DAILY STEAMER SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1940, 23 November 1906, Page 3

DAILY STEAMER SERVICE.

ITo the Editor Gisborne Times/

Sir, —Noticing that Mr W. D. Lysnar had interviewed Mr Holdsworth in regard to some increase in the steam service to Gisborne, and the enclosed advertisement in New Zealand Times, I feel constrained to write and put in print what I have advocated fer tho past three or four years, viz., a bi-weekly service by a suitable steamer between tho Spit (Napier) and Gisborne. lam well aware that such is absolutely derided by those who have a knowledge of shipping business, nevertheless I am confident, rnoreso now than over, that it could be developed into a paying concern.

The steamer referred to in the advertisement was built in Glasgow only two or three years ago, and which with slight alterations would be splendidly adapted for the service, and if there is any enterprise in Gisborne or Napier, the vessel ought to be soon employed. The people that really should take the matter up are undoubtedly Messrs Richardson and Company, of Napier, but instead of luumug at irregular intervals us at present, maintain a regular time table — weather and other cirounutancja permit-

ting—3ay, leave Napier Monday evening, Gisborne on return trip Tuesday evening, Napier Thursday evening, Gisborne on return Friday ovening. This would give Gisborne communication four times weekly with She nearest railway service, and would prove of unquestionable valoe from a oommeroial point of view. Is is urged that while the large steamers were available passengers would not pairinise the smaller boat. My opinion is that once a regular time-table were established the passeDgor treflio would develop. Then I have been referred to experimen ts tried with the s.s. Kanieri and Km Ora, which perhaps aro not wcr.hy of comment, as in the period that has elapsed eiuoe then Gisborne has probably made more progress than duriDg the whole of its previous exisienoe, besides which no aiCetnps was then made to maintain a

time-sable. By way.of comparison, take the present ferry servioe between New Plymouth and Oaebunga. Who twenty years ago oould have oancaived that it would ever attain to its present dimensions? Tbs Union Company employed the s.s. Oreti and the Northern Company the s.s Gairloeh in the servioe, and it wa3 only occasionally that they (or at least the latter) were not equal to all requirements. Tne s.s, Oreti, which had accommodation for about 20 passengere, was succeeded by the s.s. Mahinapua, with accommodation for 60 persons, and in turn she had to give way to the s.s. Rotoiti with a berthing capacity uf about 160, and occasionally she is overtaxed. The Gairlcoh had accommodation for 40, whilst the Rarawa can also berth 150, and is occasionally overtaxed. Did passeogers always wait for the s.s. Takapuna which was employed also in the service. No, it was a matter of convenience and only a short run, and. the ‘i Gairloeh ” always had a fair share. So with the Gisborne and Napier service

it wouid soon be indeed as a matter of convenience. Surprise will be expressed that it was done without for so long, and the Tuesday and .Friday evening steamer to Napier would secure a fair share of the enormous and ever increasing passenger traffic ’twixt Gisborne and Napier, and instead of the present bi-weekly (regular) mail service with the outside world, correspondence would arrive and be dispatched four times a week, I am etc., PROGRESS. [The advertisement referred to is one offering for sale the steamer described.— Ed. G.T.]