HIGH LEVEL NEEDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1167, 30 June 1911, Page 4

HIGH LEVEL NEEDS.

SUBWAY AND LIFTS ADVOCATED. A strong deputation of residents of Wellington Terrace, Kelburne, and adjoining areas, waited upon the City Council yesterday to urge that it should build a subway from Boulcott Street under the Church Street steps, and erect elevators for the conveyance of passengers to the Wellington Terrace level.

Reading a petition containing 1200. signatures, Mr. J. Poynton, who first spoke for the deputation, stated that a small fare of eno penny for each ascent and onehaJfpcnny for each descent would provide interest and sinking fund on the outlay involved.

Mr. J. Hutcheson stated that tho proposal was to construct a tunnel 220 feet long, 9 feet high, and 8 feet wide, and a shaft #120 feet deep and G feet by 13 foot in cross measurements. It was proposed that there should bo two lifts, each with a capacity for ten 12-stone persons, besides the lift-man, and capable of travelling at a rate of 220 feet per minute. The capital cost involved would total .£4250, and the annual charges would be ,£B7i 9s. 7d. If 500 people went up in tho lifts every day and 150 people descended, at the s fares mentioned above, the last-named amount would be mcro than covered. This, tho speaker, submitted, was an exceedingly low estimate of tho number of persons who would uso tho lifts. From computations carefully made, it appeared that, on an average, 2053 people per day used tho Church Street and IJixon Street steps, to say nothing of those who avoided the steps by using alternative longer routes. In asking that tho proposal should bo referred to a committeo of the council, Mr. Ilutchcson stated that the deputation and those whom it represented, felt that this enterprise ought to bo iu the hands of tho city. They felt sure, that the principle would lw extended and applied in other districts, and that the lifts would be a source of profit to the city. M. C. Wilson (chairman of the Victoria College Council) stated that there were 475 students attending , the College, a majority of whom came daily from the Tβ Aro" end of the town, and used tho Church Street and Dixon Street steps. A large proportion of tho students were females, .aiid the system of lifts proposed would, Iwof vcry>(?rcat.value to them. : "The deputy-Mayor (Councillor J. Smith) said tho nronosal ■ would bo referred to the responsible' officers of tho council for consideration.

Mr. Hutcheson fired a parting shot as tho deputation departed. "I may say. Mr. Mayor, that wo mean to have the lifts," lie remarked, in a. tone of conviction. Tho council referred the- proposal to its eneincer for a report. The figures quoted by Mr. Hutcheson are based on the supposition that tho following service would bo maintained:— "One lift in continuous service from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on six days a week, excluding Sundays, and tho second lift running in two-hour spells—l 2 noon to 2 p.m., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. to 12 p.m., for tho samo number of days. Only one lift to run at intervals for 10 hours on Sundays. Tho advocates of the project, estimate that if 500 persons ascended daily in tho lifts, and 150 descended, at ■fares, of ono penny and ono half-penny respectively, a profit balance of £67 fls. 7d. would ba returned in excess of all annual charges. An important point urged in support of tho scheme is that in constructing tho sub-way aud shaft, and in the subsequent running of tho lifts, there would be no interference with private property. Consequently nothing would have to bo paid in compensation.