H.—22

2

\mnecessary expense, because the goods on which duty is collected at the out-ports are, as I have just stated, removed under bond from the large ports, where an account of them has already been taken and entered in the Customs books, and'where they could be cleared and delivered for duty 'with much less trouble than is caused by their being cleared for removal coastwise. Of course there are places where it is necessary to station officers for the protection of the revenue, and whether such places be declared Ports of Entry, and whether any revenue be collected at them or not, is a matter of little moment, so far as the cost to the Department hi concerned, as the revenue of the whole Colony is benefitted by the prevention of any place from becoming a rendezvous for smuggling ; but there are ports now open which have no value whatever as preventive stations, and which, I think, should be closed, at any rate before any more ports are opened. The number of Ports of Entry already established (28) is altogether excessive, if considered in relation to the trade and population of the Colony (being more than there are in Scotland, and one-third more than in Ireland), and from the frequent urgent applications that are constantly being made from various parts of the Colony, this number, I fear, will rapidly increase, unless the Government firmly discourage such applications, and decline to entertain any that are made on behalf of districts where the trade and population are not sufficient to justify the increased expense to the Department that would be caused by opening additional ports of Entry. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, William Seed, To the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs. Secretary and Inspector.

No. 1. ABSTRACT of all Duties and Revenue collected by the Customs Department during the Financial Year ended the 30th June, 1873.

He»d ol Receipt. Amount Collected. Spirits Do., New Zealand Cigars and Snuff Tobacco Do., Sheepwash Wine Ale and Beer, in wood Do. do., in bottle Tea Coffee, Cocoa, &c. Do., ground Sugar and Molasses Fire Arms .. .. Powder, sporting Shot Goods by Measurement Do. by Weight Opium Ad Valorem Other Duties not specified above £ 283,956 17,423 12,096 92,813 291 34,450 2,585 13,252 55,798 6,675 776 91,540 154 553 665 147,034 53,790 2,177 3,961 35,824 £ Bents, Seizures, &c. .. .. Bonded Warehouse Duty " Merchant Shipping Act" Fees " Arms Act " Licenses Lighthouse Dues Pilotage Fees " Oyster Act" Licenses " Distillation Act" Licenses Other Receipts .. .. 855,813 471 4,128 789 1,675 6,845 11,909 10 636 - 873 Gold Duty 27,336 47,499 Total Duties and Revenue £930,648