AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1604, 20 April 1887, Page 2

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON

In a recent article on the relative cost of freight from Auckland aud from the other great ports of the colony we drew attention to the fact that the expenses attached to a visit by the Doric, 3057 tons, to Lyttelton, to Port Chalmers, and to Wellington had been published, but that the cost at Auckland remainefl to be given. In the Auckland Evening Star of Saturday tins blank is supplied ; the ii^iiie-! given Bhowing the cost to be as lollows : — Port ChaJmers £205, Lyttelton £84, Wellington £51, and Auckland £115. The Star explains that the amounts uamed represent the largest sum chargeable on the Doric. On January 19, 1886, this vessel paid in harbor dues and charges at AucklaucJ only MSB IDb 7<l, because, haviug visited the port twice in six months, she was on the second occasion exempt from port dues amounting to £'68 is 3d. Originally, the port dues were charged at the rate of threepence per ton half-yearly in one payment, half-years counting from January Ist aud July Ist in each year. We understand this rule is still in force at southern poits. The Auckland Harbor Board, however, recently decided that the half years should count from voyage to voyage^ so that it became possible, as in the case of the Doric already quoted, for a steamer to make two visits to the port, and pay port dues but once. In September, 1885, we find that the Doric paid no pilotage (pilotage not being compulsory), and her harbor dues totalled only £63 4s 10J. Tho Star thinks that " these figures do not exhibit Auckland charges in a very unfavorable light as compared with other ports. Our port charge, although only half that of Dunedin, is a penny a tou more than Lyttelton or Wellington. It is advisable for our port authorities to inquire what is the custom in the south with respect to this matter. Wellington, by low haihor Hues, is making a bi» bid for the shipping supremacy of New Zealniid, and it behoves Auckland, which at pie^eut is the leadiug shipping port of the colonj', to be wary lest our laurels be wreote-l from us." We have little doubt but that the article from which we have quoted was written with a keen eye to the West Coast trade. It will be seen th if, alchoitg/i the charges now on the Dona are Mlls, in September her total charges were o-ily £65, nr but £12 moie than the Wellington rates.