THE RIVER STEAMER ALERT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 581, 10 February 1876, Page 2

THE RIVER STEAMER ALERT.

Yesterday four of the passengers who had arrived in Hamilton by the little steamer Alert, on the preceding evening, called at the office of this paper, to publicly protest against the running of the vessel as a passenger boat unless some steps be taken by the owners to secure the passengers from the drift of fire sparks fulling from the vessel's chimney on to. all parts of the deck and even into the cabin itself. In proof of this they pointed to the state of their clothes. In two instances the straw nuts of the wearers were completely riddled with fire holes and the dresses of all four had more or less suffered, cloth coats aud trousers bping burned through in several places. They state that it was impossible to find shelter from the falling sparks, which sometimes would ascend straight up from the funnel and drop down in quite new and unexpected directions, and that even in the cabin the dress of a lady was burned. We -have had lately two or three letters from correspondents complaining of the sime state of things but Waikato settlers are so well aware of the consequences of travelling by the "Alert" that they usually manage when possible to travel on days on which some other boat runs. Aucldandeis, however, visiting the district are unaware of the* peculiarity and even lay themselves out to travel by the Alert as she is advertised to " curry passengers only." We should certainly recommend the owners of the veaßel both for their own sakes and for that of the district to at once remedy this state of things. But for the fire spark nuisance the Alert is a smart little -boat, and we should suppose that an apparatus similar to that used on board the " Waikato " could be adapted to the funnel of the " Alert " and render her in this respect as, comfortable to travel ix> as aay other boat upon nee river.