STEAM TRAMWAY

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 824, 24 February 1903, Page 3

STEAM TRAMWAY

MR MATTHEWS’ NOTICE O: MOTION.

At tho meeting of tho County Council yesterday, tho notice of motion given by Cr Matthews in regard to the construction of a steam tramway to the Patutahi quarry came up for consideration. In introducing tho subject Cr Matthews stated that he had had great difficulty in getting the tonnage that would come through by the tramway. Ho had come to tho conclusion that beforo anything further was clone the Government should be asked if they could supply the rails to the Council free of cost. If this could be done it would mean a saving to the Council of about £6OOO. The Engineer said the estimated cost of the rails was over £6OOO, hut they had to take into account the freight from Wellington. ff tho rails wero supplied by tho Government as suggested by Cr Matthews, the freight would bo considerable. On 786 tons of rails, it would amount to £1689, and this amount had to be deducted from the cost of £6160, thereby showing a saving of £4470. Cr Matthews said that a saving of £4470 was a big item. He moved a motion to the effect that tho Government be asked to supply the rails free of charge.

Or Gray : How do you propose to get the money ? Cr Matthews : The proposal is that the money bo borrowed. Cr Gray : And what about security Cr Matthews : Y'ou would havo to give tho rates of the county for security. The Chairman : They aro already pledged for the bank overdraft. They aro gone. Cr Matthews : If they aro pledged then they aro gone. You havo nothing moro to pledge. I cannot supply the Council with all tho figures at present, as I have not

tho information at hand. No harm, however, can be dono in making this application to the Government. Cr Gray referred to tho proposal as “ a wild sehome,” and said that ho would prefer to see the matter gone fully into before approaching tho Government for the rails. lie wanted to know all about the proposals, what tho total cost would be, how the money was to be raised, and what security was to ho offered. They were only making fools of themselves unless thoy had a definite scheme to work on. Members could not point out one caso in the colony where a railway had been made by a County Council. Cr Harding: \Vo had ono hero some

time ago. Cr Gray : If the thing could bo done by a private company it would be another matter. The tramway would only benefit a small portion of the County. Several members thought that Cr Matthews should bo allowed time to prepare facts and figures, and that in tho meantime the Government could bo asked if they would supply the rails.

Cr Clayton was willing to wait until Cr Matthews was ready with all information, but, at tho same time, he was afraid that the propiosal would be of no avail. Ho had not much hope for the success of the idea. Councillors required to act with tho utmost care, and remember they had no right to gamble with tho ratepayers’

monoy. The Chairman favored Cr Matthews’ request being acceded to, as tho Council would then bo in a better position to discuss tho matter.

Cr Matthews said that, roughly speaking, ho should say they woro paying £ISOO tn £IOOO for carting metal and putting it in tho depot, and carting from the depot and spreading it. This sum would moro than pay interest on tho amount required for the construction of tho tramway. If he could show that the cost of tho railway would be less than what they wore already paying for tho metal, then ho considered he had good grounds for asking tho Council to consider the matter. Ho complained of the selfish and parochial view some members took in regard to the Council’s expenditure.

Cr Gray pointed out that tho Council in asking the Government for tho rails would be at a disadvantage in obtaining other assistance. Cr Richardson: Tho motion does not pledge tho Council to anything. The Chairman: Besides wo are promised to be supplied with information showing us how to finance when we aro already mortgaged up to the hilt. Cr Clayton : That would be vory useful information for nearly every settler in the Bay. Tho motion was carried.