In consequence of the present state of New Zealand, the Government here have thought it necessary that a law should be passed to regulate the exportation of gunpowder and warlike stores for a limited time. The following are the provisions of the Act, which on Thursday last received the assent of the Governor on behalf Her Majesty, and is, therefore, now in force :

"That during the continuance of this Act, no vessel having gunpowder or warlike stores on board, in greater quantity than may, in the opinion of the Collector or Chief Officer of Customs at the port of clearance, be required for the ordinary use and service of such vessel, shall be cleared at any port in the said colony, without a license under the hand of the Governor, or of the Colonial Secretary, or if in the district of Port Phillip, under the hand of the Superintendent of that district. That before any gunpowder or warlike stores shall be shipped under any such license as aforesaid, the shipper thereof shall be requested to give security, by bond, in treble the amount of the value of the gunpowder or warlike stores so shipped, with two sufficient sureties, that such gunpowder. or warlike stores shall be landed at the place for which it is declared to be shipped to, the proof of which shall lie upon the shipper thereof, by the production of the certificate of the Collector or other Chief Officer of Customs at the place where landed, or such other proof as shall satisfy the Collector or other Chief Officer of Customs, at the place of shipment, within a reasonable time to be mentioned in such bond ; and in failure thereof, the shipper shall be liable to a penalty of five hundred pounds, to be recovered at the suit of the Collector or Chief Officer of Customs, or of Her Majesty's Attorney-General, in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. It is proposed that the Act shall come into operation from the passing thereof, and continue in force for two years.

Gunpowder.- We call the attention of masters of vessels to the clause of the 5th Victoria, No. 11, under which they are liable to penalties for keeping gunpowder on board their vessels after arrival in the harbour. It is the first clause of the Act of Council, and runs thus:-

"Be it therefore enacted by His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that from and after the passing of this Act, the master of every ship or vessel, arriving in the harbour of Port Jackson, in the colony, of New South Wales, shall be required to land at the Government magazine, in manner required by the said recited Act, all gunpowder which may be on board such ship or vessel, whether as cargo or stores; and that no ship or vessel shall be allowed to enter Sydney Cove or Darling Harbour, until all gunpowder which, may be on board. whether as cargo or stores, shall be first landed as aforesaid; and the master of every ship or vessel, lying either in Sydney Cove or Darling Harbour, at any time after the passing of this Act, on board which any gunpowder shall be found, shall be liable to a fine of one pound sterling for every pound weight of such gunpowder so found : Provided that twelve hours from the time of anchorage, shall be allowed to the master of every ship or vessel anchoring in Sydney Cove or Darling Harbour, for the landing of such gunpowder, not exceeding twenty pounds in weight, as he may have brought up as stores in such ship. or vessel. The following is the schedule of store-rent charged. at Goat Island for storing powder in the magazine, under the authority of 7th William IV., No. 7 :- "For each and every barrel or package containing 50 lbs. of gunpowder and upwards, for any period not exceeding six weeks, 1s. ; above six weeks, per week, 2d. ; for each and every barrel containing less than 50 lbs. for any period not exceeding six weeks, 6d. ; above six weeks, per week, 1d."

SG & SGTL 18 Oct 1845

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