ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE,

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1766, 13 September 1862, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE,

To the Editor Of the Wellington Independent. Sir.— Asa passenger per the Storm Bird, steamer, from Nelson to Wellington, on the 28th ult., I beg to trouble you with the following statement. Having arrived at the Nelson wharf at i past 4 o'clock, a.ro:, (the steamer being advertised to sail at 5 o'clock, a m., although she did not leave the wharf until after 6 o'clock.)— l found the wharf blocked up with waggons &c, without a single lamp or light of any description to euide the weary traveller, so that a person ran considerable danger of receiving serious injury, or in endeavoufing to avoid that danger in the dark, t» be precipitated into the water. On arriving at the steamer after some difficulty, I found no means te get on board, except by a single plank about 5 inches wide, without a hand rail, or any protection, and was told to proceed down this plank, which was about 12 feet from the wharf to the deck of the steamer, and almost perpendicular This was rather a difficult and dangerous path to take in the dark, with only the faint glimmer of a single lamp placed at the stem of the vessel* Having declined to hazard the danger, and being determined to abide the result, I remaiued on the wharf, until another gentleman arrived, whom I afterwards had the pleasure to know as his honor Mr. Justice Johnston on circuit. This gentleman having had to encounter the sundry obstructions on the wharf, now arrived at the steamer to be precipitated down a single plank 5 inches wide, and 12 feet to the deck of the steamer. Ho also declined the matter, and after considerable delay we were obliged to get a boat in order to get on board the steamer. Now I think that more res« pect ought to be shown to the dignity of the law when a Judge is on circuit, which is as necessary in the colonies as at home. — It must have been known to all parties having the management of those matters, that the Judge wa« to have been a passenger by that steamer, and I imagine that the sheriff has power to enforce such a thing when found necessary. I also think that more regard ought to be shown to the satety of the public in general, by the parties concerned providing proper lights on the wharf, and the passage to the steamer left clear, also, that the directors of the Steam Co., or that of the VVharf Co., at Nelson, (which it is) ought to provide a proper and Bafa gangway for passengers to embark and disembark on board the steamers, the expense of which is only a few pounds, as in case of an accident occurring, it might involve the respective ompanies in the loss of many pounds. I might also mention that the present mode of embarking and disembarking passengers, such as ladies and children from the steamers into the boats at Wellington might be improved on without much trouble or expense. It is by no means the captain's fault, as nothing could exceed hig urbanity, and attention, but he is not provided with the proper articles for the purposes alluded to. I am Sir, Your obedient servant, A Passexgeu per the •• Storm Biro. 1 *