THE WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10647, 29 June 1897, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS.

Wellington, Monday. At the Fnbllc World Committee of the City Connoll to-night the Mayor dealt at length with the position of the Connoll and the proprietor of the city tramways. After reviewing the early history of the trnmwaye, he referred particularly to 1887, when the first term of the conoaislou to the Tramway Company had expired and arbitrators were appointed In relation to the terms of renewal, In their award, among other things, the arbitrators agreed that the proprietors should have an extension for 15 yeara from the end of 1887, and a clause In the award provided that at the expiration of the term the right to uaa the tramways, with all concessions, &0., was to be pnt np to auction and dlapoeei of to the highest bidder. The Mayor contended that the arbitrators had no right to direot that the city shonld at the expiration of the second term pnt) the conoeeslon np to anotlon s the Council had no right to mortgage the future, nor had the arbitrators any fnnotlon to direct It so. Were he a oonnoillor in 1902, when the second term expires, nothing bnt the coercion of the Conrts wonld induce him to comply with the award.. He thought they shonld take the opinion of Sir K. Stont as to their right Bgalnit the proprietor of the tramways, claiming that he Is not bound by certain olansea nnder the award. He urged there should be no delay, as the Corporation will have to decide whether they will lay down and j ion proper tramways as the property of (the city or Invite tenders for an efficient tramway service.