REPORTS FROM THE CUSTOMS OFFICER-IN-CHARGE AT SHORTLAND, RIVER THAMES; ENCLOSING RETURNS OF THE NUMBER OF VESSELS AND THE NATURE OF THEIR CARGOES, AND THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ARRIVING AT AND LEAVING SHORTLAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1868 Session I, D-03

D.~ ]S ro. 3.

REPORTS FROM THE CUSTOMS OFFICER-IN -CHARGE AT SHORTLAND, RIVER THAMES; ENCLOSING RETURNS OF THE NUMBER OF VESSELS AND THE NATURE OF THEIR CARGOES, AND THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ARRIVING AT AND LEAVING SHORTLAND.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL IsS^MBLyT^^OMMAnTop^ HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1868.

D.—No. 8.

REPORTS PROM CUSTOMS OFFICER, SHORTLAND, THAMES.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. D. Ltjndon to the Collectob of Customs, Auckland. Sib,—- Shortland, 9th May, 1868. I beg to forward the enclosed statement of the number of vessels, tonnage, <fee, together with tho number of passengers arrived at Shortland, for the fortnight ending 30th April instant. The population of this district is increasing steadily ; the building trade is brisk, and, in consequence, timber is fetching higher rates ; stores and cottages are springing up in all directions, and on the whole this place is assuming the appearance of a settled population. The quantity of gold deposited at the Banks is 826 ounces. The falling off in the quantity is accounted for by the severe weather preventing the miners from bringing their stuff to the machines. At Hastings (Tapu Creek), there are new discoveries of gold every day, and the paddle steamer " Clyde," twenty-seven tons, is now a regular trader between the latter place and Shortland, and is doing a good passenger trade. I have, &c, D. Lundon, To the Collector of Customs, Auckland. Landing Waiter.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. D. Lundon to the Coliectob of Customs, Auckland. Sib, — Shortland, 20th May, 1868. I beg to forward the enclosed statement of the number of vessels, nature of cargo, &c, together with the number of passengers arrived at Shortland, from the Ist to the 16th May, 1868, both days inclusive. The quantity of gold deposited at the various Banks within the above period, is 924 ounces. Some of the machines are at a standstill for want of stuff to crush, the roads are so bad that carters are demanding one pound per ton for cartage, and the miners do not feel inclined to pay such high rates, they prefer to do without crushing until the roads are in better order. Since my last report gold has been discovered at Kennedy's Bay, and several miners have taken their departure from Shortland with the intention of trying their luck in the former district. The favourite route from Shortland to Kennedy's Bay is in small vessels to Coromandel, and thence by a good track over the range, a distance of ten miles, brings them to the mining locality. I have, &c, D. Litndon, To the Collector of Customs, Auckland. Landing Waiter.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from Mr. D. Lundon to the Coilectob op Customs, Auckland. Sib,— Shortland, 13th June, 1868. I have the honor to forward the enclosed return of the number of vessels and their tonnage, nature of cargo, &c, together with the number of passengers arriving at and departing from Shortland, for the fortnight ending 31st May. The population of Shortland, including Puriri and Hastings, is estimated at 9,000, and the number of miners' rights issued to date is 6,483 ; the number of miners' rights is not a fair estimate of the actual number of miners at work on the ground, for when shares are sold the parties purchasing have to provide themselves with miners' rights to enable them to hold their shares. Now that the winter has set in a large number of the claims are being registered to enable parties to return to their homes for a short time, and until the necessary machinery in their immediate neighbourhood is completed. The quantity of gold deposited with the Banks in Shortland, is 1,739 ounces, and this amount will not be increased before September next. I have, &c, D. Lundon, To the Collector of Customs, Auckland. Landing Waiter.

No. 4, Copy of a Letter from Mr. D. Lukbon to the Collectoe of Customs, Auckland. Sib,— Shortland, 30th June, 1868. I have the honor to transmit herewith a return of the number and tonnage of vessels, and number of passengers arriving at Shortland, from the Ist to the 15th June instant, together with the quantities of spirits, wines, and tobacco (duty paid) within the above period. I have, &c, D. Ltodon, To the Collector of Customs, Auckland. Landing "Waiter.

D.-No. 3,

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from Mr. D. Ltjkdon to the Collectoe of' Customs. Sic,— Shortland, 4th July, 1868. I beg to forward the enclosed statement of the number and tonnage of vessels and nature of cargo, to gother with the number of passengers arrived and departed from Shortland, for the fortnight ending 30th Juno. There is a marked increase in the number of passengers arrived within the above period, principally from the West Coast of the Middle Island; and I am happy to say that, from inquiries made among them, they are well satisfied with their prospects on these diggings. The quantity of gold deposited with the Bants is larger than usual. This is accounted for by the large return from a crushing of two tons of stuff from the " Manukau Claim," which yielded above 1,200 ounces of melted gold. I have, &c, D. Lundon, To the Collector of Customs, Auckland. Landing Waiter.

No. 6. SUMMARY of RETURNS referred to in Mr. LUNDON'S REPORTS of 9th MAY, 20th MAY, and 13th JUNE, 1868.

