CONFUSION ON THE QUEEN’S WHARF.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4982, 12 March 1877, Page 3

CONFUSION ON THE QUEEN’S WHARF.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin, —Noticing per advertisement some proposed new arbitrary regulations with reference to cartage of goods from the Queen’s Wharf, I should suggest that, before attempting to bring the same into effect, the wharfinger should try a better system of stowing and sorting cargo landed from 'he various ships and steamers. Any person having business about the wharf will notice the mixture of marks in the various sheds, and trucks containing a whole sling of cargo being brought from the vessel’s side and turned over on the wharf. I feel certain that if the goods were landed from the ship's tackles on the wharf at the gangway, sorted, and then distributed about and stowed (each mark in different stacks), the cargo lauded would not occupy half the space, and it would give the carters a better chance to get a good load for one consignee, instead of often going with one or two eases. The great bulk of a ship’s cargo to Wellington comes to about eight or ten consignees, and the discharging clerk could easily, after glancing over the ship’s manifest, judge to a certain extent what space was required. The system of bringing a whole sling from a ship’s side and tumbling it down causes great confusion and soon blocks the narrow port of the wharf. A little extra labor would be required at the gangway, but a considerable saving in other ways would be effected. More care should be taken in stowing goods in the sheds and keeping marks visible. Cart -rs bringing cargo down for shipment should take more trouble in placing it near gangway, and stack same if the vessel is not ready to take on board. Wool received near woulshed should be placed on end, and not tilted from carts all over the wharf. Bags of grain loaded from vessels should be stacked eight or ten h’gh. I have seen steamers at the Queen’s wharf, Melbourne, land from 4000 to 6000 bags in one day, and all stacked in the space allowed the steampr. The same quantity would cover the Wellington Queen’s wharf from end to end under the pre-ent system. Carriages and passenger cars shoul I not be allowed on the wharf ; it is not a great distance for a passenger to walk ; luggage could be taken in small baud trucks by licensed porters, same as the Sandridge Railway Pier, Melbourne, which is four times the distance. While touching on the wharf question, I should like to know who benefits by the reduction of wharfage upon transhipment cargo, it strikes me only the steam and shipping companies.—l am., &c., ' Australia.