A SUGGESTION

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 August 1921, Page 3

A SUGGESTION

[to the editor]

SIR, —Would you kindly allow me to suggest to the local shipping company for consideration the desirability of running the steamers by daylight trips to and. from Dargaville. The present out of date system is quite beyond comprehension, when the work could be done so much more economically and more satisfactorily to all concerned. Thousands of people travel jup and down the Kaipara harbour and never see it. The whole charm and interest in travel is the everchanging views and places of interest passed on the journey. The other day the writer asked a regular traveller how the country looked along the Kaipara waterway ? and he replied that he had never seen it! It is wonderful how capably the boats are run in all weathers, and it must be a great strain on the officers, whose concentrated attention is required every moment to negotiate the narrow winding channels, where a compass course cannot be kept for many minutes together. I feel sure that passengers would prefer to stay in town all night, and catch a morning boat and reach Dargaville in time for tea same evening. A steamer could leave here on arrival of train every morning, and reach Dargaville early same evening. And one could leave Dargaville in time to catch train to Auckland ; and thus build up an efficient service, which would suit the people better than any Shelley Beach scheme. There may be a few C.T.s whose rush would be toned down to better business methods, and result in better trade. —I am, etc.,

Onlooker