MIRAMAR TRAM PROPOSALS. MEETING AT WORSER BAY. A LIVELY DISCUSSION.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 136, 6 December 1905, Page 2

MIRAMAR TRAM PROPOSALS. MEETING AT WORSER BAY. A LIVELY DISCUSSION.

Tho statutory meeting of ratepayers of the Borough of Miramar to consider the proposal to borrpw £23,000 for tho purpose of installing; a tram service from the city torminus at Kilbirnic to Seatoun and Miramar was held at tho Kiosk, Worser Bay, on Monday ,night. The Mayor (Mr. F. Townsena) presided, and thiere was a large number of ratepayers and "residents of the district in attendance. The proposal, after a stormy debate, was carried, and -in due course will, be the subject of a poll of ratepayers. The iMayor, at tho outset, stated that this was the largest meeting which had ever been held in the borough, and it was, he said, a meeting oiv which the future destiny of the borough would hang. The proposals to be submitted were unanimously adopted by the Council, and already the borough practically had £18,500 towards carrying out the work. This represented £15,600 in cash, and the balance in tho valuo of four acres of land at the junction of the borough and tho city.;, Ho explained the tram route, nnd said it was altogether three and three-quarter miles in length, includ ing one mile within tho city- boundary. The cost of tho system fully equipped had been put down at £6000 per mile, but he submitted that it would not cost more than £5000. The Council had an estimate of the probable receipts and expenditure in connection with tho running of a half-hourly service between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and it showed that there would be an estimated loss of £2000 for the first three years. This deficiency had practically been guaranteed by three of tho land syndicates. He moved that tho ratepayers approve of the Borough Council 1 to borrow by way of special loan £23,000 for the un- ( dertaking of constructing electric tramways connecting Seatoun and Miramar North with the terminjis of the - Wellington City trams H; at Kilbirnio South, and to make and" pledge an.annually recurring special rate of one penny in the pound on tho tiapilal valuo (or proportionally on tho unimproved value) of all ratablo property vh the borough as security for tho interest and sinking fund iii connection with the loan. The motion was seconded by Councillor iM'Grrath, who stated that if the ratepayers rejected this scHemo and handed over their rights to a tynd syndicate, or any financiers or Carnegies, they would regret it as long as they lived. Councillor Wardcll maintained that tho prudent course was' to allow private enterprise to undertake the work. (Applause and loud cries of "No, no!" and an interjection by Councillor M'Grath of "Kid, kid!")., "Continuing, ho said he had spoken tp 1 •■ an authority about the cost of the trams, ' and had been led to believe that the Cost would exceed £6000 a car-mile. ' Therefore, ho disagreed wjth, the Mayor when he said that the cost would be under £6000. In view of the requirements of tho borough in the direction of street-lighting, water, and drainage he maintained that the borough would not bo prudent in going in for this loan. At this stage a ratepayer from town asked if the time of the meriting was to be taken up solely by Councillors. Subsequently the Chairman asked Councillor Wardell to sit down, and thereupon a scene followed in which a prominent man in the city, red in the face, shouted to people all round the hall. v The audience applauded and hooted, until eventually Councillor Wardell was .given an extra five minutes. The speaker, on resuming, was heartily applauded. Mr. Chase-Morris, in reply to cries of "We want Morris," mounted the platform and had a consultation with the chairman, which was Jnaudibk. owing to laughter and applause. " Subsequently he said "I have something, to say, but the chairman won't allow me. . All that I can now do Is to adviße^''you .to^, vote ; against the scheme." (Applause.) • '■ The Mriyof .'proceeded to address .the meeting, when Mr. Chase-Morris ■ asked what the Council would do if Miramar Ltd. did not join in with the other land syndicates in guaranteeing against the loss on the running of the cars during the first three years. The Mayor : .That will be decided by the Council. 'Mr. Chase-Morris : Unless you give us back that bond for £6000 Me can compel you to run the cars to Miramar North. The Mayor : We have to construct the line, but we have not to construct it at once. (Cries ofl "wriggle," and "shufflle") Continuing, he said the Council would not break faith with Miramar Ltd. to put the tram down afc once, but there was nothing oq. God's earth to compel it to run the trams up there until they chose. Directly the poll was carried he was sure ]that Miramar Ltd. would do the right thing with .the Council. Mr. Morris, he said, was all right if only they took him the right way. Messrs. R. Wilson and A. D. Mabin opposed the proposal, saying that the loss on the scheme' woufd be far greater than had been suggested by. the Mayor, and in support of their contentions, produced statements and figures. ■Mr. A. Crawford supported the echeme, and stated that if the rights to construct the tram were given to a syndicate he would withdraw his guarantee to the Council. The mqtion, on being .put to the meet^ ing, was; carried/ <The Mayor reported that as near as he was able to ascertain, eighty-five hands went up for the proposal, and forty against it. The meeting terminated shortly before 11 o'clock with cheers and groans. The poll of ratepayers is to be taken on the 20th December.