MOTU-MATAWAI TRAMWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2151, 28 March 1908, Page 1

MOTU-MATAWAI TRAMWAY.

MU REES’ SCHEME' CONDITIONS AGAIN DISCUSSED. A special meeting of the Cook Counfv Council was held .yesterday to further consider tlio proposals of Mr AV. L. llees to construct a tramway to connect the Motu, jMatawai, atid Itakauroa districts with the railway. There wore present the lion. Captain Tucker (chairman), Crs. A. F. Matthews, AV. D. Lysnar, 11. AVhitc, It. Shorrntt, 11. Kenway, and AV. D. S. MacDonald. The chairman read the draft conditions submitted by the County solicitor, Mr C. A. doLafbur, for the granting of the license for tho construction of trams. Tho conditions provided that the construction shall bo commenced within six months and completed within two years, that il tho liconseo fails to carry out tho conditions to tho satisfaction of tho engineer the license may.bp revoked by tho, council, that a rqcoi'cLof-tlie ling^foC ;tram. couffIcil horse* -- power shall-be-niseil; that the width of tramway shall not exceed eight feet; lev- - el crossings bo provided at all cross roads, and tho County Engineer to decide where bridges are required. When land is taken by the council from private owners for tho construction of tho trams it is to ho paid for by the licensee. All crossings of roads and to private gateways shall ho properly planked. The loads over bridges to be limited to 4 tons for each truck and not more than three 'trucks to pass at one time ; the rate of travelling over bridges not to exceed 4 'miles an hour. All work to ho done to the.satisfaction of tho County Engineer, and the maintenance to be under his control. Mr Rees said he had read tho conditions and would like them amended so as to be able to use steam power. jAVith such a largo undertaking horsepower was out of the question. There could surely bo no objections to tho uso of steam power upon . county roads. Ho would 'ask permission to uso steam power, as tho difference in tho cost of drawing-each 100 ft of timber would he from ls-6d to 2s. He also did not agreo to the conditions upon which tho license could bo revoked at the will of tho County Engineer. No company would undertake the construction if tho County Engineer was to be paramount. The condition was ridiculous. The tramway could not ho completed in six months but would tako two years. Tho chairman said ho agreed with Mr Rees, and thought the conditions (should bo altered to read that the tramway construction must bo commenced within six months, and completed within two years from tho date of tho license, unless the council agreed to further extend, tho time. Mr Rees said the engineer should not have power to revoke the license, but to give notieo that tho trams were not working to tho Council’s satisfaction. Tho chairman said it was only fair tho tramway proprietors should liavo reasonable, notice. Gr. Matthews said tho engineer should only have power to report to the Council. An officer should not have powor to do as lie wished. Mr Rees, said that while the interests of tho ratepayers should bo conserved, the company was also entitled to some protection. The law said tho Council must give duo hearing to all who camo forward, and a company might easily bo blackmailed by a small number of persons. The chairman said lie was of tho opinion that tho Council could reject or accept, at its discretion, any objection offered. Cr. Matthews said tire conditions hardly mot his view and ho thought a sub-committee should confer with tho solicitors. The draft conditions were absolutely prohibitive). Tho chairman said ho did not like tho idea of a committee agreeing, to tho conditions. Cr. Lysnar said the Council should settle tho main points ,and leaves tho committee to settle the details. Cr. MacDonald thought the agreement should be re-considered by tlie solicitors, after Mr Rees’ objections had been heard. Tho chairman said tlio objections should be heard before tho conditions of agreement were fixed. Cr. Lysnar said tlio ratepayers could not object until they knew the conditions. Cr. Kenway said lie concurred with Cr. Lysnar’s opinion. Tlio chairman said ho did nob object to tlio Council publishing the conditions of agreement, but the Council was not compelled to do so. Any conditions could bo added after tho objections were heard. Cr. Lysnar considered tlio solicitors should draw up an agreement according to tlio Council’s terms, after the terms were settled. Mr Roes agreed that every precaution should be taken that the public, should know tlio conditions before tho agreement was signed. The chairman said no person would put money into an investment under tho conditions submitted. Cr. AVhite said tlio solicitors should ho again consulted on the matter. Cr. Lysnar suggested that the Council was only wasting time discussing tho draft agreement. Mr Rees said tho Council could not agreo to conditions that over-rodo tlio - Statutes. Cr. AA’hito said tho agreement should be re-drawn. Cr. Kenway said the agreement should not be shorn of its conditions without the advice of tho solicitors. They probably had some reason for all tlio conditions inserted. 'He also thought machinery should be provided in the agreement- so that any settler could object to tho method of conducting file tramway. Mr. Rees said the statutes provided for that. No conditions imposed could upset tho license, as long as the tramways were run- to its conditions. , . . Cr. Lysnar said that provision should be provided so that the trams would become public trams at the statutory time. The clause allowing the ratepayers to object to tlio trams at any tmio after they were constructed was struck out, • , . . Cr AVhite said lie thought it would be wise to have tlio County Solicitor present. If they had an advocate on ono side they should have it on tlie other. ... , ~ ~ The Council decided to send lor Mr de Latour. Cr. Matthews said lie thought the Council should draft terms and submit them to Mr Rees. Mr Rees said he was willing to submit to any legal position, but could not agree to prohibitory conLabour then attended on the Council and discussed the details of j

the agreement which was amended in some minor details. Tho agreement was then referred back (o' the County Solicitors to make tlie amendments suggested and ro-fjubmit 'it to tlio Council.