The Direct Steam Service.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5221, 29 January 1885, Page 4

The Direct Steam Service.

♦ [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Jan. 28. A deputation from the Harbour Board waited on the Hon E. Richardson to-day to bring under his notice the loss sustained by the Board in consequence of the direct mail contract. The steamers are exempt from harbour duties at the first port of call, and the Chairman, Mr Soss, said — "The Shipping Company have arranged that Wellington and Dunedin shall be alternately ports of arrival. Consequently the loss that we would sustain would be .£663 15s in the year. Now, we do not blame the Company in any way, nor the Lyttelton Harbour Board, but matters have been ao arranged that the Lyttelton Harbour Board suffer no loss at all. Simply the Wellington and Dunedin Boards suffer. In the House I put the question to the Premier— ln the event of the mail service requiring pilotage, would they be exempt ? He said, certainly not. Mr Stout is of the same opinion still ; but I differ from him in the reading of the Act. The way the Harbour Board look at the matter is this .- The advantage of the direct service is one to the whole Colony, and why should one port have to bear a loss which should be distributed all over the Colony." The Hon Mr Richardson said it was a question for Parliament. Government could do nothing. If the Dunedin Board refused to grant pilotage for nothing the Government could send the boat somewhere else.