HARBOUR FERRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 151, 22 March 1920, Page 6

HARBOUR FERRY

THE PROPOSED NEW STEAMER

AN UP-TO-DATE VESSEL

The Eastbourne Borough Council proposes to obtain a now steamer for their harbour ferry service, and Mr. H. M'line, of Dunedin,' has been retained for the drawing of working plans and specifications for the vessel. On Friday evening last tho Eastbourne Ferry Board reported to the council that Mr. Jl'Kne, architect, visited Wellington from March 13 to 15 and conferred with a meeting of councillors consisting of Messrs. Black, Green, and Mayer. The mooting was called hurriedly on March 15, and the councillors named were, (the only ones with whom the manager (Mr. S. S. Heath) was able to get in touch with, In addition to recommending tho retention of Mr. M'Une the board recommended that an agreement be drawn up by tho council's solicitors beWeen tho council and Mr. M'Eae on_the basis of the terms discussed with him.

f The oniv question in connection with the new steamer that the architect requires at the present time is the speed ot the vessel, anil the board recommcnds that the speed he U knots, which will enable ft service speed of 13 knots to hn run under economical conditions, and an additional knot in speed will then be available when required.Tho nctinsr-Mayor (Councillor H. G. grayer) explained that the council had not" vet committed itself to tho scheme, but it was necessary to obtain an estimate of the cost before any loan proposal could be placed before the electors,

Councillor Black said that in the course f an interview with Mr. MTtao meninn lmd been mado that tho Duchess lid not develop tho speed she should, and Mr. had at once made incmiries about the ship's nropeller, and from an examination of a spare propeller had affirmed that tho propeller was originally designed for towing purposes, and when a certain speed was reached a "slip" was developed. lie had stated that a speed of 13 knots could be maintained by the new l»nl;. allowing tho round trip to be done ii\ an hour, with the same expenditure of coal _ as the Duchess, which developed only nine knots per hour. The present wharf at Bona. Bay, Mr. MHao considered, was out of the question, for its frontage should he doubled. At Day's Bay an alteration was suggested in tho direction of cutting away a nieco of the present wharf to allow 'of three gangways, one from tiie .lower and two from the upiwr decks, to be used simultaneously. Councillor Black suggested that inquiries might be made as to the practicability of fitting the ship with permanent gangways which could bo lowered direct oil to tho wharf and. tints save berthing tin l .©. Tho point of saving thno at the whmf in place of aiming at n higher spned to mnkn up for wharf delays had been stressed by Mr. M'liae. __ _ _

'During further discussion it was pointed out that' the Duchess had a license for carrying 1029 passengers, apd it was agreed that the new vessel should ho ablo to carry 1500. The question of cost was discussed, but no finality reached. Control of the Service.

Councillor W. Baine gave notice , to move at a future meeting of the council: "That the resolution passed by the council at a special meeting held on August C, ,1913, to the effect that the Ferry' Board consist of the Mayor ana 'three members of the council, ho rescinded, and tlmt in future each member of the council slmll be an ex-officio member of tha Ferry Bonrd." Councillor Green gave notice to move at the next council meeting: "That thn issue of the concession ticket lxwlts for use on the council's ferry steamers be abolished, and in lieu thereof, a ticket availablo for ton return trips be issued, available on application to all bona fide residents on the eastern side of the harbour of over six continuous residence, and that the price of 6uch ticket be 10s/' "That the latter portion of the resolution passed by this council at its monthly meeting licld on September 10, 101!), granting to tho manager of the ferry service a commission on tho profits ol the service, bo rescinded." "That tho present system of _ issuing complimentary tickets in connection with 'tho ferry service bo abolished." Further Details.

Particulars as to the proposed now steamer were given by Jfj. a. S. Heath, manager of the ferry service. Ho eaitl that it is proposed tlmt the new vessel shall be of the following dimensions (the dimensions of the .'Duchess being shown in parentheses for comparison): Length 165 ft. (133 ft.), beam 28ft. (26ft.), moulded depth lift. (10ft.), passenger capacity 1500 (1023), speed 14 knots (0 to 10 knots). The vessel will bo designed to provide for a maximum amount of sheltered seating accommodation to pro. vido against rough weather, bulb tlw decks will bo so planned to allow their being easily cleared for entertainments, harbour excursions, otc., and with the exception \)f the engine room skylight and essential fittings, the top deck will run "flush" for the greater part of its length. A small sweets stall and buffet ivill 1 bo provided fot. Tlu> boat will carry one smoke stack and will Iks a bow-and-stern vessel, not of the type of double-bowed ferries. She will also be a twin-screw vessel, the-power being supplied by reciprocating engines, which will give her~Ti speed of 14 knots. This will-enablo the single trip to be made in a little over 20 minutes, and the return trip, including berthing and wharf delays, m an hour.