OAMARU TRADE AND THE RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1436, 23 September 1878, Page 3

OAMARU TRADE AND THE RAILWAY.

Wo cannot deny (says the “ North Otago Times ”) that there is some warrant for the suspicions entertained by several who have spoken to us, that, while the authorities themselves would do what lies in their power to treat all their customers with equal courtesy and consideration, they are overruled by other and higher powers; the result being, by whatever cause produced, serious inconvenience—and in many cases loss —to the majority of our merchants and shippers, and through them to the town and district in general. As an ounce of fact is worth a ton of mere complaining, we will just state shortly to what extent the evil complained of has reached within the last few days. There are lying at the wharf two vessels—the Jane Anderson and the Good Templar—waiting to be discharged, and as soon as room is available, three more, now lying inside the Breakwater, will require attention, viz., the barque Oabarfeidh (coal laden), the schooner Isabella Pratt, and the ketch Anna. Four other vessels are hourly expected—the Aikshaw, the Pelican, the Garron, and Frank Guy (the last-named two also coal laden) ; there are on the wharf at present three steam cranes and plenty of available labor ; the one thing resting with the railway authorities to supply —the necessary number of trucks —is wanting. Really, the matter is getting a serious one, and unless something is done in the desired direction, our port will be shunned, and become a byeword in the mouth of everybody. To think that, on one of the very few days on which the wharf is devoted exclusively to discharging sailing vessels, the crows and wharf laborers should bo allowed to suck their thumbs is really monstrous, when it must be plain that the delay is avoidable, with even a tolerable display of management. Agitation has done much in the past, and we would suggest to those most nearly concerned (if such a thing has not entered their minds already, and wo should not bo surprised if it had) the advisability of taking joint action, with a view to bringing before the attention of the Government the deplorable state of affairs we are now witnessing.