TRAMWAY TRACK REPAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 89, 14 April 1905, Page 2

TRAMWAY TRACK REPAIRS.

(To the EOltor.> Sir, —I see Mr P. M. Hansen has writ- | ten a letter appealing to the City Council to maintain the tramway trade in Queen-street for his Company, and at the ratepayers' expense. The letter is very plausible, and has been referred to t.he Streets Committee. If the Council accede to this request it will be a most unwarrantable action, besides establishing a dangerous precedent. The deed of delegation distinctly states that the Tramway Company shall maintain their track between the rails and for 18 inches on each side of the outer rails at their own expense and to the satisfaction of the Council's engineer. Why should the ratepayers be saddled with this expense for a privarte company? The foundation of Qneen-'treet is firm enough for all ordinary traffic, and it is nothing but the continual vibration and weight of the cars that causes the subsidences. Besides, the Company laid their own rails and formed the trade; it was their place to make sure of the foundation in the first instance. The Company have a pretty good monopoly of the streets on« way and another, and for the Council to undertake the responsibility and expense so humbly suggested by Mr Hansen would, to my mind, be simply outrageous. If the Council assume the responsibility in regard to the Queen-street track, on what ground can they refuse to take the responsibility in regard to any subsidences that may occur on the Ponsonby. I Symonds-street. and other portions of j the city tramway route? —I am. etc.. RATEPAYER.