DELATING THE SHIPPING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1536, 7 August 1901, Page 50

DELATING THE SHIPPING

SERIOUS LOSS AND INCONVFNIENCE.

the fruit

1 The vagaries of the Health Department’s restrictions were fully exemplified in 11 e ca«e of the Monowai, which arrived from Svdnev late last Wednesday evening, and whffihwas not berthed till 11.15 a m. yesterday. Considering the importance cf expediting the disembarkation of passen eers the delivery of mails and the immediate placing of perishable produce on the market the causes of the delay which occurred ’demand immediate attention, especially as the reason of the delay rests with the Health Officer and a passenger on the steamer. From what can be gleaned it appears that a passenger was rather dilatory in presenting himself for inspection, and in order to facilitate the work of the Health Officer the purser went m search or the passenger, and eventually found hnn in a bathroom. In reply to the purser's inauiry os to when he would be ready the j passenger replied that he would be up in 1 or four minutes. This information I was conveyed to the Health Officer, who waited for the time stated and then i boarded his launch. Within three mini ntes of the Health Officer leaving the ship and just as the launch was round- ; ing the end of the vessel, the passenger, J bis pyjamas and an overcoat, reached ; the deck. This was about 8.40 a.m. At 9.45 a.m. the Duco went off for toe mails but Captain McDonald, of the

Monowai, refused to tranship them aa tfc# ship had not been cleared by the Heiuttt Officer. At about 10.45, or about two hours after the first visit, the doctoraga-U* visited the vessel, and duly passed, tno passenger referred to. The vessel vm berthed at 11.15 a.m.—between two ana three hours after she would have been in The ordinary course of events. .The results of the delay are many and. costly. In the first place, if the steamer had been berthed at eight o'clock, as she should have been, she would have been able to leave for Lyttelton in time to catch the Dunedin express with her South Canterbury and Otago passengers and mails, and to allow Christchurch people to reply to their Australian correspondence by the Sydney boat leaving Lyttelton ibs afternoon. Then, of course, there is the delay to the passengers and maU3 for Wellington and out ports.

.The disorganisation of the fruit market by the delay is complete. In order to serve the fruit dealers up the East and West Coasts of the North Island, to Napier on the one side and to New Plymouth on the other, it is necessary that the fruit; should be sent up by the through trains on Friday, so that it will be in time for Saturday’s market. Should, however, the fruit miss the train on F rid ay, and have to be sent up on Saturday it arrives at the chief centres too late for Saturday s trade, has to lie over till Monday in goods sheds, and be placed on Monday on an absolutely dead market, often bs sold at a sacrifice owing to deterioration. The loss is so great in fact that the Wellington dealers will not supply their country branches and agents if fruit arrives to late to be railed on Friday preferring to wait for the next shipment. Fruit is thus left on the auctioneers hands in Wellington to be sold ac perhaps half, or less than half its value. The fruit by the Monowai could n.-T of course be discharged till one o'clock, owing_ to the dinner hour of the lump»*s occwnrng between twelve and that hour, and tLen practically fThe whole shipment n;td tc he unloaded before the different consign ments could be sorted out. Consequently by tlie time the fruit was ready for the auctioneers it was too late in the afternoon for sales to take place. Ho important is the arrival of the frui!: by early cn Thursday morning that the alteration ill, the running of the Sydney boat, so as to bring the steamer to Wellington by Wednesday night, was made ft ihe instance of the Wellington auctioneers. The arrangement also suits the New South. Wales producers, as the fruit being fmly •cleared on Thursday, the account sales and returns can be mailed by the direct boat on Saturday. In such a case as the present, however, the Sydney producer will have to wait another weoK for returns that perhaps hardly cover expenses f-u-l nieanwhile has nothing but anathemas for the Wellington market and the Wei* lington auctioneers. The pres* nt shipment of fruit by the Monowai is 1500 cases and the anticipated loss is estimated to be between .£IOO and <£2oo.

Altogether the delay has been most unfortunate and indignation is expressed on all sides with those responsible.

DR JAMES EXCUSES HIMSELF.

HIS FACTS CHALLENGED.

Dr James, Health Officer, has reported to the Chief Health Officer as follows m regard to his neglect to admit the s.s Monowai to pratique at a reasonable hour on Thursday morning: —‘‘l have the honour to report that on going off to inspect the s.s. Monowai this morning I found that the visiting flag was not hoisted in accordance with section 117, Public Health Act, 1900. I drew the master’s attention to this immediately on going on board. At the end of my inspection, finding that the flag was not yet hoisted, I instructed the master to" do so. The master admitted that he was aware of the regulation, but that somebody had told him that it had been abolished. I told him that it was my duty to report the matter. I have also to report that the master informed ine that a person, named --- refused to come up for inspeotion with the other passengers, saying that he would not come up for any doctor. I inquired whether the passenger was prevented from coming by illness, and on being answered in the negative I informed the master that unless this passenger complied with the regulations I should have to leave the vessel without granting pratique. After waiting a con« siderable time longer I came away, informing the master that the ship must remain at anchor, and that the blue flag must be kept flying. I waited for this man from 15 to 20 minutes. I must complain that the master seemed to treat the whole matter with indifference, and did not appear to me to be disposed to render very much assistance. Will you kindly instruct me what steps I am to take? —I have, etc., Philip James, P.H.0.”

The evidence of the captain and officers of the Monowai and several independent witnesses is that the passenger referred to did not absolutely refuse to get up for inspection, though he demurred at being roused at what he considered to be an unreasonable hour. The general testimony is, also, that from the time the purser gave evidence to the doctor that the passenger was in the bathroom until the latter appeared on deck was not over six or seven minutes. But Dr James was evidently in that condition of impatience which makes minutes seem like hours. The opinion in shipping circles is that Dr James should he given the assistance of a young practitioner to take the more irksome portion of the duties of Health, Officer off his hands. It is stated that the Government contemplates making some new arrange* ments in connection with the Health Department calculated to obviate delay* and unpleasantness such as occurred ill connection with the Monowai. *.