The Globe. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1875.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 193, 21 January 1875, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1875.

The apathy displayed in the discharge of vessels (especially those from home) in Lyttelton, is becoming of very serious moment, and calls loudly for interference. The practice of detaining goods on board until ballast can be obtained has now become so common, that it is an utter impossibility for a consignee to have the slightest notion when he will receive his goods, if they happen to be stowed near the bottom of a ship's hold. Take an instance : A ship arrives from London on the 17th of December, having on board a general cargo; she commences discharging, but all of a sudden ceases to do so. In the meantime a consignee enquires the reason of this cessation, and is coolly informed by tboft in command that, "until

*' ballast can be procured no more " cargo will leave the ship." All this may be very well, and possibly quite correct in the captain's estimation ; but what about those persons who have received only a portion of their consignment, and who are prevented from executing orders, or erecting machinery, because there are still one or two packages left on board ? The inconvenience, to say nothing of the pecuniary loss, which must necessarily accrue to those who are so often subject to such treatment, must be something very serious. Is there no remedy for this sort of annoyance ? Are consignees entirely in the hands of whimsical or indifferent commanders, who, because they see no chance of a return cargo until a certain season of the year, leisurely lie on their oars, to the great detriment of the public and the prevention of trade ? What says the bill of lading, in speaking of the transit and delivery of goods ? Does it not say that such goods are to be landed with all possible dispatch. Surely the line must be drawn somewhere ? Five or six weeks after arrival is certainly sufficient time for the discharge of a ship's cargo; but no, it seems not — you must wait—wait till ballast can be procured or the holidays are all over. Then you may perchance have the remainder of your goods. Surely if cargo is thus detained, the consignee or owner can claim some compensation for the unnecessary delay, as, according to their own showing, the ship is making a convenience of the goods for its own benefit. We know of instances where consignees' goods have become utterly useless and unsaleable owing to their long detention on board after their arrival in Lyttelton. This is a state of things which calls for immediate and decisive action, and examples ought at once to be made, in order to bring about a better and more expeditious system in the discharge of trading vessels visiting our port. We venture to say, that in no port in the colonies are the trading community subject to such repeated and constant annoyance as are those of Canterbury in the landing and delivery of their goods after their arrival in Lyttelton, and we urge upon those whose duty it is to see after these matters to remedy this increasing and crying evil.