AUCKLAND ELECTRIC TRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11079, 2 June 1899, Page 5

AUCKLAND ELECTRIC TRAMS.

At a meeting of the City Council last night, a letter was read from Mr. W. Gentry Bingham with reference to the negotiations for the application of electricity to the Auckland trams. The letter was as follows : — " Since writing last we had an interview with the British Electric Traction Company (Limited), who purchased from the liquidator of Mr. Epstein's company the contract under which they had agreed to take over the remainder of the term of the present concession of the Auckland tramways from the Bank of New Zealand. The result of that meeting was that we were informed that the British Electric Traction Company had formed a company called the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, and on being put in possession by us of the terms of our concession from the Auckland City Council, they at once expressed their desire not to stand in the way of the wishes of the Council, and to make arrangements with us, whereby the benefit of the purchase of the trams from Mr, Epstein should be handed over to us upon terms which are mutually satisfactory. We have, therefore, adopted the company which they have registered, and we are now prepared to enter into a deed for the formal embodiment of the concession, and we shall be obliged if you will let us have a draft of it forwarded here for our approval. As Mr. Cotter will be shortly in London I should be glad to settle the draft with him before I return to New Zealand." The Mayor suggested that the letter be referred to a' joint committee, comprising the Streets and Legal Committees. The matter required some consideration. He did not think\ifc would be the proper course for the Council to send the deed home. The whole matter should be settled in the colony, and in his opinion the company in London should appoint an agent in Auckland to act as their attorney. ■ ■ . ■ : Mr. Hewson said they ought to be very careful as. to what was" put into the deed. He: always, understood that; Mr. Bingham had an attorney in Auckland, and that the Council had been dealing with him. -