ladies. were so deeply veiled that it was difficult to distinguish them. The backgrounds was formed of mitred Bishops and tbe^ cavalry escort. The procession started from theNicfao'las station at eleven o'clock, the dense masses of the populace being.kept back along t&e> left line of the route by a. double row of trwopg, and on the right by strong cables guarded by the police. The clergy of the several churches along; the route stood at the doors to bless and " pray as the funeral car passed. A halt was made at the celebrated ahrine of the Holy Virgin of Iberia, in front of the gate of that name ; then traversing the Krauny Square along the grey crenellated wall of the Kremlin, now hung with black and white drapery, the solemn procession entered that historical and unique i ortresa enclosure of churches and palaces under the sacred Archway of the Saviotsr^ wHch is always passed with uncovered h«3x3. It was now one o'clock precisely. la front of the Archangel CathecfcsJ;, one' of thte four ancient fanes of t&t» Kremlin, and close tothatof the Assumption, the cfowning-pJace of the Czars, stood a military guard of honour, arid at. the doorway the Metropolitan surrounded Iby his bishops and clergy bearing wax tapers, ready to receive the body. On the arrival of the f unera) car the four adjutant-genenvls standing thereon removed the Imperial pall, and his Imperial Majesty and relatives, assisted by members of the suite, carried the bier into the. cathedral, preceded by the clergy, and placed it upon a specially prepared jcatafalque, glorious with crimson and gold. The lid of the coffin having been removed by generals and placed on a side table, tha impressive service for the dead was b'egnn by the Metropolitan, assisted by ail the high clergy of Moscow. The Daily Chronicle's special correspondent writes:-— The edifice, which is not a large one, is made the less commodious for a great function by the abundance of the tombs of faints and of the Czars of Muscovy. Only the merobera of the Imperial Family and the high officers of State could bej accommodated. Ths elaborate Service for the Dead was chanted antiphonally by the Metropolitan and clergy. Tbescene was; resplendent. The silver-gilt ikons vied l with the silver and gold panelling of the walls in reflecting the light of countless. tr.pers burning within the Sacrarinnt by the picture screen and around thecatafalque. Anything more solemn^ban. the Office conducted Sere it is impossible to imagine. Many of those present .were unable to restrain their emotion. Tears were seen rolling down the cheeks of noble ladies. Sobs broke on the ear almost rhythmically with the cadences of the sacred music. Evidently the late Czar was deeply esteemed and beloved by those within his circle. The young Czar bore himself with an air of great modesty. The Empress was deeply affected, but S&fl evidently derived much comfort and support from the sisterly companionship a? the Princess of Wales, who bore hereeK with mnch dignity and with the signs of profound grief. The service m the cathedral lasfei' about half an hour, after which the Em'< peror and the Grand Dune Sergius crossed' to the Uspensky Cathedral, whence, after' a short prayer, they proceeded to tha Chudovno Monastery, where they vr&n blessed by the Metropolitan. The.othsc guests left by the private door. •' Tha public were admitted at two o'clock., '_ . Just as the coffin was being carried into, the cathedral snow began to fail heavily, and continued to descend for hoots. ,

Monthly Statement fob December, 1894. — Spirits, in bulk, £75 *7s 6d ; spirits, in case, £89 14s ; cigars, £44 12s Id ; tobacco, £448 12s 3d ; tea, £36 13a 6d ; sugar, £56 ; goods by weight, £214 103 7d : ad valorem, £186 3s lOd ; other duties, £50 3s. Total for Dec, 1894, £1201 lCs 9d; beer duty, £86 16s, Total for Dec, 1893. £1114 % 0a 7d ;. beer duty, £63 8s 6d.

We are indebted to Mr 0. S. Nixon, iha Collector of Customs, for the f ollo'ping return! for the quarter ending December 31st, 1894 :— • £ b.'.<L Spirits (bulk) 212 8" O Spirite (case) ... ... 152 16 0> Spirits (perfumed) ... 1 2 ''4 Cigars 101 10 v 7' Tobacco 1466 16 2 Wine (Australian) ... 25 6 0 Other kinds ... ... 26 10 5 Tea 151 7, 6 Coffee, &c 3 3 0 Sugar 116 13- 4 Goods by weight 447 10 1 Ad valorem ... ... 921 16 11 Other duties 147 17 6 Total, Dec. quarter, 1894 £3774 17 10 „ „ „ 1893 3084 18 3 f Beer duty, Dec. qr., 1894 208 10 9 „ „ 1893 163 11 3 I Imports and Exports for December Quarter. Imports. Exports, £ , £ United Kingdom ... 9051 - 16890 Victoria 375 New South Wales!" 386 1085 Tasmania 152 - l i., Fiji 37 498 Asia (Hongkong)... 1« «., Bengal 6 ..■ Ceylon 204 Singapore 50 ... France 1 ... Germany 86 ... Belgium 133 America (E. Coast) 402 606 „ (W. Coast) 64 Japan i... ... 45 ... Asia Minor ... 252 ... Totals £11257 £19,079 „ Dec. qr., 1893 10051 28060 I _