CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 482, 25 March 1869, Page 3

CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS

The Nelson Government would do well to take a lesson from the Westland County Council, with regard to the facilities afforded for the formation of tramways. By the Westland Government very liberal encouragement is given to capitalists and tramway companies. The conditions are that every application for protection lor a tramway shall be gazetted, and published three times in a local newspaper ; that twenty-one days be allowed for objections; and if the objections are overruled, protection shall be granted for ten years subject to the conditions that the plans, work, rollingstock, maintenance, and scale of charges shall be subject to inspection by the County Engineer and Chairman. When protection is granted to a tramway, such protection shall give the owner or owners the right to occupy not more than half-a-chain in width of ground along the length of the line, and areas not exceeding one acre, for station purposes, at convenient places along the line. A guarantee of not less than 8 per cent may given by the Council to any tramway company complying with the above conditions. The company so guaranteed shall be authorised to levy tolls on all traffic along the line, except on foot passengers. All existing tramways may be brought under the above conditions, and obtain protection for the abovenamed period of ten years. Provided thai in no case protection be granted to any tramway company competing with any existing line within a distance of five miles. In the event of a government road being opened, which shall compete with any tramway to its detriment, such compensation as the Council may deem fit shall be given to the owners of the tramway so injured.