A GRIEVANCE.

Press, Volume XXVI, Issue 3501, 24 November 1876, Page 3

A GRIEVANCE.

*T0 THB EDIT-H OP TOT PRESS. Sir,—On tbe 11th instant I had a small package, measuring under one foot, forwarded per Maori, irom Dunedin, and addressed to mc in care of a merchant in _ , Christchurch. In order that I should get it in good time, and with little trouble tho .'freight was paid in Dunedin. On my arrival yesterday I applied'to the merchant to whom the parcel was addressed, and was informed that be had not received it. I then wentj tp Lyttelton and called upon the agents of the steamer, who told mc after some little search, that-the parcel must be in the goods shed. On going to the goods shed, I was told that the''parcel must be in the agents' office, and on my 'stating tbat I had just been { there, I was requested to proceed to an office, at the other ; end vof the shed, where 1 an investigation, of the way-till took place, resulting in the discovery that a package, had arrived for mc. J was then: taken back to the other end of the shed, and a search commenced, which resulted in the package, being found after some trouble. After sjghing; tpi it, I was informed that there was 2a to pay for haulage, wharfage, and storage, and in order to get the package I paid the money, making the cost of carriage from Dunedin to Christchuich, of a package measuring one foot and weighing not over 14:1b-. as follows:—Freight ,from Dunedin, 2s 6d ; railway and cab fare to Lyttelton and back, 6s ; wharfage, haulage, and storage, 2s ; total, 9s 6d, besides the loss of nearly aday in looking after it. In any other port in New Zealand, a parcel, fully addressed, would be delivered to its destination, and a charge of Is 6d or 2s made for railway carriage and caitage. But here, with all the advancement in commercial affairs, such a gross imposition is allowed to go on unchecked for years. Had this been the first time I bad been served so, I question very much if you wonld he troubledwith this letter ; but after submitting to be thus treated for several years, I think I should be to blame for not making public ajgrievance which I have been informed by residents in Lyttelton and Christchurch they have long suffered under. Yours, &c, John Maitland Jones. Christchurch, November 23rd, 1876. ■