DUNEDIN NOTES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8708, 2 February 1894, Page 5

DUNEDIN NOTES.

February 1.

At Tuapeka races to-day Lady Mab won the Flying and Paramu the Jockey Club Handicap.

Mr Fish, as spokesman of the City Council, used some strong language when characterising the action of the Government in opposing the completion of the tramway contrast. Mr Ward, on the other hand, was at pains to explain that the Government were not actuated by any feeling of antagonism hut must protect the general tax-payer... Inter alia., he.said the Govern-ment'tfi<-h'' offered' no•= _&_«_lietiOh^to'-iße'' Corporation and the . local tramway authorities, and what they were anxious now to do was to obtain expert evidence on certain points, with the view, if possible, of conserving the present telephone system. As to the probability of the proposed electric tram service injuring the present telephone system, his information on that head differed from the information Mr Fish held on the point. Some months ago he was in communication withthe Telegraph Department in Hobart, and the report he had from that quarter was not favourable to tho carrying out of the single trolly system for tho tram service. One of two things must be done, there must be a double trolly tram service, or the multiple system must be introduced into the telephone department. Before the Government decided to undertake such a change as that in the telephone-system they were, 'he thought, bound to Lry and keep the present system in existence, and to allow the electric' tram people here to carry on their work if it did not interfere with the telephone service. The delay that had taken place had not been the fault of the Government. They were trying to get two experts to report on the matter, and he had received a. cable only to-day saying that one of the experts would arrive oh the 20th of the month, and he wouhi then report on the system. As a matter of fact, if the whole telephone system in New Zealand had to be changed, it would cost Bonneting over £100,000. It meant practically a pulling down of the whole service, recasting it, and f the. putting in of a new telephone system from one end of the colony to ike other. Tile position wa__ not in easy o>T_e f_ —>rr_ —v- Gcvernxuent -__x>i___ of —r£_>-w., "fc.c__ they would assist in /bringing aboat. what J _ J&' • :■ ■v«-st3 desirad by the Daneoin people in t_t_s matter. .":