I have the honor of transmitting herewith for Your Grace's
information, the Copy of a Proclamation issued on the second day
of
December instant, imposing a charge of Twelve Shillings per
ton on all goods transported or taken from
NewNew Westminster to
any place in
British Columbia, to be paid by the
Carrier of
the
goods to the Collector of Her Majesty's Customs at
New Westminster.
2. This is simply a revenue Act, intended to raise a fund
to be applied to the opening and improvement of the navigation
in the
Fraser and
Harrison Rivers, and especially to the removal
of an extensive shoal in the latter, which renders it impassable
by the River Steam Vessels for a great part of the year.
3. The tax has not excited the smallest feeling of discontent
even among the proprietors of Steam Vessels, who are acquainted
with its object, and expect to derive many advantages from the
improvement of
thethe navigation.