END OF A DEADLOCK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 October 1908, Page 6

END OF A DEADLOCK.

HUTT AND PETONE IN AGREEMENT. TRAM AND PIPE BRIDGE. Tho much-vexed question between Peton. and Lower Hutt of tho tramway rights ovei tho train and pipe bridge over tho Hutt ltiver was filially settled last night. At both towns special meetings were held, and tho decision arrived at was that Clause' 14 of tho agreement should be deleted. I'his decision was come to through the receipt ol letters from tho City Solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shca) as follows: —"I beg to draw your attention to Clause 37 of the Hutt Valle; Tramways District Act, 1908, which, has jusv beon passed. By virtue of this section, all rights as to the running of tramways which might vost in either the Potono or Hutt Borough Councils now vests in tho new board to bo set up under the Act referred to, After consultation with other solictors concerned, I have come to the conclusion that it would be useless to put into the proposed new Hutt bridge agreement any reference to tho rights of running tramways over the bridge being vested in any other body. 1 therefore propose, with the concurrence of tho Petono and Hutt Couucils to strike out Clauso 14 of tho agreement, and trust there will now bo no further delay in tho completion of the document."

DISCUSSION AT PETONE. At the Petono Council meeting there wort present .-—The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) and Councillors Lodder, Southgate, Short: Coles, Smith, Colquhoun, Castle, Young, and Harding.

The Mayor stated that if the Tramwaj Board, which would bo elected, he understood, at an early dato, failed to carry out its purposewithin threo years, then tho powers vested in the board would revert to each council. Tho question of tho solo right of running tramways across tho bridge could then be re-opened. Councillor Castle: Rather late in tho day. The Mayor: If it wero to crop up then, I think our position would be perfectly safo and a commission could be set up to settle points in dispute. I take it that any commission set up to _ determine tho question would, under the circumstances, bo compelled, as a mere matter of fairness, • to concede to Petonc the right to run. a tramway across tho bridge. .. Continuing, the Mayor said: Next to the city, we are by far the largest contributors, our total being £3688, the city's running into £7500. If tho cost is loss, the city wiU set the difference aside as a maintenance fund.

Councillor Castle: If less! (Laughter). Suppose the board doesn't get a loan? 'lhe Mayor: They will continue in existence for three years.

Councillor Short moved that clause 14 be deleted if the Mayor was satisfied with the' legal position. This was seconded by Councillor Southgate.

Councillor Lodder: I think we have swallowed so much mud that wo may as well swallow the whole of it.

Councillor Short; 'We are public benefactors.

Councillor Castle: We knew we were getting our necks in it when we started; wo arc now getting bur heads in it. Some of you aro frightened of putting your backs against the Hutt.

The Mayor: I don't believe, for ona moment that the Hutt Council would dream of putting down a tramway service.

Councillor, Castle moved as an amendment that, if possible, a clause be inserted that if the board failed to act that the rights be reverted to Petone, and that the delegates be instructed to work in that direction with full power to act. ■ Councillor Short withdrew his motion, and the amendment was carried. THE HUTT DECISION. At the Hutt Council, there were present: The Mayor (Mr. T. A. Peterkin) and Councillors Russell, o'Sullivan ; Ross, Ward, Hodgins, Wildsmith, Baldwin, and Hughes. After' tlie city solicitors' letter had been read, several councillors considered that the proposal was the final solution of the deadlock. (This was with the elimination of Clause 14.) '

The . agreement was then, signed by tho Mayor, Councillor Baldwin, and the Town Clerk.