A SCHEME REVIVED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1909, Page 7

A SCHEME REVIVED.

TRAMWAYS THROUGH THE BASIN RESERVE. An attempt is being made to bring public opinion to recognise the merits of a proposal to run the city electric tramways through the Basin Reserve. Suggestions to tunnel under it and instal a subway, or to run through it a thoroughfare one chain and a half in width, have been made in the past, but the latest is a much more modest plan; i.e., to run a forty foot electric tram trackstraight through from Kent-terrace to Adelaide-road, leaving the wood blocked road around the . reserve to carry all other traffic, whether vehicular, horse, or foot. The 40ft track, it is contended by its advocates, could be put through without detriment to the re serve as a playing area, and it is said that the turf that would be disturbed could be beneficially shifted to the eastern side, where the ground is very uneven at present. From the viewpoints of public convenience and municipal •profit, it is further stated, the scheme is one that should commend itself to all. Cheapening of the cost of running the tramways is being aimed at by the authorities, and k it is conceded that an avoidance of trie existing sharp turns, numbering four, which are met with on the existing tram track: around the reserve, would greatly reduce the cost of running, as well as that of tram-track maintenance. The saving of time is another consideration pointed out, and in this case time would mean money too, for it would be possible to maintain the present service between Constablestreet and the city while running one car less if the time lost in negotiating the curves and longer tracks were saved. Some members of the City Council have given thought to the new scheme, and it is likely that it will be brought up for discussion at a council meeting after the matters of business that have accumulated in the three or four weeks since the oltl council last met have been disposed of.