The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4125, 17 May 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1876.

The Corporation, at their last meeting, virtually arrived at the determination to construct, or rather permit the construction of street tramways. By the resolution, persons willing to invest money in the speculation are invited to submit tenders stating the terms on which they will “ construct and work " them. Several of the Councillors, who expressed themselves favorable to the tramway system, hesitated to commit themselves to its adoption, and proposed to remit the question to a plebiscite of the inhabitants of the City. We aro glad this proposition was not carried, as very few of the inhabitants of Dunedin have had oppottuuity of knowing how the plan works, or what peculiar advantages or draw*

backs to it Dunedin presents. It really is a question of time and money, and if those two can be saved there is great gain. Very much might be said in favor of the Corporation retain* ing street tramway traffic in their own hands, and if it could be shown that it would be managed by the Corporation on sound busi-ness-like principles, we should decidedly prefer that it should be placed on the same footing as gas and water. Both those essentials were originated by private companies, and in both instances in the clashing of public and private interests the public suffered, We know the favorite theory with many is that “ these things are better managed by private companies than by Governments,” no matter whether Provincial, General, or Municipal. Like all unexplained generalities uttered by somebody with a name, it has found acceptance with many who have not troubled themselves to think or inquire further about it. But assuming it to be true, for whose benefit is the management 1 Let the history of the Gas, Water, and Port Chalmers Railway Companies tell. We do not say that all those companies were better managed by the original proprietary than now. Kach had its own tale of mismanagement and costliness excepting the railway. But it has been found advisable in each case to buy the property of the companies, even at the price of twice or three times the first cost of the works. Why was thial Simply because the good management, if any, was not that the public should be benefited but the proprietary, and in order to realise dividends operations in gas and water were extended or restricted at will. Private, not public profit was the ruling motive. Nor does the management of private companies generally commend the transfer of privileges in which public utility is concerned to their keeping. We believe that there is scarcely a man in business in Dunedin who has not suffered in pocket at one time or other in his lifetime, through the mismanagement of companies in which he has been induced to invest capital. If we look north, south, east, or west, we have ironsand, coal, gold-mining, and manufacturing companies, the affairs of which are standing protests against private ability to manage those enterprises j while, on the other hand, railways are worked by the Government to a handsome profit. Although, therefore, it may be true that in certain cases private enterprise may enrich those who embark in it, transference of privileges in which the public interest is concerned, means putting into private pockets those profits that, if realised by the Corporation, would be utilised in extending the benefits of the system or in reducing transit charges. The proposition is to construct a tramway from a point north to a point south, along a certain line of streets. But that proposition neces--8 irily limits the tramway system to that line, because the tenders will be based upon a monopoly of tramway traffic on it; and any extension of it to other lines in like direction would necessarily be opposed to the interests of the lessee, and if insisted on entitle him to compensation. So it was with gas, so it was with water, so it was with the Port Chalmers Railway, so it will be with street tramways. It is a necessary result of the system. When, therefore, it is proposed to adopt an improved style of road or travelling by which the public are to be benefited, why not do it at public cost ? Tramways are no new things: their utility has been proved in Europe and America ; the best method of construction is easily ascertainable and the best mode of working also. Experienced men accustomed to their management will easily be obtained —there is nothing of the mystery of a new invention about them, nor are they very costly affairs. The money proposed to be expended on a Town Hall would lay down tramways to double or treblethe distance proposed ; and if such an investment would pay an investor, it should pay the public far better. No doubt there is great advantage in possessing a commodious building for civic offices. It must be built sooner or later, but if it is needful to defer one or the other, we prefer what is reproductive to that which is mainly ornamental. If tramways are necessary, and we think they are, let them be made and worked under City control. Offices can be had for civic purposes without difficulty, and at less annual percentage than will have to be paid for money spent on a Town Hall.

We (‘N. O. Times’) heard rather a good joke yesterday. It appears that a certain merchant having asked that a railway siding zniffat be made to his place, received a reply that it would be no use, as the Government trucks could’nt bo sent on to private premises, lest it should happen that they might be “seised for rent.”

li may not be generally known that the fidelity of Government officers is mutually assured, under the Government Officers Guarantee Act, 1870. Mr Woodward, as Chairman of the Board, has just issued the first notice of a call to cover a defalcation. The defaulter W. W. Vause, was a poetmaster and telegraphist at Otago. His defalcations amounted to L 67 6s 3d and a call of twopence per oent. on the amount of his guarantee is required to cover it,. The probability that Sir George Grey may surrender the representation of the Thames in Parliament being now looked upon as almost a certainty, many of our fellow* citizens, says the local paper, who take a keen interest in election matters are casting their eyes round for his probable successor. Amongst those whose names we have heard mentioned as probable candidates are Mr J. E. Macdonald, Mayor of the borough ; Mr James Mackay, and Mr J. M. Dargaville. Last night the leading members of the Caledonian Society officially inspected tlxo evening classes under the auspices in the Normal School. The classes are superintended by Messrs Ferguson (Albany street School), and Lindsay (Normal School), assisted by Messrs Murray, Kyle, and Menzies. There are at present 225 on the roll, and 203 were present. The lads were subjected to a rigorous examination in the various subjects, and acquitted themselves most creditably. The School of Arts Department under Mr Hutton was afterwards j visited. There were thirty-seven pupils present, mostly mechanics. Mr M. Elliott, who was recently appointed General Manager and Inspector of the National Bank of New Zealand, having been : compelled to resign that office in consequence of his health having broken down, i Mr Thos. Buchanan, the well-known Wellington manager and inspector, has been appointed Acting General Manager and Inspector, and is now in full charge of the bank in this Colony, Mr Henry Green, formerly accountant in the Bank of New Zealand at Wellington, and who has more recently held a high' appointment in the National Bank in Auckland, has been appointed Acting Manager of the Wellington branch. A very pleasant evening was spent at the pilot station, Taiaroa Heads, on Monday evening, the occasion being a farewell dinner given by the pilots and others to Mr Johnson, assistant lighthouse keeper, who has received the appointment of keeper of the Pencarrow light at Wellington. A number of visitors from Port Chalmers, Portobello, Dunedin, and other parts were present, including Mr T. Daniel, M.P.C. for Riverton. An excellent spread was provided, Pilot Kelly taking the chair, Pilot Steward acting as croupier. Speeches, songs, &c., having been disposed of the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up with great spirit until an early hour next •morning. Mr and Mrs Johnson take with them the warmest wishes of all connected with the pilot station. SThe meeting of cricketer i convened for tomorrow night has been adjourned for a week. Members of the Star of Otago, 1.0.0. F., are requested to attend a special meeting tomorrow evening at 8.30 The annual nunion of the yrabire Association will, take place on Tuesday, the 23rd, in the Temperance dall. A new lodge of the 1.0. G.T. will be instituted at the Mission House, Russell street, tomorrow evening, at 7.30. A meeting will be held at the Hibernian Hotel Friday evening at eight o’clock, with a view of forming a Gardeners’J enefit Society A. meeting of the ratepayers in the North Ward of the South Dunedin municipality is to be held at the Ocean View Hotel to-merrow evening to take steps to have the ward more efficiently represented. We would lemind our readers that to-night Hadame De Murska and her company make their final appearance in Dunedin, when a programme worthy of them and the occasion will bo presented. To-morrow they leave for Oamaru and Timaru. Mr Medoalfe, the indefatigable agent, was a passenger by the Hawea to-day; he proceeds to Christchurch to make arrangements for opening a season there on the 20th nit.