The Evening Mail. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 644, 27 May 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY , MAY 27, 1878.

Jcrxii.NG from w'sat trav.spired at their last meeting, the immbers of the Harbor Board seem fully determined that the present high tariff on the Breakwater railway shall not be continued. As required by the j.greeuient ci-tered into for the lease of ti.e line, the Railway Department forwarded a tarilf which it is pr.q.oscd to bring into force shortly to the Board for its approval. It was discovered that very little, if any. reduction had been mad", and ihe Board consequently declined to shg'dfy it:: approval of the proposed changes. i,ni, after deliberation, appointed a Committee to interview the Commissioner of Railways with ;•- ei.w to i-t:-Vc'.'2>g ftpprt-eiabi.? reduction". With eon; iderabie force it was pointed out that the 'line was paying exceedingly well, ami that as the iJoard had made very large reductions in its own charges, the Government sin'tild ais" assist in olfering every eneoi.:-ag..meni t" the shipping trade of the port, by lowering its char:/.-::, for ei'irving goods to ami from the ;:■■, akwater. -•■;t a single argument wovt'iv i::o iiamo can be adduced against tlie aih.v.tio:-. <A such a course. Tiie hue 'urn: th- i rop-.-rty ••£ L:;. Marhor Board, the Government :-r-' I'ol harassed with ,■:;,-,■ c.-i!.-.i'i.;'-:'.>-io!>s of providing interest o:-." C ; . :,-.,.:..-y . -ay v.-'.< d :"_■''" iu r;. .■■.-.:.■-,-.- i"i ■■<■■: 5:...-k for woikinz the ! ; ;;, : . ! i.t i:i r,■; t-: ii f r this tiiey iiave h,.;n in : - ::;' of a v. ■ y L.v-:- i\-v::.'w. 1 Vernimiic rr-iiways. rnd faeiiitat -d tiu !■.;.-.rr'.-i;.._' >.n "f a v< ry lucrative business o;. ihe !i;:e.-. iti the dherict. It mint also he boii.i i:i mind that only reeemiy the | departiu. u: ret'ii-ed ro provide timber ;• I elfoct IleceSS.oy ivp.:iii - .i o!i ilio hue. and j ihe IL'.rbo:- iJ.»ard was either c«>n:peiled ! to do tiiis itself ••!• slop the traifie. I Xoi- must it ;..■ ;.r.g..:'::i that since t!u ; pi-setu t.-.rdt w:-;; .:c-i t!ie trifle <n ..:< i f..-.;t has increa-.e 1 '■' ■'"' greatly, and tha! I "iie ree-i[>ts o:i th..- lii'.-akwa'er line have I increased as a mitur.d consequence. Tin I Harbor B i.ird has i'utly demonstrated it: i desire to reduce shipping expenses as ke.v as possible, and to facilitate t-> the utmos of its power the extension of the trade <;■ the port. We now call upon the Railwai Department to do its share by makim every possible reduction in its tariii" or the Breakwater line. In the event of it; refusing to do s>.. the Harbor Board wili j have to take st.-p' to force upon the de I partmeut a knov.-ledge of the fact tha | the line is not the property of the (Jo ! veriinieut, and that it cannot he used fo: | the purpose of diverting trade froii i Oamaru to other ports by making thi charges upon it of a prohibitive nature In what direction tho-e steps should g" | are reserved for future consideration.