THE S.S. ORETI AND THE HOKIANGA SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7790, 9 November 1886, Page 3

THE S.S. ORETI AND THE HOKIANGA SERVICE.

TO THE E»ITOR. Sib,—l was under the impreesion that when the Government granted a subsidy towards this service the main object was to encourage settlement, by providing means of communication with Auokland, but the treatment I received last week at the hands of the captain of the abovenamed vessel has satisfied me that the object will never be attained under the present management. I left the Manukau on Thursday week, reaching the Hokianga Heads on the following morning, and on arriving at my own place, about 10 miles up the river, in answer to the steamer's whistle, my man was seen running with the oars on hie shoulders for my boat to come off to me. The captain, however, refused to wait, saying that he would call on the way down. I was, therefore, ranch to my annoyance, taken np to Herd's Point, and from there to the Kohnkohu, where I was detained while cargo was being shipped and discharged at these plases. I afterwards discovered that my caretaker, on finding that I had been taken up the river, started for Ewd'i Point, expecting to find me there; the consequenoe was that when the steamer's whistle was blown on the way down there was no appearance of my boat, and although the captain had two boats swinging at the davits, he refused to lower one to put me ashore. The consequence was that I was again taken down tt tae Heads, where £ was obligingly put ashore by Mr. Martin, the Harbourmaster, in hie own boat; that gentleman also kindly undertaking to convey my luggage to his house for safety. I then walked about three miles to my friend. Mr. John Webster's, who, at great inconvenience to himself, sent ti the Heads for my luggage, and conveyed me in his boat to my own plaoe, ten miles from where I had been landed. lam not in the habit of airing my grievances in the Press, but when I find all up and down the river, complaints of the same indifference to the wants of the settlers, I think the matter should be made public. The conduct of this boat ie in marked contrast with that of the Rowena, when under the command of Captains Amodeo and Scott, whose courtesy and considerate endeavour to oblige the settlers was acknowledged by all. For all Captain Robertson knew or oared, I might still be at the Heads waiting for some chance to get to my destination. I might add that Captain Scott happened to be on board on this occasion, and was perfectly astonished at the treatment to whioh I was subjected.—l am, &c, JAMES Buktt. November 5.