PALMERSTON TRAMWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1869, 1 October 1913, Page 10

PALMERSTON TRAMWAYS.

-THE RIVAL SYSTEMS. The question of providing a tramway system for Palmerston North is still engaging the attention of tho municiptal authorities, although it will bo somo time before any definite decision is come to. Tho matter has been under discussion for many months, but tho position now seems to be almost exactly as. it'was when the question was first mooted. Tho first schomo brought forward provided'for an. overhead electric system. This scheme was placed before, •the ratepayers by tho council, which asked for authority to raise 'a.loan of £60,000 to cany out tlio work of construction. The proposal was carried, and "the council then had an elaborate set of plans prepared, at a cost of somo £400. Another poll was held to enable the council to apply for an Order-. in-Council, empowering it to lay down lines in the street and to erect tho necessary overhead equipment. In the mean'timo a decided antipathy to tho overhead system had arisen in tho minds of residents, and tho proposal was defeated. Tho peoplo of Palmerston are justly proud of tho appearance of their town, which' they considered would _ bo spoilt by mazes of wires in tho principal streets. Tho amount of wiring required is now greatly increased owing to the prohibition of poles in the centre of the streets, and the necessity for suspending tho wites from poles set up at tho edgo of the footpaths. Other considerations weighed with tho people in rejecting the scheme after it had gone so far, but tho danger of rendering the town unsightly was the principal one. Although there is no possibility of the acceptance of this' particular system, of tramways in the town, progressive residents do not despair of providing some scheme of fast locomotion in tho main thoroughfares. A bus system was 1 proposed by a few residents, but' it was received with very little favour. Nothing, remained, therefore, hut for the Borough Council to cast about for some other system of tramways. To this ehd negotiations,have been.entered into with various firms, in the Old Country which supply other systems. Tho two styles, of car which are being most closely inquired into are the storagebattery (aa adopted recently in Gisborno) and tho potrol-electric. While regretting that so much work was done, and so much oxpenso incurred practically to no purpose, many of the prominent men in tho movement are avowedly glad, that tho overhead electric system was rejected. It is cotended that this system is now somewhat out of date, and that it will never again bo adopted b.y rising towns like Palmerston, which are commencing an absolutely new service. All kinds of systems are being investigated, including steam, which has proved successful in many places, including the Australian town of Rockhampton; Tho council expects io havo replies to its qiieries very shortly, and then a definite scheme will be again prepared for submission to tho ratepayers.

Messrs. J. H. Betlnine and Co. announce in our auction columns that to-day, at 2.30 p.m., at their rooms, under instructions from tho I'egistrar of the Supreme Court, they aro submitting several properties at the Lower Hutt, also a leasehold property in Molesworth Street, Wellington. Tho Hutt properties contain an area of 47 acres 2 roods 21.1 perches, of which nearlv one acre is situated near Alicetown, and on the land stand six cottages, eacli of five rooms; the balance of tho land is on tho Hutt and Nai Nai Road, and the buildings on it comprise eight-roomed dwelling, with large outbuilding, four glass-houses, and pottmghouse, stable, and five cottages, four of four rooms, and one of three rooms. Tho leasehold property in Molesworth Street lias a frontage of GO links by an irregular depth, and oil it stands dwelling-house No. 149. Details appear in the advertisement. The firm also announce that on Wednesday next October 8, at 2.30 p.m., at their room's, under instructions from the Registrar of tho Supreme Court, they are submitting a property fronting the Main Karori Pond and Creswick Road, adjacent to tho Karori tram line. Tho land lias an area of 3 acres 2 roods 2 perches, and on it stands two dwellings, each of four rooms Details anpear in tho advertisement 011(1 further information may bo obtained from Messrs. Chapman, Skerrett. Tripp, and Blair, solicitors, or tho auctioneers.