The Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1901. GREYMOUTH TRADERS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 November 1901, Page 2

The Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1901. GREYMOUTH TRADERS.

Mr Guinness, who was a by the Wainui, and who by the way, will arrived overland to-night, wired us from Wostport yestorday aftornoon as follows :—" Groy bar said to bo un> workable. The Wainui is not going to Greymouth and is discharging her passongors horo, who are very disappointed. Some intend staying for the Haupiri on Monday; others, including myself, procood to Reef ton tomorrow morning by coach, and oxpoct to arrive in Greymouth by Saturday evening's train." Wo prosumo wo shall bo again accused of hostility to the company if wo oll'or a fow comments upon such an unsatisfactory proceeding. Wo recogniso that the Union Company is not only a powerful Company, but is an oxccodingly wollmanaged and controlled corporation—from a monopolist's point of viow. But it acts towards this port in a manner it would not do if thoro was a little healthy competition. At the port of Greymouth thore is, and wo presume always will bo—as indeed thoro is at all bar harbors—now and then delays of a tide or couple of tides, and companies engaged ia such trades

make their arrangements for such delays. If they did not, they perfectly well know that other shipping companies would speedily step into their trade. Now so far as the Union Company is concerned in having a monopoly, and no present fear of opposition, it makes no provision for such stoppages. Tako the Wainui's time-table for instance, and it will be found to be fixed at full tension ; go, all the time, and especially on Sunday. To prevent Sunday being lost it is essential that the steamer get away from Westport on Saturday night, consequently the Wainui cannot afford to lose a single hour. This may bo all very well from the Company's point of view, but it is most unsatisfactory to the travelling public and merchants having goods on board. Tho Wainui could not have got in yesterday. She might have got in last night, and could with certainly have got in this morning. But the time-table will not admit of such delay, and as the timetable does not admit of it, Greymouth folks are forced to the conclusion that in compiling- the time-table the interests of this port received but scant consideration.