THE ELECTRIC TRAM SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10045, 4 February 1896, Page 6

THE ELECTRIC TRAM SYSTEM.

DISCUSSION AT PARNELL COUNCI. At the ordinary meeting of the p arnell > rough Council, hold lust night, cqrre«n n \ was received in reference to the nron i" 0 * run a tramcar system by means of 0 i *° clectrio wires throueh the borough M d tion of the arterial system of trim. * K has been submitted to the city m th V " K » ous boroughs and road boards by the Var ,'" cate represented by Mr. James Stew&rM-t'' Mr. Stewart sent in plans of the nr '' , electric tramway so far as the BoS . Pamell was concerned, and attended to • any further information required \ n v ' letter to the Council from Mr. Stewart • formed the Council that he would under ► ["' to pay all costs of advertising and le»ti pen9es incurred by the borough in Conner ' with the scheme. There was also * j!,!° a from Messrs. Hesksth and Ri< hmond J- ' tors for the borough, as to the notice'wKl would be required to he published. The Mayor (Mr. Von Stunner) said i this was a question which would rwiuf' very grave consideration l , for it was one '1 too great importance to be taken hastily Naturally Mr. Stewart was anxious to hat' the matter closed as speedily as possible anil so no doubt were the councillors, but it ff ., their duty to go carefully into the position The Town Clerk then, as a preliminary read the lone; advertisement to lie issued hi the Council, notifying their intention I apply to His Excellency the Governor for authority to delegate their powers to the company, proposing to erect the en , r j« trams represented by Messrs. DiKvyn Parrish and Alfred Parrish. The advertisement «•», similar to that adopted by the City Council but it gave more, details as to tariffs, etc., ~ the tram system has not hitherto existed in Parnell, In answer to questions, Mr. Stewart said he guaranteed all expenses for adv»rti«i. and legal diaries up to the time of the root'ipi of the authority from the Governor. He re minded the Council that the plans must he on the table for four weeks after th» ah . pearance of the advertisement, ami if sp„ cent, of the ratepayers tlien object, a poll n | the ratepayers must be taken, and one-third of the voters on the roll could then veto th, proposition, and prevent the construction 0 | the tramways. Mr. Thornes : Who will pay the expense* of tho poll of the ratepayers if one is necessary! Mr. Stewart : I will. Mr. Stewart continued, that in regard to the advertisement, the charges might, if they chose, come, tr thin office or to him. for it was immaterial whether the newspapers charged th» Council or charged him, for he would pay. Although it was stated that the service would be a 30 minute service, it would lie a 15 minute service, but they had copied the Auckland Tramways Company's conditions. Mr. Thornes raised an objection to {jiving a monopoly for 21 years to a company with s power to charge a maximum fare of 3d 05 day aud 6d by night. Mr. Stewart said ho only asked from them the same conditions which hail been conceded by the city. He might say that except a monopoly was granted, they simply would not have the electric tramways, but what; ho asked was that the Council should decide one way or the other that night, In answer to further questions, Mr, Stewart said he had not entered fully into the calculations, but the amount to bo expended on the tramways, without including the extensions round the mountain, would be from £160.000 to £170,000. Mr. Thomas and Mr. McCovmi pointed out that competition would fix the fares, and that what was asked was only a maximum. Mr. Whitley s*id, while agreeing with some of the remarks ofMr. Thornes, he felt it his duty, in the interest of the borough, to assist! it in securing this tram system. Ho proposed that the borough advertise the necessary notice as drafted. Mr. Savage seconded the motion. Mr. Page considered they should first fir the rent to be charged, and if it was not sufficient! ho would strongly oppose the motion. Mr. Stewart pointed out that this was > part of the condition, for which a blank was left in the draft advertisement. The eit? now received £'200 per annum for 8 miles 1! chains of road, and would do so for the nest year and a-half, aud from then up the end nj the term of 21 years the rent would be I'M Parnell bad a mile and five chains of road Newmarket, which had a mile and ten chains, was to receive £10 ayear for the firs seven years, and for the remainder of tin term £50 per annum. Mr. Savage moved that the right to by the/tramway in Parnell be granted on the same terms as in Newmarket— £3o ayear for tho first seven years, and £50 afterwards. Mr. Stewart explained that hitherto Newmarket had received no rent from th tramways, only rates about £11 ayear : kit ho offered them rent in order that the whole of the local bodies might be on as nearly aa possible nil equal basis. Mr, Thorne3 secouded Mr. Savage') motion. Mr. PaGE said he should propose an amendment, that the charge to the Tram Company be £1 per chain per annum tor 21 years. He alluded to the great value of the mile through Parnell for omnibus traffic, and the danger of overhead electric wires, which, be said, he was informed was a dangerous and condemned system. The amendment was not seconded, but Mr. Thomas suggested to Mr. Page to reduce the amount to £50 per annum for the whole term. This Mr. Page assented to, and Mr. Thomas having seconded it, the amendment was put to tho meeting and lost, and the original motion was carried. The other blanks being filled in tho advertisement, it was authorised.