No. 56
               
            
            
            
            
               I have the honor to forward an Authenticated and two plain
               Copies of a Bill of the late Session of the Legislature,
               entitled;
               
               An Ordinance to
entitle
 entitle Exporters of Goods to certain Drawbacks
               and for other purposes.
               
               
               2.  Your Lordship will observe that I have not yet assented to
               it but await instructions.
               
            
            
               3.  I enclose the Report of the Attorney General and of the
               Collector of Customs on the subject.  Both seem opposed to the
               measure.  On the other side, I forward a letter from 
Dr
                  Helmcken, an influential Member of Council, strongly urging its
               adoption.  I attach likewise
copies
 copies of the proceedings on the
               subject in the Legislative Council.
               
               4.  As regards the Certificate required at the Custom House that
               Goods have been actually landed at a Foreign Port, I know that
               its abolition would be a most popular measure, but it is not one
               that I am prepared to take on my own authority.
               
            
            
               I have the honor to be,
               My Lord,
               Your Lordship's most obedient,
               humble Servant.
               
Frederick Seymour
               
               Minutes by CO staff
               
                
                  
                  
                     Mr Holland
                     This should be referred to the Board of Trade.  
Mr Birch says
                     the Law would be a direct encouragement to smuggling.  It is
                     connected with 5400 which is to go to the B
d of Trade.
                     
 
                  
                  
                   
                  
                  
                     Sir F. Sandford
                     Send these papers & 5400 to the B of Trade & request to be
                     favored with their Lordships views upon the proposed Ordinance &
                     the other questions raised

 upon these papers.
                     
 
                  
                  
                   
                  
                  
                     At once.
                     
                  
                  
                  
                   
            
            
               Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
               
               
                  
                  
                     Three printed copies of ordinance not on microfilm.
                     
                   
               
                
                  
                  
                     H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to 
Seymour, 
24 March 1869,
                     reporting unfavourably on the bill as per despatch.
                     
 
                   
                  
                  
                     W. Hamley, Collector of Customs, 
24 March 1869, reporting
                     unfavourably on the bill as per despatch.
                     
 
                   
                  
                  
                     Printed synopsis of the proceedings of the Legislative Council in
                     reference to passage of the Drawbacks Bill, 8 February to 12
                        March 1869.
                     
                     
                   
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
                
                  
                  
                     Sandford to Assistant Secretary, Commercial Department, Board of
                     Trade, 
25 May 1869, forwarding copy of the despatch and ordinance
                     for opinion.