THE PATUTAHI TRAMWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2173, 24 April 1908, Page 1

THE PATUTAHI TRAMWAY.

CR a MATTHEWS’ PROPOSAL

DISCUSSED.

COUNCIL DEFERS CONSIDERA TION. j

A special mooting of the Cook County Council was hold! in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon to receive the Engineers report on the tramway proposals as put forward by Or. A. Fordo Matthews at the meeting held on March; 19th.< Thero wore present, Hon. Captain Tucker (chairman), Crs. A. F. Matthews,. AV. J). S. MacDonald, 11. White, AV. G, Sherratt, and AV. i). Lysnar.

Cr. Matthews original motion was that the sum of £50,000 be borrowed for the purposo of constructing a light railway from Gisborne to the Patutalii quarry,,and from the junction of the Arni and-Patutalii roads to AA’aingnko.

The following motion was carried nt that meeting: That I’atutahi, Hangoroa, 'J’e Aral, AA’aikohu (AVlinrokopao portion), Gisborne and AA’lmtaupoko bo a special district for the construction of a steam tramway to Patutalii: that the proposal be'referred to tho County Engineer for his report: and that tho Borough Council be asked what quantity of metal they would take at a haulage rate of 3s per .cubic yard. ' j S- ' ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr. I)o G. Fraser, County Engineer, reported on the scheme as follows:' Tho schedules prepared and submitted to your Council by Cr. Matthews have been arranged in such a clear and comprehensive manner that 1 feel I cannot do better fhan follow on the lines scheduled by him. The different lists cab also ho better compared by adopting this course. Certain alterations, additions, and subtractions as have suggested themselves to 1110 will appear in my report.

“Estimate cost of construe- : ng steam tramway from Gisborne to I atutahi Quarry, via Abattoir Road; proposed gauge 2ft Gin, minimum radius of curves two chains, inax-’mun: speed 15 miles per hour, steel sleepers and steel rails 281bs per yaiu. - SCHEDULE NO. 1. “Formation (14 nnlos), £l4”b ; claying portions of sandmils, ,I'lc!', bridge, Quarry road, £500;- small bridges and culverts, £350; stiffening two lines of rail beams. AA’aipaoa bridge, £230 jpermanont way, estimated at 20 per cent on English prices, £10,416; tools, lail benders, track jacks, etc., £100; points, crossings, turnouts, etc., £560; turntables, £100; loading material and distributing, £504; laying road, £1680; ballasting, £2800; packing, at 5s 3d per chain, £308; purchase of land, £350; sidings for ballast/ £550; other sidings at terminals and en route, £350; engineering and contingencies, £1200; (cost per mile, £1539 2s lOd); rolling stock etc., locomotives, £1224; 10 trucks, steel double tipping, and 10 timber, £1205; one composite carrage, to cary 32, £3OO ; covored goods waggon (small), £100; open goods waggon, £108; ongLno shed at Gisborne, £250; tanks, stands, and windmills, £120; shed and platform, Gisborne, £250; shed and platform, Patutahi, £150; total cost, including rolling stock, £25,255; total cost per mile, £IBO3 18s 7d. SCHEDULE No 2. (Similar to C-r. -Matthews’ with' slight.amendments.) “Averago cost of carting stone from Patutalii Quarry as compared with tho rail haulage for a period of eight years: Cost of putting in repair from town boundary to Matawhero bridge, metal 30ft wido.say, 51 yards per chain (366 chains, 18,660 cubic yards), by road £5910, by rail £2500; Matawhero bridge to Bilham’s, 25 cubic yards per chain (260 chains, 6500 c.‘yards), £I3OO, £050; Bilham’s to Quarry, 10yds : per chain <331 chains, 3340 c. yards), £502, £167; metal repairs for Geven years (say, 12 miles, 5700 c. yards), £1258, £570; branch depots, Te Arai, Makaraka, etc., served partly, by proposed tram, per annum (1500 c. yards), £2700, £1200; totals, by road, £11,670; by rail £5387. “Tho above estimates are based on 6s 4d per yard by road, and 3s per yard by rail; from Matawhero to town boundary, 4s and 2s; from Matawhero to Bilham’s, 3s and Is; "from Bilham’s to Quarry, 4s 5d and 2s; for metal repairs main road, 4s 6d and 2s. Tlio total County requirements (960 chains, 35,666 cubic yards) amount, at an averago cost of. 4s od per yard, by Toad £11,670, by rail £5387.

GISBORNE BOROUGH REQUIREMENTS. “First year, say, 10,000 yards at 8s per yard by road, 3s per ion by rail, cost by road £4OOO, cost by rail £1500; seven years, say, 000 U yards per annum (42,000 c. yards), by road £16,800, by rail £6300; estimated total stone required by County and ißorougli for eight years, 87,066 c.-yards, being county 35,606 e. yards, borough 52,000 c. yards; cost by road £32,470, cost by rail £13,150. Total saving of cost- by rail as against by road carting for a period of eight years, county £6283, borough £13,000.” Note. —The above does not include the cost of crushing the stone, nor does it take into account the large amount of broken stone that would be available at a comparatively cheap rate for metal on county roads on Kaiti and Whataupoko. SCHEDULE No. 3. “Estimated annual of revenue. — 20 passengers per day at ltd per mile' each (14 miles), say for 300 days, £525; produce (including wool), 700 tons at 3s, £105; Borough Council, 8000yds metal at 3s, £I2OO ; County Council, 5000 yards metal at 2s 6d, £'6ls; other local bodies and private individuals, 1000 yards at _3, £150; parcels and mails, etc., £-50; total, £2645.” “Estimated annual expenditure. — Interest and sinking fund at 5 per cent on £25,255, £1262 15s; interest during construction for 18 mouths on £21.548, equals £1616 2s at o per cent., £BO 16s Id; maintenance and working expenses, 60 per cent on es-timated-revenue of £2615, £1587; to t-al £2930 11s Id.” ' “Estimated annual revenue, £2610 ; apparent annual deficiency £205 11s Id.” . “The proposed scheme is, I consider, a good one, permanent work will be executed on the high roads; heavy traffic over a considerable lenglit will bea clone away with; freights from wool, stores, etc., are certain to increase. and the success of the undertaking is practically assured by the fact that the principle item of revenue is based on a certainty as reg arils the carriage of metal, which

