FERRY SERVICE DISLOCATED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 8

FERRY SERVICE DISLOCATED

4 MAORI WITHDRAWS FOR OVERHAUL

WAHINE TO RESUME NEXT WEEK

Yesterday! owing to the Maori not sailing from Lyttelton, there was no ferry steamer in or otit of Wellington. The previous day it was found that the coal the Maori was bunkered with was not of sufficiently good quality to raise steam, and it was decided to rebunker the ship. This was done by early yesterday morning,• but on completion of this task, a defect in one of the toilers was discovered, and as it would have taken some time to mako repairs tho trip was cancelled. | This dislocation of the service caused a good deal of inconvenience to wouldbe passengers, both to and out of Wellington. Maori Withdrawn.. Yesterday afternoon the Union Company announced that the Maori "had been withdrawn from the ferry service, and that she is to proceed from Lyttelton to. Port Chalmers for overhaul. The announcement was also made that theWahine, which,arrived back from European waters on Thursday is to resume in the ferry service next week. Tho vessel, which has just undergone reconditioning- at the, Clyde, is in first-class seagoing order. Traffic Arrangements. The company last evening announced the following arrangements to cope with the _ traffic■ The Mapourika, due to-day from New Plymouth, is to, sail this evening for Lyttelton, and is to leave Lyttelton tonvorrow afternoon with passengers for Wellington. The Monowai is to leavo Lyttelton. this evening (or at daybreak to-morrow if .'hero is a largo number of passengers offering) for Wellington. The Manuka, due to-night from Sydney, is to leave Wellington in the Maori's place on Monday evening, leaving Lyttelton on the return trip on Tuesday. It is hoped that tho Wahino will leave Port Chalmers on Monday and Lyttelton on .Tuesday for Wellington, thereafter remaining in the ferry service. '

The Jloernki, due on Tuesday from Sydney, is to sail for Lyttelton on Wednesday, . return to Wellington on Prida.y, and sail for Sydney and Hobart, taking passengers and cargo.

SOUTHERN PASSENGERS' PLIGHT. By Telegraph—Press ABSociation. Christchurch, February 13. _ Ihe ferry service is suffering another interruption. The Maori did not leave Lyttelton for Wellington lust night, but it was hoped sho would leave at I a.m. to-day, but sho was still at Lyttelton. She cannot leave to-day, and inav get to-morrow night. The trouble in the first instance seems to have been inferior. coal taken on board, which does not possess sufficient steaming finalities. When this difficulty first arose tho firemen announced that they would do their best to facilitate the matters, 'but on top of the inadequacy of the coal came, leakages in the boilers of a character that absolutely precluded the vessel going to sea until repairs had been made. It was then decided to lay the vessel up while the boilers are being cooled down and to liave the leakages attended to. Passengers remained on the vessel all night and had breakfast on board, but a notice was posted that tho vessel would not leave- until to-morrow night. Most of the passengers came lo Christchurch by the 9.20 a.m. train. Scores of them attended at the Union Company's offices for several hours waiting to ascertain the exact position. At neon they were'informed that some of them could be taken on the Mararoa to-night, but there was room for only a small proportion of the whole. Those who cannot go tonight are experiencing some difficulty in obtaining accommodation in the city. Amongst the Maori's passengers are seven or eight southern members of Parliament on their way to Wellington to join the Parliamentary party for Samoa. Spare space in the Mararoa is. being given to the Maori's nassengers, according to tho order of the applications. The New South Wnles Orchestra, numbering eighty. had booked bv- the Maori, but they decided to stay in Christchurch for a few days, and this has somewhat relieved the position.