THE TRAMWAYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1904, Page 5

THE TRAMWAYS.

THE MAYOR REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The Mayor was given a lively time at last night's mooting of the City Council in answering questions pftCby Councillors j concerning various phases of tho inst.ilI lation of tho electrical tranAvay. "Isn't it time," asked Councillor Barber, "that wo made the application for the Order-in-Council authorising tho proposed extension of the tramway system into tho suburbs?" Relative to this'question wus another by Councillor Godber, who asked whether the Electrical Engineer had. prepared his promised 10port upon th« oxlen&ion of the new system into the suburbs? The Mayor replied that Mr. Wright's report would bo ready for the next meeting of the Council, and the application for tho Order-ip-Council would follow upon the adoption of that report. Councillor Barber asked why the Corporation did not, like tho contractors, take advantage of the fino weather, and push on the wood-paving of the roads from Nowtown? Tho Mayor replied that it was the Corporation that had facilitated the expedition of the contractors, by keeping them supplied with shingle. Enough shingle could not be olitained hitherto for both the contractors and the Corporation,- and consequently tho preference waa given to the contractors. Councillor Wiltshire .• Is there not pOwer and penalty in the contract to get. over this: difficulty? Cannot the shingle be obtained, elsewhere? Why the delay in supply? His Worship replied that tho difficulty had only arisen during the past tM'o or three weeks, but it wus about overcome ncv. Councillor M'Laien, raised tho question of the tarring of thff blocks. Did the Corporation intend getting another machine to keep pace with tho demand. "Yes," replied tho Mayor. Councillor Murdoch said he hod soon the machine' and men at work, and he thought, the men did tho woik quickest. Councillor M'Laren also asked whether a letter had been received from the men who did the tarring of the blocks, and whether they asked for an increase of wage because of the danger of their task? Such a letter had been received, was his Worship's reply.