THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3133, 13 July 1881, Page 4

THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

[To the Editor of the Daily Teeegbaph.] Sic,—A Spit firm, not having succeeded in renewing the lease of their premises, has de-wid-d to erect new stores near the N.apier railway station. The wisdom of this may be a moot question, but it is One which concerns themselves, and tbe public would have no right to offer an opinion thereon did they not at tbe same time agitate to get the Custom House removed from the port. This might certainly contribute to depreciate the value of tbe landlord's holding, but if would al<-o be a serious and unheard of inconvenience to the shipping community. In all large commercial ports the Cmtom House is situated close to the shipping. In London, Glasgow, and other home ports, this i<j invariably the case, and at several of these the trade ol one part far exceeds that of the wholecolony. A memorial, however, bas, I hear, been got up, and is being taken round for the signature of the resident* in tbe town, and no doubt, as is usual in such cases where there is nothing to pay, tbe memorial will be readily subscribed. The question of site is no doubt for tin present kept in the background. Is it to be in Hastings-street, or is it to be at the railway station ? If at the latter, then the shopkeepers in Hastings-street may depend tbey will be driving away the trade from their own locality much more effectually than if the Custom House remained at tbe port. In tbe memorial 1 hear the (act of Dunedin having a Custom House is adduced as a reason for the removal of our Custom House, but I fail to see it. Dunedin 13 a port, and vessels of equal tonnage to those which enter our harbor load and discharge at its wharves, close to which is the site of the Custom House. Christchurch is therefore the only precedent on which they rely for having a Custom House away from tbe poit. _he cafes, however, are not analogous; Christchurch is nine miles disi_„t from Lyttelton, with a high mountain range dividing the two places. Napier is a email town of some seven hundred acres in extent, surrounded by water, and the port is an integral portion of the borough. The residents on tbe Spit kaow it to tbeir co«t, ■ .i the heavy borough rates they have to pay amply testify. If the townspeople at tbe other end would allow them to separate and relieve them of the burden ot the debt incurred for expenditure on tbat side of tbe town, I bave no doubt every Spit in habitant would reciprocate by signing the petition for a second Custom House located in the shop end of Napier. For a second Custom House is really what is sought for. Tbey cannot do without a Customs at the Spit, as the landiog waiters, tide waiters, locker, and shipping master are all required there. Wii ! the colony in this age of retrenchment when tbe civil service is being reduced on aU hands, stand the expense of a doubh Set of officers P Will the coroparativen trifling receipts of tbe port warrant such extravagance? The question appears • me to carry with it its own refutation. I am, &c, Common iSenms. July 13, 1881.