, 1890-10-22

The GOUeTROr; The responsibility rests
with the Government firstly; the Inspecting
rests with the Building Inspector, and the
control with the use of the wharf rests with
the Customs Officer. But it is quite impossl-
Bile to guard against abuses, and as stated III
the Remarks to the Bill, the wharf had been
built long ago, and it was intended only Tor
rolling sugar hogsheads across to be shlppea1,
but not for sugar in bags to remain on 1T TINS
is an abuse.
3rd Member for Frederiksteds Country
District (Hecitt) could not understand, nor
would he agree that there was any abuse OF
the wharf on the occasion. In the first place
there are no proper regulations for the use OF
the wharf. and as long as the wharf is not
solid structure, it should have been the duty
of the Building Inspector to examine 1t 30 as
to insure that no tonnage be allowed to be
kept on the wharf beyond what it was able to
bear. and the Collector Of Customs should see
that nothing beyond that limit was allowed
to remain on the bridge, and that should have
been placarded at the Customhouse. lie
would in this connection beg to ask when
was this wharf last inspected or examlned?-
It will no doubt easily be admitted that 1t can
never be the right thing that those who pay
the pierage should suffer loss Of product; AFTER
the planter has given over his sugar for ship
ment, it is hard that he shall suffer loss by
neglect of those in charge of the wharf, and
still get no compensation. The loss to a prl-
waite Individual has in this instance been
caused by neglect and indifference, -lndl1er-
ence to the public interests, and when remon-
strances were made, then the party was told that
there could be no question OF compensation to
him, but Of a compensation from him Tor tue
4- II = - bod ham for
hidden to have sugar in bags there, or had the
party exceeded the prescribed limits and the
wharf had broken down, then it could SO far be
better understood, but it is quite out OF the wayln
this instance, where no instructions existed,
until afterwards, then the Authorities step for
ward. when the stauncheons of the wharf
break down and the planter suffers a loss of
about $500, then it is advanced that the
burthon was too great. The Officials in charge
have large salaries, and for 6 months of the
wear have nothing to do they should be made
to nav for the damage that has been sustain
ed; when the parties apply to theGovernment,
they should at least not meet with a rebuff.
The Governor l must protest against 1t
being said that the wharf was in bad repair.
The wharf was not, as stated by the honour
able Member, in bad repair it was in perfectly
good repair, but it was overcharged; and that
was the cause of the wharf breaking in. AS
regards the question Of compensation, he would
saw thaA ia a matter between the planter and
the Government if the individual in question
be not satisfied with the resolution of the
Government, he may 90 to the Courts, If he
asks for compensation for his sugar, then he
must pay for the damages done. When things
change day by day, it cannot be expected that
fixtures that were suited to former require
ments shall always be suited to the modern
demands. This wharf was, as stated, not
made for storing bags of sugar on it; the
parties shipping were too eager to have the
article embarked and therefore too great q
burthen was heaped up in one place at one
time. It was not, Of course, possible to fore
see and prepare against every thing; if so, then
the break down might have been avoided. To
avoid similar occurrences it is now proposed to
build a massive structure for the wharf IN
question.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (He,oitt): could not admit that the
matter was unforeseen, nor could he see Why
better precautions were not taken to know the
exact state of the wharf. If the wharf was
intended for the loading ofsugar hogsheads,
the rolling of these would also cause a weight
on the building, but besides that, ~hogsheaas
for shipping must certainly be- kept at rest
while waiting for shipment in the lighters.
But if bags. of Sugar should not have been kept
there, why were they allowed to be there?
The planter has no longer any control of his su-
gars after they pass the scales, after passing the