Original Correspondence.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 827, 15 August 1864, Page 5

Original Correspondence.

THE NEW JETTY. (2o the Editor of the Daily Times.) Sir—l have been waiting now some time for an abler pen than mine to bring into notice the dreadful state of the New Jetty, and ako the manifest injustice clone to the lightermen, who are the principal persons interes ed in it, through the neglect (I believe) of the Government. The case stands thus :—The Jetfy as it now is, is so constructed that after every shower of rain, the water lies on it. haviDg no means of running off—the boarding being so close. The approach to it is also in such a state that the drays, horses and pedestrians bring a large quantity of mud with them, which, when mixed with the water, makes the Jetty so that it is almost a matter of impossibility for any business to be done on it whatsoever. • The expenses of the erection, and also of the maintenance of this Jetty, is met by a wharfage rate of one shilling and threepence per ton register of every vessel or lighter that comes alongside, either for the purpose of loading or discharging cargo, which in the course of the week amounts up to a large sum. Yet, although this moDev is paid by the lightermen for the use of the wharf , there is not anything done towards the cleaning of it, so that they can discharge their cargo. It is a common thing to see every morning ; — the men have to sweep clean the portion of the wharf opposite their own vessel, before discharging - a work which certainly ought to be done by those who are in receipt of so much money for wharf dues. At a very small expense,—say two men for two hours in the morning, before business commences, the wharf might be kept perfectly dry and clean, which would not only be a benefit to the lightermen, but also to the merHEPEUBN, AND Co.

chants in this town, enabling them to get their goods quicker, and also free from damage, by being stained or wet. ■While on this subject, I must sxy a few words upon the large sum winch has to >.o paiifortlis wha f rale. I have been informed that in some df r.he Provinces of this c»ioiiy, a-! wed as in thesister colonies, the dues—as compared with this place-are very trifling; while in others there is no charge at ail. with as srood if not better accommodation than we hsva here. Tne charge of one shilling ami threepaace per ton I consiiier is t<.o high altogether, at the present state of the times; a;d a movement ought to be at ouce instituted to endeavor to reduce it to such an amount as wili 1 ■-■aye a small profit to the vessels who are obliged to use the whari,. whereas now it is so high that it eats up all thfr profits. . , , Trusting that these few remarks may na,vesome effect, in inducing the proper persons (whoever they may be) to have a little regard for those who pay so hitrh for the privilege of usingthe wharf, ami who have so little benefit from it, I am, etc., A Wharf Clerk. Bunedin, 13th August, 18G4.