TRAMWAY DELAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5311, 24 June 1904, Page 4

TRAMWAY DELAYS.

The people of Wellington must by this time be inured to that heart-sickening sensation that is begotten of “ hope deferred ” in the matter of the inauguration of the electric tramway system. It is, nevertheless, desirable that attention should bo pointedly drawn to some of the causes that have contributed to the postponement of the opening from March last until now, when we are assured for the third or fourth time in succession that “next week” will positively see the cars running. These causes whether - the Kent terrace bungle, the power-house delay, or; the

failure to provide in time for the shifting of telephone vires—are all summed up in one phrase, viz., hick of oidinary foresight on the part of the City Council. The latest *' lion in the path,” the difficulty at the junction of Cuba street and Manners street, seems also to be reft ruble to the same cause. The position at the point indicated is that the* tramrails com© within a few inches of the kerbing at two corners, whereas it is necessary, in terms of the Public "Works Act. that a clear-space of four feel should be left. Now. this very necessary provision of law, designed to ensure the public safety, must have been well known to City Councillors when they resolved to construct double lines along »these streets; they must also have been perfectly well aware that double lines could not be laid without coming nearer to the footpaths than is allowed by statute. If the necessary six months’ notice had then been given to lho owners of the corner properties, the buildings could ore now hare been set back to the required distance, and the tramway service could have been started without inconveniencing the public in any way. • Yet, what is the actual state of affairs to-day? Apparently, no notice has yet been given that the properties affected are required for public purposes, although there seems to be an understanding that one of the owners will, when rebuilding at a time ttf suit himself, set back the structure sufficiently to allow the required four feet between tiro tram-rails and the kerbing. To get over the difficulty in the meantime, and give formal compliance with the statutory provision, the Council proposes to take the required space from the footpaths, which are already much too narrow for pedestrian traffic at this particular place. If this is done, the public safety will not bo one whit better - secured than if the tram-cars wore run close up to the present kerbing; because the paths will be so narrow that probably no more than one person will be able to pass round the corners at the same time. The result will bo that pedestrians will be forced on to the roadway and will be placed in the very danger that the statutory provision was designed to avert, with dirt and discomfort superadded. A little forethought would have prevented all this delay and inconvenience; and it would too interesting to know who is responsible for the oversight. From the irritation displayed by the Mayor when questioned on the subject, as contrasted with the ready courtesy of the Electrical Engineer in affording information, the inference is irresistible' that the City Council is to blame. If our conclusion is wrong, we shall be glad to give his Worship an opportunity—and he should abandon his attitudeof reticence—to . place the matter jji its true light. In the meantime, on behalf of a long-suffering public, we protest against the many annoying delays that have taken place, and trust that we have nearly reached the end of the wretched chapter of tramway bungles.