Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 209, 31 May 1848, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealanrler. Sir,— As the Lixncsg which picvails in the depart, mentot the Customs in this place has long been ,\ subject of rctnaik to those but slightly acqu tinted with commerce, and ns the icgnktioiis in that dcpai Uncut dill'ji' so matcii.illy fiom those which aic in foice in vaiious quartcis ut iheglobe.it bcrome3 advisable, in order to stop the smuggling which must sooner oi later ensue from the looseness of such Kgulations, thai those who have tiavelled in various pmib should state the system followed in each, that by the coinpansoti o{ those vaiious systems, that which is beneficial may bo extracted, in oidcr to amclioiate, in some dcgiee, Uio present defective i emulations. In the hone that otliors may act upon this suggestion, 1 beg leave to give the lblloning account oi the icguldtions in iorce in one quaitcr ot the glo'ic with which lam acquainted. So soon ;is a vessel auives in harbour a custom house olliccr or tide-waiter is placed on boaid. The hatches arc fastened, and all connmimcalion with the cai^o or hold is cut oil" by moans of tape and scaling wax. The tape is passed over the hatches, and scaled in difleicnt places in such a manner that the hatches cannot be opened without the seals being bioken. If the seals are luokcn, cither horn caielessnoi.s or design, a heavy fine is levied. Tlie guard remains on board until the vessel has completed her discharge. Vessels are allowed to discharge from 7 to 12 a.m. The hatches me opened and scaled, not by the guaid on boaid, but by another ofliccr sent fiom the customs. An account of the cargo, as it k discharged, is taken by tho guard on board, and another guard is again employed to take an account of tho caigo as it is landed. So soon as tho ship has completed her dischaigo, the strictest search is made in the hold, and eveiy othci part of the vessel, to asccitr.iti whether any goods still remain on boaid. If any arc found, they aic confiscated. Previous to this visit the captain gives an account of the stores on board lor his own use, which, if exceeding what he may leasonably lequirc for his contemplated voyage, ihe excess is charged with duty. The masters of vessels are bound to swear to their manifests within 21' liouis after arrival ; and in case the goods discharged do not corlespond with these in the manifest, the master is charged with duty upon the value ol such goods. The manifests of vessels are entered in a book piovidcd for that pmpose; and at the end of every twelve months the goods duty paid are compared with the goods manifested ; and for all goods which have not paid duty after being twelve months bonded, the owners or consignees theieof aic bound, cither to enter the said goods for duty, or to abandon them. Of cotton or woollen manufactured goods every package i 9 examined when entered at the customhouse. Of other manufactured goods, such as earthware., hnt d ware i &c., one out of eveiy ten or twenty is eiamin. d to ascertain whether the co itents agree with the s, ecifica ion 9 given by the impoiteis. All thu lea ing articles of consumption have fixed valuations upoD which tlie duty is paid. Ab, however, theie arenumcious de captions of goods which, <n thelangua-e of the customs, cannot bo "Enumerated or dcscnbe<l»" thebe are charged with duty ccording ti their valu?^ If considerably undervalued, the custom-I)OU6e officer seizes them, jiayiig the merchant 10 per cent, on h\s valuation. InsUnces of seizure of goods undervalued | constantly occuired ; but the merchant never considered himself aggrieved, or blamed the customs' officer for doing his duty. One part of the harbour is s(t apart for vessels discharging, and another for Ihose loading; ; those discharging to be bettor distinguished at night, have a light hoisted at the masthead. When bonded goods are exported, the merchant cxportin» them enters into a bond that they shall not be relanded ; and furthermore, in a (?iven time to furnish certificates of their discharge at the place or places to which expoited ; such certificates to be signed by the consul, or if thcie is no consul, by two respectable residents. If the goods are disposed of at sea, the captain is bound to enter into his log book the name, master, and flat? of the vessel to which the goods were delivered ; which entry is co.un.tei signed by the .first and second mates,

A', if ■■• sriruly (o he expected that lido-waitci 1 :, i>nmm£ wages soiurcly highei than those of common hhouiing men, should always tread the " nu^ed path of duty ;" as i cheek npui these mm there w s another ollicer, termed a chief or first pnard, »vho«c duty it was to visit the vessels discharging from time to time, to ascertain thai ilie puboidmate guai ds were at their posts. These guards, however, nlways presented some obstacles to smuggling; and in foieign countries it not untiequcntly happened that the same f-unids who connived at the smuggling, likewise connived at the drlprtion of the smuggled i oods. Such arc tlio outlines of the custom-hnusp rc»nLi tions in one port. Thaf they wen: too f-luet und fiivolous in some ca-ics I gr.mt ; but comp.uc these with the regulations at Auckland. Heie. gooda are riischaiged at any ))laee or at any hour, without any officer supci intending the disdiaige or lnulin». Searcly a case of goods is ever examined hy the customs ; and goods in reality worth XJSOX J 50 may pay duty upon a value 0f.,C1(). ■\\'e have a law stating that no gunpowder or munitions of war shall be imported. Is it not clear to every body, that with this 100s 1 systun, warlike materials may be imported by whole&ulc ? Does not the custom house distincly say by its acts, " impoit gunpowder; only tell us that the packages, which in reality contain gunpowder, contain cotton goods, tic, mid we will let you import as much as you like ?" It if? an old &a)ing, that it is opportunity which makes the ilnef ; may we not say with equal tiuth, that the want <j| piopcr precautions is suse lo cicate smuygli rs. If li'Wo .no made, picctulions oii(;ht at least to be taken lo enforce them ; otherwise, what is tha use of a 1 iw being made, and then becoming, if not obsolete, maricd in its perlormance through negligence. It cannot fail, I think, to be obvious to everybody, that il is the inteicst of the community to have the customs' duties strictly levied. That the piofits arising from smuggling; may benefit a few individu-'ls ia true, but the profits which they derive necessarily neatc a deficiency in the revenue, which deficiency must be made up by incicasej tuxation levitd upon the body of the people. In making the preceding observations, I disclaim altogether easting any reflections upon the genlli men who have been at the head of the customs' departmen — (hey have merely done what others would have done wnder similar circumstances— they touud a faystcm in foicC) and they followed it. I remain, Sir, Your most obedxnfc servant, EX-MtUCATOR. Auckland, 27th May, 1848.