PORT CHARGES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3292, 1 September 1871, Page 3

PORT CHARGES.

TO TIIE "BDITOE OP TnE INDEPENDENT. Sib, — Seeing a motion to revise the coasting trade is now before the House of Representatives, I thought I would make a few practical reranrkß on the present excessive charges now levied on colonial vessels trading to this port Allowing a vessel to make seven voyages « year, which is a fair average from Newcastle tc this port, that vessel has to pay one shilling port charges, two shillings andfourpence light duos, one shilling pilofage, and although the master of any vessel may be exempt he is' not allowed to more his vessel without the services of a pilot, which, in most cases, is against hi; will, and this makes it amount to one shilling and twopence more, which, in all, brings it up to the enormous price of five shillings and t-ix-pence per register ton ; whereas in Victoria the whole port charges amount to only one shilling every six months, or two shillings pei year. In New South Wales sixpence per tor register overy four months, and annual pilotage fourpence per ton, being in all one shilling and sixpence per year. In the other Australian ports the churges are similar. If this fine harbor was under the same disadvantages bb Melbourne or Newcastle, and 3 might say Otago, whore they are compelled tc spend some thousands of pounds per year tc keep the buoys, beacons, and dredges foi deepening the water to make their harbor; accessible and safe for vessels to trade to, ] then might understand why the prosent exor< bitant port charges are made on vessels trading to the port of Wellington. But us nature has favored us with one of tho finest harbors ii the world, and that worked, as I believe is thi case at present, at very little expense, I h.>pt the prosont Ministry will see fit to reduce some of these high charges, as I havo plainly showee and can prove that New Zealand ve.»seli trading to any of the Australian colonies dc not have to pay one third the port charge! that Australian vessels are compelled to paj in Now Zealand. — I have, &c, Natjticai.. Wellington, 30th August.

WMRARAPA. (From Our Own Cokkespondent.) the odd fellows. On Saturday evening Jasfc a new lodge belonging lo this fellowship was opened at the Victoria Hotel, Featherston, when a dinner, was given to celebrate the event, to which many of the principal settlers in the district hud been invited. H. S. "WardeU, Esq., E.M., occupied the chair, and Dr Sprntt, the coroner of Ihe district, was also present. The speech of the evening was made by Mr E. Marriott, and the whole of the proceedings passed off in the most agreeable manner. Nine members were initiated on the occasion. POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT. An entertainment was given at the Town Hall, Greytown, on Thursday last, for the benefit of the hall fund. There was a very large attendance ; and those who took part in the performance, particularly Messrs Marriott, Murphy, and Cotter, "were loudly and deservedly applauded. Mr Skipper attended to the magic lantern, and gave an explanation of the different figures exhibited in Jhis usual gentlemanly and lucid manner. The success which has attended these entertainments is a proof that they supply a public want, which fortunately, in this case, can be innocently gratified. SHEARING. Shearing will commence earlier than usual this season, the flockowners being anxious to reap the benefit of the advance on wool, before an unfavorable turn in the market happens. SCAB. I stated in my last that this disease had broken out in the flock belonging to Mr Bunny at Featherston, and that it was feared, owing to the run being unfonccd, and open to the public road, that it would be likely to spread to other flocks in the neighborhood. With one exception this has not at present been the case, and I am happy to report that the proprietor of the infected flock is taking energetic measures to extirpate the disease.