DISSOLVED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 23, 27 January 1912, Page 11

DISSOLVED.

HUTT VALLEY TRAMWAY BOARD. , AFTER A LIFE OF THREE YEARS. After being in existence for three years, and having failed' in the object for which it was created — to provide a tramway system for tho ,Hutt district-— the Hutt Valley Tramway Board has dissolved. The decision was come to last evening, when Mr. J. T. Hawthorn moved aa follows, :—: — That v tho Hutt Valley Tramway Board v be dissolved, "because it has failed to. formulate any scheme that meets with the approval of the ratepayers. This was originally moved by Mr. Hawthorn at a meeting in August last, but consideration, was deferred in order to enable the secretary to wind up the affairs as far as possible. The secretary has done this, as was shown by a report which he submitted, and which was published in iast night's Post. Before this report was adopted, members took into consideration the matter of outstanding rates, and it was decided to leave it to the two councils to collect them if possible. The question of the secretary 'c remuneration, was tHen discussed. Mr. Stevens said that Mr. Cooper had received nothing since the 30th September, ' although his work had been very arduous. The collection of the rates— mostly small sums — had been done very well, and his labours should be recognised. Sir. Piper strongly supported this. 'He moved that Mr. Cooper be granted a sum of-^SIO, not as a donatipn, but as payment for, work done. This Vas seconded by Mr. Burridge, and carried unanimously. Mr. Hawthorn then moved as above. He said they all regretted that no trams had been laid down. , . • Mr.- Piper seconded the potion, which, without discussion;", was carried unanimously. ' „ '' v •, The secretary was instructed to inform the Minister of.,<Jtnternal Affairs of the board's decision, co that the' Order in Council confirming it could be issued. The chairman explained that it might still be necessary to hold one more meeting of the board. He hoped this 'couJ^.be obviated, however. A vote of thanks ,w&^ passed to the Huit River Board and tp ' the Petone Borough Council for the free use of looms. HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT, ' BOARD RECEIVES TWO REBUFFS. - The proposal to lay down. a tramway System to"the Hutt "Valley has been a subject of discussion for -■many 1 ' years ;'{ in 1900 .the idea was first mentioned seriously. In that year hi a speech in, the House of Representatives, Mr. Wilford (member for the district) advocated a service from Petone to Taita. Coming dojyn to later years— in 1906, when Mr. T.'/W. . M'DoAald 'was Mayor of Lower Hutt' and Mr. G. London, » Mayor of % Petone I—the1 — the question was further considered, and the two councils agreed to obtain a report upon the question of a tramway service from Mr. William Goodman,, now manager of tho ' Adelaide Tramways.' Early in' 1907, as a result of a conference between the two councils, a joint tramway committee was appointed. That committee set to work, and presented a report to both councils embodying a proposal for the constitution of tramvyay, board, on the lines of the Ohristchurch. Board. In addition to this, a, "joint report, by the. engineers of both boroughs (Messrs. Cook andißix Trot) was submitted; covering an. 11-mile electrical service, at an estimated cost of £80,000. '.'These reports were ultimately adopted by the' councils, and each borough agreed to pay half the cost of- the report, and half the cost of prey paring %' Bill •■ for eabmiesion to Parliament. ' ,The v public were also taken into the confidence of., the joint committee,' and a circular was issued for meetings to discuss the proposals, .those meetings being called by the two Mayors (Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan and T. A. Peterkin). This was in- April^ 1908. As a result of the meetings a measure— The Hutt 'Valley Tramways Act— was submitted to Parliament in the same year, and it became law on let January, 1909. 'In order to carry out its provisions, an election was held in February, conducted , by Mr.^P.- "R.- Purser, ' Town Clerk, ! Lower Hutt. The election resulted in the return' of Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan^ R. .Stevehs, H. Baldwin, R. J. Southgatfe, J. T. Hawthorn, and H. Findlay, as the first board. '.Che board immediately began to hold meetings regularly, and, a secretary (Mr. 'D. Jones) was elected. As soon as the board got, into working order, the question of formulating a tramway ■ scheme naturally occupied attention. As a first step'; Mr. H. S. .King, of Wellington, was asked K to report upon (1) an electrical scheme covering 11 miles ; '(2) a petrol scheme ; (3) a steam 1 ' service He was also asked to report upon a smaller scheme covering, six miles. The report pointed out that the steam service would be the cheapest, and that it would be wise for the board to consider the advisability of installing it. After' prolonged discussions of the various schemes, and after a motion by Mr. R. Stevens favouring steam was lost, it was resolved to' place before the ratepayers an electrical scheme covering lli miles of track and involving an expenditure of £85,000. When this was submitted, to the . ratepayers in February, 1910, the Hutt ejec.tors carried it by a majority of 62, but in Petone jt, was'defeated by 60, votes. The proposal was therefor© carried on a joint vote, but lost on the separate vote that was iiucesfiary. -Believing that the adverse vote was mainly d,ue to the apathy of tho people, the board was petitioned to take another poll,, and this was accordingly done in July of the same, year. This time the .voting was adverse in both districts. Some members of the board were of opinion that the 6cheme \vas\oo big for the district, aud that tho voting did not indicate that the people did not want a service at, say, £50.000. A proposal was accordingly brought forward • last year for a six mile 6 service, including a new bridge across the Hutt River, the whole to cost £60,000. Before the statutory meetings were held, however, proposals were made by a Wellington syndicate to put "down a service under conditions to be arranged. In view of these developments, the proposals for a moderate scheme were withdrawn, and negotiations entered into with the syndicate. Nothing was done pending the election oi new members of board, which re-

suited in Messrs. Piper, Burridge, Rieh> worth, and Kempthoine beiug returned. Negotiations were continued, and ultimately led to the board asking for a deposit of £1000, to which the syndicate did not agree. Negotiations were thereupon declared off, and Mr. J. T. Hawthorn gave notice to move a motion 'for the dissolution of the board. Instructions were given the secretary (Mr., W. S. Cooper) to collect outstanding rates, and the finishing touches were put on last evening. It will therefoie bo seen tha\ the idea of tramways really originated with the Hult and Petone Councils. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan has been chairman of the "■ board ~ since its inception, and ha 6 throughout been one of th« strongest advocates for trams iv tho district. *_ Nothing definite is known now aa'to whether trams will be installed in the district in the near future, but it is understood that both councils will be given an opportunity to.discuss proposals at no distant date.