THE POSTS OF TIMARU AND OAMARU.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5598, 3 February 1879, Page 7

THE POSTS OF TIMARU AND OAMARU.

At-the meeting of the Oamaru Harbour Board on Friday evening, the following correspondence was read s—- “ Christchurch Jem! 21,1870. “ The Chairman Harbour Board, Oamaru. f . “ Sir,— I'hgvethe honour to enclose you an extraot’frqm' the Shipping Gazette, which I think deserves the attention of the members ofyour Harbou r Board, as such assertions remaining unchallenged will do much to damage tne interests of your port. lam at present experienoihg some difficulty in securing direct charter .to Oamaru, caused, no doubt, by the letter above referred to. '* 1 have, too., «John Anderson.” / [finolosure.3 ■ “ ihb 'XvaxaizU& a?*> kbw zbaUsd . UHpmWBITHBS' ABSOOIA'CIOK. “Extract from a letter received by one of the nienibera Association, dated; Donedin, Sept. 85,1878 ‘As honiewaid; bound ’whips'-<nre' again commencing to load at Oamaru and Timarq; two very djjpgerous open roadsteads on the East coast of this island, 1 consider it my duty to write yoii "on the *-subject, in order that, if yon think it advisable, you may bring the matter under the notice of your Marine Underwriters’ Association, of which! understand Mr BHstow is president. ‘ Large square-rigged 1 vessels ceased to load at Oamaru after the disasters of 186 S, when the Star of Tasmania, Water Nymph, and several smaller Vessels were cast - ashtte there. They are, however, beginning to go there again, tempted by the freights offering, and the facilities with which they appear to be able to Obtain insurances in London from underwriters who cannot possibly know the risks they are running. One or two vessels may load there with impunity, but so sure as the matter is continued it will end in serious disaster to the insurers. A barque called the Aikshaw loaded at Oainaru recently, and got away airtight, but had the remained another two days she would have met with the same fate as the Lapwing, Fanny, Melrose, and a host of small craft which were cast ashore at Timaru. The ship Celestial Queen and barque Caberfeidh are just. about to proceed to Oamaru to load for-London. The cargoes arc, I understand, insured in England. None of the companies here would take a risk by them. I shall not be at all surprised if by next mail I have to advise you that one or both of them is a wreck orr Oamaru beach.’ ”

; Bearing on the subject, the following has been received from the Sydney Underwriters’ Association by the same Association “Sydney, Oct, 10,1878. “At the last meeting of 1 the Association I was directed to bring under your notice the absurd rates charge in London to some of our more dangerous Colonial ports. To Townsville, viH Sydney, including transhipment, 25s per cent; to Timaru, vi& Dunedin, 30s per cent.. The former risk was. transhipped into the Agnes, lately lost on the voyage from Sydney to Townsville, for which latter voyage we get here 2 per cent. Timaru is a fearful place. The rate from here to that roadstead is 3£ per cent. _ “ E. A. Peabs, Secretaiy.” Some discussion took place on the subject of the letter, several members remarking that such false reports should be corrected. Ultimately, a Committee consisting of the Chairman, the . Hon. H. J. Miller, and Mr Meek, was appointed, to take action in the matter.