·- 58 I OCTOBER 20, 2019 THE Sl!NDAY TIMES OF MALTA THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA OCTOBER 20, 2019 I 59 LIFE&WELLBEING HISTORY

Connecting the harbour towns (2) Fifty years ago October 20, 1969 -

BOTTLERS' REACTION TO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER BAN The Three Cities benefit from the new ferry service The US government's decision over the weekend to remove from the market the artificial sweetener Msida when it struck the bows of known as 'cyclamate' will proba- n this second in a series of articles, Michael Cassar provides Melita at8.15pm. There were few pas­ bly not affect local bottlers who ~ sengers aboard as it was the last use the sweetener in their bever- concluding extracts from his recently published book Connecting crossing of the day. Me lita suffered ages. This is because the quantity some dan1age but nobody was hurt. used is very small. Mr Robert H. The Harbour Towns 0. F. Galleher & Sons 7897- 7959. The collision, which occmTed in sum­ Finch, Secretary of Health, Educa- mer, could not been blamed-on poor tion and Welfare said that 'cycla­ The service of the Grand Harbour to passengers of which the commu­ service which was inaugurated yes­ lori to Admiralty House at Vittoriosa visibility, the most likely cause being mate' caused cancer in laboratory Steam Ferry Company (GHSFC), the nity has so far been deprived, and terday, and we feel convinced that as to complain to the new Admiral the coxswains' refusal to give way, Ol" rats. It is used in a wide range of second marine transport venture by although they may dilninish to some time goes on when the advantages Superintendent Malta Dockyard, overconfidence about a manoeuvre beverages, food and drugs.

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Gustav Gollcher, Eduardo Monte- extent the use of the ordinary dgha­ will be more perceptible, they will Rear Admiral Frederic William repeated several times a day. -~ ... -~ bello Pulis and Raffaele Polidano, jjes to those particular spots have grounds of expressing their Fisher (notto be confused with his Lorenzo Gatt launched the fom·th FATAL ACCIDENT AT GZIRA started on October 1.5, 1906, without at least, where the steam launches thanks to those, who, at considerable brother Sir John Fisher, C-in-C 'Admiral' class ferry Admiral Drury Three-year-old Lorraine Mcinnes incident because the agitation make fast for the embarkation and sacrifice to themselves for the Mediterranean Fleet, 1899-1902, or on July 31. 1ten tered service in Octo­ of G:i:ira was found to be dead on expected from the barklori (boat­ disembarkation of passengers, it is moment, have placed them in a posi­ Admiral Sir John Wordsworth ber and was named after Vice Admi­ arrival at St Luk~'s Hospital on Sat- men) didnot happen; there was need not in the least to be feared that the tion to enjoy a boon, which is now so Fisher, C-in-C, 1932-1936). They also ral Sir Charles Carter Drury, the 1,1rday evening after she was hit by for a faste1; more reliable connection boatmen will not continue to have much appreciated by the residents blocked the landing place at the Commander-in-Chief, Mediter­ a car driven by Joseph Fenech of for the people of the harbour conur­ their fair share of work in the Grand and the inhabitants of Sliema, and by Marina Valletta with their dghajjes on ranean Fleet (1907-1908). lt was a G:i:ira in Lower Albert Street, G:i:ira. bation and the thousands who Harbour, busy as at all times is with the public at large. The service was the morning of February 19 and only year of incidents. On August 8, Admi­ worked at the dockyard. Neverthe- men-of-war, passengers and other started at 9 o'clock yesterday morn­ backed down after the Marine Police ral Beresford, coxswain Giuseppe WOMAN SUCCUMBS TO BURNS -~ss, the scene at the Marina must steamers, and in many other ways. ing, and all speak in the highest terms promised to pass on their demand Gauci, sustained slight damage to its Angelina Vella of Zejtun, who was•>-• have been heart-rending and tense of the launches themselves and of the for the ferry fare to be doubled. fe11ders and the bows after co)lidirg conveyed to St Luke's Hospital on for the idle, gawking barklori, who, comfort provided by the company, In March 1907, the GHSFC signed with the Dockyard tug C.A .29 while October 13 suffering from severe being no pushovers at the best of "The ferry Melita and by Mr Polidano, the indefatigable a contract with Lorenzo Gatt for the crossing from Vittoriosa to Valletta. burns, succumbed to her injuries times, must have seethed in anger and enterprising manager." construction of a fourth ferry of the Ten days later the boiler of Stella was at the hospital last Satm·day. The and impotence while they watched seems to have In the Galleher Company archives 'Admiral' class. Stella, the relief declared unusable; the Sliema serv­ woman was burnt when cooking. their livelihood being 'stolen', liter­ is a handwritten register, 'Rapporti ferry, purchased the previous year, ice was reduced to two launches She felt suddenly ill and fell on the ally, from under their noses. been particularly Generali delta Notional Steam Ferry was blessed by Fr Francesco Bugeja from August 18 to 30 because Aurora stove, which