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Otago Daily Times, Issue 4117, 29 April 1875, Page 2

We should be glad to see the important shipping interests of the Port conserved and fostered as much as practicable, and to accomplish this great desideratum no course is surer than to accord to all vessels speedy despatch, and to reduce to a minimum those vexatious hindrances arising out of the settlement of claims. That the presentation of "claims" constitutes a normal part of the business of discharging and receiving cargoes is evident enough, from the invariable notice that is given by shipping agents in the eases of all ships, home or foreign, whicli land cargoes here. It is only reasonable to infer that such claims are justified in the majority of instances. For a ship to deliver her cargo absolutely free from stain or damage is the exception and very exceptional too —but at the same time it must also be conceded in favour of the ship that consignees are as a rule somewhat exacting on the point, ai«i inclined to stretch to the uttermost the terms set forth upon bills of lading to take whatever advantage the law allows. So far bo good, for there is law for both sides, and j the stronger case gains the day. But we submit very much of the irritating litigation and its attendant delay might be avoided by a slight modification of the system which at present governs the <Lelivery and reception of freight. That system is somewhat abstruse to the uninitiated. Carriers—and a ship is a common carrier to all intents ana purposescontract to deliver at Port Chalmers, and yet for all that delivery of freight is not accepted by consignees until the goods are delivered at Dunedin. The conveying medium between the two places is, if the ship dis charges at the piera, the railway ; and if she discharges in the stream, lighters. In either case, the receipts for freight given to the ship by the railway officials or the lightermen are supposed to be conclusive, but we are aware that some obscurity exists upon this point However, it is not with that that we have to deal so much as with cases of damage, real or supposititious. For instance, the recipieuti of cargo take note of the various packages delivered to them, and are careful not to give a clean receipt when any aign of damage is apparent If a package is stained, or chipped, or torn, or otherwise damaged, it is so represented on the receipt, and yet not exactly, but in general terms. It then has to run its course through the hands of the mediums, and the master of ships are ready to aver that oft-times it receives further damage during transit to Dunedin—damage which, consequent upon the vague character of the receipts given, falls upon the ship. They also state that those: who directly receive the cargo from the ship are ultraparticular as to its condition. The slightest stain or chip acts as a prohibition to a clean receipt being given, and hence unnecessary disputes arise. It is argued, and we certainly are inclined to support this view of the question, that, in the case of vessels discharging at the piers, these disputes and concomitant delays might, to a very marked degree, be obviated, if consignees were represented by one or more qualified surveying agents to examine and pronounce upon the condition of freight.as it was landed. The extent of damage, where that damage was slight or only apparent, might then be decided upon the spot, aud consignees would thus be duly advised ef the condition of their goods as they passed from tht ship to the railway. This plan would have the effect of preventing all after-doubts, to the benefit, we submit, of all parties concerned. On the one hand, the carrier would be at once made aware of the extent of his liabilities (if any), whilst the conveying medium would understand upon the clearest evidence how far it was responsible. The majority of cases upon which claim's would otherwise arise to the delay of the ship would thus be sottled out of hand, and we should hear less of the vexatious detention to ships after their cargoes were landed, asad they were ready for sea.

It will be seen by our teJegrams that his Excellency the Governor is expected to leave Christchurch on Tuesday next, for Dunedin, calling at Timaru.

|H.M.S. Rosario (telegraphs.our Auckland

correspondent) has put in to repair damages sustained in a terrific gale. She had hit Sydney for Portsmouth to be paid off. On the 19th a gale from the south-east was experienced, in which the vessel lost tier foretopgallantmast. Bad weather contiaued for the next five days, the ship then Iseing in latitude 30 deg. south, about eigfa.t miles east of the Three Kings. The morning of the 24th was cloudy, with heavy rain; and at 5.25 p.m., without the slightest teaming, the wind shifted into the north east in. a furious squall, taking the skip on her lee bow completely aback, heaving her over on her starboard side, almost on her beam ends. Fortunately the tmnendo-s

