“THE OLD MARAROA.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17181, 26 October 1923, Page 6

“THE OLD MARAROA.”

It may safely be said that “ the old Mararoa," as she is known from one end of New Zealand to the other, owes nothing to She Union Steamship Company. This old vessel, which is now the lame duck of the inter-island ferry service, was built in 1885, and has done well to maintain her rating as a passenger ship. Other vessels of more recent djjte have come and gone. Often they have undergone a neat piece of camouflage, like the remaining of the old Miowera as the Maitai, although the Miowera was quite a modern vessel compared with the Mararoa. The. Mararoa survived because she was a remarkably fine model, and of a handy size for coastal work after she was done for the intercolonial trade. Rut it is quite obvious that she is no longer fit for the ferry service, and notice should be served on the company that she is not carrying out the reasonable demands of the public in this essential inter-island link. Christchurch is less concerned in this matter than the centres further South, hut even in Christchurch the ferry delays are intolerable, dislocating business and exasperating all who have to use the old steamer. A week ago a Southland paper gave an instance of mails posted in Wellington on a Sunday and reaching Invercargill on Thursday night. These mails were not delivered until Friday, and a reply could not be delivered in Wellington until the following Monday, a matter of eight days. Surelv the Postal Department is not satisfied with this state of affairs.