TRAMWAY TO NEW BRIGHTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7414, 3 December 1884, Page 5

TRAMWAY TO NEW BRIGHTON.

PUBLIC MPLIIVG A mooting of those inti rested in the construction of a lino of tramway to New Brighton, was hold at Paitei'iioa's Hotel last evening. About 40 persons were present, Incmdlug a r nsidt mblo number of boating men, who hail rendezvoused at tho hotel, after their spin down the river. Mr W. Wilson was voted to the chair, and expressed satisfaction at tho large attendance, which convinced him that a tramway to New Brighton was an absolute necessity. Tbo promoters hod waited on tbo City Council, and had received a most kind and courteous reception. Mr Wilson recapitulated thu arguments in favour of the line, which he bad used at the meeting of the Council. Ho stated that it would be desirable to extend the tramway along the esplanade, and also, perhaps, at a more distant date, towards the north. It would, doubtless, be feasible to construct a wharf running out from the beach beyond the breakers into deep water, so that vessels could come alongside, and a shipping trade be created. Mr Grand moved—" That in Hie opinion of this meeting it is highly desirable that a line of tramway should be constructed from the municipal cemetery ,to New Brighton, and thence along the esplanade to the estuary, especially in view of the fact that the promoters have received favourable consideration at the bands of the City Council.” Mr Hopkins seconded the motion. Mr Hobden objected to the resolution as it stood. He was of opinion that a Committee should be appointed to ascertain what was the best route for a tramway from Christchurch to New Brighton. Ail must agree, ho thought, that such a tramway would be a success, financially and otherwise, always provided it was carried by the route which it ought to be. His opinion was that if the affair was to be a success, the route proposed in the motion should not be adopted. If a line to New Brighton were to be .successful, it must not go by a route along which there was no population. No company in the world could work it at a profit in a satisfactory manner. It whs an accepted foot in railway matters that it was the intermediate traffic that paid, and not that between two extreme points. He and some others had interviewed the Tramway Company on the subject, and could say that the Company would not have anything to do with working a line by the proposed route. It had been proposed by some property-holders in the district that a line should be made by another way, which would not be open to the objections he had mentioned. The route would be along Colombo street to the North Belt, up London street so as to tap Bingsland, crossing London street at Shepherd’*, through Shepherd’s property to Plesher’s, along Fiesher’s to the main road, and thence to New Brighton. By this route there would be a sufficient traffic ’ along tho line te make it pay, as the residents would be sure to avail themselves of it largely. It had been suggested as on alternative route that the line should diverge iron* the City Council tramway on tho Stanmore road, go along that road through Bingsland, and follow the main road to New Brighton. This would also be better than the route proposed in the motion, as it would secure a greater traffic by the way. The distance would, he would admit, bo a little longer. Ho pointed out that the coaches wont through Bingsland, and argued that as they pud it was reasonable to expect a tramway to pay if taken by tho same route. Hu moved as an amendment—" That while fully recognising the necessity of having a tramway constructed to Now Brighton, and with a view of securing tho success of tho venture, it is desirable that a Committee lie elected for the purpose of collecting information as to the best route, and report to a general meeting to be called during the month.” Mr G. King seconded the amendment, which he supported in a brief speech, pointing out that the construction of a lino at all by the route proposed in tho motion depended on a lino being made by the City Council to tho cemetery, which he did not think at all certain. Mr Beal asked tho Chairman what population lived along the route from the ; cemetery. Tho Chairman said that the Americans, ] the greatest nation in tlio world, made ■ their railways first, and tho population < followed afterwards. There were 15,000 < Sle in Christchurch, and there was no 1 t that a large population would come j to live on tho land which lay along J the lino of the tramway when it i was opened. Tho Tramway Company < ho believed, would be very likely to take | up the work of constructing a lino if the t present promoters abandoned it. If tho i fine were taken through Mr Ploahor’a land, « the promoters would nave to pay £3OO an j acre lor the land they would require, * whereas on tho other route all the land i would ho given free. The City Council f had wisely selected a site for a cemetery at 1 a distance outside tho city, and it would t have te lie used very shortly, and it would u be absolutely neecssarv to make n tramway n te it, so that there need be no fear that the I project submitted by the promoters would I rail through from the want of the first half » of the line He thought (hat a little j selfishness was shown by those who opposed > the line because it was not going past their t properties, though he was ready to admit • that i rorjone was free to try and obtain J any route he deemed best. t Mr Uebdon, aa mover ot tho amendment, churned tho right to reply to the objections t brought against it. lie thought that tlte i Americans would « vtruury a line through 5 a wildennss alum thv could carry it i tluouji a popuhted mmtry. If they hud I to make a line thn igh unpopulated dis- t tri ts they would m tat likely give blocks » of land along tho aay to secure it* success, t Had thi promoters of the tramway done c this P ’i fie traffic along the line from tho I * cemetery would not bo sufficient to pay. v Mr Wiison had stated that if Hie line t was taken through Mr Fleshcrs land J £9OO per aero would have to he paid e tor It. In reply to that, ho could o say that Mr Flesher would give tho p load, which would he worth £BOO on acre,

