THIS PORT OF FOX TON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 70, 29 April 1879, Page 2

THIS PORT OF FOX TON.

-4 (Bronx the Wauganui Herald.) Tta paramouat object of. the Harbour Board is to make the port of Wangauui the distributing 1 centra for the West Coast of this Island, and with that end in view they are engaged i v spending a large amount of money iv improving tha Harbour. The depth of water on the bar, and in the channel, is of course the most important work before the Hoard, but trade with Wangauui is governed by other circumstances which a'HO demand attention. It is well known that the arrangements for the despatch of sea-borne goods into tho country from Waniranui are not in any way satisfactory, and that the uueertaiuty and delay which too ol ten accompanies the transit of merchandise has seriously affected the tiade of the port. All this is known to the members of the board, but as the wharf is subject to a lease which does not expire before July next, nothing has heen done. In the meantime trade that should come to Wanganui is b-'ing driven away to Foxton. This is no idle story, but the plain trutli. We will give ajcase in point. A well-known storekeeper of Bulls being iv Wellington lately bought a p ircel of general goods, measming in th.9 aggregate soma 20 ton 3. Wanting it quickly, and a steamer leaving Wellington for Wauganui that day, the goods were S9nt down for shipment by tti't vessel. Before, however, the jfovk of sh-pmeut had commenced the Foxton steamer was signalled. Tho Bulls merchant immediately countermanded the order for the Wanganui steamer, and directed that tho parcel should be put on board the Foxton boat. The change in tho order appeared inexplicable to a Wauganui mm who was present, and he enquired the reason why goods for Bulls should be sent to Foxton ami not to Wanganui. The storekeeper replied that it was simply a matter of time and money, and that he hid found by experience that it was to his interest to ship to Foxton. By doing so ho knew to a penny what tho cost of transit would be, and when his goods would arrive, but shipping to Wanganui left him in doubt both as to time and expanse. He therefore preferred to bear the ills he knew of, than fly, &c. At Foxton the wharfage charge, which covers the transhipment from the vessel's hold to the railway truck, is two ihillings and sixpence per ton. Tn Wanganui the wharfage charge is one shilling and sixpence per ton, but to pi ice v country storekeeper's goods in tho railway truck a cu-tago fee of another one all ill ing and sixponcp has to ba paid. Then if the goods are not quickly removed from the trausi; shed storage is put on, and if they are removed promptly agency charges have to be met. The whole system is so vexatious that the port is damaged materially, and we have the Fox> ton harbour bringing goods within 30 miles of Wanganui. The grievance 13 more keenly felt when small parcels are shipped. Each package, if for different consignees, is considered a load, and wharfage, storage, and cartage iv some casus simply m&.ke the receipt of a small parcel unprofitable. The extension of th« 3 railway system on to the wharf will of course bring about an alteration, but that is a work of time, and it is imperative that the amendment should commence as spdediiy as possible. Before tho wharves are again let the conditions must bs radically altered, so that at least we may meet b'oxton on equal grounds. The Harbour Board havo that point before them, and it is not too much to ask that they should so frame their regulations that every induoemant should be offered to traders .

A young man sent 80 cents, to a firm in Michigan that advertised a receipt to prevent bad dreams. He received a slip of paper on which was written :— " Don't go to sleep."