THE WELLINGTON CITY STEAM TRAMWAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5556, 18 January 1879, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON CITY STEAM TRAMWAYS.

(Abridged from the Otago Daily Times.) In one respect, and perhaps in one only, Wellington is far ahead of any city in the Australian colonies, or of any city of similar size in tho Home country. This is in regard to street conveyance. Its steam tramways are the admiration and envy of all visitors, and a source of great comfort and convenience to the residents. To Mr. Charles O’Neill, 0.E., once the representative of the Otago goldfields, and afterwards member for the Thames district, belongs the credit of having been the first to broach the idea of street tramways in this colony. Some eight or nine years ago he, in conjunction with a Mr. Thomas, applied to several municipal bodies for permission to lay street tramways within their bounds. Such applications were made to the Wellington and Dunedin City Councils amongst others, we think, but the time was scarcely ripe then for the project. Difficulties arose, and nothing came of the matter. In 1872 the,Tramway Act was passed in the Assembly, and Mr. O’Neill took a warm interest in the measure, and afforded the Government valuable assistance, in getting it through cemmittee. Nothing more, however, was done towards getting a concession in any town until the latter end of 1875, when Mr, O’Neill applied to the City Council of Wellington, and finding that body favorably disposed towards the scheme, he associated with himself Mr. John Henderson, 0.8., well known as the chief engineer of Messrs. Brogdeu aud Sons’ firm, and Mr. T. K. Macdonald, accountant, of Wellington. The promoters were bound to keep the street between the rails, and for a space of 3ft. on each side, in a state of good repair. The then Minister of Public Works, Mr. Richardson, seemed rather lukewarm in supporting the enterprise, and. considerable negotiation was necessary before Sir William Fitzherberfc, the then Superintendent of Wellington, was on the 29th of June, 1876, enabled to issue the “order of construction.” The tender of Mr. Samuel Brown for the construction of the line and the supply of material for the sum of £IB,OOO was accepted. This did not include the rolling stock, and the contractor was bound to restore the roadway with good 2in. metal, and to maintain the whole work for twelve mouths. The guage was fixed at Sft. 6in. For passengers the charge was fixed at 3d. for the entire length (about three miles). In October, 1876, the promoters issued a prospectus, the capital was set down at £40,000. As the public did not show any great desire to invest, a few gentlemen determined to carry the matter out, and the company was duly registered. Various circumstances delayed the arrangements for opening the line until the 28th of August last, when it was formally opened by his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby. The largest number of passengers carried in one day was a little over 6000.