TRAMWAY BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13140, 30 May 1903, Page 11

TRAMWAY BOARD.

The Christchurch Tramway Board met yesterday afternoon; present I —Messrs W. Reece (chairman), A. B. Morgan, W. Pearce, G. Scott, A. W. Boa van, H. F. Wigram and G. G. Stead. Tiie Chairman stated the dates which had been fixed for the meetings in connection with the proposed! tramway loan as follow : —Canterbury Hall, Tuesday, June 2; New! Brighton, Wednesday, Juno 3; Sumner, Thursday, Juno 4; Papanui, Thursday, Oil no 4; Liuwood, Church Street, Friday, June 5; Sprcydon, Monday, June 8. Ho said that ho would like all the members to be present at the meeting in the Canterbury Hall, if possible, and the members of the districts concerned at the outside meetings. The greatest number of meetings that time would allow had bean arranged, l and there would be one more than the Act required. He supposed tho befit course at the meetings would -bo to simply amplify the reports which had been before the Board, adding some figures and further data. Those reports had already fairly well) placed tho whole of the scheme before the public. Tho meetings -would he most valuable in tho direction of enabling tho public to ask questions regarding any points on which there was doubt. Mr Pearce eaid that there seemed to ho an impression among tho public that tho Board was scarcely giving as much information as it should with regard to tho loan. The Chairman said that tho Board’s reports had gone pretty fully into tho matter.' Tho main object of the proposed meetings, however, was to supply all required information. Of course, the Board had not stated exactly whore it was going to buy land or what was the value of tho concessions,' because that would be unwise. Mr Stead said that it -would be. unreasonable of the public to expect to know suck details at present. In regard to conducting the poll, the Chairman said that lie- hud no doubt there would be enough citizens in each district) who would take the matter up and see that the opponents of the tramways did! not have all their own way. Mr Beavan said that a question that troubled some people was tho second loan. The outside districts relied upon this for tramway facilities, and would feel happier if there was some assurance that the Board! would not rest content with tho first £250,000. .It might lie possible to relieve! these districts by putting the station line! into the second loan, thus giving some certain hope that that loan would bo pushed) forward. Tho Chairman said that the station linei was part of the quick service in the heart of the city, and tho Board could hardly cut it out. The Act clearly provided for the) extensions. Messrs Wigram and Morgan supported this view. In answer to a question put by Mr Stead,) the Chairman said that tho first loan would) ho raised .simultaneously with tho issuing of tho specifications. Accounts amounting to £lOl 6s 8d were' passed for payment. Tho Engineer was requested to report) with regard- to tho possibility of employing tho underground wire system through tho ! centre of the city.