THE PROPOSED WHARFAGE DUES.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 451, 3 December 1868, Page 2

THE PROPOSED WHARFAGE DUES.

(To the Editor of the Grey River Argus.) Sir — A letter appeared in your last issue, signed "D. Girdwood," which is so calculated to mislead the public on a subject which is of great importance to the town, that I think it my duty to reply to it, or at least to that portion of it referring to the proposed wharfage dues on coal. Your correspondent, in his peculiar language, complains that "coal claims to pay no wharfage if dug from the bowels of Westland, but condemns his brother on the Nelson side of the river to 6d per ton wharfage," thus leading the public to infer that an unfair distinction is made in favor of the Westland mine. In order to slk w how unfair such an inference would be, it is only necessary that I should call attention to the following facts : — By far the largest portion of the coal brought down the river from the Nelson mine, is discharged direct from the barges into the steamers and other vessels, and consequently will not be liable to any wharfage dues. Another portion of the Nelson coal is landed on the wharf at Cobden, and will pay nothing towards the maintenance of the port. The remaining small portion is landed on the Greymouth wharf, and will, according to the proposed tariff, pay 6d per ton. This 6d per ton spread over the whole quantity brought down from the Nelson mine will not amount to more than one lialfpenny per ton, and this will represent the whole contribution from the Nelson mine towards the maintenance of the port. The Westland mine pays ,£250 per annum, and 6d per ton on all coal over 10,000 tons taken from the mine, whether landed on the wharf or not, and the whole of that amount goes towards the protective works and maintenance of the port. The amount which will be paid by the Graymouth coal company towards this object, for the present year, will amount to about 2s 6d per ton on the whole of the coal obtained, whilst the Nelson mine will pay nothing. After this statement, I think it will be evident to every one that if either mine will be treated unfairly by the proposed tariff, it will not be the Nelson mine. With regard to the past, I may call attention to the fact that, whilst the Nelson coal has beenTfinded on the Greymouth wharf, and has occupied a large portion of I the small available space free from charge, the Westland coal has been charged a heavy amount on every ton landed on the Nelson wharf. I have no wish to complain of the payment exacted from the company which I represent, because I believe it will be well laid out by the Borough Council, and will form a desirable contribution towards the heavy expenditure which they have to incur in maintaining the port in proper order ; and when, in a few months time, our railway is opened, and a large shipping business is being carried on by the company, we shall feel the benefit of the outlay ; but I must say that I think it is only fair that the Nelson mine should contribute its quota, and that it is most ungenerous to complain of a proposed charge, which, as I have shown, will only amount to about one halfpenny per ton. I am, &c, Jambs Wylde, Manager Grey River Coal Co. Greymouth, 2nd Dec. , 1868.