LYTTELTON FERRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18115, 4 June 1919, Page 4

LYTTELTON FERRY.

MINISTERIAL REPLY TO MEMBER FOR GREY. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., has received the following letter from the Minister of Railways:— “ With reference to your telegram of April 22, in connection with the failure ol the YVelimgtou-Lyttelton ferry steamer to connect witu tlie train from Unnstcliuicii to Arthur's Pass on that date, 1 nave the honour to miorm you that on tho occasion in question the steamer aid not reach Lyttelton until 6.12 a.m. The ferry train, with passengers only, reached Christchurch at b.iji a.m. The luggage and mails came on by a late.: train, which reached Christchurch at 9.31 a-m.

“ Tko train for Arthur’s Pass is due to leave Christchurch at 8.30 a.m., and it is tlio practice to hold the train at Christchurch for passengers from the Wellington steamer if me ferry train leaves Lyttelton by 8.30 a.m. This entails a delay to the Arthur’s Pass train of from twenty to thirty minutes, according to the numbei of passengers and quantity of luggage to be handled. ‘ ‘ A late, departure of this train usually results in the return train from Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch being correspondingly delayed. This tram ia duo in Christchurch at 6.30 p.m., and the ferry train leaves Christchurch at 6.55 p.m., so that in considering the question of delaying the morning train from Christchurch the Department not only has to have regal'd to the convenience of passengers other than those arriving by the Wellington steamer, but also lias to keep in view the prospect of the steamer connection being missed by the return train in the evening. ‘The matter of the late running.of the Maori on the occasion in question was brought under notice of the Union Steam Ship Company, who reply that, while they at all time 3 endeavour to effect connection with the trains from Christchurch to the West Coast, it happens’ that on some occasions the bunker coal available is inferior in quality, with a consequent loss of power and necessarily longer passage. “ So far as the Railway Department is concerned, whenever the steamer is late in arriving at Lyttelton, the whole circumstances are taken.into. consideration, and the best possible is clone to minimise the inconvenience to all concerned.”