OPUNAKE-ELTHAM TRAM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 36, 1 February 1908, Page 5

OPUNAKE-ELTHAM TRAM.

: AUltriXG AT KAIIUIT. ! (From llur Own Correspondent'. | A lucaitij! convened bv the Kgmun; jl.umty G.im.il to di-cuss the pioposcl .' t-l'Uij.- tr.un.iay trom Opunake tn 'Lltluin wa. held in the Ualwtu Hall :m Thursday evening. There was not a vm- large ateudance, only about 23 l«-mg present. Mr. E. .Maxwell, member of the County Council, explained the sdi.in.\ which ha* already been coiu- | iiwnlrd upon in your paper. It wjh i pointed out ilut ihe total c«.,t to Opunake would 1«. £l>t,m), of which thv. I Egiuont County Council, would have to fnud t'.jO.iaju. Interest and linking fund j would amount to £2750, and to secure this it would be necessary to strike a [ rate of Id in the £ on the county as lar a* the Kahui road. If the meetings which were I wing held were at all favorable a poll would be taken on the question; if not, the matter would drop. Numerous questions were asked and answered. In reply to Mr Phillips, .Mr. Maxwell said that if the line were extended to Kahotu later on it would mean that Kahotu peopie would have to pav a double rate, but they probably would not object to that if they saw the line was paying and they were not called on for the first rate. Thin end of the district was in the worst position to derive any benefit from the tram at Upunake, as it would be tea miles from the terminus, but he considered the freight on goods would be the same to New Ply-

mouth direct per waggon, and of course the nearer one got to Opunake the belter would be the results. In reply to Mr. Mills, the speaker said that he did not think the people north of Opunake could pay a lesser rate than those served by the tramway. The reduction in freight and fares would be a saving to the whole district. Personally speaking as a ratepayer, not as a Count v Councillor, he was favorable to the tram. There were no engineering difficulties. The line would pass through superior country, heavily settled, and must pay handsomely. Even if he had to pay the Id rale he would pay it with pleasure Capital was made out of the fact that the tram would rediue the ordinary rate. He. however, did n"' 'hink it would, as with the increasing dairying the wear and tear wonld be heavier, and he was of opinion that in the future a heavier rate v.mil.l lie nee led. but with lh- tran the present rate would do. In regard Jo the railway, he did not think there was any chance of getting that. They did not seem to be any further ahead than they were years ago. Personally. he thought the tram would be better. After more discussion, it was proposed by Mr. Oareia. that this meeting is in favor of a poll of ratepayers being ti ken on the tramway question. Seconded byMr. .1. Leng and carried. A vote of thanks to Mr Maxwell terminated fhe meeting.