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of Trade enclosing a copy of the Merchant Shipping Act 1875, and requesting observations on any of the provisions of the Act which may seem to call for application to this Colony.
In reply, I beg to forward for Your Lordship's information, a copy of a Report made on the subject by the Harbor Master, to whom I referred your Despatch, and I do not know that it is necessary for me to supplement his Report with additional observations.
With regard to the Harbor Master's intimation that a short Ordinance is wanted to give power to stop unseaworthy ships, I think Your Lordship will agree with me that it is unnecessary, in the face of the comprehensive legislation which it is proposed to enact so soon as the Imperial Merchant Shipping Bill has become law, to introduce any disjointed Ordinance to meet specific points, all of which will be duly attended to in the Merchant Shipping Bill.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
[...] Governor.