EASTBOURNE PERRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1816, 31 July 1913, Page 7

EASTBOURNE PERRY.

BOROUGH .SCHEME ADOPTED. Tho ratepayers of, Eastbourne j-esterday decided by an overwhelming majority in favour, of tl'.e. Borough .Council's scheme for tho establishment of a municipallyowned ferry service. This will be the first enterprise of the kind to bo undertaken by any municipality in New Zealand, The bulk of the ratepayers recorded their votes at tho borough office in the city, and the details of the polling are as under:—' City EastBooth. bourne. Total. For the loan ... 183 93 27G Against it 30 - 3 33 153 00 243 The proposal before the ratepayers, as stated -previously was to raise a loan of ,£15,000 for- tho purchase of the ferry steamers Duchess and Cobar, and the striking of special rate of 2Jd. in the pound to provido interest and sinking fund.

Thie agreement .between tho Borough Council a'nd the Ferry Company fixed the purchase! price of the two steamei-8 at .£13,250 dn debentures, or- .£12,587 in cash, and the date for tho completion of tho purchase is September 1. Amongst other matters the agreement provides: (1) That neither the Harbour Ferries, Ltd., or tho Wellington Steam Ferry Co. shall competo in the passenger trade to tho eastern side of the hatbour; (2) that passengers by the council's steamers shall liavo a right of access to tho company's lands (so lon# as they retain them) at an entrance rate of 3d. per head to bo collected by tho company; (3) that the council shall maintain a daily service'to Day's Bay similar to that run to Rona Bay; (l) that the company shall deliver the steamers in good condition and with a certificate issued by the Marine Department covering a period of twelve months, and shall slip tho vessels immediately before they are taken over by the council; (5) the provisions of tho agreement not to bind tho council unless same is sanctioned by the poll of tho ratepayers; (6) any dispute arising out of the agreement between the company and the council shall be settled by arbitration. The usual terms, apportionments, contracts, current tickets, and. business affecting the. boats are provided for. The company al-o undertakes to initiate and facilitate tho inclusion of Day'p Bay in the Borough of Eastbourne. _ This can only be initiated on the petition of onefourth of the electors of tho district. .