SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1414, 17 June 1865, Page 5

SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

[by inter-provincial telegraph.]

Dunedin, Jane 16, 435 p.m

Albion arrived yesterday. Meeting to-day at Theatre, to raise a subscription for the relatives of those lost in the City of Dunedin. A man, named M'Lean, died suddenly yesterday. Total from goldfields, by escort, 9014 ozs. 13 dwts. Weather fine.

Something very like an Imposition.—Our attention has been directed by a gentleman from Canterbury to u practice which is in vogue in the N.Z.S.N. Company, regarding the payment of fares, and as we consider it a most unfair regulation, and think it more than likely ti.at neither the Board of Directors or the shareholders know anything about the matter, we conceive it to be our duty to make the complaint public. It is simply this—instructions are given to the captains of the different vessels that in the event of a passenger failing to pay his passage money at the Company's office, or at their agents place of business, a considerable sum extra is to be charged. Thus, when the passenger from Lyttelton goes on board the steamer without first having obtained his ticket he, is mulcted in the sum of 10s. in excess of what he would have had to pay if he had obtained his ticket before embarkation. In other words, the passage money charged in the cabin from to Wellington, if paid to the agents is £4, while if it is paid to the master of the vessel, it is £4 10s. We need hardly say that, considering no other company in the colony adopts such a course, the policy is suicidal in itself ; but even apart from that view, there are many objections to it, and in any case such a regulation is not calculated to increase the capital, or improve the popularity of the body which adopts it. We know full well that for many reasons it is desirable that passengers should be booked before going on board their vessel, but we are also aware that there are occasions when such a precaution is impracticable, and it is no wonder that men object to be heavily taxed when they have no power to avoid a breach of the regulations under which they may he obliged to travel; but after a little experience they will take care to caution their friends, and for their own parts will avoid patronising a company which adopts a system bearing a striking resemblance to imposition.— Wellington Advertiser, June 13,