FERRY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 89, 17 April 1925, Page 6

FERRY SERVICE

ACROSS THE HARBOUR

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE,

Ferry matters were considered at last night's meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council.

Dealing with the question of cutting out certain boats in the interests of economy, the general manager (Mr J F Menzies) stated that in his opinion too many trips had been run in the winter months. Taking into account the financial position, the constant telement of risk of damage during rough weather, the wear and tear on boats, ropes, wharves, etc., due to those extra trips! lie favoured some reduction in the present time-table. Residents seemed insistent upon having a boat leaving Wellington between 6.15 p.m. and 10.30 p.m on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, with a further boat from the bays to make up the round trip. The £ s d aspect was lost sight of by many, as long as their.convenience was studied. I write feelingly on this matter," he continued, "in view of the heavy loss disclosed by this year's balance-sheet— a loss I may be pardoned for saying I predicted, and which is not due to any act of the present council and its admin- j istration. Further, public opinion—always nekle—was against me recently over the cutting out' of a certain boat during bad weather, and I had to put up with quite a lot of hard criticism over this and other matters, chiefly connected with the substitution of the Cobar for the Mnntai on certain Sunday runs. The ratepayers and residents must accept responsibility if this boat has to be run irrespective of weather conditions. A policy question for.the incoming council should be economy or convenience first " SOMEWHAT DRASTIC. The Mayor (Mr. H. W. Shortt) said he considered the alterations suggested by the general manager in the time-table governing late boats rather drastic. A boat between 6.15 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. was, in his opinion, absolutely necessary It was not fait- to expect the people who had missed the 6.15 boat to wait until 10.30 p.m. His motion that a boat leave Wellington en Mondays, Tuesdays Thursdays, and Fridays at 8.50 p.m. was carried.

In order to arrive at an estimation ot what boats it would be advisable to cut out, the following table was drawn up by the general manager, showin" the average of passengers carried per trip during the month of March • —

During the month of March the. MuriUi carried 31,575 passengers, as against 41,*G0 for the corresponding month last year the Duchess 8199 against 17.036, and the Collar 23,811 against 14.967 a total lor the three vessels of 63.585 passengers during March, 1925, against 73.766 for March, 1921. It was reported that the cost of cjl £326 12s 6d, while for the Duchess for the same number ,„< trips (he cost for ?1« WaVi n-y f m 13S ' 8 difference of il&6 9s 6d in favour of the latter boat,

FINANCIAL POSITION According to a. comparative statement of receipts and expenditure, £23,731 6s Id was taken by the ferry service from Ist April 1924. to 31st March. 1925, as against £26,119 17s 2d for the previous twelve months. The expenditure for the period from Ist April. 1924, to 31st March. 1925. was £30,414 17s 2d -is against £31,932 12s 3d for the" previous twelve months. The chief items of exI peiiditiire (the previous year's figures being given in parentheses) were —Muritai running. £ 45 05 4s 7d (£6692 16s 3d) ; in,?? 8, """""«• £4311 5s s<l (£4857 ss); Cobar running. £5116 Is 3d (£4870 0s sd); Muritai overhaul, £741 14s 2d (nil); Duchess overhaul, £2829 11s 2d of which £1992 was incurred hist v'eir I (£5615 19s)! Cobar. £791 14s lid (£248 17s); administration. £2364 8s 7d (£1966 19s 8d); insurance, £1275 11 s (£507 14s); legal expenses, £178 14s 5d (£7 -7s); sinking fund interest, £4SOB i S 2 fi 9 1 8 s S :sm!dries'£141317510 d

Messrs. Vine and Co. will sell on the promisee, 33a. Jackson street, Pctonc, lomoww, rtt 1.30 p.m., a viiunu and house., hold furniture.

Leaving Wellington on week days— Tim<=- No. of Average 12 noon 22 SO p.m. 12.15 4 173 i-so 4 ..:.::::; $ . 2-30 26 92 4-15 -26 72 S-15 22 388 *° 26 99 • 7.45 12 . 63 8.30, 14 . « 9-i5 12 ;;:: 10.50 14 71 11-15 12 ; 75 Leaving Wellington on Sundays— a.m. 10-30 5 £C 4 p.m. f-30 5 .; 403 5.50 5 31 7.45 i ;••;- ii 9.30 /. s ::; ii Leaving Day's Bay on week days— a.m. • *■**> 26 146 '•oo 26 4C2 • 9-0 26 . qi ii-o 26 ::: 82 p.m. 1.35 4 " o 7 2.0 22 .■;■."■.;■.; 79 ■■■■ 3.5 4 __; 33 5 » 22 84 " n v 26 67 "9 26 59 |-3o 12 19 9.30 14 ]g 10.0 12 .;;:;:;;; 2 o Leaving Day's Bay on Sundays— a.m. ' 9-15 ■ 5 ... 03 p.m. J-' 6 • 5 6 3 f-° 5 625 1 319 8-a0 ;.. 5 355