THE BLACKBALL FERRY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 June 1901, Page 4

THE BLACKBALL FERRY.

{To the Editor.)

Sin, —I wish to call your attention to the disgraceful negligence of the County Council regarding the Blackball ferry service. It is ‘absolutely impossible to cross the river at Blackball except you have a good horse or by coach, and in this conveyance it is often very dangerous—as was the case last week when this same coach got stuck in the by-wash, and only for the kindness of Mr Wick, who took the passengers off the coach with his canoe, the result might have been disastrous.

The way the service is run now is as follows: —When coming from Greymouth the punt takes you over the first stream, leaves you on the river bed with another stream nearly as wide and deep as the one they put you over with the punt; then you must remain until by chance a traveller may come along and put you across in his conveyance, or wait hours for the coach. If the Council did only part of their duty they would have a boat placed there, and the punt men instructed to put you over the by-wash and safe on your journey. If you are coming to Greymouth the trouble is just the same, and, Sir, I contend that instead of the Council sending representatives to Wellington, they look after these matters it would well become them; or, even if the members would forego their travel ling expenses for a meeting, they could purchase a boat and pay the ferryman for running it. Hoping that you will insert'this, as your journal is widely read in this district. I remain,— W. Brown.