COAL DEPOTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1358, 5 December 1872, Page 2

COAL DEPOTS.

[to the editok.] , Sir— Those whose business or pleasure leadß'them to visit the lower end of the town will probably have noticed a structure of strange device which has been erected upon the new and expeusive timberT.WQrJc at Richmond -Quay. - This,"! am told, is a .coal, .depot belonging to somebody, to whom that body of concentrated intelligence and.. independence, pur Borough Council) have granted leave to use, for a paltry consideration, the public property. I consider, sir, that that thing is sva eyesore, a nuisance, and an infringement upon the rights of property-holders both up and down the quay, who acquired their properties as' fronting 'the river, free from any obstacles, tp. their traffic, or view jin that direction. I venture to consider that the Bproiigh Council, in grantingany ! such h'xed private privileges, have done , what they have no. right to do, and their 1 excuse that they have done quite as bad . .before is no excuse. Reasonable people ' can have ho objections to every encouragement., being given to local industry, but are the Council prepared to give me, or any other person, the same privilege., to use the wharf as a depot either for imports or exports % If not, they have no right to do it to one, whoever he may be, and who this privileged person may be I, for one, don't kuow and don't care. I" simply care, and am not singular in caring, - that the ,Borough Council '(Shall neither seize advantages for . themselves by virtue of their position,; nor giv.e iniequal advantages to others. They have clearly done, either ■ one or other in this case, and, if we hear any more of petty actions for street obstructions or' for apr propriating gravel; we shall know what to think, and with your leave, sir, shall say what we. think. . To a temporary occupation of the wharf as a coal'depot^ there may be no serious objection^ but to have a cofter-dam constructed as the principal object in our principal street, and for the use only of d particular person or firm, is too much' like conferring a permanent privilege upon, one, and a permanent inifliction upon all. ' ...... Yours &c, : A Ratepayek. ; December 4. i