MR. READER WOOD AND THE MAIL SERVICE.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 77, 31 July 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

MR. READER WOOD AND THE MAIL SERVICE.

(From the Daily Times, July IG.) Mr. Reader Wood is certainly not a very politic man. Were he so, instead of trying to make his visit to Otago as useful as possible, he would endeavor to make it of so little utility as to reconcile the people of the Province to the unwarrantable time during which it has been deferred. He leaves us to thank him for the late consideration he has shown, and to regret the more that any reason, was allowed to justify its protracted postponement. His explanations at the meeting of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, were on the whole eminently satisfactory — a remark which may also be applied to the proceedings generally. The fears which the extraordinary terms of the specification for the new contract not unreasonably excited, are to great extent set at rest. The Committee of the Chamber are unanimous in recommending their amendment, and Mr. Wood voluntarity expressed himself willing to endeavor to do so. As pointed out by us the other day, the new arrangement which Mr. Wood proposes, excludes the best features of the present contract, whilst there is scarcely any remedy prov : ded for the worst. The almost perfect homeward service which now exists would, by Mr. Wood's proposal, be turned into a most imperfect one. It would be left to any vessel which could guarantee a speed of eight knots an hour, instead of being carried out by the only vessel — or at any rate the one vessel of the only two — which admittedly is fit to perform it. The provisions for the service from Melbourne are also by Mr. Wood's proposal equally faulty, lie stipulates only for a delay of four days in Melbourne after the due date of the English steamer. Supposing such an arrangement to have existed during the last six months, it would have resulted in the bringiug on of only three mails Out of six. The acknowledged falure of the service during the time just mentioned is the cause of the action Mr. Wood is taking, and surely the remedy is unsatisfactory which, in the event of the like causes, would eventuate iv scarcely amended results. We are glad to find then from what took place, that Mr. Wood is not so wedded to the arrangement which the tenders he is calling for indicate, as to refuse to amend it. In the terms of the unanimous resolution by the Committee of the Chamber, and which resolution, to do him justice, was founded on proposals he himself voluni teered, he consents to call for alternative tenders, giving the option to the Postmaster-General of Victoria of detaining the down steamer for a certain number of days after the stipul ted four days ; and in regard to the upservicc, he consents to call for alternative tenders for the steamer to leave on the 17th or lSth of the month. We think, whatever the difference of expense, Mr. Wood will see cause to i accept, supposing he accept any, the tenders which will provide for an up and down efficient .service, which j the one proposed by those alread advertised for certainly are not. We say if he accept any — because what passed yesterday suggests the probability that the calling for new tenders, at any rate for the up service, is a mere formality. It seems likely that the contractors can claim the continuance of the present contract according to the terms in which it is framed, for eighteen months from its first commencement. We confess to hoping that such is the case, because as far as the up-service is concerned the present contract is eminently satisfactory. Mr Wood himself proposes what we consider is likely to prove an efficient remedy for the defects of the down service. He intends to place at the disposal of the Postmaster- General the sum of £350 monthly, to be offered as a bonus to any vessel, other than the Aldinga, leaving with the mails within twenty-four hours after their arrival, and landing them in Otago in. not more than nine^ days. This arrangement would, in fact, only cost the colony

