SEA SERVICE ENDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20555, 5 May 1930, Page 10

SEA SERVICE ENDS.

ONEHUNGA-NEW PLYMOUTH. STEAMER'S LAST TRIP. SHORTEST TRAVEL ROUTE* Tho arrival of the Northern Company's steamer Ngapnhi at Onehunga on Saturday completed tlio last trip in the One-hunga-New Plymouth passenger service. The sea route from Onehunga to Now Plymouth is still tlio shortest way of reaching Taranaki from Auckland, ami will remain so even when fho new Tara-naki-Auckland main trunk railway is completed next year. Tho distance by sea is 135 miles, and is practically tho same as (hat by air. The steamer trip occupied from 10 to 14 hours, according to tho vessel employed. By road it is 250 miles, and tho journey on an average takes about 10 hours.

Tho steamer trip was accomplished overnight in comparative comfort, and thus for business men in Taranaki tho service look the placo of a night express. The chief disadvantage, however, was the exposed nature of tho west coast and fho Manukau Bar, and tho sailing condition, weather and other circumstances permitting," occupied an important place in the maintenance of a. regular service. Usually " other circumstances " have proved to be the condition of tho Manukau Bar. Ono of the most disastrous wrecks in the history of the Dominion occurred there in February, 1863, when 11.M.5. Orpheus was dashed to pieces in a veryshort space of time, and the lives of 250 British sailors and 22 officers were lost.

It speaks much for the skill and care of tho masters engaged that there has been no repetition of that disaster. During the 54 years tho service has been operated only two vessels havo been lost—the Hawea and the Wanaka —and both theso steamers were wrecked in the vicinity of New Plymouth many years ago. Tho important place that the service has occupied in tho business lifo of New Plymouth was indicated by tho farewell demonstration on tho departure of tho vessel from New Plymouth on Friday night. On her final trip she carried 'l4 passengers, and on tho bridge was Captain W. Bark, who has been a familiar figure to travellers on tho route for the last 16 years. Ho took up tho running with the Rarawa on August 4, 1914, and has crossed the bar four or six times a week ever since.

" Yes," he said, when ho stepped ashore on Saturday morning, " wo have had a perfect trip for tho last. Tho sea was like a mill pond and very different from what it can be. Wo havo had heavy seas many times, but, although the}' might appear something out of tho ordinary to the landsman, they aro only part of a mariner's life." Tho bar itself had altered very little. Tho channels might havo shifted from time to time, but in the main it was just tho same Manukau Bar as that which existed when ho firstknew it 20 years ago. The abandonment of tho service was regarded philosophically by Captain Bark. " It is part of tho march of progress," ho said. -" Yesterday peoplo travelled by boat, to-day they aro motoring, tomorrow they will probably fly." Only recently he had brought north a passenger who had flown from New Plymouth to Wellington and back, and joined the boat for Onehunga tho same day. The Ngapuhi left Onehunga again on Saturday afternoon to proceed round the North Capo to Auckland, whero she will take up to-day tlio Auckland-Russell servico to relieve' the Clansman for overhaul.