BOROUGH TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 15 January 1915, Page 3

BOROUGH TRAMWAYS.

SCHEME NOT 'JO UK CURTAILED. SUGGESTED ALTERATION DEFEATED. /ADDITIONAL LOAN TURNED DOWN. TEN PER CENT. TO BE CALLED UP. WILL IT SUFFICE!

A meeting of the works committee of the Borough Council (comprising the whole Council) was held on Wednesday night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson) Crs. Kibby, Collis Jackson, Healy, Johnstone, Ambury, Clarke, Sykcs and Manmx. Mr. Black, consulting engineer, and Mr. Natusch, architect, attended the meeting- • , • 4.1, „ Prior to commencing business the Mayor referred to the interest that was being evinced in the tramways scheme by the public and by the local Press, and said he proposed to ask the meeting for an expression of opinion as to whether the Press should be admitted to tlu meeting. On the motion of Cr. kibby, seconded by Cr. Sykes, it was decided that the meeting be open to the press.

CONSULTING ENGINEER'S REPORT. The consulting "engineer read a report in which he recommended that a tower waggon which could be obtained at about half-price, should be purchased. He also enumerated a list of tools and equipment for the car shed which would be required. The total cost would le over £4OO. , In answer to Cr. Ambury, Mr. lilac* stated that the items mentioned, except the tower waggon, were inclined in the estimates, but v»'f not specified. The Mayor :=:nd that as the supplies mentioned'were n-cessary he moved that tenders be called for same (except the waggon), or that they be indented as might be thought best. The, motion was carried.

THE CAR-SHED SITE. j The Mayor then referred to the cottage on the car-shed site, and moved that tlie tenant be notified to give up possession. * Cr. Collis inquired what was to be done with the cottage. The Borough engineer stated that it was proposed to move it back, and possibly let it. Cr. Collis: If that is so the tenant might be retained, as lie might not think it necessary to move out during ' the shifting process. The Mayor said that in view of the limited area it was doubtful if there would be any suitable place for the cottage, and that no back entrance could be provided. ■ Cr. Collis thereupon seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr. Ambury considered that it would be advisable'that the Borough engineer should report on what should be done with the cottage as it might be possible to remove it to another section, the Council having it in contemplation to provide another site for the Fitzroy •hall. He moved in that direction. 1 Cr. Johnstone seconded the motion, but I on different grounds from the mover. 1 He said the cottage had been "built before the war," and if sold, would probably fall into the bands of a speculative builder, who would perpetuate the existence of a "shack."

Cr Kibby stated that the cottage was not built before the war, but it would be out of place on the car.shed site. The motion was carried, the engineer being authorised to report to the Council at its next meeting. A letter was read from Mr. P. S. Whitcombe, relative to the proposed improvements which the Council contemplated in the vicinity of the Waiwakaiho bridge, intimating that he would not oppose the Council's proposals to deposit earth on his property provided the Council erected 2J chains of iron fencing, or three chains of wire ' ncing. The terms were accepted.

THE WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE. Correspondence was read from the consulting engineer of the Public Works Department relative to carrying the tramway over the Waiwakaiho bridge, the Department's engineer considering that the bridge was not sufficiently safe for the purpose. The Mayor considered that the matter should be deferred, as the present scheme did not provide for carrying the tramway over the. bridge.

THE TRAMWAYS ENGINEER. The committee then received Mr. Back's report on the applications for the position of resident tramways engineer. The applicants had been reduced to two, and after considering the applications and testimonials of these two candidates, as well as those of several other applicants, and, acting on the advice, of the consulting engineer, it was decided to oflVr the position to Mr. R. H. Batlcy, of Wellington.

