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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 855, 11 January 1879, Page 2

Ax Otepopn farmer writes to us bitterly complaining that he has been badly treatc-d by the Railway Department. On the Bth instant the stationmaster at Herbert received a WAV-bill, upon which was entered a piece of machinery, consigned to the aforesaid farmer. He had, in anticipation of its receipt engaged eight

men to thrash gras3 s*ed, and thase aien are now awaiting the arrival of the machinery, each costing their employer 8a per day. The machinery, which was entered on the way-bill that was received by the stationmaster at Herbert on the Bth, had not arrived this morning, nor has the owner heard anything about it since he saw the entry on the way-bill. This is most remarkable, and, so far as present appearances go, is the result of nothing less than gross carelessness on the part of some person or persons connected with the Railway Department. The machinery is required to enable the farmer in question to thrash twenty acres of valuable grass. It is all cut and in stook, and should a rainfall occur the whole would be spoiled, thus entailing a second and more disastrous loss to the owner, who has already been put to much expense, trouble, and anxiety through the extraordinary neglect of the Railway Department. We would strongly recommend the sufferer to take proceedings against the Government for the recovery of a sum that will recoup him the outlay that the neglect of the Railway Department lias necessitated. This is not the first time that complaints of a similar nature have reached us, and it is about time that they were sifted, with the object of putting a stop to the hardships out of which they arise.