MIRAMAR TRAM PROPOSALS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5603, 1 June 1905, Page 2

MIRAMAR TRAM PROPOSALS.

COLLAPSE OF THE SCHEME. MESSES CRAWFORD’S ACTION CRITICISED. At the meeting of the Miramar Borough Council last evening, the Mayor (Mr F. Townsend) presiding, a deputation, representing the various land syndicates interested in the peninsula waited upon the Council in reference to certain proposals recently formulated to connect Seatoun with the city by a tramway. The deputation consisted of Messrs T. Bush, W. Morloy and Geddis (representing the Evans Bay and Miramar Estate Company, Ltd.), Chase-Morris (representing Miramar, Ltd.), and Gandin, Bell, and Shortt (representing the Watts Peninsula Land Company, Ltd.). The Mayor informed the deputation that the Council had received letters from all the syndicates represented—the Council took it as a reply to the circular-letter sent out to the syndicates and to Messrs A. and C. Crawford. As that letter informed them, all the parties concerned in the matter had not signed the agreement, as had been arranged that they should, and that the fact had come to the knowledge of tho Council. It was considered advisable to acquaint the different land syndicates of this fact, so that there should bo no time lost. There were two objects in tho circular—to see whether all the parties wore willing to sign the rough agreement, and to give the syndicates an opportunity to bring - pressure to boar, if they so thought fit, on any individual or party who did not sign it. He had a copy of a letter from tho Council's solicitor, Mr Devine, who wrote to say that tho agreement had not been completed, owing to Messrs A. and O. Crawford not having completed their bargain. So lie took it that they might take it that the Messrs Crawford were “off.”

Mr Bush: Have you any communication from the Messrs Crawford withdrawing from it? The Mayor; You could hardly take it that way. Mr Crawford writes: “I signed no agreement, nor have I received any assurance from the Council’s solicitor.” Probably the deputation would be able to give the Council some information about the attitude of Messrs A. and l C. Crawford in the matter. It was a matter of surprise to the Council that the agreement had not boon signed and carried out by the various representatives of the land in Miramar borough. So far as the Council was concerned, and himself personally, he considered that it had placed them in a very invidious position, as they had a proposal ready to go to the people, and one which they were sure would have been carried, and would have now been in a way to bo gone on with, had tho Council not acted in deference to the wishes of the various bodies that waited on them, on these proprietaries undertaken to sign certain proposals, which had nob been done. Mr Bush said it was with, very groat regrot that' the land companies were placed in their present position. At the conference held between the different companies, Messrs Crawford Brothers, and tho ■ Council, there was not the slightest doubt that a definite verbal understanding was come to between the parties interested and the Council, a scheme was formulated, and they thought tho matter was brought to a successful issue by every one of the parties to that scheme, including the Messrs Crawford. Since then, for some reason which the three land companies concerned did not quite clearly know, tho Crawford Brothers had retired from that position. So far as tho land companies woro concerned, they had been only too willing, and still were willing, to carry out tho scheme as formulated by the. Council and themselves. Tho ccheme, to his mind, and he thought to theirs, was a most excellent one for tho borough generally. Tho borough would have been enabled to construct the tramline with a penny rate along with the guarantee from tho land companies. In addition, the boropgli was getting the grant of two parks and a small recreation ground, which would have sent tho borough ahead by leaps and bounds. There was no doubt that the tram scheme would have been an excellent one for everyone interested. Tho chief reason of tho deputation for appearing before tbo Council was in justice to themselves and the Council. This scheme had gone to the public—he believed had been given to ono or both of the newspapers— Tho Mayor: I gave it to one of the papers myself. Mr Bush: Wo are here to-night to tell you that wo believe those figures were made public by yourself in absolute good faith—that is, that wo were all of the opinion, and still are, that a definite verbal agreement was come to between the Council and that conference.

The Mayor: Wo may take it, then, that this is simply a deputation to express its opinion in reference to the Inst conference wo hold and the reason why the arrangement was not carried out, as far as the deputation knows? Mr Bush: That is so, sir. As far as the land companies are concerned, they aro only too willing to carry it out. The Messrs Crawford, for some reason known to themselves, have thought fit to retire.

