D—No. 9

As the engagement and discharge of Seamen is regulated by the Imperial Act of Parliament, "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," under which Act the Chief Officer of Customs in the absence of a Public Shipping Master, is bound to act as such. I am to request you to furnish a report on the Commodore's representation for the Commissioner's information. I have, &c, R. F. Porter. The Collector, H. M. Customs, Wellington.

No. 4. COLLECTOR OP CUSTOMS, WELLINGTON, TO THE COMMISSIONER OP CUSTOMS. Custom House, Wellington, 21st March, 1861. I do myself the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ult., No. 75, and beg leave to state for the information of His Excellency the Governor that tho engagement and discharge of Seamen is properly conducted at this Port by myself, and regular returns furnished to the proper Officer in Great Britain. I further state that Ido not know of a single instance of the discharge or engagement of a Seaman since the passing of the <_' Merchant Shipping Act 1854," except before myself or the next superior Officer of Customs at this Port, the information Commodore Seymour has received on this point is utterly untrustworthy and without foundation. I have, &c, S. Carkeek, Collector. The Honorable the Commissioner H. M. Customs, Auckland.

No. 5. HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO COMMODORE SEYMOUR. Government House, Auckland, 19th April, 1861. SlK '~ Referring to your Letter of the 19th February last, complaining of the system of crimping which prevails at Wellington, and of the absence of any Regulation for the entries and discharges of Seamen there, I have to observe that the engagement and discharge of Seamen is regulated by the Imperial Ac of Parliament, « The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," under which the Chief Officer o'Culms, in the absence of a Public Shipping Master, is bound to act as such; and that hi reference to your letter to the Collector of Customs at Wellington, that Officer reports that the engatement and discharge of Seamen is properly conducted by himself and regular Returns 2" the proper Officer in Great Britain. He further states that he does not know of a SS Stance of the discharge or engagement of a Seaman since passing of *c Imperial Act above referred to except before himself or the next Superior Officer of Customs at Wellington A copy of your Letter complaining of the inefficiency of the Police at Wellington has been sent to the Superintendent of that Province, under whose entire control that Force is placed by Law> I have, &c. „ t, xr T. Gore Browne. Commodore Seymour, R.N., x - w H.M.S. "Pelorus."

No. 6. commodore seymouk to his excellency the governor. "Pelorus," Auckland, 21st April, 1861. SlR '~~ I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter No 20 of the 19th instant and I am glad to hear that the "engagement and discharge of Seamen at Wellington "i regulated by the Imperial Act of Parliament," but as the Collector of Customs does not state whetherthe Coasting trade of that Port is also under his superintendence; in the absence of a Shipping

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