The inquiry into Customhouse matters continues to be industriously prosecuted
by Lord Granville and his coadjutors; but the only glimpse Which at present can be obtained of the results is to be found in certain orders which are occasionally issued by the Board. One principle runs through the whole of them,—the lessening of labour to the officers, (with the view, no doubt, of ultimately reducing their number,) and the diminu- tion of expense to merchants. An order has just come into operation at the London Customhouse, doing away with the practice of measuring singly every foreign deal or batten which exceeds twenty-one feet in length; and substituting the measurement of a tenth part of each assortment. Under the former practice, a measurer could not dispose of more than 300 or 400 per day; and as a vessel generally brought from 3,000 to 4,000 deals and battens as cargo, esometivaes a fortnight was taken np in the clearing out. Under the new eiders, that fortnight's work may be compressed into a day. The saving of expense to the merchant is considerable. The porterage for lifting each deal so as to allow it to be measured was 68. the 120, and for battens the charge was 5s. That expense will now be largely diminished. It is understood that the new practice will soon be in operation at the outports.
Previous page
