ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 217, 13 September 1899, Page 6

ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

COUNCIL APPROVES THE AGREEMENT.

A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon at; <£ o'clock, for the purpose of consider-1 ing- the agreement submitted in connection with the arrangement with _*Ir W. Gentry Bingham for running electric trams in Auckland. The Mayor, Mr .David Goldie, presided. There were also present Crs. Jamieson, Warren, Salmon, Farrell, Julian, Kidd, Maselield, Stichbury, Becroft, Cray, Courtney, and Patertson; also .Mr \V. Gentry Bingham (Auckland Tramway Company) and his solicitor, Mr William Coleman Mr Hues (engineer), Mr Kidd, Mr A. E. Devore (city solicitor), and Mr Paul Hansen (British Traction Company). In opening the proceedings-, the Mayor said that at the last meeting Of the Council if was agreed that the draft agreement., submitted be approved, and that a special meeting of the Council be called to sign a supplementary agreement. They could discuss the question, but it would perhaps be as well to lirst decide whether it should be in public or private. Or. Jamieson moved that the matter be considered in committee. Cr. Becroft -seconded the motion. Cr. Courtney said: -'.Before you proceed with that, Mr Mayor, I wish to enter a protest. You have said the resolution approving the agreement was carried unanimously." .Mayor: "Oh. no, 1 did not." Cr. Courtney: "Well, the papers said so." -Mayor: "We are not answerable for that," Cr. Courtney: "Well, I have a strong protest here." -Mayor: "We must first settle this question." Cr. Paterson: "Does that motion mean excluding* the press?" Mayor: "It is a question of whether you will consider tlie matter in committee, so as not. to -oe bound by the rules of debate, or whether you w'U discuss the .matter in public, where yon can only speak once." Cr. Paterson: "1 should like to see -the press present at the discussion on a matter so gravely affecting the interests of the city." Cr. Courtney: "I second that, because there is tin impression abroad that we have been hurried into this matter, that we have not given it any consideration,. The more publicity we give this matter now the greater -will be the satisfaction of the public.'1

The motion to consider the matter in committee was then adopted.

After about an hour's discussion in committee, the Council resumed, and the following resolution was adopted* "That the agreement and Orl^r-h'-Council, as amended, be agreed to and signed."

The additions made to the agreement w(»e: "No trams shall be run on the Lord's Day until the necessity for such service has been approved of by the citizens, by a vote taken on the question." Also, that the, fare via College. Ttoad to the western extremity oif the line, and back that way, be twopence either way for the whole distance.

The agreement was duly signed by tbe Council, and also by Mr Bingham on behalf of the Auckland Tramway Company. This completes the matter as far as the Council is. concerned, but if a certain number of ratepayers forward an application to have a poll taken upon the question, then the Council will have to do so within four weeks of the first advertisement appearing.