To the Editor of the ' Press.'

Press, Volume III, Issue 95, 27 December 1862, Page 5

To the Editor of the ' Press.'

sin,—>>ome tittle time ago there appealed a notice in the local papers announcing tlie arrival of the ship Chrysolite from London, and stating that arrangements had been made for lightering the cargo by tho agents, and unless parties interested agreed to this arrangement, they wero to leave a written notice with tho agents, "and be prepared with a lighter alongside/ On rending this notice, I took it for granted that some arrangements liad.beeu made for dis-harging the ship ; but to my entire disgust I find this notice ia nothing more than humbugging the consignees. Have tho agents (Dalgety, Buckley and Co.) attempted to cany out any system of lightering? I say, most emphatically, JVo, and defy them to contradict my assertion. Last week nothing of any importance left tho ship, and for why? simply became the two steamers were engaged in discharging tho Gothenburg, and no other craft engaged in their place to go alongside. I regret to say this week has been as bad as last. The Mulloch steamer has been engaged discharging the Echunga, and the Gazelle in the Saltwater Creek trade. I applied the other day to Captain M'lntyre of the Chrysolite for a few small packages 1 have on board, but was coolly informed that I could not have them at present, as he coidd not get the agents to Bend vessels alongside. This at once shows the business tack of tho agents. Why do the respective agents of tho English ships not engage sailing craft if they cannot obtain steamers, and not delude the public by saying that they have made arrangements, when it is clearly seen that no such arrangements exist. The publio of Christchurch cry out about the price of imported goods, but did they but know of the con» siderable loss of time in discharging English ships, I think many would cease their complaints. The ship Chrysolite has now been in Lyttelton Harbor over a month, and a considerable portion of her cargo is still on board. Since the Chrysolite's arrival two other English ships have arrived, and two moro daily expected. Now, sir, in the name of common sense, how are all these ships to be discharged to the satisfaction of "owners and consignees" under the present system ? lam fully convinced that if the present delays exist, freight must co up, and prices of goods increase, consequently the general public will suffer. You, sii, know something of these tilings; how can the Christchurch importers com*)ete with other markets if these delays in discharging ships continues to exist. I am, &c~ r „ . , , 8-l__ll Wares. Christchurch, December 26> 18G2.