THE WEST END DEPUTATION. After the town clerk had read the letters from himself to the Council with reference to his suggestion that the sections of tramline frf.m Egmont street to Morlev street, and from the car-shed site to the Waiwakaiho bridge should be deferred until the other portions of the work had been completed, so as to ensure that the Council would not lie finaneially hampered, the Mayor reported the result of his interview (already published} with a deputation or West End residents, who protested against the curtailment of the scheme as originally sanctioned, and submitted the statement of their views as banded to him in writing. His Worship said that the arguments of the speakers were on the lines, set forth in the letter, and he detailed his reply, as already published. . Since then, he said, he had gone very ; carefully into the matter, and hail come I to the conclusion (hat with Iho aid of 1 he ten per n-ut. ~ii the loan money, the entire scheme could be carried out. and he hoped the Council would see its way l to adopt' that course. Willi a view to enabling the Council to understand the ],••,- s.-ii( finaiieiiil position with lv-ard jo the tramway* loan, the town clerk had prepared j, statement, which would be read to the Council. This ,far.emciit showed that there would be availaide f.,r contingencies. What the Council had to consider was whether the -be;,,,. should be curtailed in t.nv particular. and. if s„, j„ y,|,a( direction: also, jf it were decided to carrv out. the -e] e Tlu . ;,, its entirety uhether the lot r cent. on the loan should be rai.srd.or Iho ratepavers asked to sand ion a further lean. He considered thai the scheme s|„.„|,| ~„( be curtailed, as such a s(ep would iiceessiirily involve breaking faith with lie ratepayers who yoje,] f,„- the lean, and it would certainly ntlVcl the revenue. ll,■ did not. think they should curtail the Moturoa. end. as i,",|ii,-!mMablv there would he :> very lar-e iralfic a': that. end. especially bv poonlo 0,, i„., lM I :he bee,.],. „,,;,.,, :,, ,-,.,, ~',., . , ( ~,,., ! moreover, the'iran:s ,'..■;!!■! e,.i,.i, : ,te with , the railway. a :»! e,.;,),;,. ...sido.C; to j spend a pleasant hour in the , v-nbe oil the beach. Neither |h>re !„■ I curtailment at the l-'itzrov end. a: there

wiib considerable traffic to b,' catered for in connection with the golf links, the riJle range, the saleyards, and the agricultural show grounds. The trams would | compete with the railway on that side, too, and would be far more convenient for the public. With reference to tin Devon street to Morley street portion, he confessed he regarded that, for tin time being, as one of the least payabh parts of tile whole scheme. It was, how ever, a part of the scheme, for extending the trams to the suburbs, and rather than break faith with the ratepayers in that area he would go on with the work. The Mayor advocated raising the ten per cent, on the loan, thereby securing £5500. He considered that a margin of £2OOO to come and go upon would suffice; moreover, the Council was not in a position to ascertain the .""lount of the contingencies, and could ' h therefore fix on any definite amount .■ a further loan. The. contractors flit strike a formation in the track t would involve an expend' ore of ")000, but they did not know.

Cr. Jackson inquired if t! Council could legally curtail the s me. The Mayor replied that the ler-in-Council constituted the tram s, .item in accordance with the plans deposited with the Public Works Department, and any deviation would iiave to be sanctioned by the Department.

Cr. Johnstone remarked that so far as he knew the Council had not in any way considered the question of curtailment. The deputation that waited on the Mayor had been premature in their action. All that the town clerk had suggested was to postpone certain sections until the other portions were completed. He suggested that the Mayor should move that the ,£5500 should' be raised.

The Mayor replied that he desired the fullest publicity should be. given to the matter so that the position might be thoroughly understood. He did not feel that the present Council, or any past Council, could in any way be blamed for the, present position. The extra cost had arisen owing to a world-wide increase in the juice of material and wages. The Council had nothing to reproach itself with in having to raise more money. Cr. Kibby agreed with the Mayor's remarks as to the advisability of giving full publicity to the matter. He enquired whether it was safe, to proceed with a margin of £2OOO.

Tho Mayor replied that ho had consulted Mr. Black on tho point, and ascertained that he (tho engineer) had included as much as could be foreseen at the present time. Dealing with work costing over £60,000, it was difficult to say what contingencies would arise, hut he called on the consulting engineer to give his views on the question. Mr. Black said that he had provided for ordinary contingencies, but some of an entirely unknown character might arise. They might, for instance, strike a quicksand, or hard rock that must be blasted, but he did not anticipate meeting with such troubles, though if they occurred they would involve extra money. The, amount available was sufficient to justify the Council entering on the work. In reply to Cr. Kibby, Mr. Blackstated that the cost per chain of an overhead line was about £BO,

