HOKITIKA WANTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 126, 12 February 1866, Page 2

HOKITIKA WANTS.

TO THB EDITOR OF THE " WBST COAST TIMES."

Sir, — Inhere are so many and grievous wants in Hokitika which may not exactly come under, your notice, that I now venture to lay before you somo of them.

Ist. We want a thorough and revised supervision of police protection. 2nd. Some qualified Customs officer, who understands the duties of his office, to see to luggage being shipped or landed from steamers transhipping to the ocean steamers in the offing. 3rd. We want as .little red tape as possible in the working of the above departments, always presuming the officers appointed in their respective; duties to be able to cope with any little difficulty which may arise for the moment.

Witl,i respect to the first of our grievances, I would suggest that somo of our constabulary be told off to do wharf duty. Every individual landing here knows the vast inconvenience of a lot o( loafers rushing tho vessel and seizing hold of passengers' luggage before thoy have a chance of communication with their friends, and which, too often causes great loss to the passengers, by these blackguards walking off with portions of their luggage. With respe6t to our second grievance, I would suggest, in the absence" of a transit shed, some duly -qualified Custom's officer to be appointed to receive nnd overhaul all luggage prior tp delivery to the owner. Certainly any honest, well-meaning ownpr of luggage would prefer this to tho indiscriminate seizure of his traps by the rabble which you frequently see*, I may almost say, take possession oi the harbor steamers on their arrival alongsido tho wharf from the ocean-going steamers. The third, I may say is not a grievance ; it is only a suggestion which I am sure the authorities would only be too glad to carry out, and by so doing they would not only benefit themselves by inspection of the luggage, but also by their being able at any time to recognise the said owners of the same. I am sure you will agree with me it is high timo some such system was adopted, otherwise tho owners of the harbor boats will bo compelled, tor their own protection, to expel by force or prohibit the indiscriminate rush of the steamers on their arrival at tho wharf, —I am, Sir, yours fathfully,

Argus,