DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2423, 22 December 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

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Y'our readers will agree with me that in everything affecting the public convenience, private enterprise is preferable to Government undertakings. Our tramway system illustrates this very forcibly.

It is now about sixteen months since the town line was opened, and since then extensions have been made to the lower junction of the valley, to Caversham, and to the Ocean Peach, each journey only costing 3d. I need not say this quite knocked on the head the high priced monopoly of the Jehus,” that cabs were at once lowered in value, and that the majority of those ancient vehicles found their way to up-country townships. The traffic —after the novelty of the new method of locomotion had passed away — gradually increased, and latterly the enterprise has given very good returns ; not undeservedly, for during the day cars could be obtained every eight minutes, as regularly as clockwork, and the employees were ignorant of red tape incivility. On the day previous to the fire I was at the Agricultural Society’s Show, held at the Forbury Park. It came on to rain heavily in the afternoon, and the tramway had a chance of showing what it could accomplish. Cars were despatched, six at a time, as fast as they could be loaded, and got away, each carrying between 30 and 40 passengers. It was a matter for general surprise the next morning to hear that Proudfoot’s building, in which were sheltered 30 cars and 7 engines, besides electric lights and other machinery had been burnt out of existence. Nothing but the iron wheels remained, resting upon the rails, and with the exception of two cars left at the Peach, nothing was left of the very complete plant he had gathered together from America, Norway, and England. The insurances amounted to £lo,ooo. Opinions of course differ as to the value of the property destroyed. Proudfoot says he Joses £;>000 ; the cabmen give £3OOO of a profit; whilst the public think the balance is on bis side. Some of the engines would in all probability have done ns further work, and I think be is satisfied as to the comparative values of steam and horse power for a three mile line. With oats at the present prices the line can be worked for half tiie money with horses. The travelling public approve of steam power because it is easier and quicker, and my opinion of the matter is that it is the public who are most affected by the destruction of the conveyances. Not a day was lost before orders were wired Home for a further supply of the best make, several cars have been borrowed from Wellington, some rail way carriages have been obtained from the Government, and local industries have been benelitted to some extent. For the holidays temporary cars have been built after the fashion of Irish cars with open sides, and already a timetable is being worked on all the lines. If this bad been a Government undertaking, the beads of the department would not yet have seen their way to a resumption of traffic.

An inspectimT of the harbor was made on Saturday by the members of the Harbor Hoard and others interested. The various depths obtained down the new channel were very satisfactory, and showed that parts of the channel which had been dredged two years ago had not silted up to any extent. The two dredges are still at work, and the engineer is confident that within 14 months intercolonial steamers will be able to come right alongside the Dunedin L“tty.

The schools in this district broke up for the holida}’s last week, and as, under our present educational arrangements, there is no provision made for rewards to the most industrious scholars, a few old High School boys took up the matter, and arranged a concert, which resulted in the handsome sum of £1)0 being obtained for the purchase of prizes.