is the event of the week, to wit, one between the Steamship. Companies acting in combination and the shippers. On Friday last the former issued the following notice to shippers "Under instructions from Head Offices, we beg to intimate that, on and after the Ist proximo, export cargo will have to be sent alongside steamers by shippers at their own risk and expense.
Measurements of cargo will be taken on the Bund at time of shipment, on application, "Coast Bills of Lading will be issued subject to production of and conditions of mates' receipts.
"Ixpo-Cutna Sream Nav. Ca., Lp. "Cua Mercuants' Sream Nav. Ca., Lp. "Cutwa Navicatios Ca., Lp."
Needless to say such a departure from long-established custom aroused a fierce opposition. The Espress Wag was the first in the front of the fight, he next day issued the following " Notice to Consignees":
Acting under instructions from our Head Office, we hereby give Native that from the Ist prox. all import cargo will be chucked overboard outside the Bar and consignees must make their own arrangements with divers and fishermen for its further delivery. Rates remain unaltered for the present but it is anticipated that they will be raised considerably in the near future.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.