The Mayor: Did Mr A. Crawford know you were coming here to-night? Mr Bush: A letter .was written on Saturday, asking him to complete his arrangement by Monday at 4 p.m. If he did not reply to that letter, we were to take it for granted that he had backed down from his position. Wo have had no reply as far as I know. Mr Motley endorsed the-'observations of Mr Bush. They desired to express very strongly the feeling of regret that through any combined action the Council should be in the position it occupied that night, and that it was not through any want on their part that the agreement entered into was not carried out. They wished-that to go forth as their expression of oninien Mr Ganelin, on behalf of the Watts Peninsula Land Company, concurred with the previous speakers. Mr Chase-Morris, representing Miramar Dimited, endorsed the observations made on behalf of the other companies. If Messrs Craw-ford had signed the agreement, as the rest of them had done, they should have been only too happy to carry out thoir part of the contract: and they were still prepared to do so, if, within reasonable time, an understanding was come to. He was very sorry the matter should have fallen through. There was no doubt it had been a nasty “ slip up ” to them all. Tho Mayor said the Council and himself were Very pleased that the deputation had come down to the meeting to, make the explanation given. So far as l tho Council was concerned, it only wished to do what was best for the whole borough, not for any individual.

Hence its willingness to withdraw _ the proposals it had previously advertised. Personally, he ’had not thought, after the very exhaustive conference that had taken place between - the Council and representatives of tho different syndicates and landowners, that the matter was going to terminate as it had done. In fact, ho was very much surprised at the result. He did not think the Council placed any blame in tbe matter at all on those representatives of syndicates present. It was unfortunate for the Council that the matter should have occurred at a fime when so many people were prepared to vote for the "proposal then before the Council, and, of course, some of those people had not taken the thing in the best of spirits. Tho fact of the deputation coming down and making a personal explanation would tend to alleviate a lot of feeling in respect to the loan, proposals the Council had advertised. He supposed the Council might take it now that tho matter was entirely off? Mr Bush: Yes, your Worship, I think 80.

The Mayor: So that the Council now is free Ao go on with any further proposals that may come forward, or, if it chooses, to reintroduce the proposals it had introduced. Mr Chase Morris: I still think the tram proposal is tho best for the district as a whole. Mr Bush: The land companies think it is absolutely essential and necessary for tho good of the borough to have a tramway scheme formulated and carried out; and, as far as they are concerned, I think I am simply echoing their sentiments when I say they would bo only too pleased to assist the borough in bringing about any scheme in connection with what might bo made one of the finest suburbs in the colony. Councillor McGrath felt very sorry for the state of affairs brought about. Ho, also felt that tho tram scheme was tlio only scheme for the benefit of the borough as a whole. To say tho least of the Messrs Crawford’s action, it was very ungracious. Ho thought it would have been to their benefit if they had signed the agreement, and that they would have been about the biggest gainers. Unfortunately, the Council could not “log-ropo” them, and could only express its regret at their action. Mr Chase-Morris: I suppose I may take it for granted that tho Council was agreed that the scheme brought forward was the best for the district? Tho Mayor: I cannot allow you to introduce any controversial matter.

Councillor Richards did not think the time had been wasted. As far as any tramway scheme for the future was concerned, he thought it would have to bo based very largely on that originally discussed, which was, in his opinion, Idie best for tho borough. Councillor Witt desired to know if the gentlemen present were thinking of reverting to the original proposal. The Mayor disallowed tho question, stating that the deputation, was thoro to make a personal explanation. » If tho different interested parties wore prepared to meet tho Council ot any future time with a scheme whereby the trams could bo extended to the borough, the Council would be very pleased to meet them, but he could not allow any discussion as to old proposals now. Mr Bush said the land syndicates, like the Council, had been tumbled upside down by the way matters had turned out, but before doing anything they would require to have something very definite in ■ writing from the gentlemen who. had-' climbed -down in this - case. • The Mayor; We shall take very good care that their position is more definite than in this case. Mr Ohase-Morvis observed that it was - impossible for the representatives of the land syndicates to approach the Messrs Crawford. The deputation then withdrew.