FERRY TRIALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 53, 31 August 1939, Page 11

FERRY TRIALS

TIMES TO MIRAMAR

PROMISE VERY WELL

The trial runs made by the Eastbourne ferry boat Muritai yesterday afternoon to check up the paper timetable between the city. Petone, and Miramar were, said the general manager, Mr. C. L. Bishop, today, very promising, for the times made proved fully that the ferries will be able to handle a substantial share of Exhibition traffic. That there is a good- deal of interest in the scheme was shown by the passengers on board, about a hundred, who were just as keen on clocking the runs as the skipper, Captain J. W. Gower, and the general manager and officials of the ferry service, and the Borough Council.

Conditions were not very good, for a blustery wind blew, and, to keep well within working limits the Muritai steamed on one boiler, so that in fine summer evening weather and with a time-table of return trips ahead considerably faster times could be made. A two-boiler trial may be made later, but no doubts are held about the capacity of the boat to maintain, and to improve, on the time-table as at present drawn up.

The Muritai cast off from the ferry wharf at 2.5 p.m., and was alongside the Miramar Wharf at 2.23 p.m., and was tied up at 2.24—19 minutes dead. A minute and a half later the ropes were cast ofi\ and the Muritai set out for Petone, making that run in 35 minutes, with another minute for berthing. The third leg was commenced at 3.3, and the Muritai was alongside the city ferry again at 3.33 p.m.—3o minutes' running. The full round trip was made in one hour 28 minutes, including berthing and brief stops at the Miramar and Petone Wharves. Moreover, two fairly wide detours were made from the direct courses to avoid vessels passing up the harbour.

EQUAL TO CAR OR BUS TIMES.

The time taken between Miramar and Petone, 35 minutes, is interesting, for it is well up to average car time on a clear road, allowing for just usual minor delays at tram stops and crossings, and will probably compare a lot more than favourably with car or bus times on crowded roads.

So, for that matter, will the 19 minutes between casting off and berthing on the city-Miramar run.

The details of the type of gangway to be used are to be discussed with the general manager of the Harbour Board, Mr. A. G. Barnett, said Mr. Bishop. The gangways will be designed for quick handling on the wharves and for safe embarking of a large number of passengers simultaneously, for, unless they were adequate, a full run, with, say, 1500 people, could be lost in an evening.

On fine evenings a very large proportion of ferry passengers would prefer to walk from the Miramar Wharves to the Exhibition, but. an adequate bus service would be run to and from the. boats. The Eastbourne buses would also co-operate with other bus and tramway services along the lines agreed lipon at the recent meeting of the Wellington area licensing authority.

Mr. Bishop mentioned that in addition to the loud-speaker system to be installed on the Muritai to advise passengers of matters of general interest, city, and Exhibition features, and so on, the Eastbourne Borough Council and Ferry Service were staging an attractive display at the Exhibition itself.