LIBOO a-yeaiy as there , i.s already a bonus of L2OO a-trip open to the Aldinga, in case "sbre~brings on the mails. We fancy it, is at .the- least as likely to be an efficient one as- -any that did not stipulate for the absolute detention of the contract- steamer', until the arrival in Melbourne of the" English mails. Supposing the last to reach . Melbourne by the 1 lth, . thec Aldinga would bring theni on. A steamer ready to leave on the 12th .or ; t3(,n, would," therefore, fulfil the term of the proposed bonus, the leaving within twenty-four hours of the arrival of the English steamer. We fancy the prospect of the L 350 would induce the owners of someone of the numerous steamers plying to the port, to have one roild'yon the; date indicated, and a delay, of two or three days might even be submitted to. Recently the agents Of tlte "City of Uobart offered to send her back with the mails, within twenty -four hours of her arrival in Melbourne, for five hundred pounds — an extreme case of inconvenience not likely again to arise. The bonus system at any. rate aright 'be tried for two or three monts before entering into new arrangements. It is to be remembered that at present the colony of New Zealand pays the whole expense of the service to and fiom Melbourne. ; Before entering into new arrangements, would it not be well to try and induce the Victorian Government to bear a portion- of it ? In the event of its refusal, the New Zealand Government might combine with that of' Tasmania and New South. Wales to run vessels direct from King George's Souud, at a less expense and in less time than the present arrangements involve. The question raised in the Chamber yesterday respecting the possible refusal of Messrs. M'Meckan and Blackwood to deliver the mails to oilier contractors, will not, we believe, on examination, be found sustainable. On a former occasion, when these gentlemen adopted that course, they had a very different contract to the present. They were then to be paid for bringing down the mails without stipulations as to detention. They had thus, to the extent of the payment, a legal claim on the carriage, but now they have nothing of the sort. For failing their sending the mails on by the Aldinga, to do which they certainly have a prior right, Ihe seventh clause stipulates only that, if required, they are to send them on by one of their other vessels, whilst, as if to remove all doubt, it further states that they are to permit their being forwarded by another steamer, at the option of the Melbourne postal authorities. • / We now turn to other subjects raise/" at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday." Mr Wood told the committee, that their' request for increased communieation\ with the North was partially provided \ for by the laying on of another steamer between Wellington arid the Manakau. Providence, he seemed to think, would watch over the communication between Otago and Wellington. Experience, however, contradict* this. We append a table showing the dates on which during the last three months and a half steamers have arrived here from Wellington, with the dates also of the news they brought, by comparing which it will be seen how invariably two arrive in Dunedin or depart from Wellington at or about the same time, and how lengthy is the interval frequently without any communication. Practicallj', in fact, there is scarcely more thau a fortnightly mail. Name Date Arrival of Steamer, from Wellington, at Dubedin. Storm "Bird . . March 3U . . April 3 Airedale ... April 7 .. April 13 Lord Ashley . . April 13 . . April 17 Storm Uird . . April 14 . . April 23 Airedale ) , „„„ -, T o Ltu.y Uiril \ ml 30 • ' Mfl y ° Lord Ashley ... May 7 ... May 15 Airedale . . May 21 .. June 2 Storm Bird ... May 21 ... June 5 Lady Bird .. June 10 ... June 14i I'riiicc Alfred ... Juuc 20 ... June 23 Lady Bird .. June 29 • ... July 5 Airedale ... July 3 ... July 6 Lady Bird ... July 10 ... July 13 When the approaching meeting of the Assembly is considered, as also the fact that large bodies of the residents of Otago are being invited to take service in the North, it will be seen, in addition to commercial reasons, how important it is to establish constant communication between this Province and Auckland. Without it there is little likelihood of all the members of the House attending the session, or of many persons consenting to leave their families to enter upon military service. The improvements whicli Mr Wood agrees to in regard to the Dunedin Post Post Office are certainly much needed, and do not come one whit too soon, for the whole arrangements of the office are utterly inadequate to the wants of the Province. Mr Wood promises that the office shall be kept open from nine to five, that the mails for the Southern districts shall be kept open till Monday morning instead of closing on Saturday afternoon, and to consider the points of having a letter-box on boaru the steamer, and the opening a late letterbag in Dunedin. We would suggest also that an addition of extra hauds would enable the mails generally to be kept open longer. Mr Wood also promises evening delivery of important mails, but to do Mr Barr justice he never fails to do that of his own accord. We are surprised the Chamber did not dwall on the insufficient nature of the inland services, and on the miserable manner in which some of the country post offices are managed. Ail inspector of country post offices has become an absolute necessity, but our remarks on this subject, as also on the irregularities of the head offices, we must postpone to another occasion.

\ military pensioner named William Sunderland was found dead on the highWay near Hebden-bridge. He was supposed to have died from exposure lo the weather, ffe was Tip wards of 70 years old.