THE MARTHA REID AT HOKITIKA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 27 October 1882, Page 2

THE MARTHA REID AT HOKITIKA.

Captain Falconer, of tlio schooner Martha Boid, which was stranded at Hobitika, writes the following letter to the local Times: — I think the universal custom at nil ports in the world, wh n a Teasel is in distress, is that the Harbour Boa d or harbour authorities do all in their power to assist that vessel whilo placed in that poaitioo, not only for the protection of their port, but they hare a moral right to assist and protect that vessel, so for a** it lies in their power, charging no more than it has actually ojt them, and seldom making any choree whatever; hut the Hofcitika Harbeur Board, I am sorry to say, have leversed the custom, I had the use of a second-hand Sin or 6in rope for two tides, which cost the Harbour Board Lls, and they charged me LlO, or two-thirds of its value, for the use of the rope, being returne 1 to them as good fs it waß" received. I protested igainst such an unjust charge immediaiely before the last meetingof the Harbour Board,when(itwas igain considered, but they would not agree to my r dnction being made. lam surprised at th.B jlarbour Fdard acting in tbi* way. They must be . ji&'y in want of money when they wish aie to t'urchnse tbeir plant for them — a plant they have perfi ct right to kop solely tor assisticg vessels distress, without m king any charge whatever, ■ vless damage has been don* to tbeir plant in any •v *y. "When I was in Oamaiu during the time of : '.ie heavy Eea when the City of Perth and Ben- •■ • uue wers lest in Timaru, I destroyed and parted ire lines for the Ha-bour Board than I had here together, a d they made no charge whatever. I - mot he surprised at private individuals making •i :h charges as the following, when the Harbour !i ird sets-such an example. A prominent mer- •• mt of your town, on insurnnce agent likewise, . rls me an account for L 22 for the use of a • •. ma band 6-inch rope, spliced near tbe centra, ioh saw many hard days nnd niriits service be.3 my c es rested on it. The original cost of it on new wonld nrt exco d 1i24. The rope reli'ns to him. ami the 1i22 likewise— ill pay it. . •>- thenseof apuut which brought up about 15 "not cargo from a'o'gsile, five hours having ' i psed from the. time she left the wharf till she ' discharged and returned, 15, or 11 per hour, ha godsend, a vessel cominj- ashore, it must . -w^i- o some of the people at Hokitik •, not counting 2^&3gßftßjarbour Board. Iheir- c^nsci nces stretch 'pJ j^^t&idiarobber when a:\vthing like general i\ O /fi§*®g' )OU '' > * am no * surpris d at the in. ies making a movement to re. • for these bars when such l - ufaCe^^oS^s are m de.