THE RIVAL ROUTES

Evening Star, Issue 18053, 22 August 1922, Page 7

THE RIVAL ROUTES

TRAMWAY EXTENSIONS. OPOHO AND PELICHET BAY, The residents of Opoho having had a meeting to discuss the proposed Opoho tram line and come to the decision that they want tho lino laid past tho Botanic Gardens, the rival faction in Pelichet Bay held a public meeting in the Albany Street School Hall last evening, and aired their views on tho subject. The small hall was packed‘ both with supporters of Opoho and Pclichot Bay, and at times the various speakers were subjected to a running fire of criticism and interruptions. Mr G. J. Williamson, in tho absence of tho mayor, was voted to the chair, and had frequently to call tho meeting to order. There was some dissatisfaction at the end about the voting, but'tho chairman’s ruling was not to bo upset. Mr Williamson explained the objects of the meeting, and said that the Opoho people were entitled to a tramway and the Pelichet Bay residents did not want to delay that tramway by one single day. ■When public money was spent it should be seen that a burden was not placed- on the people. Some people maintained that the proposed route, would be best from & business point of view. (Cries of “No.”) Tbo City Council must see that tho tramway paid its way within a 'reasonable time, and in bis opinion, the beat paying route would bo through Pelichet Bay, *ae -big factories would soon be built on tb© foreshore ; again, the llaveiisboiime people would patronise that line. Opoho and Pelichet Bay residents should join in for th© good- of Dunedin as a- whole. ('Cheers.) Mr Lnmi said that tho distance from.,, the Gardens gate to Opoho was fortythree chains, and from Pelichet Bay forty-two. From tho Slock Exchange to Opoho via George street was 200 chains, and from (ho Stocky Exchange to Opoho via tho railway station 160 chains. Mr Limn then moved—“ Thai, this meeting of Dunedin residents request that the City Council grant a tramway service from the city to Pelichet Bay and Opoho for the following reasons; (a) For tho convenience of those residents of Opoho-Pelichct Bay districts who are so far removed from tho tram line; (b) for the convenience of tho many visitors to the rifle butts, the upper Botanic Gardens, tho. Northern Cemetery, and Opoho neoneation grounds; (c) to assist in the development and opening up of tho Lake Logan recreation grounds, which promise to become the finest in Now Zealand; (d) to assist in tho opening up and development of that large tract of Harbor Board land that is at present partially (and will in the future bo more fully) occupied by largo manufacturing concerns; (o) In view of tbo possibility of future extension to Ravensbounie.” Tiie mover said that in having tho tramway through Pelichet Bay there would bo more passengers carried and a more -frequent service. It was a good opening for a tourist traffic. (Laughter.) Opoho would assist them, and Pelichet Bay would assist Opoho. It was th© best means of access to a favorite part of Dunedin, and would bo a relief 'to tho George street traffic.

Mr R. Ferguson said that the question was one that affected tho whole of the citizens of Dunedin, ns they bad to pay for it. He proceeded to describe the two routes. Tho proposed route, ho said, would not go near any houses. (Cheers.) How were they to maintain a tramway ■with four or five hundred people? No people would walk up hill to catch a car. (A Voice y “Yes they would,”) If the tramway came through Bay it would 1 servo a populous district—it would serve the cemetery —(laughter)—and the future playing ground of Lake Logan. Several interjections hero stopped the speaker, and the chairman called the meeting to order. Continuing, Mr Ferguson said the tramway would servo ; the Opoho Cricket Ground. They would have to run a tram to supply Lake Logan some time, so why duplicate a tram line by running it up to Opoho via the Gardens? Workers who would be- employed in'the factories on the foreshore would bo able ta come from Opoho by a direct line. The Pelichet Bay route would be a paying one; and was the only feasible one. The city councillors were too much influenced by agitators, and kept their eyes too much on votes. In conclusion, he gave credit to Mr Harvey for stirring public opinion in the matter. Air H. P. Harvey, the champion of the Gardens route, said that he was of opinion that the officials who gave Mr Lunn his figures were “pulling his leg,” The distance up both hills was nearer seventynine chains. Ten or twelve years ago (no said) Opoho residents agitated.'for a tramcar by way of Pelichet Bay. By doing that they thought that the Pelichet Bay residents would back them up. but this they failed to do. They evidently didn’t want a car lino. At that time they could have got a lino up the Gardens route for about £4,000. Now all prices had gone up, and it would cost between £6.000 and £B,OOO. He himself had counted the houses along the proposed route, and tho number was 242. It wanted only the tramway to make a populous district. The Mornington tramway was now paying a profit owing to the Maryhill extension line. There were 140 empty sections in Opoho and hundreds of acres-—not down on the flat, hut up on the hill—(cheers) — waiting to he built on. They did not need to supply the cemetery, as the Lake Logan line would supply that. The Opoho hill, being a grade of 1 in 11, was not too steep; 1 in 8 was the Government grade. The City Council had promised that the Opoho line from the Gardens would ))o the first extension started, but if tho matter was reconsidered Opolio would lose its tram for years and years. The Pelichet Bay residents would in time bo supplied by an extension to Ravensbourno, so why try to spoil Opoho’s chance to get a tram line? Our city councillors were all business men—(sarcastic laughter) —and they had come to the decision that Opoho via the Gardens was the best route. When the loan proposals camo out there would be all sorts of opinions, and the ratepayers in the end would turn the proposals down.

