202

WAREHOUSES  IX  FOREIGN  COUNTRIES.

The  charges  are  1  shilling  (24  cents)  per  ton  for  receiving  or
delivering  general  goods;  1  penny  (2  cents)  per  package  for  marking ­
  on  wharf;  1  shilling  per  week  for  rent  or  storage,  and  7s.  6d.
per  £100  (37.5  cents  per  $100)  per  annum  for  insurance.
The  classes  of  goods  chiefly  stored  are  drapery,  wines  and  spirits,
tobacco,  rice,  beers,  cigars,  curry,  fish,  fruits,  milk,  starch,  sauces,
vestas,  opium,  perfumery,  chemicals,  kerosene,  etc.  Goods  remain
in  bond,  as  a  rule,  two  or  three  months.  Of  course,  wines,  spirits,
beers,  and  tobaccos  are  often  left  much  longer.  All  heavily  dutiable
goods  are  left  in  bond  till  sales  actually  take  place.  Apparently
Americans  do  not  make  use  of  these  warehouses  at  all  unless  they  do
so  through  their  Australian  agents.  All  nationalities  are  treated
exactly  alike  by  the  administrators  of  the  warehouses.
At  the  Allen’s  bond  goods  are  removed  from  jetty  wharf  to  bond
by  rail.  The  charges,  per  ton,  are:  Harbor  dues,  2  shillings  (48
cents)  ;  wharfage,  2  shillings;  loading  into  trucks,  C  pence  (12
cents)  ;  haulage,  1  shilling  (24  cents).
At  other  bonds  the  charges,  per  ton,  are:  Lighterage  from  ship’s
side,  5  shillings  ($1.22)  ;  wharfage,  2  shillings  (48  cents)  ;  harbor
dues,  2  shillings;  cartage,  1  shilling  6  pence  (36  cents).
The  customs  officer  takes  the  keys  of  the  bond  to  the  customhouse ­
  every  evening.  No  one  but  a  duly  authorized  customs  officer
is  allowed  to  be  in  charge  of  the  bond.
All  the  bonds  store  free  goods  on  account  of  clients,  and  there  is
a  good  revenue  obtainable  from  this  source  for  the  owners.
D.  J.  Brownhill,
Acting  Consular  Agent.
Townsville,  Queensland,  August  29,  1901+.

HOBART,  TASMANIA.
(From  United  States  Consul  Webster,  Hobart,  Tasmania.)
The  warehouses  for  storage  of  merchandise  in  transit  or  in  bond
in  this  city  have  a  capacity  of  13,000  tons,  and  cost  $12,166.  Four
are  owned  and  managed  by  the  commonwealth  Government,  and
four  by  private  individuals.
The  public  must  find  cartage  and  labor  when  necessary  for  bringing ­
  goods  to  the  warehouses  or  for  examining  them  in  bond.
The  department  records  all  particulars  of  goods  warehoused,
delivering  them  upon  payment  of  full  duties  and  charges,  but  at
the  same  time  taking  no  responsibility  with  regard  to  them;  or  the
goods  may  be  reshipped  in  bond  to  any  port  outside  the  State.
Scale  of  charges  for  goods  warehoused  in  King’s  warehouse,  and
for  goods  not  entered  inward  by  importer  and  deposited  in  King’s
warehouses  by  order  of  collector  are  attached  hereto.®  Receipts  for
the  current  year  were  $6,570,  and  expenditures  $5,350.
All  ordinary  merchandise,  except  combustibles  or  explosives,  are
stored,  but  chiefly  rice,  sugar,  tobacco,  cigars,  spirits,  oil  (not  kerosene ­
  or  inflammable),  dried  fruits,  soap,  starch,  boots,  shoes,  and
“On  file  in  the  Bureau  of  Statistics,  Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor.