Mlcst Coast fetes, MOJnUAV, .NOVEMBER 5, 18^'j.

West Coast Times, Issue 349, 5 November 1866, Page 2

Mlcst Coast fetes, MOJnUAV, .NOVEMBER 5, 18^'j.

The meeting t^at took pLv:e on S.itu"day at the Fire Brigade Hall, to take into consideration the new Customhouse Regulations, carries with it a lesson that recommends itself to every class of the community. It was a protest entered ty practical men agiinst the introduction of a vast amount of unnecessary labor, and expense of time and money, with a government department, whose officers are brought into immediate contact with that class of traders who carry on our importing bus : nv.-ss. On tiie passing of the now Tariff, the vexatious regulations complained of were first enacted, and although the full force of their powers of annoyance has not \el been felt, yet they have succeeded in making themselves sufficiV tly obnoxious to induce the importers and Custom-house agents — in order that advantage may be taken or the presence of Mr Seed, the Inspector of Customs — to take immediate and the only steps towards their abolishment. Whatever may he ihv result of the movement, we cannot but commend the thorough business-like manner in which the evil has been met We sincerely wish that success may attend the efforts of the promoters equal ti the earnestness they have displayed. If some of "Westland's grievances that pi ess more heavily, although in a lfss direct manner, were met with hut onehalf of the practical earnestness and evident purpose bestowed on this — instead of being borne in apathetic, oul pable silence — we would have less to complain of at the hands of our loctl government, and, we are confident, umch less to suffer.

The question, although one purely commercial — and therefore affecting -i considerable number of our readers -is yet fraught with sufficient general interest to call for a few remarks from us. We shall therefore endeavor to briefly explain the the grievances complained of and their remedy.

Merchandise ol every description is classed under the heads of dutiable and free. The latter, under the present tariff are few iv number and easily disposed of — a simple entry declaring the nature and value of the go :ds being all that is necessary to pas* at the Custom House It is with the other class that the difficulties exist. Dutiable goods may be on landing at once stored in the name of the importer in a bonded or Queen's warehouse, which is presided over by au officer of the Customs. Should the owner wish to take immediate delivery, and be in possession of the exact particulars of his goods, he may at once do so by paying the necessary amount of duty under a home consumption entry. As however, it often happens the importer has not I lies* 1 particulars he then makes a sight entry . Here it is that the first of the alterations is introduced. In the form written out by the person passing the entry, the particulars as fir as known are stated, and a deposit made equal to from twenty-five to fifty per cent, iv excess of the supposed duty. This sight entry is then transmitted to the tide waiter on the wharf, by whom the goods are guaged, measured, or weighed, as circumstances require, and the document returned to the Custom House, with the correct contents liable for duty noted thereon. The statement of contents, it will be observed, is made solely by the Customs authorities, and it appears that although hitherto the accuracy of these returns has seldom been questioned, yet by an order lately issued finm the Customs it is made compulsory on the importer or his ageut to attend on the tide-waiter at the time when he so gu ges, weighs, •>r measures his goods. It is one of the grievances complained of that the importer or his agent should be thus compelled to dance attendance on the wharf officer until he finds opportunity to do the necessary work. Another annoyance arising from the aew regulations is, that when a parcel of goods is entered under a sight entry, a portion of those goods is retained by the Customs authorities until the sight is completed by the importer. The los< t'lat may occur through detention of goods — more especially in such a fluctuating market as ours — is too well known to call for explanation. Not content, however, with this annoyance, expense is added by this detained portion being placed in the Government shed, and mu4o KaW» for storage Bur] other

charges. It may be well to state that these charges are not imposed in the i*nsrof free goods passing through the shed, oi on goods intended for bond, but only those under sight. Ii appears also that on the payment of duty an alteration is made. Previously cheques marked by the bank clerk a* correct wore accepted Now only cash is taken. This point is not one of vital importance. It cer tainly causes additional trouble on the unfortunate importer, but that seems to be the object aimed at in one'half of these new regulations.

The committee appointed at the meeting purpose waiting on Air Commissioner S:ile ami the Inspector of Customs, Mr Seed, to lay thvse matters before them. We are sure they will carry with them the best wishes of every mind free from the trainnvl* of red tape anJ the circumlocution office.

It is not often we depai-t from our general rule — to take no notice of tho misstatements and untruthful report* and criticisms made by our evening contemporary — believing that in almost every ease of the kind that comes under the public notice, they i'ail to have any influence It is only a fe.v days since that that journal most impudently stated that the West Coast Timks copied the ship's manifest of the Keera from the columns of the '• Evening Star." We took the liberty of inviting the proprietors' attention to the matter, aud in their next issue they withdrew the -soft imputation, fearing that had they not done so, we should have exposed upwards of thirty errors in their manifest, which, not being in our report, was a sufficient proof l hat it could not have been copied from theirs, ami would have convicted them of direct falsehood. That matter we had intended to pa«?s by, but refer to it now, ;\i we are ou the subject of the total want of principle in our contemporary. The meeting on S iturday last for the nomination of candidates, was attended by but few pei sons, yet sufficient to bear evidence that the report of that meeting, as given by the •' Evening Star,'' is false in almost every pirtiuuliir. However, as many persons miy n t haye read that report, we shall give it verbatim from the ". livening Star, followed by the correct report as taken by this journal, leaving it to the public to mark tiie great discrepancy between the two; and, in future, to estimate the amount of credence they may place iv tne news as hashed up by the evening paper: —

[Copy of Report as puhlished in the " Evening Star" : — ] According to announcement, the nomina-, tion of a candidate to till the seat rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr Reeves, rook pl.ico to-day at tlie Supreme Court Reserve, G. S. Sale, Esq., being the presiding oificer.

There were only two candidates proposed — Mr Cassius, proposed by Mr Pnu«le and secondtjd b}' Air Shaw ; and the 1-is 1 named gentleman, proposed by Mr F. P. Clarke and seconded by Mr South.

Mr Cassius addressed those present in a few remarks, stating his willingness to serve his fellow citizens and use his utm nt endeavors to advance the interest of Hokitika and the entire district. At. the conclusi ii of his speech he referred to the fact of Mr Bright, M.P.C., as connected with the West Coast Ti.mks, and thought it "too much of the monkey" that we should be entirely represented lr»y that office.

Mr Shaw, in stating his gratification at the honor confe-red upon Inn., mentioned that the nature of his bu>ine->a engagements would preclude hia attending more tu.ui one hessiou of tho Council. He also expressed his high opinion of Mr Cassius as a candidate, and thought tlie choice of the electors could not have fullen upon a more suitable person to tepreseut th m.

A poll having heen deiiHiidud, Tuesday nexi, ihe oth iusiant, wns iixed for the day of polling, between the hours ot t) a.m. aud 4 p in.