TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14971, 19 April 1912, Page 8

TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

UPPER QUEEN-STREET SCHEME CITY COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE. A NON-COMMITTAL DECISION. A petition' was recently presented to tho City Council urging that the tramway lino should bo extended through the upper portion of Queen-street to Karangahapo Road. Tho City Council received last night tho city engineer's report on the subject. Other than shifting tho Grey Statue, ho said, the cost of alterations consequent on tho extension of the tram lino would bo very slight. In any caise the kerbing and channelling at the north-oast corner of Karangahapo Road and Queen-street would have to bo relaid when Karangahapo Road was paved, Tho cost of moving tho Grey Statue would bo from £175 to £200. During the construction of the lino thero would bo excessive wear on both sides of Queen-street. Tho Electric Committee recommended the extension of the tram lino on condition that the Council take the portion of tho property required to allow of the curvo at corner of Karangahapo Road, under the Public Works Act, and alter the lino of the footpath accordingly, provided the Electric Tramways Company, Ltd., paid as rent for the line an amount equal to 5 per cent, on tho Council's outlay. Mr. P. J. Nerheny said the Council had already decided not to extend the tram line up Queen-street. Ho did not think there was any need for the trams in tho street at all. The Ideality of the Town Hall was quiet now; but it would bo made noisy by tho trams; and when people were leaving entertainments in tho hall the cars would greatly increase tho risk to human life. Only a few people in tho street, purchasers of leasehold properties, would be benefited by the extension of the line, and the work would bo simply a benefit for tho. few at the expeneo of the community generally. Mr. G.,Read said a new outlet from tho city was becoming necessary, and ho did not eea how the Council could prevent the trams going up the street ultimately. Mr. J. Trevithick and Mr. G. Knight said an exit from the city by way of Queen-street was certainly necessary. The Mayor, after going carefully into tho minutes of past meetings, said tho Council had declined to request the Tramway Company to extend the line. Tho committee's "recommendation now only offered the opinion that the line should bo recommended, which was not the same as a direct reversal of opinionMr. .Nerheny said the upper portion of Queen-street was now ono of the best thoroughfares of the city. If it was cut up for a line the traffic would ruin it. The Council bad decided against the line, and the roadway had been properly formed, if there had been any intention I to lav the line, the road would not have been made in the way it was. Apparently since the Council had come to a decision influence had been at work, and thev„Uad changed their mind. ,- Mr. Casey said no great expetoee was involved. The bulk of the people desired the line, and he could seo no reason for blocking it. /* VSIr. H. Shaw said "that as the Tramway Company would, have to keep part of tho road in well as pay rent for tho pvor*rt#-«rtkeu. it was a good financial proposition. -••■>- s-'Jh- A. J. Bntrican said that sooner or r later the line past the Town Hall would bo necessary. It was demanded now. He suggested that the petitioners should be told", without recommending the.extension , of the line, that the Council would take 'the necessary portion of .the property provided the Tramway Company would pay a per cent. Then the petitioners could worry the Tramwav Company, and later the City Council could discuss terms with the company. l , ~ Mr. Nerheny agreed to the view expressed by Mr. Entrican. Mr E. Tudehope said ho was certain a line would bo run up the street in the future. If the acquirement of the necessary piece of land, now occupied by an old" «able, wtsre left till a big block of buildings stood there, the cost of taking it would be enormously increased. Hedid not think Mr. Nerheny had suggested that the committee had been got at. Influence had bad nothing to do with the members. Titer had simply had m view the future benefit of the city. _ It was resolved, as Mr.' Entrican had suggested, to reply that the Council -was prepared to take the land required, under the Public Works Act, provided the Tramwav b Company paid as rent for the line an amount equal to 5 per cent on the Council« outlay- _______^_