THE RONA BAY SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 173, 15 April 1908, Page 8

THE RONA BAY SERVICE.

DEPUTATION TO THE HARBOUR- . . . FERRIES CO;' ' ' ' : Eastb'ourno i does, not think ,it'. is receiving fair treatment from, the Wellington Harbour Worries Co., wlioso steamers connect tho eastern borough with the city, - therefore: a deputation, headed ■by its Mayor (Mr. F. ,G. Bolton), waited upon tho company on Monday to; air- its- grievances. .. v . -■ . Sir. Bolton, as chief spokesman,' inferred, that the. company had shown a' tendency .to " boom " '-iis owii property at-Day's Bay v to . the prejudice of Roria- Bay.'' Be said that too much discretion' was-allowed the captains of tho steamers in regard to working Roria Bay. Ho also made .reference;'to- the cleanli-r riess of the ', steamei-s,. and -vthe_ means 'of effecting a rescue should: tho ocdasion'arise. An urfeeilt point'was made of tho desirability of .landing lloua' Bay. cargo at'the-, Ronai Bay wharf instead of at Day's Bay, arid the. necessity.'of the boats to run to;tim6.'_ '. During a, discussion there was; a good deal of'warmth displayed-'on'yboth-, Sides, 'and a/ chorus of Oh's '' -greeted .Mr.,:'Z6hrab's : mark, • '.'. You -should. behave■; yourselves," in regard to the complaint about a lack'.of - discipline ..on' thi? lata'/Saturday boat, .and;one member of the deputation *was' so incensed at . tho remark that lie gathered up his hat arid stick, arid left-the room.-.: ; ; Mr. Speed, said ho had seen the captain leave the wheel to quell a disturbance. ' . Mr, Bolton • suggested .that a plain-clothes constable'should bo carried." , _ . Mr. Zohrab, manager of the Company, , said that;'there wcro difficulties: in the, way ot landing cargo at the Bona' Bay, wharf, :ri audition'to : which the Company, had to'pay Is. per ton wharfage to the Harbour.Board, which had to be levied on consignees. Moreover, thero was no. one there, to recoivo the cargo. The charges.of Is. per 100 feet mado on -tiiriber weire riot at. all '.profitable. l -Ho denied - that the boats .were not; kept clean,' and. ho had, as a matter of fact, .won a bet of £5 on- that point from:a- gentleman who ■ said they were not clean,- although-the money had not,been.paid.. . As. for tlio, fish-carrying -rtho- Duchess carried, 1000 passengers,; and there wore 200 passengers from Eastbourne.; surely thore was room enough for them ..tip get away from tho' fish. It was pure exaggeration to. say that the fish wero offensive.. In respect to a request for more , night boats, : Mr.. Zohrab said they', hadiijt "a hope of getting'any concession"in ,tKat direotiqn, but it would'come.with the progress; of the'district.- Tho. steamers' boats were kept in accordance with tho Marino Department's roquireriients. • ■ ' ; .