CITY TRAMWAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4312, 22 March 1901, Page 7

CITY TRAMWAYS.

! ■’! '--A' ' ; Hj” I ~ DISCUSSION AT THE CPTY COUNGIL.-

_ r The Tramways Committee made the following' - report; (to the City Council last Might:—'“The- ’ committee beg to report that a committee appointed by the Melrose Borough Council waited upon them on.’ Tuesday last, witfi respect to the extension of the tramway into their! borough. They stated that they were very desirous that tramway, communication should be established, and that they would be glad to co-operate with this Council in any manner possible. The committee discussed the, matter with them, and it was ultimately decided to recommend that the Melrose Borough Council be ashed to consider the matter further,, and subinit a definite proposal ' to this Council.'*—The report was? adopted. j : The Mayor (Mr Aitken) said he. noticed that he,>yas,accused, in a letter to (me .of, the '.newspapers, of having said that the extension, of !the .tramway ; to Island. "Jhy would'be'one of the first -'things undertaken. •: He was not conscious of ever hay-; ing made any such statement. He was conscious of ■ having once said that the City Council was not at all likely to go and make the • bit- out to • Island' Bay first. .He said, it would have to take its turn and come in its order. And bethought it was very clearly and emphatically stat,ed;'"at.thp last;Council.meeting, the reports of the Tramways Committee and the City-Engineer were'discussed, that it entirely depended on whether or not the City Council could come to satisfactory Arrangements . With: the Melrose Borough -Connell', whether the City Council would ever huild a tramway to Island Bayj. r Tlie,Finance Committee reported as follows "The committee beg to report that they have dealt with the matter of security ..for the .tramway loan, as instructed by. the Council. ■ They have thought it advisable fto pledge a 2d rat© in addition to (the,undertaking and the profits thereof. The rate can.be. struck -in the usual; way, (but it is not-Anticipated -tha,t. it will he found necessary'to levyat.''.:. ' j. : The Mayor said it was qtiito■ ob'Vibus why this had been done. It was not donej with tie int^nfipij, of ever .levying the rate. It was done with the intention of giving better security to the people who would' lend their money for the purpose of the tramways. nnd .so . enabling, the Council to get the money at a lower rate of interest.

Councillor Tolhurst said that the Dunedin City Council'had given security oh the whole of its general rate of 2s in the jC. The report was adopted. ' A member of the deputation from i the Ratepayers’ Association which waited upon tiie Council said he wished it to be; understood that tho association was nof opposing the tramway proposals. . ■