DEPUTATIONS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2027, 3 November 1869, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

This morning a deputation from the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Secretary of Land and Works. They were—Messrs R. B. Martin (chairman), George Turnbull (vice chairman), G. S. Brod ick, —Herbert, and J. S. Webb (secretary). The object of the deputation was to ask the following questions determined upon at a meeting of the Committee of the Chamber :

1. That the Government grant the jetty sheds to some responsible person nr firm, who will give bond to the Customs in respect of dutiable goods which may be temporarily detained in the sheds. 2. What course the Government is about to take in regard to the extension of the Rattray street Jetty, and to request that the present landing stage may be lowered to render it more convenient for landing goods. Mr R. B. Martin represented the advantages that would accrue to the merchants from the use of the jetty sheds, in facilitating the discharge of vessels visiting the Fort; not only through compelling consignees to pass their entries more promptly, but that lighter agents would send a superior class of lighters alongside that jetty. If dutiis were not paii I, goods could bo placed in those sheds and remain there safely warehoused, instead of the consignees making conveniences of the shipping at Port Chalmers, and] lighters, to warehouse their goods as is now done.

Mr Reid said, as far as he could say, he believed the Government were inclined to grant a portion of the sheds on Jetty street wharf, and on Rattray street wharf for the purpose named. Of course the more room given the better. Mr Martin said when it was known that

a charge would be made for warehousing, consignees would sooner pass their entries. He aikccl, in respect of Rattray street jetty, if it was the intention of the Government to lower the landing-stage. He represented the inconvenience and loss of time that resulted from the present height of the landing-stage, and the increased labor that was necessary in consequence of the height to which goods had to be raised in discharging vessels. The principal reason for asking the question was, that the same level might not bo carried out with the new jetty. Mr Rbid said he would take a note of the request. To lower the present jetty would be an enormous expense. Mr Webb said the mistake was not so much in the design as in the height of the roadway, which ought to have been very much lower. This would have enabled a corresponding reduction in the height of the je.tty. To have the wharf about three feet an 1 a half above the road was very convenient for loading drays. Mr Martin represented that the present crane was only useful for landing certain descriptions of goods. He said it was a miserable affair, and that it was almost possible to discharge a ve-sel as easily by hand labor as by its nmans. Only sugar and that class of merchandize could bo put into the slings, and the cost per lighter of using it was about two pounds. Mr Reid did not consider it up to the requirements of the day. He would take a note of the suggestion as to the height of the Rattray street extension of the jetty. He did not know what tbe engineers had resolved upon. So far as they had gone the piles might be too long, but if so they could be cut. With regard to Mr Webb’s suggestion that the roadway was too high, he was doubtful whether it could be made lower with safety, as in heavy weather the sea was liable to make breaches over it. The deputation then withdrew. EAST TAIERI POUND. A deputation from the settlers at East Taieri, consisting of Messrs Lcitch. W. PMmer, M‘lndoe, E. Palmer, Adams, and Barry, had an interview with his Honor the Superintendant this morning, with reference to the pound proposed to he erected in the district. On Friday last, a deputation of Maoris waited on his Honor, and asked that the pound should be at once erected ; and Mr Harris, who introduced the deputation, made several statements in support of the request. It was to-day explained to his Honor that the settlers had been verj much maligned, iu regard to their action in reference to the proposed pound. It bad been stated by Mr Harris that a deputation of Maoris had waited on him and asked him to represent their grievance to the Government. The fact was that Mr Harris had sent for the men ; and they did not represent the Natives who owned land in the district. It was stated that the latter owned 500 acres, whereas they only owned 360 acres alto- ’ gether ; that they possessed 000 head of cattle, whilst 60 head would be nearer the mark. Instead of the settlers paying no assessment to the Maoris as had been stated, Mr Barry, and other settlers had always paid assessment, Mr Barry having paid the sum of LSO. The true stale of things was represented by the deputation to be that in consequence of the Natives not having paid some rent they owed Mr Harris, he demanded the exclusive right of running cattle on the reserve. At the present time Mr Harris let a part of the laud to Mr Chaplin, who ran horses on it, and another part to Mr Cowan. The deputation did not think that a pound was required, but if it was determined that one should be erected, they thought Scrogg’s creek would be the most suitable site. After some discussion, his Honor observed that the best way to answer the complaints of the Maories would be for the settlers to agree to the pound being erected. If the settlers would recommend a suitable place and keeper, the Government would give a site. However the place where the pound s'oukl be erected could be a--ranged amongst themselves. The deputation then withdrew. CORPORATION BATHS. A deputation from the City Council, consisting of Councillors Walter and Fish, and the Town Clerk (Mr Massey), had an interview with the Superintendent this morning, on the subject of a site for the proposed Corporation Baths. The matter had been previously brought under the notice of the Executive. His Honor, iu the course of the conversational discussion that took place, expressed himself as being favorably disposed towards the subject, and promised that the reply of the Government should be forwarded in a day or two.