ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 240, 11 April 1866, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

♦ WE DO HOT IDENTIFY OTTBSEIVES IN ANT WAY \ 'WITH THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY OTTB COEEESPOIfDENTS. THE NEW RIVER BAR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTHLAND TIMES, Sin, — Permitme,througli your columns, to lay before the public of Southland a matter which immediately interests the merchants in this Province, and which also, if taken into serious consideration, may be the means of preventing a great sacrifice of property and life. The subject which I am about to introduce is concerning the old channel of the New River bar. In Otago and Southland almanacs for the present year, and also the New Zealand Coasting Pilot's Regulations — the latter a work which is printed and published for the guidance of master mariners (principally coastwise) — and which, therefore, should be compiled from the latest authentic surveys, to enable a master of a ship, to run his vessel into a place of safety when a pilot is not to be obtained, which is very often the case in this port, as all the merchants are aware. There is only one pilot, and it would be to expect impossibilities to" suppose him capable of doing all the work ; this is a misdirected economy on the part of the G-overnment which all the commercial men should condemn. But, sir, to come to the substance of my complaint. If a master runs his vessel by the directions given for entering this Dort, in the short space of four or five minutes from the time he gets the beacons to bear in their true position, his vessel is hard and fast on shore, and no human aid could then save life or property. I was, sir, on the point of being placed in this position. On the 3rd inst, having heen ten hours off the bar waiting for a pilot, and not seeing any prospect of obtaining one, Mr Bray, the only pilot, being up the river bringing another vessel down, I determined to enter from the printed and supposed to be authentic directions. I found that the beacons, which are the leading marks for the old channel, are not required. I think they ought to be taken away or painted black for a time, until they ar^ required ; as, by the directions, we are requested to keep those two beacons in one to lead over the bar, not being correct. If they ,were black we should not" make for them, and with care we could keep our Bhips out of danger. Again, Sir, notice of shifting of channels on bar harbors, where the channel stands the same for two years or more and can be buoyed off, such, notices ought in all cases to be given to the public, and especially in the Custom House, where all masters of ships would see and note them. In thus speaking of shifting bars I do not include Hokitika or the G-rey River bars; as in those cases we should require fresh poles every tide. Then, Sir, as regards the Customs regulations of this port, if you could give me a little information upon the subject I should be thankful, This is the first port I have been in where I have beea threatened mth a fime ibr-dis.

charging goods coastwise, free, and dutypaid, where the entries have been passed by the consignees, and their deposits rendered in at the Customs on the goods. I have elsewhere always been permitted to discharge such goods. This is not the. case here. ' Take, for instance, my case. I have goods on board my vessel for several consignees, all of whom have passed their entries and paid deposits, with the exception of one and for this reason I was not permitted to put out any consignees' goods, thereby detaining my vessel for hours. However poor my opinion may be, it seems to me to be inconsistent that in a port where there is only one vessel at the jetty discharging, such a course should be adopted. It will come. to be felt that this fine and once flourishing township shall be forgotten, like a passing scene in a panorama, if a vessel is tolay a week to discharge a hundred tons of cargo, in, addition 1 to the risk which is run in entering the port. Trusting that *you will insert this.— l am, t &c, Chas. Osbobn, [Captain of the ship Isabella!] InvercargiU, 7th April, 1866. •