THE NEW FERRY WHARF

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2756, 27 April 1916, Page 6

THE NEW FERRY WHARF

READY AT END OF MAY

BETTER RAILWAY CONNECTION

WANTEp

At last evening's meeting of the Harbour Board, the chairman (Mr. C. ii. Daniell) reported: ''That the now Ferry Wharf for the accommodation of the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry steamers is expected to be ready for use by the end of next month."

In referring to the fact the chairman said that an arrangement had been made with . the City Council for connecting up the wharf with the city tramways, and they were arranging to provido for accommodation for, wiiich they would pay rent. They would also take charge of passengers' luggage and nudertago to deliver it.

Mr. Jl. L. Nathan wished to know if there would be an official opening. As a country member, Mr. M. Cohen remarked that this was tho first link in tho chain completing tho railway and steamer connections between the two islands, and ho thought it was time that tho Railway Department should do its share to, rectify tho horrible inconvcuienco that the travelling public had to submit td in Wellington. Mr. Cable: Tho Union Company ought to do its part. Wo've put. up a splendid wharf for it.

The chairman said that an opening ceremony might-rouse the people of Wellington to a;.sense of their responsibilities. The railway station was about three-quarters of a mile from, the wharf, but apparently local people were quite satisfied. •

[ Voices: No; we're not 1

Mr. It. Fletcher said the function would be a magnificent opportunity of urging the Government to get to work, and ho moved- that the matter be left m the hands of the chairman to arrange, ui conjunction with the Union Company, for an official opening. It would be : a splendid chance,to urge the Railway Department to got on with their arrangements, (the plans of which were prepared), and complete the linking up of the North and South Islands/-" Mr. W. Hildreth, in seconding the motion, said it would bo a good opportunity to spur the Railway Department on. i\fc Daniell had said that they were satisfied, but as a matter of fact they were highly dissatisfied with having the ■railway station where it is, and as they were being told that nothing was to be' done for another ten years -they had every cause to be discontented. As it was the people from the Manawatu paid for carriage to the Lambton Station, but were only carried to Thorndon—threequarters of a mile away from the steamers which through passengers have to board. He hoped they would. get speakers who would speak strongly on the question. -

Mr. J. Cobbe said that, in his opinion, it was not a time to go in for functions and Jollifications. The Government and the country had otlher' things to think of besides jollifications.•• There was only one thing to do at the present lielp the Mother Country to win the war.".

' Mr. M. Cohen: "No one said anything about jollifications."

Mr. Cobbe: "We ought to take things just as they are, and pay for these tilings when fhey got their indemnity out of Germany." :. s .

'• Mr.J. G. Darkness entirely disagreed' with Mr. Cobbe, and said the occasion was one,when it should be brought'before thf; Government that it would only be doiife its' duty in enabling people to pass, from the railway to the steamer without loss of time and so much inconvenience as.was at present being experienced by the travelling public. They were not. asking for a new railway station, . but .railway communication should be established with the wharf.

Mr. W. Cable "suggested that the members of the board who were members of Parliament should be asked to run the joh for all it was worth at the coming session. The motion that arrangements for an opening be, left with the chairman was carried, Mr. Cobbe alone dissenting.'