STEAMER SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24773, 25 November 1941, Page 9

STEAMER SERVICE

BLUFF TO STEWART ISLAND DISCONTINUANCE POSSIBLE (Special) INVERCARGILL, Nov. 24. After a meeting of Stewart Island fishermen to discuss the steamer service between Bluff and the island, a report has' gained currency Uat the present service may be discontinued at the end Of this year. The sugges tion was referred to Captain R. Hamilton, operator of the service, to-night, and his reply was non-committal. It is understood that the fishermen have expressed dissatisfaction with the service and their principal complaint is that it is not sufficiently regular for their purposes It was reported in Invercargill to day that a suggestion had been made that the former Governme.it steamei Hinemoa, which is now lying at Little Glory, Stewart Island, might be chased by a syndicate and placed in the service if Captain Hamilton should decide to relinquish the run maintained by the Tamatea. The Hinemoa has been at Little Glory for more than 10 years after operating for two season? between Bluff and the West Coast Sounds. Several suggestions have been made within recent years for the utilisation of the Hinemoa as a fish manure factory, as a floating hotel for the Centennial Exhibition at Wellington, and as a vessel for the Norfolk Island service, but none of the schemes were adopted. It is understood that the vessel is available for sale at a low figure.