COURTENAY PLACE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2383, 12 February 1915, Page 6

COURTENAY PLACE

TRAMWAY STATION SCHEMES

DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL

The proposed alterations to the tram lines and waiting-room 6 at Courtenay Place were discussed at the City Council last night. The City Engineer submitted five schemes to the Tramways Committee, out of which one was adopted. This scheme will leave the present, lines undisturbed, but it provides for better shelter-sheds, and the'laying of a waiting line for cars,' to cope with rush traffic, at the apes of the triangle formed by the reserve. It also provides for the running of a tram line down Jervois Quay, to turn, into Clyde Quay southward, to connect with the . other line to Newtown, Island Bay, and Kilbirnie. This Jervois Quay route will be for, express cars, and to obviate crowding at the Coutrenay Place stop, they will stop for passengers in Clyde Quay, opposite _the„ end of Courtenay Place. . Councillor Thompson had the following motion on the order paper last night, but he asked leave to; withdraw it, and he did not proceed with it:— . "That with a View of ensuring the safety and convenience of the. public and improving. the street..for vehicular traffic, the City Engineer be instructed to prepare drawings aid estimates for altering the tramlines .at Courtenay Place, so that same will run through the middle of the plantation, to provide shelter for passengers on both sides of the lines, also up-to-date lavatories for both sexes."

A Central Station. Councillor M'Kenzie 1 mo\»ed the/following motion: — "That the resolution, passed, at • the last council meeting agreeing to the alteration of: Courtenay Place tram terminus be reconsidered. "That a fresh plan be prepared running the trams through the reserve, with a resting lino in the centre which would allow the reserve cars to be diverted to either line; that a station suitable for all -time lie erected, arid that all the roads be conserved for vehicular traffic." He said that his sole object in moving the motion was to ensure that the best possible arrangement of car traffic should be made at Courtenay Place, and he was afraid "the council had come to its previous decision a little too hastily. He would at least like to see his rough draft plan considered by the Engineer and the Tramway Committee. ■ Councillor Godber seconded the. motion, for the reason that he believed tbe scheme adopted by the council could he considerably improved.- ' For and Against. Councillor G. Erost said the council had been dawdling over this question for a long time. The Tramway Committee had considered five schemes submitted by the Engineer, and had adopted one of them. No sooner was it decided upon than a proposal was' put forward to reconsider it. Personally he would object to the destruction of the shrubbery, and he thought it was time' something was done to improve i&e present unsatisfactory state of affairs. He would strongly object ..also to any scheme to put a big station, practically a, railway station, in the middle of the street, and '.this was CouncillorM'Kenzie'B scheme. •. He opposed the motion. -

Councillor Fitzgerald opposed the motion, expressing oonfidonce in' the proposal of the City, Engineer. Councillor Luckia supported, the motion. He argued that some provision should be made for- coping with rush traffic, and no more suitable. place' for such provision coqld be found than Courtenay Plaoe. As for the reserve,' he considered it was neither nee nor ornament.-. " Councillor. Buddie, supporting the motion, said that the merit of Councillor M'Kenzie's scheme was that it wouldseparate, tram toaffic from veihioular traffic. ' ' . .-. Councillor Thompson said that the laying of three.lines,- vith shelter-sheds on either side of them would occupy practically the whole of the - etreetj leaving - very little space for vehicular traffic. He did not believe the, proposal for a .centre line for waiting cars was a workable one. It would t bo very dangerous to have people crossing the open lines to board cars on • the waiting line, while cars might be arriving along the other lines. ■ - The Mayor thought the council should adhere to the Engineer's plan already adopted. He opposed the resolution. The motion was negatived on ■ the casting vote of the Mayor.