FERRY SERVICE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 6 August 1920, Page 5

FERRY SERVICE.

PIOTON'3 VIEWS EXPRESSED.

A special meeting, of the Picton Borough Council, was' held on Wednesday to consider the suggested time-table,- (for the new PictonWellington ferry to be inaugurated shortly. Picton business people considered that a night sailing from Wellington would be detrimental to their interests, as passengers would arrive in the early morning and proceed to Blenheim in the train.

After a very full discussion, the meeting resolved that "the Picton Borough Council favor a daylight .service on the Wellington Picton run; and that the present Welling-ton-Pieton-Nelson service continue."

In carrying this motion unanimously, Councillors stated that it .would-be little improvement to establish a tri-weekly service between Picton and Wellington only in place of. the present service; they had expected all .along that the new service would be in addition to the present one. Mr Will Lawson, organiser to the Marlborough Progress Committee, was asked what information his committee had •in regard to the Nelson service; Picton must have some sort of sea-connection with Nelson. Mr Lawson replied that all the committee knew was that a new tri-weekly service was; to be started between Picton and Wellington. The name of the steamer to be employed was not given by the Union Company, but the committee had been assured that it was not the Mapourika or Pateena. By a process of elimination it was isurmised that , the Arahura would be employed. Th» time-table referred to was only a suggested one.' His committee had made no recommendations about it. As to the Nelson service, he knew nqthing, but supposed the Nelson people would wish to go direct to Wellington by a service of their own. Passengers could go overland between Picton and Nelson, and presiimably cargo would be carried by cargo boats. The main thing for Picton's progress was to get into close touch with Wellington. The new arrangement seemed to offer an opportunity for a punctual and frequent service. The meeting decided that the motion above-mentioned should be brought before a conference of the Picton Chamber of Commerce and Marlborough Progress League, to be held in Picton shortly, after which it wns hoped that the matter would ,bo considered by the Central Progress League at Wellington.