COASTAL STEAM SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 246, 25 October 1901, Page 2

COASTAL STEAM SERVICE.

(To the Editor of the Timms.)

ol the blast Const have ccrtuiiily a just cause of complaint in the manner tn which the Union Company' conduct their so-called fortnightly set-vice between Auckland and Wellington, via Cast Coast ports. When the Company first took up the coastal service two steamers were employed, and one could rely on a steamer l'rom eacli terminal purl calling at the diflerent bays on the coast fcvury tell days. In still more recent years wo had tile s.s. Jvia Ora, a boat which was admirably suited to the requirements of the coast, and which worked all ports between Auckland and Napier in conjunction with tlie s.s. Umapere, now engaged in the running. The Kin Urn was, however, transferred to Tasmania, anil since her departure the Union Company has expected the Umapere to not only meet the coastal requirements, but to also make trips to Westport lor coal, and often to to Grcynioutli. The result is that nothing approaching a regular time-table is of" served, and when once the Umapere has left Gisborne on her southern trip no definite date can be fixed as to when she will return. The present trip is a case in point.—Tile Umapere left Gisborne for South about the nth clay of October, and it was understood that she would be detained several days longer tlijf.ii usual to go on toe slip. The latest paper advertises her to leave Gisborne on October the bUth, in which case ail steamer communication between the Hast Coast ports, and either ! Auckland or Wellington will have been suspended for upwards of a month, it is little short of scandalous that this state of affairs should exist, especially at the present season of the year, when sheep

farmers and others are getting in supplies preparatory to shearing etc., etc. Several 1 months since, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce pointed out to the Union 1 Steamship Company the inudequatenoss ' and irregularity of their steam service between Auckland and East Coast ports, as compared with the requirements thereof. It was then arranged tuat cargo might be shipped to Gisborne by any of the Company’s bi-weekly steamers, and there transhipped to the Omapero on arrival. This course, it was thought, would be a decided advantage to coastal consignees, 1 which it undoubtedly is, although in the present case goods might as well be in Auckland as lying in Gisborne, with no chance of reaching their destination for upwards of a fortnight. It is most extraordinary that a trade, which in its infancy supported two steamers, should now, years later, when it must be admitted to have increased, barely supports one, in as much as the Union Company infer that they are compelled to run the Oniapere on to Westport and Greymouth in order to derive any profit from the East Coast trade. Another point worth remarking is that, considering the number of coastal steamers in their fleet, one would think that the Company would be aide to put oil a substitute for the Omapere for one trip while she underwent her annual overhaul. That the Union Company have the monopoly of the trade in question may be advanced as a reason, but cannot be admitted as an excuse for the utter indifference and absolute disregard with which they treat this branch of their trade ; and no terms can be considered too strong in condemnation of the manner in which the present steam service ,is administered, and untii such time as the Company can see its way clear to run a steamer between Auckland and Wellington, without having to extend her voyage to Westport, so long will dissatisfaction last,—l am, >xc., Coastal Ti’Miev., With reference to the above, we have the Union Company, who state that the [via Ora whilst engaged in the Coast and Bay trade, did not pay her way, and that the Omapere is obliged to make a coal trip to meet expenses. Liuring the winter months when the Bays are very bad to work, also the Coastal ports of the West Coast, a fairly good three weekly service has been maintained. Unfortunately, the accident to the I'oherua lately interfered with the repairs to the Omapere in Wellington, thus throwing her further behind, but to meet the requirements of the

settlers on the Coast, the Company despatched the Waihi up the Coast with cargo transhipped from Auckland, also from Southern ports.—Ed. Tijies.]