strain was too much for the top-hamper, and the main and mizzen topgallant masts coming down with a run easedjier, and enabled her to right herself wijth|^^additional'loss of v iher jib and flying-jibfjiom, fiamyard/mizzen- ■ topgallantyard, andU^pani^r gaffe." \ Her main topsails, mizzenrogsau|fand several other sails, were blown cll»i away^ jbesides a large amount of damage dofie't'oinany others.' The topsails came downwellorthetopmaat'heads must have gone. The whole of the 'damage was done in a moment. The captain-and Jf>ffic^^^jif<^r^that.a.^quaUjaor^.Budden or "more violent they never experienced. At fd.i jligtftViT Sunday" morning^ tne?2sth, the ship .is.described as -presenting a' st^ ange scene, "and evidence of the fearful havoc made byrthe" squaTl^irasleenr 'All the remnants of the sails hung in tatters in the ropep; The; riggnag was in'inextricable confusion,-and thesplintered masts rose in strange abruptness'over all,: while the docks were^cojrered^ritXbrpken, __spars.. .Strangely enough, within a few.hours.of the accident the weather'became'quite "■ fine", and has remained so ever .since. The, next, few days were occupiediri repairing.damages, as far as practicable. The main yard was finished this,morning and was • hoisted- into, -place. As the repairs necesssitated using up all the spare spars on board it was deemed adi yisable to bear up for Auckland and refit, and this was done. The ship steamed down ,f;he coast, arriving- at noon to-day. Besides the loss of sails add spars, the Rosario has sustained other damage which cannot at present be exactly estimated. The rigging is severely shaken and strained, and will require refitting. The rudderihead is also reported wrenched. The hull does.not seem to be affected by the accident, but there bas been more leakage since than before. The Ltosario will get new mainyards and some other spars, and leave for England in about a fortnight, calling at the Falkland Islands. Mrs Jessie Jeffrey, whose depositions we published on Tuesday, to the effect that sbe had been greviously assaulted by a seaman named Crossan, died yesterday morning. An iuquest will probably be held to-day. At a special meeting of the Working Men's Club Committee, held at the Hibernian Hotel last evening, the sub-committee appointed to canvass the city for honorary members brought up their report, which announced that they had met with unqualified success, and they felt satisfied from the public feeling evinced relative to the formation of the Club, that it would soon become permanently established. The examination of holders of New Zealand University Scholarships will commence on the 10th of May in the University Building. We learn by telegram from Balclntha that at a meeting held there on Tuesday night over£lo was subscribed towards the Euphrosyne Relief Fund. By far the most interesting question before the City Council last evening was that of water supply. So low has the water fallen in the Reservoir, that the depth at the valve tower is only 15ft. Gin., and that depth, too, extends only over a limited space at the bottom of the Reservoir. The Council resolved, on the recommendation of the Water Supply Committee, to cut off the supply from the mains except between the hours of 9 at night and 5 in the morning. We received a telegram from the Press Agency last night giving part of an undecipherable telegram received from the AgentGeneral by the Government. This read as follows.:—" March and April.—Carl to Zea laud, 30© f Kintore, Napier, 150; Porfar. shire, 250; Otago and Auckland." This refers, no doubt, to the number of immigrants despatched during the months of March and April. The rest of the telegram is said to be unintelligible. The Council of .the Otago Rifle Association met at the office of the Secretary (Mr Sydney James) last evening, when entries for the matches on the Ist and Sth of May were made. The first match (400, 500, 600 yards) for Mr Mason's cup and other prizes, will take place next Saturday, when squads are requested to fall in at one o'clock sharp. A medal, presented by Mr Dobbie, will be given to the highest scorer in the two matches. The Secretary is authorised to receive further entries up to the time of

shooting. We received tfee following telegram last night from our correspondent:—" The nomination of candidates for the representation of Waikouaiti in the General Assembly took place today at noon. There were about fifty electors present. .Mr F. D. Rich was proposed by Mr, James Black and seconded by Mr Matthew Todd. Mr George M'Lean was proposed by Mj\John Duncan and seconded by Mr John M'Kenzie, M.P.C. Both candidates addressed the electors at considerable length, and answered a number of questions. A show of hands was then taken, with the following result: Mr M'Lean, 28 j Mr Rich, 11. A poll was demanded, which takes place on Monday next .Mr M'Lean is undoubtedly the popular candidate.". Another correspondent-sent us the following telegram:—"At the nomination to-day, Mr J. Black proposed Mr Rich unsolicited, and contrary to the.wishes of Mr Rich and bis comaiittee; Mr M. Todd, Shag Valley, and Mr W. Cowan, Tumai, having been there present to propose and second him."