Cr. Kibby said he had fought against, the Devon street to Morley street see- i tion when the scheme was first consid- ■ ered, as he thought it would not bo a payable proposition, and he was still of that opinion, which was confirmed by the Mayor's remarks. He would not, however, fight against it now, but he suggested that the line should be taken' to the top of Morley street. Why not, he asked, go to the ratepayers for a further loan of £IO,OOO, 'instead of raising £5500 by the ten per cent, means. It would take less than £3OOO to take the line to the top of Morley street, and such a section would paywell as it would carry all the. traffic to the hospital and Western Purk. If that plan were adopted there would still be £2500 available for contingencies. It would make the line he advocated a paying proposition Instead of hcing a| drag on the system, which the original line must prove to be. To ask for £lO,-1 000 might look big, but in reality it I was only asking for £4500, and for that J sum they would obtain a good paying; piece of lino, besides having an ample' margin for contingencies. The town clerk explained that ho had no intention of suggesting the out of any portion of the scheme, but merely tho postponement of certain sections for the present. If, he said, tin'£ssoo was raised and proved insufficient the Council could not raise a further loan for the works unless an Act of Parliament was obtained—that had happened on a previous occasion. He made it clear that tho £2OOO for contingencies would only be available after the ten per cent, was raised, and he pointed out that from Currio street to Egmont tlierc had originally been a swamp, so that tlierc was a possibility of the same trouble and expense being experienced as was the case with Lower Queen street, Auckland. He was, therefore, doubtful whether £2OOO would be a safe margin Cr. Collis also referred to the swamp, and asked if Mr Black had made any test of the ground.

Mr. Black said he had made no borings, but he did not think that the comparison I with the Auckland ease was a fair one. They might have to take special precautions, but these cases were very diffi. cult to deal with beforehand. lie had studied the matter, and did not think there was any risk. * Or. Collis pointed out that Devon street at the lower point had been raised seven fei.'t, and it was under that depth that the danger lay. The Mayor intimated that he was going to mine for the necessary steps to be taken to raise the ten per cent. Cr. Kibby contended that by adopting his proposal the Council would be giving the people a lead, and show confidence in the town.

The Mayor then moved that the ten per cent, be raised. Tn seconding the motion, Cr. Anibury said he did not see how the Council could legally get awav from tile original route, as defined bv the Order-in-Council. He considered the. meeting of West End ratepayers was premature, and that they misunderstood the position. TTc would not allow that meeting to inlluence his opinion. The question whether the West End section of the line would be payable or non-payable, was a debatealile one.

Cr. Kibby then moved as an amendment that ihe ratepayers be asked lo sane! inn a further loan of .Cin.OOD for the purpose of extending the line to Mmiey street and providing an adequate sum for contingencies, lie contended (hat if the CI0,00(1 did not sulllce. the Council could go for a further loan, whereas, if (be ten per cent amount failed io meet all the expenses, the Council would he blocked from obtaining a further sum unless by means of an Act of Parliament.

<'r. Johnstone, in seconding the motion, minted out that the Council misfit overims the amount "f the tell per cent, by Colli) or .ClflOO. and that it would he impossible to provide either of those - '!r>i- "lit of revenue. The \lavor considered tliat the £2OOO le-ovidcd he (he (en per cent, should sufliee !o cover all COlltin'ioneios. The present -.hortaee was C:!."i 00. and the CV>ou provided bv tim ten per cent, on the loan would srive C2OOO over the present shortage. If not reouired it would n.,( be raised.

IV. Collis suueosted asking the ratepayers to sanction a further loan of CToiiii. point ip.l;' out that tile wlndc of il ne, ,1 not he raised if pot, required, but he wa- opposed to a .C 10,0(10 loan.

<Y .iohusloiic said thai as the Council ae|,,l ~„ expert advice it ccmld not b„ held blamable if the cost exceeded the b.-an money. The present w.'is the woi'st possil,!,. time to borrow money. He advocated adopting tile least costly sclieme, a.nd pointed out that the whole work

| ,ould 1)' done in seven months, the ouneil would know before then whether 1 ..uire money was'required. He dissented .10111 the view of the depletion that the Council would be breaking faith with the ratepayers. The original scheme should be carried out or the sanction of the ratepayers obtained to an alteration. He advocated making one, job of the work and going through wif i it, and h< supported the calling up of .he ten pe: cent.

The amendment was then ' it and lost, the. Mayor's motion being ci.ncd. The Mayor then referred to the proposed cutting down of the road at the intersection of Morley and Devon streets, pointing out that, although the plans showed the road as having to be cut down, the consulting engineer advised that there would be no difficulty in running the track on the present grade. He moved that until the extension was made of the tram system to Westown the road should remain as it was. In reply to Cr. Mannix, Mr. Black said that when the extension was carried out the present grade would have to be altered. The motion was carried