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Reforms introduced in the Mother Country.
"
20. The Imperial Act to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Merchant Seamen, known as "the Merchant Shipping Act 1854" came into operation on 1 May 1855, and Imperial Notifications regarding it have been issued in the Gazette, while an Ordinance, No 14 of 1855, establishes a Registry for Colonial vessels.
21. Of the Consuls it is only necessary to say that their reorganisation is under the serious consideration of Her Majesty's Government.
22. The Police is notoriously insufficient for the purpose of prevention of offences and nuisances, but their organisation is under revision.
23. On the new laws you will say I have already addressed the Secretary of State.
24. Sir John Bowring, in his Report for 1855, attached some importance to the establishment of Foreign Consulates here, and it will be seen that all the commercial countries of importance are represented by Consuls in other Consular Officers at this Port.
25. I have already remarked on the absence of a Custom House, and on the consequent "impossibility of furnishing accurate Returns of imports and exports, but the Harbour Master's Tables will give valuable information on this head. It must not, however, be supposed that either the Imports are consumed in the Colony, or the Exports its production.