4

EEPORT EROM CUSTOMS OEEICER, SHORTLAND, THAMES.

luring the Fortnights ending— 30th April, 1863. 16th May, 1868. 31st May, 1868. Shipping— Vessels 'Tons With Cargoes In Ballast... Passengers Inwards Do. Outwards Building Materials — Timber Shingles ... Bricks House Blocks Palings Lime Provisions — Flour Potatoes ... Biscuit Eggs Carcases of Beef ... Salt Groceries — Soap Sugar 62 1,862 60 2 1,415 973 157,000 feet 215,000 No. 1,000 ., 107 3,089 97 10 1,751 1,490 302,600 feet 240,500 No. 12,600 No. 400 feet 101 2,925 88 13 1,491 1,405 316,600 feet 407,000 No. 76,000 No. 100 feet 4,300 No. 105 bushels 42* Tons 23 i „ 4 boxes 31 1 tons JOJ tons 3 boxes 6 No. 61i tons 37 tons 1| tons, 10 cases 8 boxes 18 No. 10 ewt. 4 tons 19 bags 22 boxes 3 tons, 39 bags, 6 mats 3 tons, 58 bags, 32 mats, 132 gunnies 32 chests, 24 i-ehests, 9 boxes 2 cases 2 casks 18 kegs Tea Coffee Oatmeal ... Butter Cheeses Candles Miscellaneous 11 half-chests 10 chests, 29 i-cliests, 24 boxes 5 kegs 40 No. 66 kegs, 13 boxes 128 No., half-ton 55 boxes 315 packages 2 cases, 5 boxes, 7 packages 18,000 No. 10 boxes 304 packages 1 case 1 package Cobaeeo Cigars ... Spirits — Brandy Bum Whisky Geneva ... "... Old Tom 1 qr.-tieree, 4 boxes, 5 pkgs. 6,800 No. 11 qr.-casks, 87 cases, 3 kegs 2 qr.-casks, 4 kegs 5 qr.-casks, 27 cases 6 cases, 22 half-cases 18 cases 29 cases 62 hhds., 23 barrels, 55 casks, 19 cases 9 qr.-easks, 90 eases, 7 kegs 1 quarter-cask, 4 kegs 51 cases, 5 kegs 5 cases, 5 half-eases 4 cases 2 qr.-casks, 23 cases, 1 keg 35 hhds., 13 barrels, 20 casks, 87 cases 8 qr.-eask3, 105 eases, 3 kegs 3 quarter-casks, 4 kegs 3 quarter-casks, 18 cases 5 eases, 10 gallons 12 cases 1 qr.-cask, 35 cases, 6 kegs 57 hhds., 41 barrels, 20 casks, 123 cases tVine ilo and Beer ... Cave Stock — Horses Donkeys ... Bullocks ... Cows Sheep ?odder — Bran Hay 3rain — Maize Oats Wheat Machinery 4 No. 25 No. 141 No. 1 ton * 3 No. 15 No. 2 No. 350 No. 3 tons 12 tons 13 No. 1 No. 18 No. 7 No. 38 No. 6 tons 4 tons 12 bales 16 tons, 4 packages 1 ton 1 ton, 61 packages 50 bags, 114 bushels 20 bags 90 bushels 15 tons, 52 packages 3 tons 36 tons 4 bottles 5 tons, 394 packages von 3oals Juieksilver Miscellaneous ... 8 bottles 24 packages 2264 tons 3 bottles 502 packages

D.-No 3

No. 7. SUMMARY of RETURNS referred to in Mr. LUNDON'S REPORTS of 30th JUNE and 4th JULY, 1868.

5

REPORT FROM CUSTOMS OEEICER, SHORTLAND, THAMES.

During the Fortnight ending— 15th June, 1808. 30th June, 1868. ShippingVessels Tons With Cargoes ... In Ballast Passengers Inwards ... Do. Outwards ... Building Materials— Timber Shingles Bricks House Blocks ... Palings Lime Provisions — Flour Potatoes Biscuits Eggs Carcases of Beef Salt groceries—■ Soap Sugar Tea Coffee Oatmeal Butter Cheeses Candles Miscellaneous ... Cobaeco Cigars Spirits— Brandy Rum Whisky Geneva Old Tom 95 2,728 76 19 1,663 1,341 233,343 feet 9,000 No. 23,700 No. Nil. 500 No. 6 bags, 130 bushels 20 tons 31|tons Nil. 108 2,941 97 11 2,089 1,572 206,880 feet 120,400 No. 27,000 No. Nil 775 bushels 58 tons 22 tons 27 oases Nil 03 No. 1 ton, 10 bags 4 boxes 4 tons, 158 bags 1 chest, 21 half do., 10 boxes Nil. Nil. 33 kegs Nil. 38 boxes 358 pkgs. 7 boxes, 7 pkgs., 1 case Nil. 14 boxes 4 tons, 46 bags, 0 gunnies, 128 mats 3 chests, 57 half-ditto, 1 box Nil Nil 33 kegs Nil 148 boxes 313 packages 3 boxes, 4 pkgs., 2 cases, 57 lbs. Nil. 1 hhd., 11 qr.-casks, 72 cases, 5 kegs 0 „ 2 „ 0 „ 6 „ 0 „ 3 „ 06 „ 5 „ 8 cases, 2 half do. 8 qr.-casks, 128 cases, 7 kegs 5 „ 0 „ 2 „ 3 „ 12 „ 3 „ 17 cases 22 cases 1 qr.-cask, 61 cases 56 hhds., 29 barrels, 15 casks, 44 cases iVine He and Beer Ljive Stock — Horses Donkeys Bullocks Cows Sheep ?odder— Bran Hay Jrain— Maize Oats Wheat Machinery 2 qr.-casks, 48 cases 35 hhds., 13 barrels, 14 casks, C cases 14 No. Nil. 23 No. Nil. 6 No. 9 No. Nil. 27 No. Nil. 242 No. 3 tons, 10 bag3 7 1 tons 2 tons, 60 bags 3 tons 7J tons, 50 bushels 1 ton, 17 bugs Nil. 92 pkgs. li tons, 94 bags 2 tons, 50 bags Nil. 30 pkgs. 1J tons 22 tons Nil. 159 pkgs. 3oals Quicksilver Miscellaneous 40 tons Nil. 335 pkgs.