THE FERRYMAN'S REPLY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 115, 16 May 1908, Page 5

THE FERRYMAN'S REPLY.

THE ALLEGED STRIKE

"STATEMENTS TOTALLY UN-

TRUE."

[ny>H OUR COBKBSPONDBNT.]

CHRISTCHURCH May 16. With reference to the reported strike of a ferryman, published in Tuesday's issue, Mr' A. W. H. Leaman, ferryman at Parnassus Ferry,- writes as follows to The Lyttelton Times in explanation of the incident:— "The facts are as follows : When the coach arrived at the river it was in high flood, and blowing -a howling nor'west gale; and it was totally unsafe to attempt to cross, even with the boat—which, by the bye, is not for use in crossing the river,, and is the property of the ferryman. Had it been safe to ford the river or launch the boat, I would have been pleased to have put Mr Wearn and his friends across and io have collected the fares, which I did as soon as the wind dropped enough to allow me to launch the boat. In fairness to Mr Horheman I would like to state that he does not owe me one penny, and I did not state to Mr Wearn that Mr Horneman owed me £40. Mr Wearn states : that he and Mr Gwellin waded through one stream almost to their waists in water, and • afterwards walked nine miles to Mackenzie. The stream in ' question might have reached their knees, but I doubt it, and, to my own knowledge they were offered a horse to ride,' which they refused, and they could have. been driven f norn the edge of the stream when they-got out of the boat had they been willing to pay a few shillings. Wj.th regard to the lady, who, Mr Wearn states, had to camp in a rabbiter's hut, the lady was driven to Parnassus station, where she stayed with Mrs Holroyd. ,In conclusion, I can assure Mr Wearn and the public generally that had I done as Mr Wearn persistently requested we would have all been washed some miles down the Waiau River, and would have been very fortunate if ever we trod on dry land again; and I also advise Mr Wearn to withdraw his statements, which I,hairfi noliesttation in saying are totally untrue."