TRAMWAY LINKS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 736, 8 April 1910, Page 8

TRAMWAY LINKS.

NEWTOWN-KILBIRNIE CONNECTION. WILLIS STREET TO POST OFFICE. An order was issued by the City Connoil last evening, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, That Customhouse Quay, including the proposed tramway extension, and the Post Office Square, should be wood-blocked, in conjunction with the tramway extension,, at an estimated cost of £4400. Councillor Luke, in referring to this matter, said that he' would be glad to see' this part of the ci.ty thoroughfares laid down in wood blocks. A certain amount was set aside annually for the wood-blocking of' streets, and it was good finance, be considered. Woodblocked streets were much better than those topped with metal, and the cost of upkeep was reduced to a minimum.

The Power Stations and Tramways Committee recommended:

That the sum of £4250 be provided, for in this year's estimates for the extension .-of the tramway from Willis Street to the Post Office Square, the work to be carried out in conjunction with the woodblocking of Customhouse Quay and the Post Office Square. "Many things are to be said in favour of this connection," • remarked the Mayor, "and many things may be said against- it." There would, of course, be no direct profit from the £4400 to be spent' on wood-blocking, but it was one of the most economical works they could do, because it would save a large amount of expenditure on repairing the street. An estimate would be prepared, which would show that the £4250 for the construction of the tramway would come out of the profits of the ensuing year. He did not know that the line would actually pay, but it .would save waste running along Lambtou Quay, and would avoid the frequent blockages at the corner of Willis and Manners Streets, where many people now had to change cars. That would bo a very desirable easement. -The Department also thought the connection would be of service in -many' minor ways. It would; save many people a good deal of inconvenience by carrying them on to the Post Office. - Councillor Devine: But will they pay for it? .The Mayor: They will if'this council so decides. '■','' Councillors: But will they? Councillor Devine expressed himself against carrying the Brooklyn people down to the Post Office without an'addition to the fare.. He. pointed out that the tramways were not paving particularly, well. No . attempt had been made to show that the new line would be profitable to the city as' a whole.

Councillor Morrah said he. was strongly in favour of the-new because it'would save a lot of-dead-run-ning on .Lainbtbh Quay.- The. cost would be repaid' six times over. . Councillor Cohen said the proposed connection had been recommended by the tramways engineer a year ago. Councillor Trevor favoured the woodblocking and tramway'extension.' He submitted that the Post Office Square should be the centre of the-whole tramway system, instead of the'railway station. •

Both the above recommendations were adopted. Newtown, to Kilbirnie. A, deputation, of which Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., and Mr. W. H: P. Barber .were the chief .speakers,'waited on the council to urge the/ desirability of constructing a tramway from Constable Street to Kilbirnie. Mr. Wright pointed out that there were. at least 10,000 people living,south of the Basin Reserve, and if they wished to go to Lyall Bay, for instance, they had to go to Clyde Quay, if not to Lambton Station, in order to-get a seat. .Moreover, ; cars were often kept. waiting.. on the other side, of Kilbirnie Tunnel. , .The Mayor: That is so. ' Mr. Weight asked that the work should be done during the 1 coming winter. He presented a petition,' which, he said, was signed by over,2ooo bona-fide residents askina for the line. /Mr.'. W. H. P. Barber urged the desirability of making the line in the especial interest of mothers with children, who, being quite unable to get seats in the cars, walked over the hills to Lyall Bay.. He would estimate the population south of the Basin Reserve at- over 20,000. He pointed out that the council had already approved of the scheme.

The Mayor said the line was estimated to cost £22,000. The'majority of the councillors present agreed to the scheme on a former occasion; before he was Mayor, but it was rejected by the ratepayers perhaps because it was mixed up with other projects. (Hear, hear.) The position was being forced upon the council that the Kilbirnie tunnel would only carry a certain amount of traffic, and they, had been unable at times to cope with'the traffic. The council would have to consider seriously before it decided to, spend£22,ooo out of tho District but he thought it was only a question of time when the connection would have to be made. He would bring tho matter before, the'next meeting.of the Tramways Committee, and that body would report to tlje council.

Mr. Barber said he was sure'a loan proposal for'tho purpose would-be carried by the ratepayers if put to them now.