SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 249, 20 October 1874, Page 2

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

■; To the Editor of ..the 'Evening Mail.' ..'Sra—The mo't interesting portion of the Press to the commercial community is the telegraphic intelligence. The telegraphic intelligence, by which we hope to ascertain the prrspective departure and probab e arrival of the Melbourne and other steamers, so that one can form some idea for mail or passenger purposes, is*frequently a subject of I disappointment and disgust and aflorda no information whatever, and to peruse the telegrnph board of the departures and arrivajs is equally disappointing^ As regards the port of Nelson, our first intimation of a steamer's whereabouts is seeing her off the Boulder Bank. Not long since, I urged upon the Commissioner of Telegraphs the advantage of giving tbe public information on the telegraph board of the art ival or departure of vessels, especially- the .Melbourne _ steamerer^at the V^ietfs,pbrf». JiThe reply was to the^ effect that ihe Go'vernment^ had rt dueed messages to the Press to one halfpenny a word, and after five o'clock to one farthing a word, and tha*. the information sought for waa in other provinces rtadi'y procur-d ant publish-d by the Presa at a merely nominal cost, and that the Government officials could not be expected to go out and procure information specially for NeUon. In other provinces, I find the papera rublish as follows, sayjrader the head Lyttelton —7" Otago; arrived jthis morning. will\ leave for.-the NortK &c. |j f> y. •-» _ fShodid thejiricifat wliich'ipapera are pub- ; Mished not permit of so much expenditure for information r< specting arrivals and prosp ctive departures of the varioua steamers to Nelson I would suggest a small subscription amougst commercial people an! the banka,) which would give ample funds, and confer a great advantage upon the community. I am, &c, M. Lightband.