THE FERRY SERVICE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2142, 27 December 1920, Page 2

THE FERRY SERVICE.

HEAVY HOLIDAY TRAFFIC. STEWARDS BACK AT WORK. Inter-island travel has been as popular as ever these holidays, although, with the ferry steamers Maori and Wahine one© more on the run together, the Union Steam Ship Co., Ltd., has been easily able to accommodate all the passengers offering. Tho Arahura sailed from Wellington on Christmas Eve, but that was the only auxiliary boat required. On Christmas Eve, the Maori sailed from Lyttelton with 650 passengers. On Saturday morning the Wahine arrived from Wellington with 540 saloon and 280- steerage travellers. At 1.45 p.m., the Arahura came into port to disembark close on 200 more passengers from Wellington. Half an hour later, this boat sailed for Picton. Fewer people travelled on Christmas night. The Wahine took north 289 saloon and 130 steerage passengers, and the Maori carried 301 saloon and 216 steerage trippers from Wellington. , . With the exception of a few stewards who were perhaps not able to reach port from their homes in time, the stewards and stewardesses who signed off the Maori at Lyttelton,on Thursday returned to the vessel before she sailed on Friday evening. Fifteen more stewards rejoined at Wellington on Christmas Day, which left a few stewards and most of the cooks still to come back. The chief cook wa3 alone in his department when the Maori reached Lyttelton yesterday. There are now aboard the vessel sufficient stewards to carry on the full service.