LICENSING OF LIGHTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 824, 13 September 1867, Page 13

LICENSING OF LIGHTERS.

On Wednesday, Messrs Ewen, Ross, and Webb, as a deputation from the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, waited upon His Honor the DeputySuperintendent, Capt. Eraser.

Sir Ewen stated that the object of the deputation was to direct the attention of the Government to the defective character of many of the lighters tradirg between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, as regarded both their sea- worthiness and the security of goods placed on bqard of them, The difficulty which merchants had in recoverng the value of goods, lost or damaged, had been shown lately by a case tried in the local Courts, where it was held that a claim could not be made against the lighter. It was highly necessary that there should be a remedy for this, in some way. He understood that' there was already existing a system of licensing lighters, but it seemed to be defective, for it did not in any way provide • against such emergencies. In his opinion, no lighters should be allowed to carry certain goods unless they were of a' certain class, and that class should be distinctly described in their licences. Flat-bottomed Hghter3 had often been objected to, but the deputation was not aware that any steps had baen taken to prevent their trading. As regarded pillage, that had frequently occurred. He might almost say that it had been common, and, except in one instance, they had never been able to, bring it home to the guilty parties. In that case, whatever might have been hi 3 motive, the guilty person had confessed to having pillaged goods, and

had , been • sentenced to a term of punishment for his offence. In other instances, where persons vrere suspected o£ being guilty, it had been impossible 1 sufficiently to substantiate the charge. The bulk-heads in these lighters " seemed. usually to be of such a character as not t» prevent people getting to goods whick were under the Custom House seal. Under all the circumstances, it .wonld be well if something could be decided to prevent the damage and. pillage now so extensively complained of. He understood that some of the members of the Chamber of Commerce who hacl: been expected to join the deputation, were inclined to suggest that the Harbor Master, Captain Thomson, would, be avery suitable person to selecL for the supervision and classification of 'lighters,, provided it could be arranged that the work should not interfere with his duties.

His Ho>'or said the Provincial Government had really very little control in the matter, as the lighterß were licensed by the Custom-house. He was aware, however, that there was a good deal to complain of in connection with the lighteringtrade of the port, and it was highly desirable that some remedy should be devised. It wa3 often the case that diggers coming down the country went into the lightering: trade, and many of the lighters were manned by landsmen. Accidents, involving damage, consequently " arose. j There was a case about a year ago where a lighter was loaded with. j timber below, and with a quantity ofjron and heavy material on deck, and that an accident had arisen was not' unnatural. It was too frequently the case, also, that lighters wore loaded almost half-mast high, and,asMrEwenhadmentioned,iisee^edtf* be a 'rule that there should fee^a" loose plank in the hulk-head. When loss or damagtf did occur, there was apparently no remedy for the merchant, the master* being often men of straw; and ii wpuld be but justice that the owners of lighters, not the jjtiast«rß, should be made liable. Mr Webb suggested that it might be arranged that the Customs authorijie* I should not license any lighter unless japproved of by the .Provincial Government. The Customs authorities might npt{ be i disposed to incur the expense, but if the expense wero borne by the Provincial | Government, thoy would probably tafce the benefit of it. His Exlyor said Mr Hiil held that tilematter -was in the hands of the merchants or their representatives, as they were not compelled to employ the class of lighters complained of. He did not think, however, that that argument was a good one. Properly, there should be no worthless | lighters allowed to trade. Mr Ewen thought the fault lay in the licensing of such fightera. i His Hoxou was decidedly of opinion. that there should be a person specially 1 appointed, who would have control overlighters, with power to hold a survey upon them, and to hold parties responsible in cases of pillage. At present the Provincial Government had nothing to do with the matfer, but they should be "very glad to do a1!a 1 ! in their power to bring the lighters Tinder proper surveillance. Capt. Thomson might not be able conveniently to attend to the duties, but he thought tnafc the Deputy Harbor-Master (Capt. Dickie), who was always on the spot, and who was :an efficient man, might, with a' small addition to his salary, undertake the necessary work. Whatever the Govern- \ ment coiild do, they would do, in representing the matter to the proper authorities, and in bringing the lighters Under proper control, for there could not bet a doubt that they were not so at present. Mr E\ve>" said, as regarded pillage, rt was a matter which did not concern the Customs, because it did not affect the measurement in any way, but it was & very great matter to the merchant. If it were shown to the Customs authorities that goods had been abstracted, it was optional with them whether they should, make any allowance ; and then it was. only the dutj' which they allowed ; but the merchant had to lose his goods, an<L the cost of bringing them from England.

His Hoxon was informed that goods ran greater risks of pillage between Port Chalmers and Dunedia than between. London and the Port.

Mr Ewen could quote one trifling instance, where he had sent five cases of spirits to a friend in Melbourne. The cases were taken from bond, and were all full. Of course it was not known where they had been tampered with, but of the quantity forwarded, only four dozen and" one bottles were delivered: eleven had. been abstracted.

His Honor said that from what he could learn, there seemed to be a regularlyorganised system of pillage established at some of the ports ; and he repeated that the Government would willingly take some steps to, at least, give effect, to the representations of the deputation. Having thanked His Honor, the deputation withdrew. .