The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1880.

Dunstan Times, Issue 937, 2 April 1880, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1880.

Beneath therute of men entirelyjcst</i PEN IS MIGHTIER than i/iSSWORD.

Four hundred and fifty pounds per annum is, the sum to be paid in future by the County to the, proprietors of the Alexandra punt for the working of it free. A very liberal sum, doubtless, to give the public free passage across the Molyneux at this crossing, and as the benefit is so general no possible fault can be found with the expenditure ; on the contrary, every credit is due to the County Council for their enlightened action, In the matter of terms, however, we cannot hut think the Council, in their haste to secure the advantages of a free punt, lost sight of the travelling business public and what would convenience them. The terms are that the punt shall be available from seven in the morning till nine in the evening for free traffic, after when the puntman, “if you can hut catch him,” may "make a charge.' Now the hours named, for the convenience of children going to school, or for mammas to do their shop, ping, or even for papas 'to go to the Post or any other office, foi the matter of that are all right. But for the travelling business man they are anything hut convenient; for instance, a person resi ling on either side of the river, and having business to do at a distance on the opposite aide, must perforce, if the hour of appointment is short of midday, start on his journey the night before, because he cannot make an early start in the morning ; and again, if his business detains him beyond the time that will allow him to reach the punt by nine in the evening, he must remain from home another night, thus necessitating an expenditure of two nights’ and nearly throe short days’ loss of time, with its concurrent expenses, over what could have been done in one long day. A good example, and one that will meet the case, we will cite— A man residing at Alexandra having business in the Court at Teviot, as he cannot possibly do the journey in four hours, must leave home the evening previous ; and should he he- detained after five in the afternoon, must remain, as he cannot get hack by nine. We have said enough to prove that the hours the punt is open are not convenient, and we think, if the County Council are really desirous of conveniencing the travelling public, they should supplemeut theii very liberal allowance by such a sum as would recompense the punt owners for answering a call at any time made.