THE GOVERNMENT WHARVES OF WESTPORT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 596, 21 December 1869, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT WHARVES OF WESTPORT.

Notice was taken, some time ago, of an apparent preference given by the Nelson GoTernment, through the Harbor-Master, for the mooring of vessels alongside two ricketty -wooden contrivances which they are pleased to designate Government wharves. It was insinuated that this preference was given for ■the paltry consideration of eighteen-pence per ton wharfage dues, and it was said that, if tho Government aro greedy enough to collect these dues, they should at least give a quid pro quo by erecting one substantial landingplace. To give the name of wharf to either •of the wretched relics of river protection at present in use was considered, and must be •considered, an insult to the meanest intelligence. It was not represented at the time, but it is the fact that, by berthing laden vessels at the " upper Government wharf," as much inconvenience as it is possible to give is imposed upon the public, because its position is the Tory furthest away from the business centre, and goods have to be carted nearly double the distance that is absolutely necessary. In view ef ithese circumstances, Messrs Spence Brothers and Co., through their agent, Mr Watson, addressed tho following note to 'the Harbor Mastodon the arrival of the Mary, tfrom Melbourne, last week : " Dear Sie, —We have to request that you •will place the brigantine Mary alongside the Bright street wharf, it being a more convenient place for discharging cargo. Hoping the abovo will toe complied with, —We re.main," &c. To this request the following reply was received from Captain Leech:— " Gentlemen, —I have received your note, but am sorry that I cannot accedo to your request by putting the brigantine Mary alongside the Bright street wharf, seeing that the ■upper Government wharf is disengaged. " But, independent of the Litter fact, I consider it is the only place on this side of the Tiver where a vessel like the Mary is safe (at this time of the year), as I need not tell you that a flood may come down anytime (now) •within 36 hours. " I enclose a copy of tho Harbor Regulations, and direct your attention to the 29th clause of same." There is no necessity for any more conitnont upon Captain Leech's reply than this—that if the position where the Mary is moored is the only .place on this side of the river where such a vessel is safe at the best trading season of the year, the sooner tho Government effect or encourage the building of a wharf there the better for Westport and their own credit. It would be creditable also to tho Harbor Master, who is placed in an invidious position between «. parsimonious Provincial Treasury and the public, if he would at once rocommend to the Government the propriety of wharves being erected, and tho situations to which a preference should be given. The present " Government wharves " are neither useful nor ornamental. In either respect there is nothing like tbem in the Colony.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

AERIVAM. Nelson.—Dec. 19—Murray, from "Wellington ; Charles Edward, from Westport; John Penn, from Westport. Poet Chaljikrs.—Dec. 18— Tararua, from Bluff; Claud Hamilton, from Lytteltou. Lyttelton.—Dec. 18—Beautiful Star, from Wellington.