BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 97, 2 April 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the above was held directly after the Harbor Board business was finished. The business was to further discuss and consider the letter received from the Cook County Council re railway. Cr. Joyce wished to know whether it would be a permanent or a temporary line. Cr. Lewis replied that the line would be a permanent one. The Council would continue the line through the town. The Secretary said that it would not entail any cost to the borough. Cr. Kenny said that horse-power should be used from the beginning of the town boundary, in the place of steam, which caused great risk and many accidents. Other towns, lie knew, had given steam-power up long ago. As to the road down which it was to travel, he thought probably Childers Street would be the most convenient. It would be nearly as central as Gladstone Road, and would, in every respect, be far better. Cr. Joyce asked whether it was to be a railway or a tramway. He thought engines should not be driven through the town. The Chairman replied that the letter distinctly stated a line of railway. Cr. Hepburn did not think they could substitute horse traffic on a railway line.

Cr. Joyce wm in favor of Childers Street, and against a steam engine. The Chairman was in favor of the line going down Gladstone Road, because the width of the road was half-a-chain more than that of Childers Street. If the rail was required to go over the bridge at the foot of Gladstone Road, it would be better to have it in that road, as the line could be continued straight across, whereas in Childers Street, if they required to go across the bridge, the line would have to be taken along Read’s Quay. Cr. Kenny said he now saw that if horse power was substituted for steam, then different carriages would be required. He would not vote for steam traffic down Childers Road, as he could see it would prove an intolerable nuisance. Cr. Joyce thought steam engines would be objectionable in any street. Cr. Townley said if horse power was used he thought Gladstone Road was the best for it, but he did not think it was in their province to argue whether steam or horse power should be used. He would be opposed to a horse tramway. It was impossible to work both steam and horse together. It would be better for the County Councillors to meet them and discuss the matter together. This would be the only way to come to anything definite. Either this could be done, or a committee could be appointed among themselves to gather all the necessary information, and discuss the question, and then to report at the ordinary meeting of the Council. He would move that that be done, the Committee to consist of Crs. Smith, Tucker, Kenny and Townley. This was seconded and carried. The Council then rose.