THE PORTOBELLO RAILWAY FERRY COMPANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 2

THE PORTOBELLO RAILWAY FERRY COMPANY.

Tho first statutory meeting of shareholders of Hie Portobello Railway Perry " Company (Limited) was hold at Portobello on I'riday. |jj -ur Jas. Dickson occupied tho chair, and ?j in .moving tho adoption of tho report, ami " balance sheet said that, as most shareholders were aware,' the directors had met ' with several difficulties in floating tho comI), pany, but he was pleased to'bo able to slate that the company was now successfully floated. Most of iho shares had been taken up by residents of Otago Peninsula. . and Port Chalmers. This fact alone should satisfy shareholders and tho travelling public that the ferry service would bo-run to suit their requirements. Tho company 111 bad been formed for tho purpose of taking over tho ferry service which was inatigurated by the late li. M. Moss in 1887, and k which has been Successfully Carried on by the s.s. 'larewai since 1891. To meet tho requirements of tho growing trade, the -. directors had let a. contract to Messrs . Steveiisqii and Cook for a new screw .. steamer, to lie completed and ready for • running by Juuo 1, 1905. Tho hull and , woodwork is being built by Messrs Knewstubb Bros., who an; makiiig n first-class job, a,nd is of the following dimensions:— Length overall, 52ft; beam, 12ft. Tho ' pljiii'king is of kauri, two thicknesses of jiii, j with kowhai ribs, all popper fastened. Tho boat and machinery were specially designed to suit Iho Portobello trado by Mr L. It. ] t C-iillaiiders. The boiler is of steel, ordinary ■ marine type, and the engines are compound » condensing, with cylinders of EJin and 16in diameter. Messrs Stevenson unci J Cook are doing excellent, work, and will p have the lioat finished Well within contract time. Tho boat will bo in charge of Mr Percy \V. Moss, who has boon connected with the service for some years, and latterly in charge of the s.s. Tarcwai. When finished and running, tho boat will lio a great improvement on the present- one;, both in speed and accommodation; and this, together with the improved train service on e the Port Chalmors-Duncdin line, will enablee passengers to do the journey in less time, { an d no doubt the new service will provo a> e great boon-to tho travelling public. I. Ur liorrie Seconded the motion, which r was carried unanimously. a Tile following 'gentlemen were elected s directors for the ensuing year:—Messrs .T. . Dickson (chairman). .T. ilo'candrew, j. Fos--1 ter, T. Andorton (of Portobello). John Mill. |. .T. Watson, jun., and Dr-Borrip (of Port j Chalmers). Mr R. Bauchop -was elected e auditor for the ensuing year.. r It wafj resolved, on tl'io motion of Mr A. North, Sc-conded by Mr Watson—" That the „ capital of the company be. increased to £1508 B by the issue of 500 additional shares of £1 s - each, such shares to bo issue as ordinary I shares." A good number of these' addij tional shares have already been applied for.