THE HIGH LEVELS TRAMWAY SCHEME.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 22, 27 January 1899, Page 2

THE HIGH LEVELS TRAMWAY SCHEME.

- ♦ APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. I I The City Council has sanctioned the I scheme for the construction of a tramway I to the high levels. At the meeting of the Council last night', the committee which had been set up to settle terms of the Order-in-Council and the deed of delegation between the j City Council and the Kelburne Tramway Company reported that the details had been satisfactorily arranged, as the rei suit of three meetings which had been held. The committee had made several alterations in the drafts submitted to it by the company's solicitor, and these alterations had been put into form by the City Solicitor. The copy laid on the table, was as finally adopted by the committee, and the members were satisfied ■ that it contained all that was necessary to protect the interests of the Corporation." The committee recommended that it be approved by the Council. It would then be advertised as open for public inspection for four weeks before any further ,action could be taken by the com panyi The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report, explained that it was proposed to grant the company the use of half an acre in the Botanical Gardens for a station, % at a rental of £10 a year for the first seven years, with revaluation at the end of every seven years. The street traffic would not be in any way interfered with by the tramway. The line would go principally through tunnels, and wherever it came into the open it would be carried over the streets. It had to be constructed to the satisfac tion of the Engineer-in-Chief, • and the Council would not be held responsible for faulty construction. The- line could not be opened until the certificate of the Engineer-in-Chief had been obtained. The company would be required to enter into a bond that it would meet all claims for compensation, damage, etc. The line vould go almost wholly through private juoperty, so that the Council was not required to grant permission to take it through any of the streets. The Botanical Gardens would not be in any way damaged by allowing a portion of it to be used for a station. The tramway vould be a great public convenience, as it would provide a speedy means of access to the high levels. The Council would have power to take the line over at the end of seven, 14, or 21 years. The company was going to spend many thousands of pounds in making the tramway, and the public would gam a great boon. He thought it was the duty of the Council to assist the scheme in every way. He would move the adoption of the report;, and that i\i> necessary steps be taken to give effect to the agreement. , In reply to Councillor M'Gill, the. Mayor said the Council would go to arbitration if it desired to take over the line. ;■> The 'motion was seconded by Councillor Luke and; agreed to without discussion.