RAILWAY REGULATIONS AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9365, 14 March 1896, Page 5

RAILWAY REGULATIONS AT LYTTELTON.

TO THE EDITOR OF TUB PRESS. Sir, —I would like to cail attention to the high-banded manner iv which the authorities deal with vessels trading to this port. Every vexatious regulation that can be made to hinder trade, and' to increase the cosl of shipping goods, is imposed upon us, and cue is sometimes tempted to think that tho Railway Department must be in league with Wellington and Duuedin to strangle the trade of Chiistcburch. A little instance that came under my notice the other day is a case in point. A goods train, carrying cargo for some vessels m Lyttelton, broke down in the tunnel, and did not arrive in port till after five o'clock. The result was the Department charged the vessels overtime for taking in cargo after 5 p.m., although they were idle in -he afternoon waiting for their cargo, which bhould have come through in time. Again, if several steamers are loading outwards, the railway seems quite unable to get the trucks alongside during the day, and half the time the crews are standing idle. The consequence is the work has to be done after five, and overtime incurred, of course at the ship's expense.—Youra, &c, Shipper. Christchurch, March 13th.