MIRAMAR AS A RECREATION GROUND. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 102, 27 October 1900, Page 7

MIRAMAR AS A RECREATION GROUND. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,, — On reading your" sub-leader on Miramax 1 as a recreation grpund, I was particularly impressed by your allusion to Brisbane, its electric tram service, and the handsome dividend of 17 per cent, that iti had paid. I recently spent some fivo or six veeks there, my previous visit dating ten years back, 1 was prepared to sco some changes, the main streets recently laid with wood blocks attracted my attention, tho tramway service certainly tho best equipped and most efficient in Australasia, was very interesting. I made various enquiries, and found tho concensus ol opinion was that iho traffic was thoroughly appreciated, but regret was expressed that either the Government or Council ha^ not secured the rights, instead of a private company. The business in Mhich I was engaged caused mo to go through every .suburb. My eyes were opened as to what an up-to-dale tram service Was' capable of.Places that I had known ten years pvo=' viously without a sign of a dwelling were covered with villas and houses in ail directions. Small.otoAvnsliips had sprung up, and from good information I learned that property in the suburbs, that had been of little value three or four years ago, had been sold for ' unthought-of prices. In tact, the tram executive had induced people to live out of town by means of reasonable., charges.,^ I have no hesitation in saying that if an electric ,tram service was« established to Miramav round tho rocks it would- pay dividends within a shorb space of time, residences would no doubt be built on every available space between Oriental Bay and Kilbirnie.} Miramar, in a few years, would become a popular and 1 thriving towjj f .the proposed recreation ground, being an.addiiional attraction. The approaches arc flat the wholo way, and the line would not be a very, expensive one. lam much inclined to think, too, that generally speaking people would prefer to trave a little longer distance on the flat than a shorter distance to an elevation through a series of tunnels. Too much praise cannot be accorded the Mayor and City Council for negotiating such a practical scheme for tho enlargement of congested \VelJington. If the matter is to be decided by a plebescite vote, it is to be hoped that it will be looked on as a safe self-paying investment, not a gambling speculation, and a substantial vote should bo recorded in its favour. — I am, etc., WM. E. WOODS. Wellington, 23rd October. y