THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners’ Advocate. FRIDAY 28th FEBRUARY, 1913. RIVAL MOTOR SERVICES

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 24, Issue 16, 28 February 1913, Page 4

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners’ Advocate. FRIDAY 28th FEBRUARY, 1913. RIVAL MOTOR SERVICES

The travelling public have nothing to complain of just now in regard to travelling facilities between Blenheim and Havelock. In addition to the old-time daily mail coach services run by Messrs G. Newman and 0. Attwell, respectively, there are now two distinct passenger motor car services running. Immediately following the completion of the Wairau bridge at Renwicktown, Messrs W. Cate and Co., of Blenheim, recognising the possibilities, of working up a good passenger service between Blenheim and Havelock, commenced running a car. The public were not slow in recognising the advantages of this quicker and more comfortable mode of transit placed at their service—and at no greater cost. The fact that one can leave Blenheim for Havelock by motor car two hours after the coach and reach the destination at the same time (or perhaps a few minutes earlier) naturally appeals to most people on the road—with the result that the coach proprietors receipts have begun to dwindle. The motor car venture was proving very satisfactory from Messrs Gate and Co.’s point of view, but Mr G. Newman is not the man to tamely submit to this encroachment on his preserves. The sight of a rival flashing past his empty coach with a car load of passengers was not to be tolerated for long, and he soon decided to run an opposition car. Accordingly, last Monday, a second motor passenger service between Blenheim and Havelock was inaugurated by Mr George Newman, following the same hours of departure as the other car. Developments will be watched with interest, as it is very improbable that there will be sufficient Gallic to maintain both, services as they are being run at present. In that event it will be a

case of the stronger side eventually running the other off the road. On the other hand the competition may result in drawing sufficient traffic to maintain both parties, and an arrangement might be arrived at between them whereby a return daily service from Havelock might be instituted. We commend the suggestion to the rival motor car proprietors as one that would lie far more acceptable to the travelling public than the present cut-throat method of double-banking from the Blenheim end. We should be sorry to see the firm run off the road that were the originators .of the motor car service, for we consider the time has arrived when the coach might, with advantage to the district, give place to the faster method of travelling. • Messrs Newman and Attwell, we understand, t both take this view, but they are unfortunately bound down to a three years mail contract with the coaches and are bound to fight opposition in their own interest, Mr Attwell, perhaps, is the greater sufferer through the advent of the motor passenger-car on the road, as his mail subsidy is a very low one, and it is upon the passenger traffic that he mainly depends. In this connection we will take the opportunity to urge upon the local authorities to take whatever steps are deemed necessary for the bridging of two or three streams on the main road between Blenheim and Havelock which are known to block motor cars during floods. Probably only two would require bridging—Flat Creek and a stream near Okaramio—to enable the motor.service to 'be maintained all the year round. Perhaps now that the big undertaking of erecting the Wairau bridge is out of hand, the Pelorus Road Board will take the initial steps for the erection of the smaller structures.