“i * fw t* mn,U > lik « Ktvi-n on the other route, He <„ » t pWStloft to my that if the line wow made ii CSi u “’ rn r m > * ffotlla take It over mi.! work it It,. , tJiwistht that those who „,„<i tl o'. I ' fmn Uur cemetery .-redd J.f f ; a«y more than those who s„p- , ported It, and that the f., rmi . r had mw h ■ better reasons to givo far their m tl«n * Mr J. Kerr saw no reason why the Utu, y nhrmld not come along the road from the i cemetery, instead of being taken aero** the sandhills, some of which were 60ft hioh t and oa which there was only one house! t The bridge that w«« already erected could i he oited if the road were followed, where**) j if the line suggested were taken, a new ] bridge would have to he built, Mr Jal*■/, Rhode* said that the route ( G*pn«ed by Mr Kerr would be 11 miles ig«nr, and to make the tramway by that route would cost iilOO a mile more than it won hi to make it over the sandhills, The first way proposed by Mr Hebden would be some ill mile* longer than that advocated in the motion. With regard to the jtopnlation along the rente, there were only half-a-dozen houses lor “•»«* ° r th « w ®y- (Ob, oh.) There was no population yet in Locksley or Windsor. If the line were to be taken by the 8 tan mo re road, land oa one side of the roisl would have to bo bought, for the road was in places only half a chain wide. If the line were carried along the route mentioned in the motion, it could be matte for about JESOOO or il'sooo, if rolling stock were purchased, ns against some .£25,000 for a fine by the other route. (No, no.) The Chairman then put the amendment, for which 13 hands were held up. He then put the motion, for which the rowing men, who had previously taken no prominent part in the proceedings, gave a block vote. Messrs Hebden and King warmly protested against the vote of these gentlemen being accepted, on the ground that they were not residents of the district, and hod no right to take part in the meeting. The Chairman said that he considered that, as the meeting was a public one, and as all residents of Christchurch were interested in the opening of tramway communication with New Brighton, the gentlemen in question had a perfect right to vote, and he would take their votes accordingly. A scene of considerable confusion followed this announcement, the supporters of the motion vociferously applauding, while the other side were loud in their expressions of dissent, and cries of “ shame." In reply to a query from Mr Hebden, as to what the boating men had to do with the question, Mr Hughes said that they were Christchurch residents, and therefore interested in the tramway, and that some of them were interested in the question in other ways. The Chairman persisted in his determination to take the votes of all present, whereupon Messrs Hebden and King, with some others, after again protesting, left the room, and the Chairman declared the motion carried by 24 votes to 13. Several of those present seemed under the impression that the proceedings had terminated, and were leaving the room, when Mr Jabez Rhodes moved Limited Liability Company be formed for the purpose of establishing the tramway, and that the following gentlemen be appointed Provisional Directors, with power to add to their number:—Messrs W. .Wilson, J. Rhodes, D. W. Hamilton, C. Palm ret, Baynes, J. 8. Buxton, Grand, and E. Corser." Mr Hopkins seconded the motion, which was carried. The Chairman briefly thanked those who had voted for the two motions, especially expressing his indebtedness to the gentlemen from Christchurch, one of whom responded to the compliment by calling for three cheers for Mr Wilson. These having been given' most heartily, the meeting adjourned to Dec. 17, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Provisional Directors.