THE FERRY BOATS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10508, 9 February 1920, Page 5

THE FERRY BOATS

DIFFICULTY COPED WITH MAORI TO RESUME TO-DAY. Tho difficulty occasioned by the holdup of the Wei lin gto n-Lyttcl ton ferry steamer Maori on Friday evening was successfully copied wiV'h on Saturday by tho Union Company.

The Mapourika, which was scheduled to leave Wellington for New Plymouth on Saturday, was* dispatched at 7 o’clock on Saturday evening for Lyttelton, taking a full complement of ‘250 passenger. At 5.15 o’clock , .yesterday morning the Monowai left Wellington for Lyttelton, making a daylight passage with 350 passengers on hoard. Tho Union Company’s local office was crowded iby intending passengers' on Saturday morning. There was, however, sufficient accommodation op - tho Mapourika and Monowai for all who applied for berths. Tho Mapourika loft, Lyttelton at 5 p.m. yesterday for Wedlilnigltem. with a fa Sr .•njutnlher of passengers, and is due here about 11 o’clock this morning.

In connection with tho detention, of tho Mararoa at Lyttelton on Friday night by the firemen, the Union Company complied with their request that the, vessel ho thoroughly fumigated, and the work was carried out at that port. The Mararoa left Lyttelton alt 8.50 p.m. on Saturday with a large number of passengers for Wellington, where she arrived at 12.25 p.m. yesterday. Tho vessel sailed on tho return trip at 7 o’clock last evening, taking several passengers. In the meanwhile a- staff of boilermakers and assistants have been working continuously, night and day, repairing the leaking pnllbhes on the Maori’s boilers. It is anticipated that the work will be completed this morning and tho vessel will ibo ready to sad as usual at 7.45 o’clock this evening for 'Lyttelton, taking passengers but no cargo. It is arranged that when the Wahine is ready to re-enter the WellingtonLytteliton ferry service the Maori will he sent to Port Chalmers for a general overhaul. The Wahine is due at Port Chalmers to-day from Ebgland, and will lay up for about ten days for overhaul and minor repairs, -after which she will resume her running in the ferr;v service.