RONA BAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 5

RONA BAY.

AND' ITS LINK WITH THE CITY, A CALL FOR HELP., , <; Residents of' Eastbourne arb by no means satisfied with the wharf appointments in connection with tho boat servico to Bona Bay, and last night a deputation from the Borough Council waited upon the Harbour Board. Mr. W. F. Shortt, Mayor of Eastbourne, stated that it was absolutely necessary for tho advancement of Eastbourno that boats should bo ablo to call at the Rona Bay Wharf in any weather. In order to enable them to do this spring piles, threo at each corner of the wharf, were necessary. Eastbourne residents had asked tho Ferry Company to get tho 8 o'clock morning boat to call at Rona Bay after it had gone to Day's Bay, but this request the company had been nnable to grant, owing to the difficulty;; of approaching the Rona Bay Wharf in rough weather. Somo better accommodation was also necessary on tho wharf for the convenience of passengers waiting. A waiting-shod was provided, but it was such a distance from Hit! head of the wharf that pcoplo often had to'stand for a considerable time exposed to wind and rain, waiting for tho slcamer. Otherwise, they ran considerable risk of missing it. It was olso necessary that belter arrangements should bo made for embarking and disembarking. This could bo provided for by tho erection of turnstiles on the 'Wellington Wharf, so that passengers might get on board tho steamers without the hindrance imposed by the nccessitv for the production of their tickets. If the checking of tickets could - bo done at turnstiles on tho Wellington Wharf it would bo a groat convenience. Also there was no place on the wharf whore parcels could bo left with safety at present.

Mr. Button, another member of . the deputation, said that 80 or 85 per cent, of the passengers by tho moraine; boat camo from Eona Bay, and it would inciin a saving of 20 minutes in timo for them if tho boat could call at Day's, Bay beforo it called at Eomi Bay. At present the Ferry Company could not do this because of tho difficulty in approaching tho Kona Bay wharf and mooring there in bad weather.

Mr. J. P. Harcourt and Mr. J. D. Avery (town clerk) also supported tho request; of the deputation. Mr. E. B. Mabiu, chairman of directors of the Wellington Harbour Ferries* Ltd., said that his company had been frequently asked to improve uio lime-table, and the only reason for their inability to do so was the difficulty which the 'ma.sle.r.s of tho steamers met with in working (he Eona Bay wharf. 'Muring tho bad weather last week, for instance, some of the main business trips had to be missed by his vessels. This was a serious business for the people on the other side of the harbour. The driving of spring piles guardin? the wharf would gel; over tho difficulty in approaching the wharf, and the embarkation of passengers would be greatly facilitated by tho erection of turnstiles on tho Wellington wharf. The l chairman (Mr. E. Fletcher) replied that tho revenue for tho past nine months from Eona Bay and Mays Bay had been only .£BO, from tho Seatoun rind Karaka Bay wharves .£53, and from the Petono wharf £2 Bs. On the other hand, there was a careto,ker at May's Bay who cost .£IOO a year; interest on tho 'capital cost of tho wharf, was ,C 223 per year, and sinking fund and depreciation absorbed ,Kt more. Tho hoard had spent a good deal of money on suburban wharves, and up to the present had not. much return to show. lie could not. therefore, hold out very much hope that tho request would be granted, but he asked that (he deputation should put their exact demands in writing. As stated, thov might cost .anything from .£l5O to .£2OOO. If they were put in writing they would be referred to tho board's officers, and thov would bo considered carefully. In reply to a question from' tho chairman, Mr. Mabin said that the company would be prepared to pay rent for turnstiles and parcels' office on (ho Wellington wharf.