CORRESPONDENCE. DISCHARGE OF STEAMERS IN LONDON.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9814, 25 August 1897, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

DISCHARGE OF STEAMERS IN LONDON.

THE LATE MR BARNES. TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS.

i Sir, —As you have given considerable prominence to the remarks of the Rev. H. C. M. Watson in regard to the case of the late Mr Barnes, will you permit mc to contribute my share to the more thorough investigation which the reverend gentleman demands. It was I who discovered Mr Barnes's sad. condition at. about a quarter to eight on Thursday morning. When I saw him he presented a most shocking appearance. He was lying on a hard wooden floor, with his head partly resting on the wall and the floor. There were no shavings or soft stuff under him, there was no overcoat over him, merely a cape. His whole position was comfortless. His trousers were torn at the knees, as though lie had been dragged; his waistcoat and shirt were both open; generally his clothes were in a filthy state. His mouth appeared to be full of blood, which had dried about his face, which was both scratched and rubbed about, and there was a patch of blood ou the front of his shirt. This was what met my eyes when I first saw •the unfortunate man. I immediately" sent for the Sydenham police, and received a reply that he could not come, as he was in bed, and I must send to the Christchurch police, which I did. While we were waiting a cab drove up, and I sent him foe Dr. Diamond, who, on his arrival, ordered Mr Barnes to be taken to the Hospital. I may add that I and others heard some scuffling as if some one was being dragged into the shed some time after midnight, but being awakened from our sleep we did not know the exact time. 1 gave my name to the police as one who, with Mr Saunders, my landlord, was the first to discover Mr Barnes's sad condition, and as knowing all I have written, yet I was not called to give evidence, neither was Mr Saunders. I cannot understand why we were not called

to give evidence. Therefore I come forward to say what I personally know of this painful case.—Yours, &c, v c ~ „,. Stkphe.v Porsk, Scmth Belt. AN AVPKATj. TO THE EDITOR OF THR PRESS, Sir,— Your readers will have noted th< sadden death on Saturday morning laet of an elderly man named .Wright. There are peculiarly distressing oiroumt stances connetffcetrwith th^wJase. For some time past Mr Wright hae been, looked upon by very many as a man wlu»> had long since made up his mind to shirk tho responsibility of providing for his larea family. -' V He has told riie on more than one ooea4 sion that he very rarely felt fit; for work. Others had also listened to this statement, but did not credit it with sincerity. His terribly sudden death on hie way vi work has proved conclusively that he was not the sponger that liiany thought him to be. ".'.'■

I have known him for nearly a year, and during that time I have never seen a trace of drink about him nor in his home. Alas! this cannot be said of very many oases*of poverty oven iv Christchurch.

Mr Wright has left behind him a wife and twelve children. Seven of these are under fourteen years of age; one of those above this age is far from strong, another hits % wife and child to support, and the youngest of the family is a baby three months old. ' Of this large family only two are able to contribute anything to its support, and obviously that contribution cannot be mow than a few shillings a weok. >.

Now, sir, 1 know thoro is amongst yout readers a large number of people who, whilst they have no sympathy with inrfi'scriminate charity (and in this they are wise), are very glad to help a caße of whosa genuineness they are absolutely certain. It is to these I appeal for a practical expression of sympathy on behalf of this family. I will be' glad to receive the smallest donation, and donors, may be quite certain that tlie money will be carefully and wisely expended.—-Yours, &0., Chas. Por__r, Wesleyan Minister, ,198 St. Asaph street,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE JMtSS.

Sir,—The paragraph that you publish from Nelson Brothers' circular this inotningt regarding the prompt discharge of their steamer Hawke a Bay, is an illustration of the advantage to be gained by concentration. In the case you name the whole cargo h&d to go to" . Nelson Brothers' warehouse, and ' they took in the whole cargo of 60,000 sheep in five days. Compare that With your recently published statement where a steamer, Jargely loaded in Lyttelton* bud different consign nients on board and took three weeks to disohavgo. No more conclusive evidence could Dβ given of the necessity of q> sorting shed for our steamers to discharge into.,« See what an unfair advantage Nowotl Brothers have over the rest of us.- Their meat goee straightaway directly it cornea- into eight in the hold of the chip, while oars is sorted in the hatchway, trampled over whit* other lots are being got at, and more or less soiled and chipped in the process. I onty hope Mr Wayraouth will, while at Home, have arranged for the xide of c , sorting shed and prompt discharge, in whioh case he will have conferred a benefit on the frozen meat trade the advantage of which it would be difficult to over-estimat* —Yours, «0.,

EXPOBMB.