HARBOUR FERRIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 11

HARBOUR FERRIES

RECENT MISHAP TO MURITAI

COST TO EASTBOURNE

Ferry matters were considered by the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening when considering a number of reports. The mishap to the Muritai on 17th July, when owing'to the propeller shaft becoming loose it was found necessary to beach the vessel in Evans Bay, came up for consideration. Tho Town Clerk stated that Ihe mishap had cost £42 -12s 9d, made up as follows :— Marine Department survey fee, £1 is; A. Walker survey, £6; legal expenses, £1 Is; services diver, £6 17s 6d; Mr. Jukes account, £3 8s; half-da.y on slip. £7 16s 9d; re-slipping, £16 8s 6d. This amount will be paid by the contractors, but tho council will be required to pay in addition about £10 for overtime.

During the southerly gales early in the month, damage was done to the Duchess, due to contact with the spring piles at Hona Bay, and the unslipping of chafing pieces at Day's Bay. The special trip of the ferry boats to the Heads during the arrival of the American Fleet was a pronounced success, £150 8s being received in fares on the Muritai and Cobar. Further trips realised a total of £8 175," but several other proposed trips had to be abandoned owing to wet weather. The Cobar underwent her annual overhaul during last month, and when up on the slip the hull was thoroughly examined, and several new sheets of muntz metal fastened on the forefoot and a-perture. Lifebelts and boats' were thoroughly overhauled and replenished where necessary. The interior of the ship was thoroughly cleaned and painted.

The mooring posts on the Duchess were replaced both fore and aft, and the vessel overhauled. Several necessary repairs were made where damage had occurred owing to heavy weather. Lloyd's surveyor had inspected the damage and contracts wero got out to repair the iron work. In the engineroom everything was working satisfactorily, except the steam steering geai", which had been overhauled, and is now reported to be giving every satisfaction. The survey of the Muritai was completed towards the end of last month. The ship was slipped and both tail-end shafts taken out for inspection. The hull was examined and given two coats of paint. All boat falls and life-saving equipment were also tested. Steam has been taken off the boiler aft, and the ship is now running on one boiler economically and satisfactorily. ■ The council decided to impose a fine on the bus contractors lor two occasions on which the buses were late jn arriving at .the wharf. The Muritai during the month of July made' 16 round trips, travelling 247.5 miles, and consuming 10.7 tons of oil. ■ The Muritai' was not commissioned until 23rd July. The Duchess, in commission during the whole of tho month, made 110 round trips (106 last year), and travelled 1650 miles (1690 miles), consuming 95 tons of coal (87 tons). The Cobar, in commission until the Muritai resumed/ made 132 round trips (152 last year), travelling 1980 miles (2280 miles), and burning 59 tons of coal (68 tons)! • ■' ■ . During July a total of 46,225 passengers were carried as against 46,261 for the same month last year. Ferry receipts during July' (last year's figures for the same month being in parentheses) totalled £11,062 18b. 8d (£2117 5s 2d). The chief details are : Casual passengers £594 3s 6d (£635 4s 3d), weekly tickets £166 7s 6d (£B7 5s 6d), monthly tickets £94 3s 6d (£97 12s), season tickets £680 14s (£421), freights £71 7s 3d (£95 3s), rebate on insurance £150 Is 6d ( ), transfer from debenture hypothecation account £7630 3s 7d ,(——), transfer from new steamer loan £1644 3s Id ( )• The expenditure totalled £4782 11s 7d (£3464 2s sd). The chief details are : Administration £236 9s 3d (£ll4 7s 3d), Muritai running aud overhaul £242 3s 7d (£193 13s lOd), Duchess running £475 15s 6d (£432 16s 9d), Cobar running and overhaul £455 3s Jld (£478 16s. 4d), wharves £90 Is 7d (£42 0s 4d), : berthage £50 4a (£sl 12s), insurances , (£179 163 lid), Naringa collision (£219 18s sd), interest on loans £1625 (£1630), transfer to profit and loss account £271 Is lOd ( ), transfer to working account £881 9a 3d ( \. For the four months epding Slat i July receipts totalled £16,006 19s Id (£TOM I* 4d) and the expenditure £9955 9s 4d (£10,241 9s Id).