25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 107, 30 January 1935, Page 8

25 YEARS AGO

Constable Street Trams (From “The Dominion,” January 28, 1910.) The proposal to extend _ the Constable Street tramline over the hill to Kilbirnie was raised by Cr. Luke at last night « meeting of the Wellington City Council. Cr. Luke ’reiitarked that it must be patent to everyone that the traffic on the eastern side of'the city was increasing to such an extent that an extension would soon have to be considered. The Mayor said that he had thought the matter out of late and was only waiting to see how the tramway returns for the year worked out and how the finances stood. [All cars used to go through the tunnel.l During the debate by the Wellington Harbour Board of the annual report and statement of accounts, Mr. R. Fletcher •said that the work by tbe dredge M hakiriri was ihe only good work done by the board during the year. The muddle the board found itself in, however, was not due to this or the last board, but was a legacy extending some years back. Lookin" over the harbour works one first saw the Petone Wharf—a work which had been muddled from beginning to end. Then there was the King’s "Wharf. If this had been built on businesslike lines there would he no necessity for the board to provide further accommodatoon for many .years to come. At present the wharf was 'absolutely useless and was condemned by every shipmaster. Then came the Clyde Quay Wharf. It made one sorry even to mention this, and he was sure no one in "Wellington could tell why it had been built. Some £35,000 had been expended on a structure which was going to be absolutely useless. Then again there was the boat harbour on which money had been simply wasted and thrown into the harbour. Another work was the Miramar contract. He thought it was a pity the board ever had anything to do with this. If one. mentioned the dock anywhere in Wellington it was with bated breath. Several other speakers agreed with Mr. Fletcher. "[The references were to the sinking of part of the new Petone Wharf, the inconvenience of the new King's Wharf for handling cargo, and the stoppage of work on the dock near Clyde Quay because the concrete would not set.]