MIRAMAR TRAMWAY PROPOSALS. A POLL TO BE TAKEN.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 10 August 1905, Page 7

MIRAMAR TRAMWAY PROPOSALS. A POLL TO BE TAKEN.

The Miramar tramway question was discussed at the meeting of the Miramar Borough Council last evening, presided over by the Mayor, Mr. F. Townsend. ' In accordance with a notice of motion handed in at the last meeting of the Council, Councillor Witt moved : — "That the offers of cash subsidies from Crawford Bros, and No. 2 Syndicate be favourably considered, and if other landowners agree to assist, that the tram scheme on No. JL route be placed before tho ratepayers for their sanction ■to 'raise the balance of the money required." The mover stated that it had always 'been in the minds of Councillors that tho cash subsidy proposal was the best. He was convinced that if they adopted the route suggested they would be satisfied with the results, and would get sanction of the ratepayers to adopt the proposal. The Mayor stated that the scheme did not cover the fust proposal which emanated from the Council by a long, long way. Councillor Witt: In what direction? The Mayor: I simply say it does not cover it. There is neither reference to taking over the steamers, nor is there anything with, reference to the amounts to be received from the different landowners. Tho motion was seconded by Councillor M'Grath. Councillor Wardell asked for a description of No. 1 route, and was told by the Mayor that it went across the head of Evans Bay, through No. 3 holding, A, and O. Crawford's, the Chinamen's gardens, and a tunnel to Seatoun, having a branch line to Miraniar North. Councillor Wardell pointed out that a portion of the route ended at the proposed Miramar Park. Unless he was very much mistaken, the objection to running further north than the point known as the Park was raised by a certain land-owner because he argued that the direct line to Seatoun would be payable, and the branch line would not be / payable. If one company was to dictate to the Council, he would say it was an improper course. They must look to the residents of the borough as a whole, and any tram service must ply to every part, irrespective whether it would bs a profitable line from the start or not. Councillor M'Grath said the motion practically covered the scheme originally concocted by the Council after a good deal of study. He believed that the feeling of the Council -was to get trams, and to^ let the ferry service work out its own salvation. Speaking with reference to the route, he said he was prepared, to take tho tram to the Park; further if needed, and therefore meet Councillor Wardell and Miramax, Ltd., with a little more tramway. The Mayor mentioned that the steamer proposal had been omitted, and reminded Councillors that a scheme had some time ago been advertised and withdrawn for a more comprehensive one. The proposal at that time was to run a ferry service and motor 'buses. Now they were suggesting a- scheme not so comprehensive or as good to the majority of ratepayers in the borough at tho piesent time. Councillor M'Grath : You yourself said that when the finances of the borough were considered, steamers and trams were out of the question. The Mayor: You must remember you had an offer to do it all for nothing. Councillor M'Grath : That, however, did not suit this Council. Continuing, he referred to the cost of the proposed work, and suggested that the trams should also go from Seatoun to Worser Bay. Councillor Richards wished to move an amendment" to the effect that a sum of money be borrowed for the purchase of the steamers, which could afterwards be chartered to the Ferry Company. The Mayor: To save time, I may say at once you cannot do such a thing. You can borrow money, buy the steamers, and run them, but you cannot buy them and charter them to the Ferry Company. I have had advice from the solicitors, and I say you cannot do it. Councillor Brodie favoured the construction of, the branch line to the property of Miramar, Ltd., and said it would be of great benefit to the company, which should be asked to pay accordingly. The subsidy asked was not excessive compared with the suosidy that would be asked from Crawford Bits., and probably Mr. H. D. Crawford. Miramar, Ltd., with its £5000 would reap a greater benefit than Crawford Bros, would get for their £BuuO. He then brought up the question of the ferry service, which he considered should be taken into consideration. Councillor Wardell: Make some suggestions. Councillor Brodie : Well, before I *nake suggestions, 1 would want to know what subsidy the Ferry Company would run a late service for. Councillor Wardell : They want £1000 a year. This amount was considered too much. Councillor Wardell was not opposed to the ferry scheme, but thought if tacked on to the tram scheme it would be absolutely fatal. He then appealed to Councillor Witt to put his motion in such a form that the Council would adopt it, and get under way with the trams. The speaker and the Mayor made certain recommendations, and eventually the motion was remoulded aa follows, and carried unanimously : — "That "the offers of cash subsidies from Crawford Bros, and No. 2 Syndicate be favourably considered, and if other land-owners agree to assist, that the tram scheme to Seatoun via Chinamen's gardens and tunnel, with a branch line to Karaka-road, be placed before the ratepayers for their sanction to raise the balance of the money reqxtfred." The Mayor, prioj 1 to the resolution boing arrived at, said the proposal would mean «. rate of lid. There was no reference to steamers. Councillors were leaving tho water-front people, and wero simply going to provide for the Miramar and a portion of the Seatoun people. How they were going to make themselves right, or how they -were going to get the ratepayers to carry a scheme 'of this kind, he was not at the least to understand. Tho majority of the residents in the borough lived on the waterfront, and something should be done for them. If a subsidy could be given to the Ferry Company, whereby it would improve its service, then the Councillors would have something to go upon, but he was advised that no subsidy could be given.