Steam Ferry to Anderson's Bay.

Otago Witness, Issue 1709, 23 August 1884, Page 12

Steam Ferry to Anderson's Bay.

At Thursday's meeting of the Harbour Board the following letter, which had been forwarded to the Works Committee, waa read :—

Gentlemen,— As our letter to tho Board regarding 1 the proposed ferry to Anderson's Bay did not explain fully the nature of the- concessions asked for, we beg leave to elucidate the matter further. What we asked for was permission to construct a chaunel between the bridge on the Beach road and a point close to the present railway-station, and the exclusive right of using this channel for the purposes of a ferry. In will be observed that wo do not ask the right to exclude others from running a ferry to Anderson's Bxy, nor to prevent others from making any number of similar channels, but simply such right and priviligo as would place those who incur the expense of making the channel, &c. in a position to exclude other* from using that channel for the purpose of eavryinjr passengers for hire. As against the Board no lights are asked at all, and it would be open to the Lo-ird to cause the channel to bn filled up at atij time, ami for all other purposes excepting runnius; for hiie the channel would be free and open tv all and?\uid:y; but of courae it would be necessary that; a!i others usiug the channel should give way to tho ferry-boats. It will thus be seen that whaS is asked is not at all analogous to the exclusive right of using a street in Dunedin for a tuunwiy, because in a street) there can only he ouo tramway, while her (there is room for many channels, and thiu there would be no monopoly, and the Compuiy making the first channel would have no advantage beyond the legitimate one of being the first to stare. In short, we ask just as much, and no more, as will jußtify the expenditure of over £2000 in the work. Wt may mention that the promoters are residents of Anderson's Bay, and their object is obtaining easicotnmunication with Dunedin at reasonable cost, and they believe that a ferry is the only possible way of getting this. The want of such facilities ia what pre vents Anderson's Bay district from becoming a very important suburb, and this being so, we foul sure that it is unnecessary to ask the Committee to give the matter their earnest attention. — We have, &c ,

DUKCAN iND MACGRKOOR.

An opinion from the Board's solicitors favourable to the proposal was read by the Secretary. Mr Reid thought the Board should give all the protection in their power. Mr Ritchie advocated the roference of the matter to the engineer for a repoßt. The Chaibman said that ho had seen the engineer and the harbourmaster regai-clin;r the matter, and neither of them a?«w any objection to tho work, •

It was resolved on the. motion of Mr Baknes, aeconded by Mr Histop— " That the concession asked for be granted during the pleasure of the Board as far as it has any legal right, the projected Goiupany to boar all legal expenses."