THE BATTLE OF THE TRAMWAYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7862, 18 May 1886, Page 6

THE BATTLE OF THE TRAMWAYS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —When reading, in your issue of this morning, the letter from “ Director of the proposed Richmond and New Brighton Tramway Company/’ I could not but think it was a fine specimen of the reduclio ad ahsurdum • line of argument. Taking it seriously, however, we are bound to conclude that the author of such a letter has either an utter lack of the most ordinary business ability, or else is endeavouring to wilfully misrepresent the facts of the case. Which is it ? Not the former, I am quite sure. Let us now look at the absurdities of “Director’s” letter. He endeavours to show that the cost of constructing the 21miles of the Direct Line, with rolling stock, will be £11,056; and yet in the very next paragraph states that the cost of the line, via Richmond, a distance of fully 61 miles, will be only some £IO,OOO. Is not this “too utterly ridiculous ? ” “ Director ” is foolish enough to try to make us believe that 21 miles of a line (capable of at least as easy and as cheap a construction as the other) is to cost .£1056 more than a line 61 miles in length. Why, Sir, to follow “ Director’s" argument to its proper conclusion, the Richmond line would cost some £30,711. Will “Director” admit that? Of course he will say—“Oh, no; you forget that our line is to be constructed on the exceedingly economical marrow-gauge system.” But surely ho will never tell us that a saving of some £20,711 is to be effected thereby. If he does, we can only reply—“ Time will prove.” In concluding this correspondence, I would point out that in anything I have written on the matter I have strictly endeavoured to keep to the actual facts in connection with the two routes. In my former letter I took as my guide the figures published by the Directors of the Richmond line themselves. lam also quite prepared to stand by the figures I gave in connection with the direct line, viz., that, the total cost will probably be considerably under £4OOO. lam not at liberty so to do, or I could probably prove this, even to “ Director’s ” satisfaction. Such proof, however, will come in very good time, and in the best possible way, viz., by the construction of tho line for the sum named. I can, however, prove it in another way, and that by “Director’s ” own figures (which, by the way, I admit to be probably correct in this particular). He estimates the whole cost of the line viA Richmond, 63miles, at £IO,OOO. There are positively no greater difficulties in constructing the direct line; what, then, would be the cost of the 2-J- miles, which is the length of that line? I think. Sir, any schoolboy would answer, £3600. Whilst on this point, to save myself the trouble of replying to any quibble that “Director” might raise as to the economy to be effected on his line by its construction on the narrow gauge system, I may say that a fully proportionate saving may be effected on’ tho direct line in another way. If this does not satisfy “ A Director of the Richmond and New Brighton Tramway Company,” 1 feel assured that it will intending investors (who desire dividends) ; and also the general public of Christchurch, who desire a cheap and quick means of communication with such a beach as New Brighton possesses; and having satisfied these two latter portions of the community, I shall now be able to rest in peace.—l am, &c., A DIRECTOR OF THE NEW BRIGHTON TRAMWAY COMPANY.