Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 211, 7 June 1848, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

Sib,— ln answer to your letter, I beg leave to state, that the regulations noticed in my last letter are in force on part of the eastern coast of Souih America. I likewiie beg leave to state that these regulations originated in consequence of the revenue derivable from the customs' in that quarter yearly diminishing ; in short, decreasing to such an extent, that the Government, as a last alternative, adopted the plan of selling by public auction, for a limited time, one half of the customs' duties, reserving to itself the other half. No sooner were these precautions taken, than the revenue during the succeeding twelve months nearly doubled itself; pioving incontcslibly that men, where their own interests are concerned, discover a dozen expedients which would never occur to one following the plodding routine of office. I may as well observe, that previous to this change, the regulations in force were about as lax as those which are at piesent in force here. You ask ihe expense of I, 2, and 3 guards. I stated in my letter that some of the regulations were frivolous. In my opinion, a guard on shore, to take an account of the discharge of cargo, is frivolous; nor would there be required, in a port like this, a chief guard. His duty might, I ihould presume, be performed by one of the present officials, who could occasionally visit the vest's di-chai^ng. With *e tt ' <i to the sep lv mr of thr im-tr^s, tin*. * nee nu^nt • ; effected oy tL- bom's crew oi the lurbc- master ; or if this were not p/acticable, a waterman's boat might be lured. . Assuming that a change in the present regulations of of the custom house was contemplated, two courses present themselves— the one to examine every package of goods after it is discharged ; the other to examine one package in eveiy ten ; in each case taking the precaution of having guards placed on board vessels discharging. The additional expense attending the adoption of the first named change may, more or less, be estimated as follows— 2 additional officers, at about JCI2O per annum, more or less, as Ihe case may be .... ,£240 3 guards or tidewaiters, at 30s. per week each . 234 Boat hire, £2 per week, provided the harbour master's boat could not be employed for the purpose 104 £598

By the adoption of the second named system, one additional officer alone would be required, thereby reducing ihe expense jCIOO per annum. I presume that tluee tidewaiters or guaids would be sufficient to take cognizance of the vessels an iving here. If they are not so, policemen might be employed occasionally in that capacity, when the vessels arriving exceed the general average. As to the examination of goods, it might be effected in the merchant's private stoics until search time, as bonded stoics, were considered expedient. This plan would probably be liable to abuse, but under present circumstances no other course sug. gests itself. As, with perhaps the exception of Madras, we have scaicely an instance of a large commercial town being called into existence in the neighbourhood of an open roadstead, it appears almost unnecessary to refer to the subject of steam tugs for New Plymouth. You allude 10 the good management of the present custom house. If laxity constitutes efficiency, if people are allowed to discharge their goods at any hour of the <l.iy, or any hour of the night, if this constitutes good management, then indeed the custom house of Auckland may at once shine forth as the " ne plus ultia" of efficiency, and the very paragon of a good custom I)OUSt'. In refutation ol this eulogy, had we not an instance the other day of goods being landed, stored, advertised, and afterwards seized ? Seized, not through any custom house regulation, but solely through the fortu II us circumstance of an advertisement in the pajer It, any oue credulous enough to suppose that this is a solitary instance; or can any one doubt the probability that, with the increase of the trade of this place, this system of smuggling will grow and strengthen, until it diveits from its course, and gradually draws within its vortex a good portion of what ought to be the legitimate ix venue 1 You allude to the smuggling on the coast. Is it not notorious that smuggling on the coast has in some instances resulted solely through the defective regulations here 1 That vessels have arrived, that they have apparently discharged their cargoes, that no search has been made to ascertain whether they have in reality ischaiged their cargoes, and that the lesidue has afterwards been l'indcd on the coast. With such abuses, and such "out of joint" regulations, well may we exclaim— " Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder." If, in defiance of the defective regulations which exist, no change js to be effected in the general sysiem current hew, at least let the council pass an edict levying duty according to the dimensions of the packages, and then people will know their rule of action ; but to pass a law levying 10 per cent, advalorcm, and then leaving it to the elasticity of the consciences of the importers to pay 2 per cent., or 5 per cent., or 10 per cent., is, to say the least, both tit variance with common sense, and in my humble opinion absurd. I have reluctantly written this letter; but when questions are asked, it would show a want of common courtesy if I had failed to notice them ; and perhaps an equal want of courtesy, if I had likewise failed lo make even an effort to answer them. I remain, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Ex-Mebcatok.

Tv the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir, — In your Paper of Saturday last I called upon those who were anxious to promote the interests of the colony, to meet at the Exchange Hotel on this , day, June 6, at twelve o'clock, to take into con»idera» i tiun the propriety of establishing a Steam Communication between Auckland and the various settlements in the vicinity. I, with ft few intimate friends, aisembled at the appointed time, and after remaining three-quarters of an hour, we were compelled to leave, the only audience we could muster were seven in number, including myself. Had I called a meeting to deviie the best means to upset the Government, and turn the Governor out of the colony, I feel confident that hundreds would have responded to the call ; and more especially if I had one of our celebrated demigods in the chair ; but when a meeting was convened to promote the interest of the colony, and develop its resources, and, in fact, to put money into the pockets of the Aucklnndites, yet these very men, without an exception, did not attend. It appears to me that their counting- houses and shops are their churches ; their ledgers— their bibles; and their pounds, shillings, and pence— theit book of common prayer. It is melancholy to imagine that so much apathy could possibly exist in the vicinity of Auckland, that out of 6000 inhabitants, only seven, like the witches in Macbeth, «] peared. I remain, &c , Auckland, June 0, 1848. J. Nagle.