Devonport Steam Ferry Company (E. W. Alison, managing director; Alexander Alison, general manager) Auckland and Devonport. The Messi's Alison are the main springs of the Devonport Ferry Company, and have made the service the best in the colonies. It is peculiarly fitting that Mr. Alec Alison should have the management of the service. When he was twelve years old, he was learning the ship-wright's trade, and, at fourteen, he built a comfortable 24-feet boat and actually commenced and carried on for years a regular and successful ferry service suitable to the times, and to-day he is remarkable for the characteristics that stamped him forty years ago, when he was the fourteen-year-old ferryman of Devonport. Then the era of steam commenced, but the management was in unenterprising hands. For many years no effort towards improvement was made by the easy going residents, who were chietly “old identities,” and who contentedly jogged on from year to year in the same old style. The page 452 ferry service offered no encouragement to settlement. Not only were the steamers small and slow, but the service was inconvenient, unreliable and expensively and incompelently conducted. But in 1881 an agreeable change was suddenly brought about by the Messrs Alison, George Quick, J. Edson, W. Philcox, W. H. Fenton and others. The only roadway between Auckland and Devonport being the ferry, they argued that that means of communication should be made as effective, accessible and convenient as possible. With other residents, Mr E. W. Alison urged upon the directors of the old Auckland and North Shore Ferry Company the necessity that existed for an improved service and reduced fares and freights, but the directors refused point blank to grant any concessions. However, it was impossible to allow things to go on as they had been going. The ferry service was practically conducted by the captains of the steamers, who adopted a free-and-easy, go-as-you-please style. On an ordinarily rough day communication with Auckland was limited to a few trips in the morning and evening, and often the captains made the weather an excuse and would not cross at all. Then, again, in fine weather, it was a common occurrence to miss important trips on the plea of a breakdown of machinery or some other plausible excuse. In fact, what with the long intervals between trips, the uncertainty of their being made, and the high charges for fares and freight, only persons of leisure and means could afford to reside at Devonport. The return fare was 9d, available from 7.45 a.m. till 5.30 p.m.; after that, all passengers, including weekly ticket holders, paid 6d each way. Even if a weekly ticket holder remained in town after 5.30 p.m., sixpence extra had to be paid on the later return trip. So Mr. Alison and those who were associated with him did not allow the grass to grow under their feet after their bootless interview with the directors. The capital necessary for a new company was promptly subscribed, designs for an improved steamer were at once prepared, and the construction of the p.s. “Victoria” taken in hand. So vigorously did the promoters set to work, and so excellent were their prospects of success, that the directors of the old company threw up the sponge before they even commenced running, and sold to them their goodwill, plant and steamers. These consisted of the paddle steamers “Devonport” (long since condemned), “Tainui,” “Takapuna,” and a new vessel on the stocks, the “Alexandra.” Thus the new company commenced operations under very favourable auspices. Mr. E. W. Alison was appointed chairman of directors, and Mr. Alec Alison general manager, and these positions they hold with credit to themselves and advantage to the company until the present day. The Messrs Alison at the outset advised the adoption of the progressive policy they had all along advocated, and were given a free hand to carry it out. Operations were commenced by running half-hourly boats with strict regularity, the return fare being reduced to 6d, available day and night. Weekly tickets were issued, giving holders the privilege of page 453 travelling by them at all times. Then the night boat was run to a later hour, necessitating an extra crew, the old company having made the day hands run the night service, but not to a late hour, each alternate week. Freights were also cheapened by fully fifty per cent, a comfortable waiting-room was provided at Victoria Wharf, and other arrangements made to popularise the service and the district of Devonport. The new policy was so revolutionary that the consensus of opinion amongst the old directors and the general public was that the company could not succeed. Messrs Alison came in for a great deal of chaff and ridicule, and were told that age would bring them experience, whilst the public would smilingly enjoy the liberality of the shareholders. But the pessimists were doomed to disappointment, for the company paid a dividend of seven and a half per cent. the first year, and has continued to pay annual dividends of ten per cent ever since, in addition to which the assets of the company have been very largely increased. Now, the company's shares are looked upon as one of the soundest investment stocks in Auckland, and are at a high premium. In fact, the company stands out preeminently as one of the few successful commercial ventures promoted in Auckland. It has now a splendid fleet of twelve steamers, the larger ones of which are a credit to the company and the port. The company has also considerable landed investments, its own slip, shipyard, workshop, coal hulks, and all the plant necessary for efficiently and economically dealing with its business. The Devonport Ferry Company carries on the ferry services between Auckland and Devonport, Auckland and Northcote, Birkenhead and Chelsea, Auckland and St. Helier's Bay, and the towage of all vessels in Auckland harbour, towage of logs, and an extensive excursion trade to the many picturesque beauty spots near the city of Auckland. Many thousands of people travel by the ferry steamers on holidays across the harbour to St. Helier's, Takapuna, Motutapu, Pine Island and other charming places, while it is the custom of the promoters of large picnic parties to charter ferry steamers for their own purposes, which can be done on very reasonable terms. The liberal policy initiated by the company at the outset of its career has been maintained throughout, and to-day the residents of Devonport and Lake Takapuna can boast that the cost of travelling by steamer to Auckland and back is cheaper than the corresponding fares in any other part of the Australian colonies. The family annual ticket is issued at £25 (less than 2s a week), and the parents and all members of a family, however numerous, excepting sons over twenty-one years of age, can travel on it as often as they please. The outcome of this unique and enterprising, but unquestionably prudent, policy is that Devonport is now the most convenient and prosperous suburb of Auckland. This good management of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company is a theme of universal praise, and the civility and courtesy extended to all passengers by the whole of the employees is a constant subject of favourable comment by both regular and chance passengers. The company has an admirable traffic manager in Mr. Joseph Carrie, who is a capable and popular officer, while Mr. F. B. Bushnell, the secretary, is specially qualified for the position which he holds.