LIFT AND TRAM

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1917, Page 11

LIFT AND TRAM

.WESTERN SUBURBS ACCESS.

Means of access to Kelburn, Northland, and Western Suburb^ generally, weni-discussed* at. the '• meeHiag •. of the/KEJlfeurn Ratepayersi' 'Association, lasti '.night. . ■ . : .The president (Mr. F. Meadoweroft) mentioned the . proposal to construct a ■Jiffc from Church-streefc to l Wellington--'terrace. The latest advice was. that steel was -unobtainable at the present 'time, bo' that- Miey could not' hope: for the lift yet. When they had the lift, however, it would bo only a step. They looked ultimately for the tramway which ■would connect the Terrace and tho Karori, itram. Neither Keffiurn nor Northland residents were .satisfied with the present means of access, but pressure ,in the past had been unavailing, 1 and it was felt that there would be no improve' nient unitil there was competition, A Northland 1 resident, Mr. Peel, considered that the" proposed scheme ' for connecting with Wellington-terrace, by a tramway up. Salamanca-road and Glas-gow-street, would be very expensive, and the cars would not foe' used by Northland and Karori residents when they could go from Lamb-ton-quay by cable car and round' Upland-load in much shorter tuno. The lift' would not be used to the extent "anticipated, as people would nab walk half-way up Church-street to it.. The association, he considered^ shoulH turn its attention to a proposal which would ■*« of benefit .to a wider arealthan KelSusoi.' This result would'ba secured by : iß^ing' Abe council to purchase the Kell«w» tramway, aad then, construct an electric car, route to tho Karori tunnel. The Keiburn Council, he mentioned, had aeked the couocil l£o electrify the cable cars, so that a cheaper and better service might be given, but ifche council had refused unless the cable to carry the current was paid for. Mr. Mainland explained! that ho had gone very fully into the various schemes with the City Engineer, and it aid not appear that there was any possibility of anything ibeing done, except on the lines indicated—a lift to The Terrace, and *he 66ffc. wide viaduct lo Kelburnparade. As to the cost, it would probably be found to bt Iwe than to acquire the cable tramway at preaant. The City Engineer had-considered proposals for tunnels, and couldl show that they were impracticable. Ono tunnel suggestion (to come out just below the Park) was impossible, in viaw of this difference of the levels. The Engineer had considered all alternative schemos, and might be trusted to give them the cheapest and best means of access as soon as war conditions permitted.- As to vehicular traffic, the oxisting difficulties would probably diminish, as .motor-wagons gradually supplanted horse-drawn vehicles.'. ,- . . :

Mr. H. W. Kersley «aid that the idea it lifts "to Kelburn, and other hill'districts, was to place the people on the higher level /where they would be able to connect wiUianothor tramway system. Were the hill difficulty overcome, it would relieve materially the congestion in Wellington/ since there was land available for building in several: directions. Unfortunately it had been the practice in Wellington ito provide means of access only when tho people ware in a, distridt; not to build the trams, so that they might be induced to. leave the city.

, The president said the 'association had' given a great deal of attention, to ibis question, and would be ready at any time to consider any scheme that offered a 'better solution than thfiA given by Ithe Uft. •■ ■ . ■