Air Harvey then moved as an amendment—

That this meeting expresses its approval of the City Council’s decision to give Opoho a tramway service from tho Botanical Gardens corner; and respectfully urges that the work in connection therewith be proceeded with at once in the interest of tho unemployed. Mr Shepherd seconded the amendment. Mrs J. His-lop, speaking in support of -Mr Harvey’s amendment, said she was in favor of the Gardens line. Whn.t did it matter if the Opoho line didn’t pay at first; it would later on, when the vacant sections were built on. The tramway would bo a boon to tho women of Opoho. If Pelichct Bay wanted a tram, then Opoho would help. Mr G. S. Thomson, who was greeted with loud cheers, said that one day tho Opoho people would thank him for the work lie had done in trying to prevent the tramline being put up past the Gardens.. Mr Tannock had told him that a number of unemployed could be absorbed in working on the Lake Logan area. That place would in future require trams to convey thousands and thousands of people every Saturday afternoon. Here someone interrupted, and the speaker said he was not in the grocery trade at tho Gardens. This remark was objected to by the person it was intended to reach, am! Mr Thomson withdrew the remark.

Mr Thomson, continuing, said that at the next meeting they would have a big calico sheet marked with the two routes. At the present time tho tram service did not fit in with the railway service. He suggested that tho railway station bo a tramway terminus as well afi the Monument. Other centres had their tram termini at the railway stations. Mr W. R. Sinclair called the speaker to a point of order, and tho Chairman said that Mr Thomson would no doubt in future keep to tiro point as far as possible.

The trouble in Dunedin, said Mr Thom-! son, was that the council would not extend the tram lines unless the houses were there first. Ho was of opinion that tho Gardens route would never pay. Wherever there was a steep lino there was a danger, and ho pointed out to tho ladies that the brakes were not infallible. (Laughter.) They would also have to widen the road at the Gardens. The only way the tramway would pay would lie through Pelichet Bay and up. There were cries of “Time,”, but Mr Thomson “carried on,” and was heartily applauded at the conclusion. On© Opoho resident said 1 that- as tar as he knew none of tho tramway extensions paid, and as a ratepayer he.was- of opinion that Dpoho- was entitled to tramways. _ The Chairman said that ilia corporation , was spending far more on the tramways in the south" end of Dunedin than in the north, end. Opoho and- Pelichet Bay were ..id (tat- MM Bay was sure to get a tramway some day, and it would be a fair tiling not to block Opoho’s diance of getting tho tramway, even if tbo Pelichet Bay was the bettei 1- °Mr Ferguson said that the Pelichet Bay ropte would bo tho bettor-paying route—that was tho,. business point of view, and that was the way they had to look at it. Tbo City Council had not thought ot Lorau Park‘when it sanctioned the Opoho tramway. He was looking at it from a ratepayer’s. point of view. It was not a eelflffh interest. t Mr Harvey, replying to Mr Ferguson, said that tho Gardens rout© was tho true business route, and tbo council’s sanction was quite new, and not several years old, as tho previous speaker implied. Tho Chairman' then put the amendment to tho meeting, and it wasdost on a show of hands, and Mr Saunders moved as a. further amendment that the words “and Opoho ” be deleted from the original motion. Mr Thomson seconded the amendment, which was lost. Tho original resolution on being pnt to the meeting was earned. Mr Thomson moved —'“That this meeting stafld adjourned till Thursday week to enable representatives of the _ various sports bodies, University Council, and other public bodies interested to put thoir views before the genera!' public regarding the question of a tram service past Logan Park recreation grounds'. Mr (S. Munro seconded the motion, which was carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.