ONEHUNGA TRAM QUESTION

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 154, 30 June 1903, Page 5

ONEHUNGA TRAM QUESTION

THE DISPUTE SETTLED.

The Onehunga Borough Council held a special meeting last evening to discuss recent negotiations with the Tramway Company which it was believed would end the deadlock. A large number of the general public were also present. The .Mayor (Mr D. A. Sutherland) said that Mr Hansen had now met them in a fair and impartial spirit. (•'Hear, hear," from the audience.) Mr McVeagh (representing the Council's solicitors, Messrs Russell and Campbell) was present to explain the conditions agreed to by Mr Hansen, which he trusted would be acceptable to the Council. Those conditions would be found to be most liberal, and he (the Mayor) believed satisfactory to the whole of Onehunga.

Mr McVeagh then showed a plan of the proposed tram line, with the position of the poles marked, and said the agreement, which had already been signed by Mr Hansen, would be laid before the Council for their approval and signature. The conditions of the agreement provided for wooden poles to be erected from the Royal Oak Hotel along the Aucklandroad and down Trafalgar-street, to the junction of Queen-street; from there to the junction of Captain and Queen streets iron poles would be erected, the remaining distance to be supplied with wooden poles. All the poles would be ploced on the cast side of Queen-street. If, however, the Auckland Electric Tramways Company found that they had not sufficient iron poles to erect within the distance specified they shall be allowed temporarily to erect wooden poles, such wooden poles, however, on no account to remain longer than eighteen months before being replaced with iron poles, In return for this concession Mr Hansen had agreed that in the event of his having to import more iron ]x>los to complete the section named he would obtain a sufficient number to extend the iron poles from Captain-street to Duthie's corner, thus making the section for iron poles from Trafalgar-street to Duthie's corner. The Auckland Electric Tramways. Company had also agreed to issue workers' and apprentices' tickets to Auckland at three shillings per week, and to Newmarket for two shillings and sixpence per week. In order, however. to benefit bj' this concession all holders of such tickets must travel the first half of the journey before eight o'clock in the morning. Children's tickets would be issued at threepence apiece.

Mr Rishworth opposed the agreement on account of the absence of provision for season tickets, and pointed out that the Council was not getting iron poles the whole distance from the Royal Oak. as they were entitled to have. He also referred to the fact that three shillings per week was to be charged for workers' tickets, while the railway charged only two shillings per week. He thought Mr Hansen might have agreed to issue, season tickets at the rate of about £G 10/ per annum. There was no concession offered for business people who did not travel before eight o'clock.

Mr Rowe said the Tramway Company had conceded most of the points asked for except the season tickets. He had no doubt Mr Hansen would issue these at a reasonable price if he found there was a demand for them.

Mr McLeod expressed similar views

Mr Hill said the district was indebted to the Mayor for obtaining such favourable condition.-:;.

A motion of the Mayor, ''That the agreement bo accepted and signed," was then carried.

The following formal resolutions were then adopted on the motion of the Mayor:—"(t) That the common seal of the corporation be. affixed to the deed, dated June 29, 1903, and made between the Borough of Onehunga and the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, Ltd.; (b) that the common seal of the Council be affixed to a consent to the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, Limited, charging and mortgaging its undertaking in favour of the Electric and General Investment Company. Limited, such consent being endorsed upon a copy of the proposed dcod; (<•) that the terms and conditions of the deed of delegation, dated May 2, 1901, made between the Borough of Onehunga and the Auckland Electric. Tramways Company, Limited. whereby the said borough delegates to the said company such and so many of the powers and authorities vested in the borough by an order of the Govcrnor-in-Council, made on April 27, 1901, as were or might be necessary for constructing a tramway, are now altered to make them conform to the conditions of a certain other deed, except clause 10 thereof, dated June 29, 1903, and that the deed of August 2, 1901. be read and construed subject to the terms of this later deed."

In accordance with these resolutions the seal of the Council was affixed by the town clerk, and the signatures of the Mayor and Councillors Rowe and McLeod were attached to the agreement on behalf of the Council.

Mr McVcagb said the second deed referred to in the third resolution was really a modification of the original deed of delegation, and now that it had been agreed to it would require to be confirmed at a subsequent special meeting.

It was agreed to held a special meet ing for this purpose on August 3.

Mr Rowe then referred to the question of the present 'bus traffic, which he said. was evidently insufficient to cope with the traffic. He moved, subject to tiie approval of Mr McVcagb, as their legal adviser, "That Mr Hansen be given permission to run horse cars within the borough until the completion of the electriet service, but without prejudice."

Mr MeYcagh said there could be no objection to this, and the motion was (passed.

The Mayor then, in a short speech, expressed his satisfaction at this termination of the dispute, and commended the Council's legal advisers for their part in the matter, lie moved, "That the thanks of the Council be given to Messrs Russell and Campbell for their valuable assistance all through the unpleasant business, and also that the thanks of the Council be given to Mr McVeagh for attending the meeting that night." This motion was carried and the meeting terminated with much handshaking.