190 
OCEANIA. 
AUSTRALIA. 
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA. 
(From United States Consul-General lirai/, Melbourne, Victoria.) 
There are four classes of bonded warehouses established at the port 
of Melbourne, Victoria, the first class or general warehouses being 
used by the public, the others being used only by the licensees or own 
ers for the storage of their own goods, and not catering for general 
business. There is, in addition, the King’s warehouse, the property 
of the Government, which is used mainly for the storage of un 
claimed pr seized goods. The general warehouses, of which there 
are ten, have, with the exception of one, been formed into an associa 
tion which practically controls the business of the port. It is ex 
tremely difficult to procure information from this association in 
regard to dimensions of buildings, cost of construction, rates, etc. 
Its officers, when approached for particulars, would only furnish 
information of a general character. The average capacity of the 
establishments forming the association is 8,000 tons by measurement, 
and the cost was about $135,000. The capacity of the Government 
warehouse is 6,336 tons. 
The warehouses are owned and conducted by limited companies 
and private individuals. A complete list % is attached, showing the 
name by which each of the ten warehouses of the first class is known, 
the name of the licensee and the location, and also the same infor 
mation for the seven private warehouses of class 2, for the seven 
machinery warehouses of class 3, and for the eight manufacturing 
warehouses of class 4. 
Goods are stored for the convenience of merchants until the duty 
is paid or the goods exported. The licensee of the warehouse pro 
vides all labor, receives goods into his warehouse, stacks them, and 
delivers them to vehicles at his door, provides lights, scales, and 
measures, etc. (See section 92 of the customs act, hereto annexed. 6 ) 
The average charge (rent) is about 4 pence (8 cents) per ton per 
week, and a further charge of 2 shillings (48 cents'i per ton, known 
as " delivery,” is made when the goods are delivered to the importer. 
Extra charges are made in the event of weighing, sampling, re- 
gauging, repacking, etc. A list of charges made by the associated 
warehouses is given herewith. These charges are generally col 
lected when the goods are delivered to the importer. The charges 
a On file in the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor. 
& Customs act of 1901 and the regulations of June, 1904, are on file in the 
Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.