THE FERRY SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6494, 14 April 1908, Page 6

THE FERRY SERVICE

IMPROVEMENTS WANTED. A representative deputation of Eastbourne residents yesterday vAiitcd on the Mayor, Mr F. G. Bolton, who is also a member of the Harbour Board, and urged on him the necessity of getting aa improved ferry service Mr Shortt, in voicing the grievances of tho residents, said they much needed a second boat to "Wellington, leaving Day's Bay first and Rona Bay at 8.15 a.xn.. If the Karoka Bay,service was abandoned an extra steamer should bo put on tho KonU Bay service. The ferry company's time-tabie was not observed as it 'Should be, passengers being frequently* left at the wharf. Occasionally the boats, dyl not call at \xll. As passengers wore charged extra for the beats calling at Kona Bay whhrf, the boats should call there or a conveyance be provided by the company to take passengers to I>jy’s Bay. They claimed that if the wharf was not safe the company should elate what was required to bo done, and then the residents would ask the Harbour Bcbrd to do the work. l c the' 1.15 p.m. Saturday steamer was altered to' 1.10 it would give a hotter vessel, as the Duchess would then hare time to take up the running and keep to her departure at 2.30. The comfort and safety of passengers should also receive better attention, a fully equipped lifeboat being needed, so a© to be ready in caso of emergency. Store control woe required on the 10.15 boat on Saturday nights. Objection was taken to large cargoes of fish being allowed to lie openly on deck, to the discomfort of passengers. Various other matters were complained of, and a genertil improvement in the service urged. At present too much discretion was leffr to the company’s captains, who earned to call at Rona Bay when they liked. Mr Bolton said he u*as in hearty sym- : pathv with the representations mad© by the deputation. He believed the Rona Bay residents would probaly get more consideration from tho present members of the Harbour Board than they hbd perhaps received in the past. The Eastbourne Borough Council had done all it could to assist the ferry company, and in addition, residents had personally assisted. 'The Board had no. power over the company, which only had a lease of the wharf, and probably when the lease expired it would be well to reconsider the whole question.