set fire to her clothes. The Malta Herald of the follow­ Boats Coy. & Grand Harbour Steam on July 7. Three days later it was was on the slipway and Euterpewas ing day captured the spirit of the jinxed" Ferry Coy', containing a record of immobilised by a damaged valve in running to St Julian's. VALLETTA'S FIRST SHOPPING ~ moment: "The Steam Ferry Boat repairs and overhauls, incidents, col­ the circulation pump. The ferry was On October 15, the MSFS Stella GALLERY OPENED Service between Valletta and the "Taking Sliema as an instance in lisions, surveyors' incident and dam­ taken on hand for repair at Hay Maris, built the previous year (1907), The first comprehensive shopping Three Cities and vice-versa is now the importance it has attained since age reports, estimates, contracts and Wharf. The yard also slipped and suffered a boiler explosion while gallery in Malta - 'Gallerie La an accomplished fact, the inaugu­ it is in possession of cheap and allocation of ferries between har­ overhauled Galleher and P&O coal crossing from Marsamxett to Sliema Valette' - at Regency Hou?e, the ration taving taken place yester­ speedy modes of conveyance, we bours from February 13, 1906, to lighters. That same year priority at 2.40pm. The coxswain directed former site of the Capitol Theatre, day in a quiet form. Fearing some predict that the establishment of the January 18, 1917. The record was was given to the repair of P&O the 11 passengers away from the in Kingsway, Valletta, is now open. demonstration on the part of the stean1 ferry boat service, which was probably kept by Polidano who steam launch Notabile. boiler to the saloon, and Giuseppe There are 13 shops of different boatmen of the Grand Harbour, inaugurated yesterday under such passed away on February 6, 1917, Occasional disruptions to the Pisani, the engineer, escaped from sizes in aS,000 square feet of shop­ the Land and Marine Police had good auspices, will increase the three weeks after the last entry. It is service owing to bad weathe1~ the engine room in time. The explo­ ping area on the ground floor. previou~ly made all the necessary trade of the Three Cities consider­ not known who managed the fleet breakdowns or collisions did not sion and clouds of steam alerted arrangements and taken every ably and cause their markets to be after his demise. A similar fleet alter the importance of the ferries staff at both landing places, and Be[­ precaution. But all passed off qui­ more regularly supplied and replen­ record would almost certainly have as a vital link between the capital lona and Norina sailed from Sliema etly, and the ferry boats were ished with all commodities. It is a been kept after this date but was and the ever-growing suburbs. In and MarsamiCett to evacuate passen­ availed of by a large portion of the well-known rule that cheap and probably lost when the company 1901, there were 10,507 Sliema res­ gers and crew. A garrison launch Ten ·years ago fohabitants of the Three Cities. commodious modes of communica­ offices in Zachary Street were idents; within a decade the popula­ direct service from the Marina Val­ clear as there is no reference to on Sunday (weather permitting): grown to such an extent th.at there from Fort Manoel also arrived to October 20, 2009 "It is indeed a matter of satisfac­ tion, augment the prosperity of a destroyed during World War II. tion rose to 13, 171. The silver jubilee letta to Marsamxett and Sliema. MSFS vessel~ in the Rapporti Gener­ Departures from Sliema - 3.45pm; was room for both companies; it was render assistance. Bellona towed the tion to an that wiser counsel has pre­ place considerably, and it is this If the GHSFC and the government of the ferry service was celebrated The Marsamuscetto Steam Ferry ali. Polidano most likely issued a from Marsamuscetto - 3.30pm; from now a modern town, supplied with stricken ferry to Sliema. vailed among the boatmen than was prosperity that the Three Cities of thought that the barklori were with a grand feast on land and sea Service (MSFS) and the National common timetable to prevent St Paul's Bay - 6.30pm. Fares: Return electricity (they replaced gas lamps Commuters suggested improve· MAN ADMITS TO 'POINTLESS' at first imagined; and in this, the Cospicua, Senglea and Vittoriosa will resigned to their fate, they were at Sliema on June 23, 1907. This was Steam Ferry Boat Company rivalry and uneconomical duplica­ tickets 1s. (one shilling)/single ticket in May 1899), and proper sewerage. ments: a last ferry at 10pm to allow MURDER 20 YEARS LATER boatmen and the inhabitants of the attain by the happy idea of the steam sorely mistaken. The men found a attended by thousands of people (NSFBC) merged in Man;:h 1908 tion of resources but the upke.ep of 8d. (eightpence)." There were cinematogFaphs at the more time in Valletta and_access to A man yesterday adlnitted to a Three Cities are to be congratulated. ferry boats management in intro­ new champion in Agostino Levanzin from the harbour towns; one of the with Polidano as joint manager. the fleets remained separate. Despite the rivalry there had been United Services Hotel (the 'Universal the Barrakka Lifts from the Customs cold-blooded murder for money 20 The advantages accruing to the pop­ ducing a cheap, speedy