CROSS-STRAIT STEAM SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1817, 1 August 1913, Page 4

CROSS-STRAIT STEAM SERVICE.

U.S.S. CO. APPROACHED.

DEPUTATION FROM NELSON. Yesterday a very representative deputation from Nelson waited upon Sir. T. W. Whitson, secretary of tlio Union Steam Ship Company, with rei'oronco to tya Nelson trade.

Tho first speaker, Mr. W. Snodgrass, president of tlio Nelson Chamber of Commerce, suggested an improvement oil tlio Nelson run:—(lJ In tho class of steamer and (2) tinio ol sailing. Mr. Snodgrass mentioned that while tlio Penguin was running the Union Company had two steamers in the Nelson trade, but ou tlio wreck of that vessel tile company, tor some unknown reason, cut out the second boat, ana he was quite satisfied that tho traffic between Nelson and Wellington luid dropped considerably lor that reason. Considerable delay was caused to passengers through tlio coaches not getting in with the steamers, -During tho summer season passengers from Nelson, and via Nelson and Greymouth, would be easily able to cover the distance overland by motor-car, and when that was an accomplished fact, instead of tho trallic goiujr lrom Christchuvch to Grey, it would go via Nelson. Th o class of boats in all services, save the Nelson, run, had vastly improved. They did not profess to ba any moro important than any other ports, but they suggested that they were at least as important. NeUon as a tourist resort, was tho best plaw ill New Zealand to spend a couple of days, but passengers from Australia rogularly avoided Nelson because of the small steamers, and tho unsuitable connections with tho coach. Speaking with regard to fruit production, Mr. Snodgrass stated that tlio fruit trade' from Nelson was going to bo a very largo thing, and if tho company would only cater for tho carriage of that 0110 commodity, ilia trade would be increased very much. Mr. T. Neill spoko next, 110 stated that their chief want was a ierry service. They had como to Wellington by tho Nikau. Had they come in tho Union boat, they would have lost thrco days, whereas by tho Nikau only ono day was lost. Tlio better the class of boat sent tho better it would bo for tho Union Company. If tlio company could boo its way to grant three trips a week, with night sailings, the difficulty would be removed. The Nelson vessel left Wellington at present at midday, which left licr only about four hours in which to < work cargo inwards and outwards. Wero eljo to remain the whole day, freights would ba tremendously increased. With regard to oil. owing l to tho short time at tlio disposal of tho Union Company steamers, it was not possible for them to rail up alongside tho largo steamers to tranship tho oil. Under tho proposed ferry timetable, as suggested by tfi-cni, a passenger could leavo Nelson at about 11 p.m., ar- . rivo Wellington next morning,'spend tho whole day ill the city, and return to Nelson ill tho evening. Ho suggested that vessels should leavo Wellington, nt mid T night ou Sunday, Tuesday, antl Thursday, and leavo Nelson at midnight on Mon« day, Wednesday, and Friday. That would givo practically a ferry service. Tlio adoption of the suggestion would enable people of cither port to spend a week-end in the other.

Mr. H. R. Duncan, chairman of tho TJelson Harbour Board, said' that at the present time thoy could not take a vessel of tho Mararoa's draught at lowwater, but they could within two hours of flood tido either Way, They intended going to the ratepayers shortly to raisa a loan to improvo tile lmrbour, and if the company could undertake to place e o-ood boat in the run it. would assist the board materially in raising the loan. It had been objected that tho harbour dues in a boat like tho Mararoa would cost tho U.S.S. Company another JJISOO per annum. On the other hand, there would bo an,,jncvpasod. : ,number o|,passengers,; and there would ho a saving in meals and real. Again, large areas of land had been thrown open for apple culture, and many Wellington- people taken up bind. • These people found it at present very inconvenient to go and supervise tho land, but with the night service they would b'o able to run across at frequent intervals. He understood that 5000 acres had already been opened up, representing 50,000 tons of apples every year. Mr. Whitson thanked the deputation for placing their views before tho company, and said the matter would bi placed before tho directors.