STEAMER SERVICE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 7, Issue 11, 7 February 1896, Page 2

STEAMER SERVICE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sm,—The settlers in the Pelorus Sound are very indignant at the way the mail service is carried on at present. Lately the steamer has not arrived here until Saturday, and more often Sunday. This is very hard on the settlers who have produce to send to Wellington. We are all Crown tenants, and how on earth are we to pay our rents without regular communication with the Wellington market. It is a common thing for settlers now to pull to the Post Offices with pigs, poultry, &c,, and after waiting a couple of days, pull their produce home again, sadder and angrier men.

Mr and Mrs Laird were detained three chys last trip with poultry, &c., and you can imagine the state of filth the birds would be in when they did reach the Wellington market. The steamer reached Ifrightlands on Sunday with wind light nor’-west, but, instead of bringing up at her usual berth, she displayed a series of erratic movements that completely puzzled us.

However, I brought my telescope to bear on her, and then discovered that Admiral C ' had displaced the captain, and was displaying nautical evolutions calculated to astonish the natives ; indeed, the gallant manner in which he steered the ship up to the nor’-west entrance of our bay, cast off the loaded boat, and then quietly steered back without her, was worthy of all praise. In the meantime what they cadi a terrific gale rose an enormous serf on our beach, sometimes reaching the height of a water-tight boot, and Mr and Mrs Laird lay off the usual, landing place in their boat until the steamer came back. When Mr Laird asked the captain if he was on an exploring expedition, he received the following singular answer—“ To h—H, with Brightlands.” ■ t I'I s # Now, I am quite aware that a certain Bishop granted sailprs?,and; ■. bullockdrivers liberty to swear when like Sarah Gamp, “ they were so dispoged,” but still I think it was> very, unkind of Captain Simpson to consign us there in the present state of the atmosphere. I am sorry for him, for doubtless he will find ere long that “curses like chickens come home to roost.”

It seems to me that the present subsidy, that was granted for the benefit of the settlers has been diverted from the proper course, and benefits the proprietor of the Red Cross Line more than anyone else, and he is allowed to work his own sweet will as regards the mails in the Pelorus Sound. There is no doubt that, owing to the want of . Mr Cross has all the settlers* p| #fis Sound by the hair of the head, and that, although the position is remarkably ' unpleasant, nothing but the most active' measures will loosen his grasp. The settlers must hold a public meeting and decide what course they will pursue under the circumstances. I propose that we have a meeting at some central place, and that each settler states what his freight to and from the Empire City, is worth per year, and that we promise that amount to any enterprising man who will run an opposition boat, — combined I am sure it would amount to close on two thousand pounds per year, and that should induce a cerapetant firm or man to make a start.

It seems very strange that a community approaching a thousand souls should be left be enterprising merchants without one store among them. Mrom our geographical position we are simply a suburb of the Empire City, and, although we produce a little of everything, it is more than strange that we should be left to get our stores as best we can ? . O iempora, O mores ! I am, &c., Settler.