WADESTOWN TRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 523, 2 June 1909, Page 8

WADESTOWN TRAMS.

DEPUTATION TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. THE RATING/AREA., A deputation of Wadestown residents waited on the Finance Committee of tho City Council yesterday afternoon concerning tramway matters. The deputation was introduced by Councillor Atkinson. . Tho first speaker, Mr. Edgar Wylio, remarked that the Wadestown people had boon very patient in their endeavours to get tho tramway, and they had plainly showed their determination to'have tho line at all costs. It had always boon against their wishes that the Saunders Lano proposal was included, but when tho loan was placed before them, thoy had no alternative, as they had to vote for tho proposal as a wholo, or do without the lino, and now it was'found .that tho rating area was insufficient. Ho hoped when tho now proposition was put before tho people that tho Saunders Lane proposition would bo left out. They were satisfied that the line, could conveniently gb down the Main Road and Park Street. It would not bo an expensive item to purchase, if necessary, a piece of land at the south-west corner of Park Street to improve tho turn. Regarding the area nffoctod by tho rate, the people of Wadestown woro very disappointed that two-thirds of the Highland Park was cut out of it. /Tho evidence on this matter was in, waiting to go before tho Assessment tkrart in February last, but tho city.solicitor consented to those portions being cut out,.and also Gqldio's Brae. Ho wished to direct the attention of the committee to tho fact that thoro was a 'resolution on the council's books deciding hat the whole of tho old Wadestown Ward was to be rated for tramway and water supply purposes.: Those localities, by exemption, benefited at the expense of_ tho Wadestown people, who voted for it, with the idea that the .whole, district would bo rated. He considered it: unfair for those portions to object to bo rated, and it was the duty of Wadestown and the city to fight every inch of ground, and have them included in the special district. Tho Mayor (Dr. A. K. Newman): Will you appear at the Assessment Court? Mr.'Wylie: -Yes,' if we have any locos standi. .•■'■'■■•

Mr. Cook supported Mr. Wylio's statements, in respect to Saunders' Lane. From' an engineering standpoint, Mr. Morton's opinion placed it beyond dispute as being the best route, but tlio burden of rte cost was too heavy. So far as the exception of that area of the.Rhodes',Estate, which had been exempted from ratiag, was concerned, the.people were convinjed that the decision upon it had neon made under a misapprehension, for the reason that tho.; chief portion of,the.area exempted could only be reached by a very long detour three times as long as the dis.tanco from the Wadestown line or by a'clirob which for many'people was out of the question. Ho added that tho mean Wel ; of tio park was between 300 and 325 feet. Councillor' Lube to Mr. Wylio: Would you, as a resident,; appreciate going back to tho origmalpositionP .' Mr'.' Wylior Very except for.Saunders Lano. j . Councillor;Shirtdiffo.(to' Mr. Cook): In ro,gard to the residents of Goldie's Brae, would they not have to climb 300 or 400 feetP Mr. Cooks.Ohly. 50 foot. • Councillor SMrteliffo. tiieii read a letter which ho had received, stowing that the majority of the Goldie's Brae readouts were living close to the Thorndon Quay service,' and that under no circumstances would they bo likely to use tho Wadestown ' Eno. which would mean an extra faro', and a climb of 300 or 400 feet.. Only a few of tho highest houses might use it. He sympathised with the views of the deputation, but read it to show tie news of the other side. •

In reply to OorniciHor Baffingor, Mr. Wylio agreed that the trustees allowed twenty acres to be included, but they left out absolutely tho.wholo of the sea front and tho most valuable- area.

'■ .Councillor Luke: Assuming that;,wb,take a fresh-poll, does that not iMcessitatd'theopenmg of the delotkm question P The Maypr: . As far as I am advised,' it dOOS. ..' :..- ... ... ■.',';_ _-.' i .;' ..,' v .. ;'■ ■ Tho deputation was informed by tie' Mayor that the committee would ;take into consideration the matters referred to, and go into the lea;al and other questions raised. Tho committee wished to'. push. on . tho ■:' matter which would not bo Mung'up or delayed un-nccessan-jy. . '