π’ New Zealand Customs Service, Lyttelton Office
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The relationship between Christchurch and Lyttelton is particularly problematic. The literature suggests that the Christchurch Office, for a period, had a controlling relationship with Lyttelton, although the time frame during which this may have occured is far from clear.
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The Guardians at the Gate - The History of the New Zealand Customs Department, David McGill, Owl Press, 1991
A History of Canterbury, Vol 1: to 1854, James Hight and C.R. Straubel (eds), Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd, 1957
Nominal Return of All Officers in the Employ of the Government: Their Duties, Salaries, Location and Dates of Employment (Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 31st August, 1865, No 40-65), Wellington, 1866.
Archives Reference CH 443
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[history] => The New Zealand Customs Service is one of the oldest government departments in the country, being established in 1840. Originally controlled through New South Wales and London, the service was developed to levy duties on goods moving through New Zealand ports. In 1858, the Customs Act established Customs as a fully fledged department within the developing Colonial government, controlled by a Commissioner who was himself appointed by the Governor. Commissioners in turn delegated their authority to regional Collectors of Customs.
A customs officer was appointed to Lyttelton in 1849, in anticipation of the planned settlement of Christchurch. He also performed the role of postmaster, and customs officer for Akaroa. As the settlement grew, so did the office. By 1866, there were 21 people working for the Customs Department in Lyttelton, including 4 clerks.
The Lyttelton office became secondary to that of Christchurch as the city grew. The Christchurch Office assumed control for the greater Christchurch area in the late 1880s or early 1890s. Further responsibilities were entrusted to Customs with the passing of a series of immigration Acts, such as the Imbecile Passengers Act 1873, Chinese Immigrants Act 1881 and Immigration Restriction Act 1899. Collectors of Customs at all ports were also Inspectors of Distilleries, and acted as returning officers for seamen during general elections.
Functions:
As the country developed, so too did the role of Customs. Customs Department officers were often called to occupy additional government posts such as Sub-Treasurer, Resident Magistrate, Postmaster, Receiver of Land Revenue. 1866 saw the introduction of taxation on internal production through excise duties and collecting duty on imported goods. The Customs Department administered the Distillation Act 1868, which regulated distillation and the licensing of brewers, and the Beer Duty Act of 1880, which placed an excise duty on the production of beer. Collectors of Customs acted as Inspectors of Distilleries. At some ports Collectors also acted as Registrars of Shipping and Superintendents of Mercantile Marine. In 1913, under the Customs Act 1913 and in conjunction with the Indecent Publications Act 1910, Customs’ mandate was extended to protecting New Zealand from the importation of suspect or indecent publications. This led to Customs taking on a censorship role within the framework of the Acts, deciding what importers and individuals could and could not bring into the country.
In general, Customs offices' responsibilities included:
regulation of arrival and departure of shipping vessels;
levy of tariff duties on imported goods;
collection of excise duties on imported liquor and tobacco;
collection of export duty on exported goods, and ensuring the non-entry of prohibited imports;
supervision of the import and export of goods by licensing warehouses for storing dutiable goods without paying duty;
supervision of the delivery, accounting and packing, seizing and disposing of forfeited goods, preventing and detecting of smuggling;
collection of excise duty on spirits including the licensing of plants used in making distilled spirit;
collection of beer duty including the licensing of brewers; and
examination of overseas mail (Customs legislation also applied to goods passing through the Post Office).
Show History
The New Zealand Customs Service is one of the oldest government departments in the country, being established in 1840. Originally controlled through New South Wales and London, the service was developed to levy duties on goods moving through New Zealand ports. In 1858, the Customs Act established Customs as a fully fledged department within the developing Colonial government, controlled by a Commissioner who was himself appointed by the Governor. Commissioners in turn delegated their authority to regional Collectors of Customs.
