THE KOPU FERRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4647, 11 January 1924, Page 2

THE KOPU FERRY.

« — A SERIOUS POSITION. "REPAIR OR CLOSE.” As is usual at the monthly meetings oi .the Thames epumy Council the stale of the Kopu-Oiongo ferry was the subject of much discussion at yesterdays meeting. The matter was introduced by a letter from Mr T. Ross, master of the ferry, who wrote on December 19, 1923, as follows : — "As the Kopu ferry barge is, and has been for some time, in a weak state, and there lias been nothing done in the way of strengthening and raving her freeboard, I will not hold myself responsible for any mishap that. may arise, as 1 consider this barge unsuitable for the work of carrying motor lorries laden with goads, waggons with heavy loads, motorbuses heavily laden with cargo an.l passengers, as it is called upon to do. It is imperative that the Council take some action to restrict such traffic until there is a new barge built suitable for the work. I have informed you at a conference held in connection with the matter that the launch engine is too light for the work. I trust that these matters will receive due consideration.” To this the clerk had replied that as master of the ferry Mr Ross would be held responsible for the carrying out of the service, and that he had full power and authority to remove any person or vehicle from the ferry failing to comply with his instructions. Should any person refuse to leave the ferry or remove nis vehicle as ordered, the ferryman was at liberty to delay running until such time as a police officer had been called to take the offender iii charge.

The ferryman was to use his discretion with regard to the running of any trip, which, by reason of the state of the- weather or condition ot the river, he considered unsafe, and he must not carry any vehicle or number of vehicles mi any trip in excess of what he considered safe co carry on the ferry. Mr J. C. Miller, Kopuarahi, wrote to 'he chairman stating that the contactor for the delivery >f coal to the Kopuarahi factory had been stopped from crossing the Kopu ferry. He asked for a reason for this, because if such a waggon was not permitted to use the ferry numerous contemplated arrangements would be upset.

The chairman, said that he had just received the letter. The contractor had asked for special facilities for crossing,, and special rates. After receiving the report from Mr Stune the master of the ferry had been informed that he must ujse his discretion. To have alterations made to the ferry would mean closing a for a time. It did not seem advisable to do this during the Christmas holidays, but now something should be done. Another punt .should, perhaps, be obtained as a stand-by. Something must be provided to keep the line pf communication open. The launch was not suitable for the work, and it was quite time that repairs were do.ne, especially in view of the warnings and reports that were being received by the Council month after month.

Cr. McCormick said that he had cressed by the ferry recently for the first time. He had no idea that the landing on the Orongo side was in such a state. At low tide a couple of chains of deep mud hau to oe crossed. Foot passengers or cyclists had to walk through this unless there was a vehicle handy to give them a lift. 'He had spent all the time on the trip from Orongo to Kopu washing the mud from the wheels and the under parts of his car. In regard to the running of the ferry, no fault could be found. There happened to be a strong tide running when he made the ti;ip, and the barge had become caught in the piles, and it was as much as three men could do to push it out against the current. Such happenings did no good to the piles or to the barge, and could be remedied at slight cost. Ho asked if a landing platform could be erected for foot passengers, and also a few hurdles to confine stock to ’-he approaches when being landed.

The engineer said it was no use removing fhe mud from the approach, as it would all be back again with the next tide. -What was required was a ramp, such as at Kopu. The launch was certainly not suitable for the work, and a vessel built with a double shell was required. Parts of the engine should not be fixed rigidly to the .sides of the launch, as in the present vessel, as, when it was towing a punt, there was no give in the walls.

The chairman said that there was about- £6OO available for improving the Orongo approach, but nothing had been done since the question of shifting the approach was brought up. In regard to the propoteal to erect a footbridge, Mr Powell had reported that the extra weight of this might bring down the whole structure. It would cost S6O0 1 to make a safe footbridge, and a ramp similar to that at Kopu would be The ferry had been expected to last until the bridge was opened. If the bridge was commenced to-morrow it would be two or three years before it would be opened, but the ferry would probably not last as many months If an accident occurred the Council as the controlling authority might be liable for manslaughter. He proposed ,to call the chairmen of the o’her local bodies together and lay the position before them, and if they were willing the plant would be laid up and repaired, but if they were not agreeable to this he would close the ferry.

Crs. McCormick and Cox supported calling a conference of the other local bodies concerned as soon as possible, and it was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman.