REMUERA'S NEEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 270, 12 November 1909, Page 7

REMUERA'S NEEDS.

POLICE STATION AST) POST OFFICE. TRA3IS AND TRAINS. A special meeting of the Remuera. Jtoad Board was held last night. Present: Messrs. -I. Dempsey (chairman), r A Cawkwell, E. Bond, J. S. Dickson, aadA-G. Pilkington. . Jfr. Dickson reported thai while m Wellington he and Mr. Cawkwell saw the Minister with reference to the erec-t-Ton of a police station in the district. Tie Minister said there was a difficulty ga to the site, and they took it upon themselves to suggest the pound site, which could not be soid but could be exchanged for another cite of equivalent Talue. The action of tat delegates was approved. Mr. Dickson stated further that the Jliniswr would not give any definite promise with regard to the post office, stating a deal of money was to be sptut on the Wellington and Auckland post offices, but when he had the opportunity he would look favourably into the matter. Mr. Dickson reported that the Minister promised a few extra trains, but they must not expect much for a little while, for the Minister was making inquiries in England with regard to small enrlnes. He "thought by next summer tflev could expect the new engines with etrriages, with saloon and smoker, to ba running on the Remuera line. The Minister said the new engines would cost 1/ a mile to run. whereas the present ones cost 5/6 per mile. Mr. Millar also promised to look into the question of fares, as compared between trams and suburban" trains. Mr. Cawkvell said they found the Minister was willing to do the best he could for them. Mr. Waite, the manager in Auckland, seemed to be the stumbling block to progress, and they found that tne Minister gave ear to his reports. But in this instance he intimated that he would do his best for the district. LOAN" ASSURED. Mr. Cawkwell reported that the £8500 loan which the Board proposed to raise would be available so soon the new Financial Bill was passed. DRAINAGE. Mr. Dickson said that the reason why the Drainage Bill was blocked was that Mr. Bush had given a promise to the Maoris to put the storage tanks round the point at Orakei. The Maoris were determined to fight the matter out, but they had no chance unless Mt. Bush gave way. As a matter of fact, he said, Mr. Bush had got a million job on. and he would crib every little bit to keep within that limit. On the motion of the Chairman, a vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. F. Itfwry (member for Parnell) and F. Lang (member for Manukau) for the assistance they had given the delegates in this matter of drainage. VOTE OF THANKS. On the motion of the Chairman, the delegates. Messrs. Dickson and Cawkwe'l, were thanked for the valuable services they had rendered the district by their visit to Wellington. INADEQUATE TRAM SERVICE. The running of the trams in the Bemuera district was discussed at some length. J A petition from residents at the east end of the district » '.V' * ' the j Board to hurry on the extension of the tram service to Mountain-road, as stipulated in the deed of delegation. At present residents had to make the journey from the present terminus to Mountain-road on foot. The Chairman (Mr. J. Dempsey) said other matters were mixed up with this question. He believed, however, that under certain conditions the Tram Company would carry out the extension.

Mr. E. Bond said the Chairman' 3 reply was unsatisfactory. The extension to Mountain-road was laid down in the deed of delegation, and the Tramway Company should be made to adhere to their agreement.

The Chairman said he would suggest also that another matter should be brought before the Company, namely, the duplication of the line from the Board office to Newmarket, failing that an alteration of the curves. He also referred to the tram service on race days. The position was now unbearable, for there was frequently a delay of from fifteen to twenty-five minutes.

Mr. C. A Cawkwell sad there was another and far more important matter, which put all the others in the shade. He rsfe-red to the inadequate rolling Ste _♦.» . - o«»' ,•«. C-> •» --'_ <--5-,

f" ' The trams were always crowdea. and very often residents had to leave the shelter sheds and make their journey on foot.

Mr. .T. S. Dickson moved in regard to the Mountain-road extension that the matter be brought under the notice of the Company, when a deputation from the Board waited on that body. This Tras carried, and on the motion of Mr. Bond it was further decided that the Company be asked to. carry out their agreement, according to the deed of delegation, by extending the line, or patting; on a lius to run from the terminus, and failing a satisfactory reply, the Company to be given 60 days' notice of their breach of the deed of delegation. The Board's inspector, reporting on the efficiency of the rolling stock, said that he had inspected the frarrs on ten different occasions at Newmarket. On five out of ten occasions there was nothing to complain of, except that the cars were i-ather irregular in their run--i I* n? to time-table. The other occasions were not so good. On September 13. the 5.15 car was very full, whilst ifle 5.29 car had to leave eleven people behind, and the 5.47 car was also overcrowded. On September 16 three cars left Newmarket in the space of three Einutes. On September 30 the 4.57 car aad to leave two people behind, and the 5.12 car left one behind. The 5.23 Mr on October 20 had to leave five Behind, crowded to its utmost limits, and on the following day the five ocloek ears were again full up. and from one car seven people were turned away.

Mr. Bond said thp Tramways Company had played with the Board rear i? and year out. and it was time" the jaard showed the Company they meant easiness. '

. JJjj Cawkwell said the service was . aII - v inadequate for the growing retirements of the district, especially at ™sn times. On the representation of «W Board, the Company had improved «« service., but after a while it be«nie unsatisfactory again. They had rT l .J en * le suasion for a long time, oat that had failed. A new time-table *= promised three months ago, but it Md not yet come to hand. He moved: AOM instructions be given to the Com sollcitor to give the Tramways -panr 60 days' notice in terms of the to the effect that the propose to enforce the penalties

for a breach of the same, in respect of the inadequate transit provided Remuera residents within the Remuera Road Board district, and the inspectors report to be handed to the Board's solicitors; if this is insufficient, steps be taken to obtain a fresh, corroborative report."

Mr. Bond seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. The members of the Board decided to ask the Company when they would be received as a, deputation, Monday or Tuesday next being suggested.