A customs officer was appointed to Lyttelton in 1849, in anticipation of the planned settlement of Christchurch. He also performed the role of postmaster, and customs officer for Akaroa. As the settlement grew, so did the office. By 1866, there were 21 people working for the Customs Department in Lyttelton, including 4 clerks.
The Lyttelton office became secondary to that of Christchurch as the city grew. The Christchurch Office assumed control for the greater Christchurch area in the late 1880s or early 1890s. Further responsibilities were entrusted to Customs with the passing of a series of immigration Acts, such as the Imbecile Passengers Act 1873, Chinese Immigrants Act 1881 and Immigration Restriction Act 1899. Collectors of Customs at all ports were also Inspectors of Distilleries, and acted as returning officers for seamen during general elections.
Functions:
As the country developed, so too did the role of Customs. Customs Department officers were often called to occupy additional government posts such as Sub-Treasurer, Resident Magistrate, Postmaster, Receiver of Land Revenue. 1866 saw the introduction of taxation on internal production through excise duties and collecting duty on imported goods. The Customs Department administered the Distillation Act 1868, which regulated distillation and the licensing of brewers, and the Beer Duty Act of 1880, which placed an excise duty on the production of beer. Collectors of Customs acted as Inspectors of Distilleries. At some ports Collectors also acted as Registrars of Shipping and Superintendents of Mercantile Marine. In 1913, under the Customs Act 1913 and in conjunction with the Indecent Publications Act 1910, Customs’ mandate was extended to protecting New Zealand from the importation of suspect or indecent publications. This led to Customs taking on a censorship role within the framework of the Acts, deciding what importers and individuals could and could not bring into the country.
In general, Customs offices' responsibilities included:
regulation of arrival and departure of shipping vessels;
levy of tariff duties on imported goods;
collection of excise duties on imported liquor and tobacco;
collection of export duty on exported goods, and ensuring the non-entry of prohibited imports;
supervision of the import and export of goods by licensing warehouses for storing dutiable goods without paying duty;
supervision of the delivery, accounting and packing, seizing and disposing of forfeited goods, preventing and detecting of smuggling;
collection of excise duty on spirits including the licensing of plants used in making distilled spirit;
collection of beer duty including the licensing of brewers; and
examination of overseas mail (Customs legislation also applied to goods passing through the Post Office).
As with all regional offices, getting specific information on dates was a difficult business. There is little in the historical or historiographical record that contains information on what happened at a micro regional level, or when. As a result, many of the 'guestimates' at dates have been based to a large extent on Archives New Zealand Christchurch Regional Office's holdings, which provide at best a tenuous chronological reference.
The relationship between Christchurch and Lyttelton is particularly problematic. The literature suggests that the Christchurch Office, for a period, had a controlling relationship with Lyttelton, although the time frame during which this may have occured is far from clear.
Archives New Zealand, undated, Customs (C) Record Group, administrative history.
The Guardians at the Gate - The History of the New Zealand Customs Department, David McGill, Owl Press, 1991
A History of Canterbury, Vol 1: to 1854, James Hight and C.R. Straubel (eds), Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd, 1957
Nominal Return of All Officers in the Employ of the Government: Their Duties, Salaries, Location and Dates of Employment (Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 31st August, 1865, No 40-65), Wellington, 1866.
Archives Reference CH 443
- π Realm of New Zealand (1947 ‑ )
- π Dominion of New Zealand (1907 ‑ 1947)
- π Self-Governing Colony of New Zealand (1853 ‑ 1907)
- π Crown Colony of New Zealand (II) (1849 ‑ 1853)
This Agency is responsible for:
| ID | Name | Browse | Date | Held At |
| 🌀 CH443 | CH443CH443 - Inwards and Outwards Correspondence, Log Books and Shipping Report BooksⓘRaw data from Axiell backendArray
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Accession 1849 ‑ 1954 Christchurch repository Inwards and Outwards Correspondence, Log Books and Shipping Report Books Open |
Browse | 1849 ‑ 1954 | Christchurch |