HARBOUR FERRIES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 8

HARBOUR FERRIES

SOLE USE OF CITY WHARF REQUIRED.

A letter was received by the Eastbourne Borough Council last' evening from the Wellington Harbour Board stating that it was unable to grant the tiole use of the city ferry wharf, for the use ot the council's steamers. The letter called for a decided protest .Jrom councillors. • •: ; ■■■• .-■■••

The Mayor said tliat' the "East Harbour Ferry Service was a' most important unit of tho city's daily life and should receive greater consideration from the Harbour Board. The board had given no.assistance in the past as far as the service was concerned, and seemed to'forget that the ferry service annually provided for 'the carriage of thousands of people across the harbour. Eastbourne was one of the smallest boroughs in the Dominion, but it was shouldering a heavy responsibility in a capable manner and providing an' adequate service. Such a service was an asset to' the city, and provided the means of making Williams Park accessible to the people." Were it not for the ferry service thousands of people would not even Know there was such a place as Williams Park. He moved (that a deputation consisting of the whole of the council should wait on the Harbour Board in regard to the matter. . :■ ■

Councillor Hartridge expressed this opinion .that the council should be represented on ; the Harbour Board, by meanii of a candidate nominated as directly representing the Borough of Eastbourne. O.ther councillors; stressed the fact that with three boats:in use only one Will was left vacant, and the timp had come when the council had to make more adequate arrangements in regard to handling passengers, which . could only be done if the council had full charee of the wharf. - „ • The Mayor's motion was carried unanimously., . STEAMERS IN THE SERVICE. A report presented by the Ferry Board states that the Duchess carried 19,632 passengers across the harbour "■'• during July as against 26,563 for a similar period last year. The Cobar this year carried 12.615, as-'against 12,069 It is expected'that the reconditioning' of the Cobar will be completed in about ten days: ' ' . "■.'■ A minor accident had occurred to the boiler of the 'Duchess on 9th August, one of the tubes springing a leak The engineer, D. White, while attempting to piu? the break was somewhat severely I scalded. •He had now recovered. ' t The Muritai was being used regularly J on the service, and was quickly bein'c brought into condition to suit the special requirements of the,, borough. It had been decided to ascertain the running cost of the Muritai before making any revision m the fares.

A preliminary inquiry into the collision between the Muritaf and the Naringa during Tuesday's heavy ■ gale had been, held by the Superintenaent of Marioe. but the Department had ad: vised that it had been decided that it was not necessary to hold any formal investigation or^magisterialinquiry.