LOVELY AKAROA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15900, 11 April 1912, Page 8

LOVELY AKAROA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-I read with vory much pleasure tlio article in your paper on Tuesday headed as above, and can quite endorse every word it contains. Time and again I marvel at the slowness of those who should movo to place this charming town''at tho disposal of those who wish to become its visitors, but tlio •timo it takes to reach it .is out of all reason in proportion to tile distance from this city. Those coming from our country districts find it most inconvenient to roach. The result is that they seek other places to recruit and rest, to the loss of tliis charming healthy resort.

What is wanted is a smarter motor service (not as at present) from Littlo River daily. At the present time the train only "reaches Little River at 10.00, and you reach Akaroa about 12.3 ft This is far too slow. Akaroa should in all reasonableness be reached by about 11 o’clock, or even 10.30 a.m., and then if you wanted to return the same day why not reach Christchurch about 8 o’clock, leaving Little River at G o’clock by train? All this could he made possible if the right somebody would wake up. On Easter Air,relay T took the opportunity offered by tho Union Company, with the s.s. Mnraroa, to make the* sea trip to Akaroa, and I must compliment tho company on their arrangements. They left Lyttelton at about, 8.45, and arrived in Akaroa harbour at about 12.10. Then we had to tranship to the s.s. Corinna. This was delishtfnl: it was worth another ss. AVo "landed on the Akaroa wharf at l o’clock. I hurried, got some lunch, had a walk round, saw some sports on tho Recreation Ground, and then. 0 horror! I heard a steamer whistle at 3.10. T bad not bad time to shako off tlio effect of going down. T was just enjoying the lovely sunshine and thinking of taking a walk to the domain. but- instead T walked aboard tho s.s. Corinna. All that distance by boat to spend two houivi and a quarter at Akaroa ! Why, years ago we did better than this. Wo had about four houn there. Could I suggest that the Union Company start earlier and leave about 4 30 and that the transhipping be done a wav with? That the peonlo of Akaroa should tolerate such a wharf is bevoiul my comprehension. A fine harbour like that and a wharf not, much better than seme of those at the small

bays. Wako up, you dear lit-tlo healtxi resort, so that when wo excursionists come wo can at least have a look round and visit a friend ere the whistle blows to say return.—i am, etc., ONE FROM THE CITY.