BANKS PENINSULA STEAMER SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13097, 23 April 1908, Page 5

BANKS PENINSULA STEAMER SERVICE.

.. * : PROPOSED NEW STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

Considerable dissatisfaction is expressed by settlers and farmers on. Banks Peninsula at tho action of the owners of tho steamers Cygnet and John Anderson in raising tho rates of , freights on all classes of cargo to and j from the Bays and Akaroa. It is stated that the- settlers intend to form a company to purchase and run steamers of their own between Lyttelton.and tho Bays and Akaroa. A number of tho prominent residents of the Peninsula •district have commissioned Captain J. M. Etheridge of the John Anderson, to purchase on their behalf a suitable steamer to be placed in the trade. Tho vessel will be between 80 and 100 tons register and probably twin screw, with a speed of from ten to eleven knots. Her draught will bo about 7ft 6in, and ehe will have accommodation for both passengers and cargo. Hitherto the Lyttelton-Bays-Akaroa service has been carried on* by tho steamers Cygnet and John Anderson, but on Saturday next the latter vessel will be withdrawn and laid up for the winter months. Tho service will be • maintained by the Cygnet, which will Inm to Pigeon Bay on Mondays and ; Thursdays, to Menzie's Bay. Little i Akaloa, Lo Bon's Bay and Akaroa on Tuesdays, returning to Lyttelton next day; to Kaikoura on Thursdays, returning next day. and to Menzie's Bay. Ldttlo Akaka and Okain's Bay on Saturdays. The owners state that the increase in wages, coal, etc., has j made it necessary for them to raise } the freights on all cargo carried to and From the Bays and Akaroa, but the settlers are much dissatisfied and hold that the increase in freights is not justified.