THE UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2990, 25 January 1881, Page 2

THE UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY.

[To the Editor of the Daily Temiguuph.l Sir, —While I am quite prepared to admit that the Union Steam Ship Company's service is one of which New Zea land may well be proud, and that no better coastal service is to be found in the colonies, I am sure that everyone who has travelled by it to or from Napier will endorse the remarks made by you yesterday that, so far as this port is concerued, there is room for much improvement. The arrangements for the shipping and landing of passeugers sometimes amount to a scandal to tbe port, reflecting alike discredit on the harbor authorities as it does on the company's management. When I say the " company's management " I do not intend my remarks to apply wholly to what might be avoided by greater attention on the part of the local agency. It is no fault of tbe agent that the arrivals and departures of steamers are so arranged that they take place at night. That is solely the fault of the head office, where the nature of this port is thoroughly well known. But the fact is, since the company has crushed out all competition on this coast, business has so accumulated on its hands that at times it is impossible to overtake it; hence cargo work has to be done at night instead of by day, and has to be bundled out of the steamers at all risks, and very often to the serious damage of the goods. The through passengers are consequently kept awake at night; and when all should be quiet, there are noises and bustle and disturbance of everj kind, turning for the nonce these fine steamers into a perfect pandemonium to those suffering from seasickness. Again, the increase of business, and the absence of opposition, together have produced overcrowding of passengers, so that only those who are fortunate enough to have secured berths are likely to finish tbeir voyage with any sense of the comfort to be found on board these boats. What between night work in port; landing from or boarding these steamers in the dark in an open roadstead ; overcrowding, and "shakedowns " on tables, this magnificent service will soon go down in public estimation. I know for a fact that many people would rather take tbeir passage to Wellington in tbe Go-Ahead or Kiwi, running the risk of a two or more days trip, than put up with the discomfort of going by a Uuion steamer, and taking pot-luck while on board. Tbe remedy is in tbe hands of the company, and can be effected by keeping pace with its business by sending up an occasional intermediate steamer that can come inside the harbor.—>[ am, &c M

A Traveller Napier, January 25, 1881.