NRS-963 | Copies of letters to the Collector and Controller of Customs and the Surveyor of Distilleries

Copies, summaries or notes of letters, principally to the Collector and Controller of Customs, and a few to his staff and until December 1828, to the Surveyor of Distilleries. From February 1828 to 1838 letters to this officer are in NRS 951 and from 1849 in NRS 970. From 1840-48 letters addressed to the Inspector or Superintendent of Distilleries are again here. NRS 997 includes some letters to the Collector re quarantine. The imposition of customs duties in New South Wales really began in 1800 when Governor Hunter, with the object of raising funds to complete the gaol, levied a charge on liquor imported into the colony. Subsequently Governor King extended the scheme in order to swell his Orphan Fund and the collection of import duties became a regular responsibility of the Naval Officer of the port. By 1826 Darling found the staff performing this duty, consisting of the Naval Officer himself and one Clerk, was hopelessly inadequate, and appointed a Board to investigate. On 9 April 1827 the first commission as Collector of Customs was issued to the veteran J.T. Campbell, Captain Rossi being transferred from the Police department and appointed comptroller. (The customs department remained a branch of the imperial customs until 1851 when the establishment was transferred to the colonial government.) These letters begin when Piper was still Naval Officer but correspondence with him after his dismissal is continued in NRS 943. The letters are mostly on routine business: exemption from or collection of dues, interpretation of regulations, arrangements about landing imported goods and some quarantine matters. Letter 83 of 8 June 1854 is from Elyard, the Colonial Secretary's Chief Clerk, to the Controller of Customs setting out the Governor-General's decision against levying duty at Albury on imported goods on which duty had already been levied in Melbourne. (4/3695-700; microfilm copy SR Reels 2855-2856). 6 vols. Note:This description is based on Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.