The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-03 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.
Mr. Knill, of the firm of Jackson and Knill, of London
Bridge-wharf, waited upon the LORD MAYOR yesterday, for
the purpose of replying to an accusation made by Mr. Flower,
of Compton-street, Islington, against the wharfingers.
Mr. Knill said that Mr. Flower complained to his Lordship
that upon landing from Boulogne at London Bridge-wharf he
had been charged sixpence each upon five packages for
Messrs. Jackson and Knill. No doubt such charge was
made, and most justly made too, and the accommodation
which was afforded by the arrangements which led to it
was extremely great and serviceable to the public. The
case was this :—Continual complaints had been made by
the public of the monstrous delay which took place in
the examination of luggage at the Custom Ilouse, and
the Lords of the Treasury, anxious to remedy so severe an
inconvenience, gave directions to the Board of Customs, who
accordingly endeavoured to find a place at which the Bou-
logne and Calais steamers could land their baggage for the
purpose of relieving the press of business at the Custom
House baggage warehouse. The necessary accommodation
was afforded by the firm of Jackson and Ki.ill, at London
Bridge-wharf, who charged at the rate of 10s. par carriage,
203 per horse, and 6d. per package. The charge of 6d per
package included all sizes, and for that sixpence the wharfin-
gers landed, cleared, and loaded into coach or cart upon the
wharf each package.
The Loan MAYOR—Then you make the charge of sixpence
a package as one to which you have an indisputable right?
Mr. Knill—Most certainly we do; and with the exception
of five or six persons, not one of the thousands who come mer
have complained, for it is evident that the celerity with which
everything is comparatively done is productive of theland free of
utmost
convenience. The Steam Navigation Company .
expense, all baggage bonafide the property of passengers from
' Hamburgb, Rotterdam, Ostend, and Antwerp. But suchis
not the case with respect to the baggage of passengers-from
Boulogne and Calais, because the fares from the latter places
are lass than half of the fares from the nearest of the others
say Ostend. Indeed, when the passage money from Bou-
logne and Calais was 30s. per head, the company landed the
baggage free but now the highest chief cabin fare from Bou-
logne and Calais does not exceed 15s.
The LORD MATOR—It appears to me that this explanation
is satisfactory. That the plan described facilitates the busi-
ness of the passengers there can be no doubt in the world, for
the delays which used to take place at the Custom House
were intolerable. The profits arising from the change must
at the same time be very considerable, but that is a question
with which I have nothing to do.
Mr. Knill—Mr. Flower has spoken in depreciating terms
of the warehouse we have built for the purpose of affording
the requisite accommodation, and says that it could not have
cost 1,0001., and that it must be productive of 3,0001. per
annum. Now, if he bad said that it cost 3,000/., and pro-
duced something about 500/. per annum, he would have been
nearer the mark. However, that is no subject for discussion.
The thousands of passengers who have landed at London
Bridge-wharf have expressed how much they were pleased at
the despatch and fac;!!!'y now afforded. It was but the other
day that Mr. Buller, of the Treasury, asked why ho was
charged 78.6 d. for fifteen packages, and, anon being informed,
he expressed himself completely satisfied, admitting, at once,
the excellence and cheapneaa of the accommodation. In fact,
an hour and a half, or two hours, will despatch the whole of
the baggage landed at London Bridge-wharf, whereas three,
four, or Ave, or six hours often elapse before it is examined at
the Custom-house.
The Loan MAYOR-..The case is now before the Lords of
the Treasury.
Mr. Knill—lt is; but, whatever be the decision of their
Lordships, our right exists. It is a matter of no importanee
whether we are paid byitht
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Lordship,