THE ONEHUNGA-NEW PLYMOUTH STEAMER SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13195, 5 June 1906, Page 7

THE ONEHUNGA-NEW PLYMOUTH STEAMER SERVICE.

Sir, — I would deem it a very groat favour if you could allow me space in your paper to ask two questions concerning 'he One-luinga-New Plymouth service. The first. question I would ask is, "Why are the charges so high in this service'.'" The distance between the two ports is only 135 miles, and for this short journey the excessive charges of 31s >and 21s saloon and steerage single respectively ate made. On the Wellinglon-Lyltelton service the charges are £1 saloon and 12s 6d steerage, single, for a distance of 175 miles, being fully 40 miles longer than the above service. .Cannot, the companies cut their fares down to 25s saloon and 15s steerage? Almost as many people travel on the Onehunga-New Plymouth section'as on (he Wellington-Lytt-eltoti section, and 1 think it would certainly pay the companies to charge the al>ove suggested rates, and which would also induce more people to travel by that route. The second question I wish to ask is. flow is it. that the express train from Rotorua does not connect with the boai at (hiehunga? The Units in the Wel-Ijngton-Lytteltou service always eonect with the express trains at Lyttelton and Wellington." Is the Roioru.i express less important than other expresses in the colony, when it is thus ignored? 1 am sure a great deal of inconvenience is caused io tourists by this faulty arrangement. . Could not the express leave Kotorua half an hour or an hour earlier and arrange foi an ordinary train to take- the passengers on from Penrose Junction to Onehunga, the boat leaving as soon as the train arrived? If the above suggestion is not practicable during the winter owing to having to cross the bar in the dark, it should certainly be carried out during the tourist season, and especially during next season, as the exhibition at Christehiirch will be in full swing then. A Tourist.