HOW-NOT-TO-DO-IT IN VICTORIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2330, 16 January 1890, Page 2

HOW-NOT-TO-DO-IT IN VICTORIA

Our Melbourne correspondent writes under date Melbourne, January 7:—lf there Is a round-a-bout w»y to any pluoo you may safely trust a Government to find out all the twist r end turnings of that road, and to force them upon liha public for general me. li a carfcatn numbar of round boles have to be stopped up we all know that any government will oontraot tor the manufacture of an equal number of nqaare bits of wood to pat unto them ; and, nndeterred by the UlsuooQis of thkt job, when they have to deal with square holes tho same people will try the experiment of getting round pegs therein, We have had many examples of this system la Vlctoru, and unless tbe world comes to an end very soon ire shall wltmai' I many more. Take » sample lastauoe out of soores whioh might be olted. The two principal lanoing places In Hobson's Bay, namely, tbe piers at Port Melbourne md WillUmetown, are used by all the great steam liners, nndlarge sailing ships whioh visit this port, and by many coasters as well, and because tbe berthing of ships In a crowded port requires judgment, tnot, and nautical experlenoe the management and control of these two pices, and iche berthing of vessels alongilde of th«m, lias been vested In the Commissioners of Railways. We aball next have the Qoveminent tailor sent to supervise tho roil way work shops at Newport, or the Prime Minister trying bis hind at the rmnuf »oture of a Christmas padding for ibbe inmates of Pentndge.

The oonsequenoe of placing the manage-* mem of nautical affitra In tbe hand* of landsmen was nearly proving tatal to numbers of psople laat Bunday morning. There has bean rivalry and illfsellng for some time past between the people on board the Ozone aud those on the Ooogee. There is a dispute as to which Is the faateit boat, and whenever an opportunity ocours this 111 feeling is made manlfcat. Both vowels atari from tbe Pott Melbourne pier, and they get away at line same moment. The Ozone, having to steer a westerly course, has la the wisdom of the authorities been assigned s> bertb on the eastern aide of the pier ; whilst tihe Oogee, hiring to proceed In an easterly direction has been assigned a. berth on nhe western side, so that, as soon as these two rival raoera draw clear of the pier headt and shape their respective courses, they hare to cross the traoks of eseh other. In other word«, the profound nantloal knowledge of the Oommluloners of Railways baa pUoad them la the most favorable position for running eaoh other dowa with every soul on board. This danger was narrowly avoided on Sunday mo.nlog, wben tbe vessels were omytng nimr 2000 paople between them, aud the same dangbr has bjen prestnt aud imminent lEor m»nj montna past. This rooming the two captains' statement! are pablUhcid. They fl ttly oontradiat eaoh other ; bat » Board of Enquiry Is to be held, end the man wbo Is uot speaking troth should be punlthed.