■ A special meeting of the Athenaeum Committee took place last evening, when there were present-^Mr. W. N. Blair (Vice-Pre-sident), Professor Sale, Messrs D. Lubecki R. Stout, E. B. CargUl, W. D. Stewart, J. liogan, A. R. Hay, J. Caldwell, ami W. Wilding (Secretary). It was resolved that MrLebattbe temporarily appointed as assistant librarian till the next meeting of the Committee, in May. The Secretary wished to tender his resignation, as he had not time fco devote so much attention to the business of the Athenaeum as it d served. He suggested that the Committee should appoint another Secretary, but Mr Stout poiuted out that according, to the rules the Committee had not this power: ' . . Mr Fulton's manager of the Lee Flat Station-informs us that Le has seen a number of trout in. a stream, on the station, and about eight..miles from where they were originally turned out. They were all wellgrjown, two of them being'about 51bs ii> weight Partridges and pheasants have been sf«n, and as there is no cover nor any other apparent inducement for them to go there they must be getting very numerous in the district;* ' ' ■••■■: .

There will be a. sitting'of the Supreme Court in Banco at 11 o'clock this morning.

■At the Oity Police Court yesterday, John Griffiths, charged with haviug when in the Bankruptcy Court unlawfully concealed the st-ite of his affairs, was committed for trial at the ensuiug session of the Supreme Court. Biil was allowed,; the defendant to enter into his own recognisance of £200, and provide two sureties of £100 each.

■A special meeting of the Court Enterprise, AiO.F., took place at the South. Australian Hall ou-Wednesday ..evening, when Dr Murphy was fleeted as medical officer for the ensuing term.

jMr M'Dermid;:: the member for Port Chalmers, will address hi 3 convtitaents' this evening at the Royal Hotel Assembly Rooms.-

The soiree oif the Episcopalian Church, Port Chalrocr«i, ie to be held this evening, at the Masonic Kali, commencing at half-yjst six o'clock. It promises to ba a! great success, a very large number of tickets fiaviug beea disposed'of. The Rev. Mr Staufoid and Archdeaoen Edwards, aud v otter ministers and foisaSa frdna Diin«lin, have pre

mised to attend. vTo be prepared for the musical part of the"entertainment; the Por£ Choral^ Society has been in close practice during the past week. ", , ■> Therehas been a cry of scarcity of fish at the Port lately, and not withoutrcaUße, the supply having fallen very "snort indeed of the demand. Professional fishermen have had exceeding poor luck, and grumble loudly' theieat, whilst amateur anglers have fared no better—that usually so abundant fish, the red cod, having deserted its habitat in:Sidejthejffeads. t . A reaction, - however, pears to be setting in ; the fish are returning, and schools of the red cod lead the way. They were swarming in Deborah Bay on. lhuKs!4ay> asmay.fcje inferred from the fact of one; hundred and seventy dozen being taken in the course of the afternoon. One ot the largest groupers we 'have seeli this season was landed yesterday. It measured nearly five feet in length and wasiproportionately^thick. That, peculiar little fish, the seahorse," onceTso pleritifulin the bay, is becoming quite . scarce.; Harbour improve; ments are probably .driving it further.afield^ ' i. wo shillings per dozen is the price readily given for these prehensile-tailed, curiosities.

' We would remind", our readers that the fourth concert of the Choral Society's season will be given this evening. The piece chosen for the occasion is Wallace's opera of " MarU tana," and we have no doubt the members of the Society will leave nothing undone to make their ambitions effort highly successful. The final rehearsal, which took place last evening, passed off very satisfactorily, and everything promises well for the success of this evening's concert. : ' ' . .

The Princess Theatre was well attended last evening, when " The Hunchback" was produced,. with' Miss Florence Colville as Julia, and Mr Wm. Huskins as Master Walter. The piece was well played, and those who sustained the leading characters acquitted themselves well, Miss Colville; and Mr Hoskins being honoured with several calls before the curtain. Miss Colville's Julia was on the whole a good rendering of the character, but rather uneven. Sometimes she was most effective, but once or twice; was rather too boisterous, and very nearly laid herself open to the accusation of ranting. We do not say this from: a desire to find fault, but because what we allude to somewhat marred what would otherwise have deserved almost unqualified praise. Mr Hoskins, as Master j xOr> had a pirt whicn a'l old Australian and New Zealand theatre-goers have learned to look upon as almost one of his own, and Lust night his acting was excellent. Mr J. B. Steele was good as Sir Thomas Gifford, and Miss Stoneham made a very fair Helen. To-night "Masks and Faces" will be produced. .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of New Zealand will be held this evening in the Masonic HalL