EASTBOURNE FERRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11046, 1 November 1921, Page 5

EASTBOURNE FERRY

PROPOSED NEW STEAMER. RATEPAYERS’ POLL TO-MORROW. To-morrow a poll of ratepayer* of the Eastbourne borough is to be taken on the question of raising by loan a sum < of £oo,ooo for the purchase of an additional ferry steamer and for the recon- , ditioning of the boats at present in commission. The term of the loan, it in proposed, should bo thirty years, with' internet at 64 per cent,, secured by a special rate on the unimproved ▼nine of 7fd in the £l, with a sinking fund of H .per cent. The proposal was unanimously adopted by a meeting of about 200 ratepayers the other evening, when the Mayor (Mr V. H. Mather) stated that the kind of boot in view was one that could steam ©thirteen or fourteen knots an hour; to be about 160 ft in length, with a beam of about 28ft. It would bo fitted with the modern type of boilers, and should be capable of doing tho trip in much faster time. There »«e one or two important factors, however, which were to be taken into account before the contract should bo placed. Recently, said Mr Mather, be had visited Australia and made exhaustive inqnurine on the subject. Some weeks ago specifications had been cabled to Great Britain, and a reply had been received quoting the price ae £46.000. On Tuesday of last week, however, a later cable bad been received, stating that an prices were falling the price would be reduced to £38,000. > Stall another firm had quoted at about £IO,OOO leas. In view of the rapid growth of the borough it is felt by the council that the new boat should be procured at the earliest opportunity, and it had been pointed out that the ferry service has shown a profit of 10. <5 per cent, from its inception until March last. There will be two poUing-placea to-morrow-one yt the Council Chamber at Eastbourne and the other at the ferry office, Wellington.