WADESTOWN TRAMWAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 335, 23 October 1908, Page 8

WADESTOWN TRAMWAY.

FINALITY AT LAST. DECISION BY CITY COUNCIL. As far as. the City Council is concerned, finality was reached last evening in tho protracted matter of tho Wadestown tramway. The Power Stations and Tramways Committee recommended: — "That tho, Wadestown tramway route lio connected "with tho Tniakori Road tram-lino through Saunder's Lane, in lieu of through Park Street, as originally proposed; and that tho necessary steps required by law bo taken, to give effect to tho same." The Mayor, as chairman-of tho committee, moved, tho adoption of the recommendation. He stated that tho committee had had this question under consideration for sometime. It had been suggested a littlo timo ago that, instead of coming up Park Street, and forming a sort of zig-zag along Grant Road, thence going along . tho road to Wadestown, it would bo better-to turn tho corner, as the Karori cars did, and to go up as far as Saunder's Lane; then through the lane, and from there right 011 over the hill. They would thus save- the reversing which would be necessary: with the-zig-zag. The cost of taking land was estimated at about £11,0U0, but it-was expected that, allowing for. the resale -of land after improvements, the net cost would be only about £2000 more by this route than by tho other. The advantages were that various difficulties .would be overcome, they' would avoid the zig-zag, and they would avoid a very intricate crossing, or rather new line, up Park Street from the bond to the top of Molesworth Street. There • would be 110 difference in the distance, "and, the route would give a better point from--which to commence the rise.- The committee had considered . the question of routes, and in face of the vote of the Wadestown people they did not see their way, as no change had been made in the offer'of tho Rhodes Trustees, to go counter to that decision. There were aitferences of opinion as to which was the proper way to go. The committee thought, however, that' it was for the people at Wadestown to decide. The matter must come before them at a poll; and if they would bear- the loss that must accrue from the line for the first few years it was their business, not the Councils. , Councillor Luke seconded the recommendation ■ He thought that the route did not', offer, anything like the advantages of the one chosen, unless the Rhodes estate paid a. good deal ever offered to pay. He hoped that the matter would'he placed before the V adestown people so that a poll could be taken at an Biss'. said that every member of the Tramways Committee had visited the locality and gone over both routes, and they had decided that though there might be some advantages ultimately attaching to the Kaiwarra route, Crofton, and tho other outside districts, which were most thickly populated, would be best served by the route adopted. . That route would tap the top of the Rhodes Estate, which was its most ■valuable end, and the part that would be soonest-filled with.houses. Tho other part of the estate could be served later on by an extension of the Thorndon service. Ilie decision arrived at justified the council 111 the delay which had taken place. The delay had enabled them to find a better route, which, though it would cost £2000 more now, would be the cheaper of the two in the long run. The formation of tho line would provide a good opportunity for improving the road, which was necessary in any case. Councillor Smith thought that if the Wadestowii people were prepared to pay the loss it was not for the council to deny them the tramway. He approved of the route M'Laren said that no doubt the residents were anxious to know how soon the matter could come before them for a vote. ; The recommendation was adopted.