and conven­ (1877-1955), a pugnacious journalist attractions was the Maypole, for Since Polidano also managed Summer was increasingly prof­ an element of co-operation between Cinema'), and at the Duke of Edin­ House gate instead of the steps below years ago which the prosecution ulation by the establishment of this ient mode of conveyance for them. with eclectic interests and abilities which a prize of one pound was GHSFC, he effectively became iuble. The Malta Herald of September the two companies since 1900. Rival burgh Hotel at nos.1/2, Tower Road. tlie fish market. The Malta Herald of described as "pointless" as no cash ferry boat service are numerous. "The good people of the Three and a staunch defender of workers' offered to winners. Another inno­ responsible for the entire network. 11 advertised: "The steam launch Stella coxswains rendered mutual assis­ The !Cinema San-Pareil opened December 11, 1908, reiterated silnilar was found on the victim. Nazza­ The ferry boats offer a convenience Cities have already appreciated the rights. Levanzin led some 200 bark- vation was the introduction of a The extent of co-operation is not Maris will make a trip to St Paul's Bay tance when required. Sliema had also before World War I. It became the complaints: "being made by persons reno Ebejer, 66, was shot twice at Carlton in1934. . who, to find their way to the steam point-blank range at L-Ahrax in On April 13, 1908, under the head­ ferry boats at the Marina Valletta, Mellieha on April 8, 1989. Senglea Marina before the ing 'Miscellany', The Malta Herald must make use of the so-called steps Two men were meant to stand • advent of the ferries. reported: "We would recommend near the so-called fish market. trial over the murder. However, Tb• ar nd H~rbuor Steam Ferry CoJ. the early publication of the notice "The approach to the steam Carmelo Sant, known as Harbat, NOTIO • inviting tenders for the erection of launches is liable to much improve­ adlnitted to the crime before the the cab shelter at Marsamuscetto, ment, and it is the general desire proceedings began and awaits sen­ Tftf§ &rvl~ · wenmor pertnltL!ng, I for which the sum of £170 has been that for the sake of convenience, tencing. The second man, George wm ~mmMni} {)It M'1nt11w llltlU, taken in this year's estimates. It is comfort and decency the scheme Pace, 58, known as 11-Berqa, decided Owing to dnr tto11=1trrlv1tl fr1ntt N11· 1 very desirable that this shed should suggested to the government will tu contest the charges against him. i;lnJtrl or · mit m!ilitrlaiil, ro~ ulftJt1 be completed and erected as early as not be long delayed in being put into A third man, Michael Vella, ror the Lannuh(!~ nnd Stl\IOI! anf'J. ~l8o possible, thus affording some protec­ effect. There would appear to be no known as II-Fish, had been charged - l'JUt{}.bfoery (qr AMlhflr L1tt1t11J'b whltllf tion to man and beast from the reason, however, why this approach with the murder and pleaded not Js tmntUng1 ltllt hl!tll!JIWtifofl W!l1 trtke scorching summer sun." The cabs, or should be permitted to be occupied guilty but has since died. Jtlaoo w(fuqyt tlHY p@mp, bllt wlHm karruzzini, took away some of the by disoccupied persons and urchins 1all tlfi'"ll.ltftlmt;n'1J ilftnll hnv@ boo1i hardship of the climb to the centre who make both sides of the steps PROPERTY OWNERS MAY compleled ll fikt8t w!U bo ~lv1m W of the town. For those who opted to their own, after using language and CHALLENGE EXPROPRIATION tl:ith1br-nt~ tbellllld fo1Hllf\ff1Jtlon. walk, or were coming from the direc-, making gestures which are far from Individuals whose propert:y is ex­ Tim!! Tnltlq 11nd 'Jfnrtrs wm bd 11§ tion of the new ring road, the route pleasant to passers-by. propriated by the government may follows:= invariably took them through Strada "In wet weather the steps do not now institute proceedings befor& -· Tfm6 TabI~tt Jfo11thi1 l11tl1 frttm San Marco, which saw a dramatic present any fine appearance, and the Land Arbitration Board seeking 7 11~m, w b p,m. resurgence in business and traffic. this inconvenience is by far a review of whether the expropria- From 1l'ut!IH.lnf llJih 1rntl until f11r= The MSFS ferry Melita, victim of increased, when the men are reck­ tion is for a public interest. thor ntd~ irom lj,IJ() 11,m, two incidents in 1897, seems to have lessly allowed to squat there and Introducing the Land Acquisi­ Jiinf!iS=f fHH:ltl Y lttt Wt!l'kl tt ff dllyil been particularly jinxed. Bad luck throw the remains of their per­ tions (Public Purposes) Ordinance l p4ihftf 911 ttuml11y~ fi1tt1 Fqs;t1vnl~. struck again in the evening of July 18, fumed cigarettes and the refuse o'f (Amendment) Bill in second read· 5lfomn Nu. :J t:ltr. lrit1ritt1t 'flgm\ 1908, while it was be.ing steered their foods in all directions." ing, Parliamentary Secretary Jason Hlh Ol'.lm.,!H" 1!100. I towards Marsamxett by Giuseppe Azzopardi said this would provide Notice in The Malta 1t P<1tmMm, Genovese. The NSFBC coxswain (To be continued. The first part more transparency, accountabilit:r Herald, October 12 1906. .AforWf/i!t'. ~ Giuseppe Scicluna on the Ceres was of this series was published and consistency in the acquisition approaching from the direction of on August 18.) of property by the government.