RAILWAY RATES AND THE W.S.N COMPANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1103, 19 July 1879, Page 3

RAILWAY RATES AND THE W.S.N COMPANY.

Sir, — Having been led to understand, from the Waikato Steam Navigation Company's advertisement, that theycarry goods at the same rate as the Railway, I, m a confiding moment, got a consignment of ten tons of guano sent through them from Mercer to Hamilton, they paying railway freight m the usual course You may, therefore, imagine my surprise on its arrival here, getting a Way-bill thrust into my hand, by the Company's Agent, with an immediate demand for the payment of £10, being at the rate of 20s per ton, while the railway charge on the same class of goods, from Auckland to Hamilton, is 16s lOd per ton, being, a clear gain of £1 lis Bd, if the consignment had been sent by rail, as the total amount would have been £8 8s 4d, which sum I have tendered the agent, but he peremptorily refuses to accept, alleging that neither Scherff nor Hunt will carry for less, and that the company have not, since February, advertised that they carry at railway rates. In the meantime, the guano lies outside, covered by a rotten tarpaulin, with a goodly number of holes m it. Imagining that the information here given may be of some public benefit, I respectfully request you to spare some space for its insertion. — I am, &c, J. K. McDonald.