POST OFFICE NOTICE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 8 May 1863, Page 2

POST OFFICE NOTICE.

MAILS CLOSE. For Dunedin, Mataura, and Gore (Long Ford) this day, at 9.30 a.m. Great Britain, America, Continent of Europe, India, Australian' Colonies, etc., per Alhambra, via j Bluff Harbor, thi3 day, at 4 p.m. Registered letters and money orders one hour previous. T^fe^^^^^^tßn2dtff*|tf^| On Frida^^Q^HNß^^ery considerable importance to Southland people was heard before the Resident Magistrate in Dunedin. Richard Wilson, the plaintiff, took a steerage passage by the City of Hobart to the Bluff, putting faith in an advertisement which appeared in the Argus, to the effect that that vessel would call at the latter port on her way to Dunedin. He was distinctly told by the clerk of Messrs. B. B. Nicholson, the agents for the City of Hobart, that she would certainly call at the Bluff, and on the plaintiff suggesting that " Bluff Harbor had better be written on the ticket, in order that all chance of a misunderstanding might be avoided, he was again informed that there could not possibly be any mistake — for, said the cierk, " we have a large number of passengers going there, and its all the same — it's all Otago." Bluff Harbor was uot, however, written on the ticket, and when the vessel arrived opposite that port, the captain professed entire ignorance about any arrangement for passengers being lauded there, and took the ship on to Dunedin without, stopping. On arriving at Dunedin, Wilson naturally asked if the captain would give him a passage back to the Bluff, at which port the City of Hobart was to call on her return trio, but the request was refused, the captain saying that he knew nothing about the arrangement that the plaintiff talked of, and if such an arrangement had actually been made, the agents were the parties who were in fault. Wilson accordingly sued Captain Darby for compensation for being brought on to Port Chalmers, instead of being landed at the BlufF Harbor, according to contract. On Saturday the Magistrate gave judgment in this case. He decided that plaintiff had proved his case, and accordingly awarded him damages, though not to tlie full amount claimed. Who is to blame in the affair? Is it the captain or the agents, or are we to believe, in spite of the Magistrate's decision, that plaintiff was a rogue, trying to swindle the owners of the City of Hobart out of a few pounds to which he was not entitled ? If the case we are speaking of had been a solitary one, we might suppose that a misunderstanding had arisen about the exact destination of the vessel ; we might think that tho clerk who gave the ticket was himself deceived, and really thought there was no doubt at all about the vessel calling at the Bluff, and that in consequence he did nofc consider it necessary to write "Bluff Harbor on the ticket; and then it might also be supposed that the captain was also ignorant of the terms of the agreement between the agents and the plaintiff; but, unfortunately, we cannot look at the matter in this light, because the same thing is of frequent occurrence. Vessels are advertised in Melbourne for Dunedin, ("calling atthe Bluff." The deluded passengers pay their money to be taken ! to the Southland port, and are thereupon, with all due care and despatch, landed on the wharf i either at Port Chalmers or Dunei din, the agreement between themselves and the agents being totally ignored. This being the case, there is but one light in which we can regard the conduct of Messrs. B. B. Nicholson and Captain Darby, and that happens to be a most unfavorable one. It appears to us that the facts of the case are something after this style. The agents of the City of Hobart are sending her to Dunedin, and finding she does not fill up as well as could be wished, they advertise her to '' call at the Bluff,'' and by that " dodge " {jet a large number of passengers, not having the slightest intention of fulfilling the engagement with them. If the captain finds it convenient to call at the Bluff, from stress of weather or any other cause, well and good — the Southland passengers are landed ; but if, on the other hand, the weather is favorable, and there is a prospect of a rapid passage to Dunedin, the vessel continues her course, and the passengers are left to get back again the best way they can. If those tickets for Bluff Harbor are given in good faith, why is not the name of the port written distinctly on the face of them ? It is time that such disreputable means of getting money were done away witb, and it is time for persons interested in the commerce and passenger traffic of Southland to take some steps to put a stop to what seems to us to be little short of deliberate swindling. Amongst th-Q many who are leaving Victoria and the other Australian ports, there are a considerable number who have but a very vague notion as to the position of the various ' ports of the Southern part of New £ea-

j land, and information is 7 by no means so easily obtainable in Victoria on the point as at first sight would appear probable. Tbe persons who 7 could giye reliable information— the agents for the shipping — will certainly not give it, for tbey find it advantageous to be able to book the intending passenger for New Zealand in such an ambiguous manner, that on being put on shore he is scarcely certain whether he has been kept faith with or not. We have often ad-Hh-ated the establishment of a Southin Melbourne, the place most of our immigration is flowing ; and if no other be adduced in favor of it wish to put a stop to the inpractice we have alluded to, be reason enough of itself, serious injury is being done to traffic between Australia this Province. This is a question should certainly be brought bethe notice of the Chamber of I Commerce. The meeting which was held on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of forming a Fire Brigade for Invercargill* may be considered a success. It is true there were nofc very many volunteers who came forward there and then to be enrolled as members, but a good beginning was made, and in the course of a few days we expect to see the ranks well filled. There will, we are confident, be no backwardness in this respect, but it will require no small amount of management, and a smart sum of money, before the brigade can be placed on such a footing as to render it really useful. The great point is the money ; and whilst private individuals should be well canvassed (dunned if necessary) for subscriptions, neither the Provincial Government or the Town Board should be allowed to pass unnoticed. A careful estimate of what are the requirements of the case should be made without delay, and that done, a deputation of the Committee should wait on His Honor, and solicit that assistance of which this movement is well worthy. We scarcely think the request would be refused, more especially if the granting of the subsidy was made cou tinge nt on a certain amount being raised amongst the business-men in the town. A great mistake is often committed in starting a fire brigade. The engine first purchased is very frequently too small only a few removes from a garden squirt), clnd although very pretty to look at, is generally cast aside a.s next to useless after the first fire, and a larger one substituted in its place. We are speaking of what has several times come under our own notice, and with a wish to see a like error avoided by our fellow townsmen. Let a really good, serviceable engine be bought at the outset, and there will never be any cause to regret the expenditure of the money ; but buy an engine of the kind we before alluded to, and the very first occasion on which it is required will be sufficient to prove wljat we have suggested is correct. One gentleman at the meeting threw out some hints as to a scarcity of water, but although there may be at present but few places in town where, at a moment's notice, a good supply could be obtained, the expense of digging tanks will be comparatively small ; and it must also be borne in mind tbat the supply of water will not be precarious, or depend in any manner on rain or surface drainage. In this respect we are wonderfully well off, an excellent supply being obtainable at a very few feet below the level of the streets. In digging these tanks the Town Board might render a little assistance; in fact, we think it would be no more than just that they should take the whole cost of construction on their own shoulders, more especially when it is considered that in many towns the Municipal Council or Corporation (whatever name the civic rulers happen to answer to) baveja fire-engine, andall the appurtenances thereunto belonging, paid for entirely out of the funds at their disposal, without any special assistance from the ratepayers. fr is much to be hoped that now the thing is fairly "under weigh, " the gentlemen who first took it in hand will make it their business to carry it thiough with energy.