THE COUNTESS OF RANFURLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13491, 18 May 1907, Page 3

THE COUNTESS OF RANFURLY.

Sir. —I noticed in a recent issuo.of tI»A. Heiiald that th' 3 Government intended selling this schooner on her return from the Islands. If bor departure from' tho ■ South Seas is as uncertain as it is from Auckland it is timo sho ' was ' replaced by corntf-' thing elso. Having occasion to post a letter 60 us to catch a mail by hor, and wishing: , to do so as late as possible boforo she do--,-' parted, I referred to : the mail notioo, which stated the mail closied on the 2nd inat. On that date I was informed ' she would soil oil, ' "'/ v tho 3rd; on the 3rd her' departure was ? postponed to the 4th. then. again to 'the ~ . 6th; from tho.feth to the 7th,-from' the 7th bo tho Bth, and she finally left late on ■ the 9th or early on the 10th infit. This uncertainty is not confined ,to thA ■ pireiw&t- . trip, but applies to every trip s!n makes. Is it any wonder a vessel run on such uu- - businesslike linns does not pay? Dots the Government * expect her to? Oould a private individual ever hope to " run a ' .vessel v ■ . and make her pay if ho adopted such-tac- • V tics? What is wanted;' and ' what' should' have boon : running instead -of this erratic' 1 schooner, if, a : handy little , steamer, whibij r can keep a timo-tablo, and connect between Nau'e and Tonga. TaiPO.