Sec. 24 of the Act of 1854 is addressed to "Governors, Consular officers and other officers of Her Majesty".
The instructions issued by the Board of Trade from time to time under the Merchant Shipping Acts to officers abroad have been addressed to "officers" (not distinctively to Governors) who are required to report to the Board of Trade sometimes "immediately", and "as soon as possible".
Enclosed are instructions in Consular Despatch of 27 Feb 1869, which are connected with the case in points. See pp. 19-23 of that Despatch.
In the great majority of cases it would scarcely be necessary for communications from officers in the Colonies to the Board of Trade to pass through the Colonial Office.
On the whole, I should conclude that it is unnecessary for the Colonial Office to issue instructions on the subject, unless requested by the Board of Trade to do so.
I think correspondence with the Board of Trade relative to Shipping &c. may be more properly left to pass direct between that Department and the local officers.
There are cases imaginable in which the passing of communications through the Governor would be productive of much inconvenience and delay, e.g. cases of seamen at ports remote from the seat of Government, such as Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
I concur (with some doubt) that the correspondence with the Board of Trade may be dealt with direct.
To proceed...
Page 212/2
Lawkimberley, 13 Feb 1877