Comparative statement showing the exports from Bombay to Great Britain, the United States and France, during the years ending April 30, 1860, 1861, 1862, and to December 12, 1863. EXPORTS TO GREAT BRITAIN. Wool. Linseed. Rape seed. Gingilly Coffee. Total value of all exports seed. and imports. I have the honor to send you the required commercial report for the year ended the 30th of September, 1863. The whole number of vessels arrived at this port for the year is : Of the American vessels arrived here, only three brought cargoes of American merchandise, and one of those discharged but a part of her cargo here. The value, as near as I have been able to ascertain, was about $53,500. It should be stated, however, that two foreign vessels, or more correctly two American vessels under a foreign flag, have brought hither, during the year, cargoes of American merchandise, valued at $58,000. H. Ex. Doc. 41-7 Seventeen other American ships have brought here foreign cargoes, valued at not less than $690,000. Total number of American ships that have sought this as a port of delivery, is twenty. Thirteen vessels, mostly whalers, have put in to this port for supplies and the shipment of oil. Those that have entered here since the 15th of June last have had on board oil to the value of not less than $300,000. There have been only two cargoes shipped hence in American bottoms during the year, and one of them was the cargo of another American ship condemned. The value of the other cargo, which was not sent to the United States, was $60,000. During the year, thirteen American vessels have put in here for repairs, of which five were condemned and sold. The facilities for effecting such repairs here are probably unsurpassed, if not unequalled, by those of any other port east of the Cape of Good Hope, there being three large and substantial docks at this port, as well as one patent ship. I am informed, by gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with ship-building, that nowhere is work done more faithfully than here; though, owing to the isolation of the place, and the great distance which all the materials employed have to be transported, the expenses of such repairs are always proportionally large. Exports of the island for 1862 amounted to the sum of.... $13, 586, 440 Imports for the same.. Balance in favor of colony.... 12, 192, 060 1,393, 380 It is generally well known, the only important production of this island, and the sole article of export, is sugar. The last year's crop (the sugar year terminates on the 31st of July) reached the enormous amount of 258,000 tons, considerably the largest crop ever produced. But as the prices ruled lower than the average of some years past, it is supposed that the planters, as a body, received no larger returns for their crop than they have for many years previous. The following table, kindly prepared for me by a gentleman largely engaged in the sugar trade, shows the present rates, and the average price of the year, the different qualities. of It should be stated, however, that at the present date the market exhibits a rising tendency, which fact goes far to console the planters for the prospect of a much smaller crop the current year than was produced last. It is estimated, indeed, that the crop of the present season will be full 40,000 tons less than that of 1862-'63. This great decrease is owing mainly to the destructiveness of the hurricanes, several of which swept over the island at the period when the young and tender canes were most liable to injury. The There has been no change in the import duties during the past year, though I am sorry to say that one is now threatened of considerable importance. expenditures of the government having so largely exceeded its revenue, and being so certain to surpass it for some time to come, those in authority have been compelled to devise some method of meeting this increased demand. A bill having this for its object is now before the legislative council, which, although opposed by many influential voices, bids fair to become a law at an early day. With the details of this bill I am not familiar, though I know that, among other changes, it proposes an entire abolition of the "Free list." Camparative statement showing the quantity of sugar exported and its value value of imports, revenue, expenditure and immigration, for the last eighteen Comparative statement showing the exportation of sugar from Mauritius to different places from the crop of 1843-'44 to the crop 1861-62. In my commercial report, dated October 15, 1863, it was intimated that a change of some importance in the import duties collected at this port was threatened. On the 23d of the same month the ordinance, two copies of which I enclose, was passed by the governor and council, though not without considerable opposition. It will be seen by this ordinance that while the tariff upon certain articles heretofore taxed has been considerably increased, the "Free list" has been almost annihilated. A large portion of these new taxes are laid upon the food of the humblest classes, and, of course, must be severely felt. True, the tax by the ordinance is imposed but for a single year, but it is highly probable that the same causes which now render its imposition expedient will render its retention desirable. ORDINANCE No. 33 OF 1863. M. C. JOHNSTONE.-Enacted by his honor the officer administering the gov ernment of Mauritius and its dependencies, with the advice and consent of the council of government thereof. AN ORDINANCE to alter the customs duties on certain articles imported into Mauritius. [23d October, 1863.] Whereas, by ordinance No. 9 of 1854, intituled an ordinance "to impose duties of customs on goods, wares, and merchandise imported into Mauritius," certain duties are imposed upon wine, beer, and porter, and certain articles are exempted from any duty on importation into Mauritius, and it is expedient to amend the law in relation to the said duties and exemptions: Be it therefore enacted by his honor the officer administering the government, with the advice and consent of the council of government, as follows: Table of new duties on wine, beer, and porter. I. Instead of the duties imposed by ordinance No. 9 of 1854, and specified in the table contained therein, on wine, beer, and porter, cider, and perry, the duties hereinafter specified shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid on all wine and others aforesaid which shall be imported into or entered for home consumption at Mauritius, viz: Wine, in casks of 50 gallons each, per cask.... Ale, beer, porter, cider, and perry, bottled, per dozen bottles. Bread, biscuit, per cwt.. in casks, per hogshead. II. There shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid the several duties of customs hereinafter set forth upon all goods, wares, and merchandise of the kinds hereinafter enumerated which shall be imported or brought Duties to be levied as under ordinance No. 9 of 1854. .. .... £ S. d. 166466666oooo 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 III. The several duties in this ordinance provided shall be raised, collected, levied, and paid in the same manner in all respects as if they had been imposed by the aforesaid ordinance No. 9 of 1854. IV. The said ordinance last mentioned is hereby repealed in so far as it is provided that the several goods and others enumerated in article 2 hereof should be exempted from customs duty. V. This ordinance shall take effect on and from the first January, 1864, and shall continue in force for one year and no longer. Passed in council, at Port Louis, island of Mauritius, this 23d day of October, 1863. J. L. WILDMAN, Acting Secretary to the Council of Government. Published by order of his honor the officer administering the government. EDW. E. RUSHWORTH, Acting Colonial Secretary. BARBADOS-EDWARD TROWBRidge, Consul. JANUARY 6, 1863. I also transmit herewith a copy of the new trade act of this island, which took effect on the first day of January and continues for three years. No. 20.-BARBADOS. AN ACT to amend and continue the acts relating to the trade of this island. Whereas the act of this island of the 23d July, 1852, entitled "An act to regulate the trade of this island," and also the act of the 2d of March, 1853, for amending the same, will expire on the 31st day of March, 1863; and whereas it is deemed expedient to amend and continue said acts as herein provided: Be it therefore enacted by the governor, council, and assembly of this island, and by the authority of the same, as follows: I. By the 2d clause of said act of the 23d July, 1852, it is provided that the master of every vessel arriving at this island shall come directly to the customhouse and make such report as is therein required. Instead, however, of such master being required to repair directly to the custom-house and make such report, it shall be lawful for him to do so within twenty-four hours after the arrival of his vessel; but should he omit to do so within the said twenty-four hours, |