METHOD OF MAKING RETURNS OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS COASTWISE (INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFICERS TO MAKE ALTERATIONS IN).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session I, H-07

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1879. NEW ZEALAND.

METHOD OF MAKING RETURNS OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS COASTWISE (INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFICERS TO MAKE ALTERATIONS IN).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Sir G. Grey, with the leave of the House.

Return to a Question by Mr. Feldwick, To lay upon the table " copy of circular letter, dated 6th March, 1877, addressed to the various Collectors of Customs, instructing those officers to make alteration in the method of making returns of exports and imports coastwise; and, at the same time, to state reasons for such change."

No. 1. Mr. W. Seed to the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs. Sib,— 30th July, 1879. A copy of the circular moved for by Mr. Feldwick is attached hereto. The necessity for the instructions contained in that circular arose in consequence of some Collectors of Customs having misapprehended the intention of instructions previously given as to export entries for goods shipped coastwise for conveyance out of the colony by the Sait Francisco mail steamers. Further instructions were therefore given in a circular of the 14th January, 1873, of which a copy is annexed ; and these instructions having been disregarded at some ports, which led to complications in their export returns, and caused much trouble and risk of serious errors in the preparation of the general export return for the whole colony, the instructions had to be repeated in more explicit terms in the circular of 6th March last. The Hon. the Commissioner of Customs. W. Seed.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. (Circular No. 5.) Sir, — Customs Department, Wellington, 6th March, 1879. The instructions contained in the circulars noted at foot* require modification, by the insertion of the words "in the same vessel " after the word "colony." You will be good enough to insert these words in your copy of the Compendium ;f and, in future, to observe the regulation as thus altered, which means that export entries are only to be passed at the port at which goods are shipped on the vessel which is to take them out of the colony : but this is not intended to interfere with the special instructions in the Compendium as to the entry and shipment of gold. I have, &c, William Seed, The , H.M. Customs. Secretary and Inspector.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. (Circular No. 20.) Office of the Commissioner of Customs, Wellington, Sic, — 14th January, 1873. A diversity of practice having arisen in carrying out the instructions laid down in Circular No. 392, of the 18th December, 1871, as to the passing of export entries for shipments of goods coastwise for exportation from the colony at another port, I have the honor to inform you that those instructions were intended to meet the case of, and are to apply exclusively to,

* No. 392, of 18th December, 1871; No. 20, of 14th January, 1873. Page 7of Compendium. t Compendium of General Orders and Regulations for Guidance of Collectors: issued by Direction of the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs.

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goods shipped for exportation by the San Francisco mail steamers. You will understand, however, that this rule is not to interfere with the present practice of requiring export entries to bo passed at the port of shipment for goods shipped on board of intercolonial steamers for exportation from the colony. I have, &c, William Seed, The , H.M. Customs. Secretary and Inspector.

Enclosure 3 in No 1. (Circular No. 392.) Office of the Commissioner of Customs, Wellington, Sic,— 18th December, 1871. It has been represented to me that cargo for shipment by the mail steamer for San Francisco frequently reaches Auckland from other New Zealand ports without any information appearing on the coastwise manifests to make it clear that export entries for such cargo have been passed at the port of shipment. With a view of removing doubts on this point, and of securing an accurate account of the exports from the colony, I have to request that you will be careful to see that all coastwise shipments at your port for exportation from the colony at another port are accompanied by copies of the export entries or shipping bills attached to the coastwise manifest. The officers at the port of exportation, in the absence of such documents, will require an export entry to be passed before clearing the goods by the foreign-going vessel. I have, &c, William Seed, The , H.M. Customs. Secretary and Inspector.

Authority: Geoege Didsbttby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1879.

Price 3d.]