will produce £IBOS, or over 1 0 per cent of tho total estimated revenue. It must, however, be borne in mind by the general public that it will have to be satisfied with the simplest possible arrangements as to handling freights, etc., as rigid economy will have to be practised, if it is -desired that the proposed light railway pay interest and sinking fund of 5 per cent, on amount borrowed as well ns working expenses, a result as yet unattained by any of the main lines of this country. Should, however, it ha found that the revenue falls short of tho estimate, no great hardship would he entailed on those ratepayers benefiting, if portions of the interest were collected to mcat the deficiency.” THE 'DISCUSSION. The chairman said that a reply liad been received from the Borough Council stating that they would be prepared to taka 10,000 yards per annum, provided that the cost of haulage would be below 3s per yard, lie also added that he thought the Borough Council had agreed to pay 3s per yard, and he had hoped for a more i.Mnite reply. Cr. Lysnar said that it wav quite clear Unit tho Harbor Hoard would have to go to AVaihirere- for their metal. They should get an estimate from the Engineer as to the cost .of taking the tramway round by AVaihirere, and so work in with the Board. The Council would then not have to hear the entire cost, and what would be more acceptable would be that each of tho local bodies should contribute to the initial coat. Cr. Matthews said that- to put the meeting in order lie would move, — “That the sum of £25,000 be borrowed for the purpose of constructing a 2ft Oin gauge railway from Gisborne to the Patutalii quarry; first year’s interest to he paid out of the loan, and.that the Te Arai, Patutalii, Hangaroa, Gisborne, and AVhataupoko ridings, also including that portion of the AAuiikohu riding served by the AATtarekopae and Totiingi roads, be the rating district, and that the interest, including a sinking fund of one-half per cent-., he not more than 5 per cent, per annum; that a poll of the ratepayers in the above district mentioned ridings be taken as soon as possible.” .In speaking to his motion, Cr. Matthews said- that he was of opinion that if a line were constructed, it should certainly he their own. One big obstacle to the alternative AA’ailiirere scheme was the fact that it would bo further away, and also that a bridge would have to be constructed at a cost of £2OOO or £3OOO. Then, again, another obstacle was the fact of having to cross the Government railway line, as then the -Department could determine what charges were to bo made on the line, and could also prohibit them 'from using the line except at stated times. He was of opinion that the matter was one which should be absolutely decided' by the ratepayers. Cr. Sherratt seconded the motion, and considerable discussioiTensued as to the proposed boundary line. The Chairman said he was inclined to agree with Cr. Lysuar’s view. It would no doubt be very nice to have their own line, hut it would be very much more expensive. There are at least two other public bodies requiring stone, and if the ißorough were not wanting metal, lie thought there would be no question of a tramway at all. He favored co-operation with the other local bodies. Cr. Matthews said that if the alternative route proposed by Cr. Lysnar were adopted, it would involve' the purchasing of a great deal of land. Only recently the -Council were Seriously considering a £200,000 loan for roading the -district, which would have been absolutely 'unproductive. Vet his was a scheme which would earn a revenue and be profitable to the Council. The Council did not seem to be in earnest.

The Chairman said that lie hoped Cr. Matthews would see '■ that the Council was in- earnest. Personally, ho thought so much of the scheme that lie was against throwing it at tho ratepayers. 'He would . -aslt Cr. Matthews to withdraw tho portion of his motion referring to tho ratepayers.

Cr. Matthews said that lie did not wish to -rush the matter through. He invited the strictest criticism, and in the meantime would ask for an adjournment. He would, however, like to hear the Engineer’s opinion. The Engineer was thereupon asked for his opinion, and said- * that he thought it would not be wise to go in for the scheme without a guarantee from the 'Borough Council. He had no doubt that the Council would give a more definite--aiiswer. If the Council would give a guarantee to take 8000 or , 10,000 yards per annum for five years, they would, in his opinion, be justified in proceeding with the scheme at once. He was strongly in favor of Cr. -Matthews’ scheme as against Cr. Lysnar’s alternative route, which would only serve a short distance of road.

Cr. Matthews asked- that his motion be held over for a time, and the following motion substituted: “That the whole of the County Council, as a committee, wait on the Borough Council in this matter, any three to form a quorum, to ascertain the number of years during which they will take a certain quantity of stone.” He (the speaker) did not oppose an estimate of tile alternative route, hut thought it would be too expensive.

Cr. Lysnar moved as an amendment, —“That they adjourn further consideration until they had waited upon the Borough 'Council, and that the Engineer be instructed to report upon the cost of a branch line to Matawhero and the cost- of taking the main, line via AVaihirere, with two branch lines.”

The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and Cr. Lysnar eventually seconded Cr. Matthews’ motion to confer with the Borough Council.