Detention of goods until payment of fees

It shall be lawful for the officer of Government appointed under this Act or any of his assistants to detain any such goods until the lawful fees are paid; it shall be the duty of such officer to give notice in writing to the owner or consignee if known, stating the amount of fees and charges payable in respect of such goods, and, in the event of such payment being refused or delayed for the space of fourteen days from the date of such notice if the owner or consignee of such goods shall be in the port concerned, or otherwise for the space of one calendar month from the date on which such fees are payable, it shall be lawful for such officer of Government to sell or cause to be sold by public auction the said goods, and after paying the expenses of such detention and sale and double the amount of the fees by way of a fine, to pay the surplus, if any, of the proceeds of the sale to the owner or consignee or other person entitled thereto, if claimed within six months from the date of sale : Provided that, if the goods are of a perishable nature, the said officer of Government may sell the same or cause them to be sold at such earlier period being not less than twenty-four hours after the landing of the goods as he shall think fit.