A signal’s post, with a pilot boat and crew, was established at Knysna in 1818 after the river Knysna was proved to be a safe port.
It was, however, only in 1881 that Knysna was proclaimed a Free Port and considered fit for importation and exportation according to section 15 of Act No 10 of 1872.
Mr J Campbell acted as Examining Officer in Charge of Customs as from January 1881 and was appointed Sub-Collector, Examining Officer and Warehouse keeper on 19 December 1881.
The Resident Magistrate and Civil Commissioner also held the position of Collector of Customs.
On 7 September 1954 the Knysna Harbour was withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the South African Railways and Harbours Administration.
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Ladismith on 23 October 1876 (Government Gazette No 5624 dated 24 October 1876, Proclamation No 75 dated 23 October 1876).
Mental disease legislation was re-drafted when the Lunacy Act, 1891 (Act No 25 of 1891) replaced prior legislation. The Valkenberg Mental Hospital was opened on 20 February 1891 for mental cases in buildings that had formerly been the Porter Reformatory. In 1894 the Valkenberg Lunatic Asylum Act, 1894 (Act No 17 of 1894) was passed, which authorized the Government to spend £40 000 upon the construction and equipping of the building which is the present-day main block of the institution.
A magistrate court for the district of Riversdale was established as from 8 March 1848 (Government Gazette no 2206 dated 9 March 1848, Proclamation dated 8 March 1848).
The Divisional Council of Knysna was constituted on 21 July 1862 in terms of Proclamation No 47 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 3379 dated 22 July 1862).
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Knysna was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of George and Mossel Bay to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Outeniqua (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061, 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174, 18 July 1979).
A Magistrate’s court was established at Prince Albert on 3 August 1855 (Government Gazette No 2635 dated 3 August 1855, Proclamation of 2 August 1855).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Montagu on 15 January 1897 (Government Gazette No 7884, dated 12 January 1897, Proclamation No 5/1897, dated 15 January 1897).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Murraysburg on 14 April 1859 (Government Gazette dated 15 April 1859; Proclamation No 23, dated 14 April 1859).
