FIRST FERRY RUN

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1947, Page 2

FIRST FERRY RUN

STEAMER HINEMOA NOW IN SERVICE EMBARKATION CHANGES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. A large crowd gathered at the Lyttelton ferry wharf to-night to bid farewell to the new inter-island steamer express, the Hinemoa, when she left Wellington on her first trip to Lyttelton at 7.50. The first sailing of the new ship aroused great public interest. Nearly 1000 onlookers saw her depart from the ferry wharf, while many people lined Eastbourne ferry wharf and Queen’s wharf. The accommodation was fully booked, .and passengers crowded all of the decks and port holes as she sailed. No bunting was flown, as it was dark before the Hinemoa passed through the Heads, but the wharf was a gay sight, with many coloured streamers. The ground was covered with confetti, as several couples had made the sailing of the ship coincide with their wedding day. Many large bouquets of flowers were sent to newlymarried couples as the Hinemoa left the wharf. The Nelson passenger steamer Arahura left the Queen’s wharf and followed the Hinemoa down the harbour, making an attractive sight. A new system of embarkation and disembarkation for passengers was introduced to-night. Now that the Rangatira and the Hinemoa are both being run as one-class ships, the passengers will board the . vessel by “A” and “B” gangways, instead of by first and second-class entrances. Gangway “A,” in the forward part of the ship, will be used by those whose berths number from 1 to 400, while the passengers whose berths number from 401 upwards will use gangway “B,” near the stern of the ship. This new system was introduced to relieve the congestion which has been evident lately at embarkation. The embarkation at Lyttelton will also take place in the same way.