The Hon. R. McKenzie's Tour of Otago and Southland: Scenes in the Catlins District.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 44

The Hon. R. McKenzie's Tour of Otago and Southland: Scenes in the Catlins District.

(Photoß by A. Waters.)

THE ISLAND TRADE AND THE AMOKURA.

Our Bluff eoi respondent writes :-" In making his proposal to employ the tiarnn,' ship Amokura in the Southern Island service the Minister of Marine struck a k \- note jrl&nsing in these parts. The mbjet was first mooted months ago throu"-n your columns, and the extended consideration given to it confirms the feas'biJity of the scheme. Furthermore, the altered aspect of affairs born of the necessity for retrenchment in the public expenditure ren <lers it more than ever d^sirabla as a step in the right direction. Take th.2 Stewart Island service-branch alone. The adoption of the proposal would save £1000 to £1500 per annum. On the piresant weekly service Government pays £300; the traffic rates yield at the very haat £700. The badly-arranged nature of the service as it stands is notorious. The tug which is employed has literally nothing in the way of passenger accommodation to offer, and despite the fact that it is an important source of Bluff Harbour revenues no attempt is ever made to improve it. The passage across Foveaux Strait ought to be one of the chief resorts of excursioists, whereas in its present neglected state it is a bugbear to travellers, who suffer mal-de-mer in all its horrors. Besides, there are constant interruptions and irregularities in carrying out the service. Towage has the first claim on the steamer, and it not infrequently happens that these demands arise at a time most inopportune fox the island traffic, and t!he latter is delayed vexatiousiy. With these and other drawbacks it may be readily understood that the island trade has never had a chance of expanding on ite merits. With a vessel like the Amokura these difficulties would be remedied, more especially with respect to tourist traffic, for which the island is now laying itself out. Another subsidised route may be taken into account along with the working of the island. For a monthly, trip to .Preservation Inlet & sum of £600 is paid.* Freight charges cannot amount to less than £400. In that case we get a total between the two of £2500

ih.it would bo »a\od to the Government it the Amokuia is left to do the work, which she is quite able to to. this money would mean a much-needed improvement to trie sroneral character of the servics ret.deied. To Stewart Island it would give an inestimable boon, and to the traveling public :i con-.i-lerable lienefit. Southern s "ntiment ii \er\ whole-heaitod in its end avours to impress thes- facts on the attention of th~ AJinieter. It is reasonable to ask the cooperation of the Minister in Charge of Tourist Resorts. Ho knows personally /.•hat such places as Stewart Island and Pres?rvation Inlet are capable of in the way of seaside resorte. and a knowledge of the circumstances should be sufficient for the requirements of the cass as put. Wo may be told that the island trade would to some extent clash with the suggested arrangements. That trade merely involves a half-yearly trip, and an interim arrangement might easily b& made to carry on the inshore island service on these occasions."