GOODS IN BOND.

Patea Mail, 7 September 1880, Page 2

GOODS IN BOND.

Tin-; Government have granted to the merchants and storekeepers in this district a facility long desired. A memorial from a public meeting was sent to Wellington nearly three months ago, requesting the facility of keeping dutiable goods in bond at Patea harbor. The memorial suggested that Potca should be declared a port of entry. The machinery for working a Customs warehouse was left tothe Government to devise. A reply was received a mouth: ago. intimating that the facility could not bo granted, on the score of ■expense. The failure of this local effort seemed complete. Yesterday, however, a letter was received from Major Atkinson' stating that Patea is to have facility tor, landing and keeping stores in bond, and that the now plan is to be put into operation immediately. The change came about pi this way. A few days after >the meeting on Comity questions, Mr H. F. Christie wrote to Major Atkinson, as member for the 1 district, suggesting a simple method of working a branch warehouse of the Customs Department, without the expense of a local officer; and pointing out this as an inexpensive means of making Patea a port of entry for dutiable goods. Mr Christie is now informed that his plan is embodied in the Customs tariff passed by Parliament at the close of the session. The plan is to appoint some person having a store near the harbor to act as deputy officer, of Customs, by receiving dutiable goods, placing them in bond under a guarantee for their safe keeping, having the amount debited to him in the Customs books, and being credited with payments he makes from time to time as the particular goods arc taken out and paid for. In this way the Customs would'.collect its dues on the goods as they went out of bond in small quantities ; and the storekeepers would have the same facility as at larger ports of not paying for bonded stores until wanted for removal. An inspector might visit the warehouse at intervals, and satisfy himself that the books are regularly kept by comparing entries with the goods in bond, and chocking receipts with remittances. The same inspector could visit a number of small ports. Mr Christie has done a good thing for the district by suggesting an inexpensive mode of working a bonded store, with a sufficient check and guarantee to the Government. Major Atkinson is entitled to the thanks of his constituents in this Comity for securing this facility to Patea while granting .it to other ports which could not support the more costly, machinery for collecting local Customs. Several small ports which now 1 have, a Customs officer arc to be reduced to this new system of deputy collection. 0. —: '