MIRAMAR COMMUNICATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5733, 31 October 1905, Page 6

MIRAMAR COMMUNICATION.

THE TRAMWAY SCHEME. A special mooting of the Miramar Borough Council hold yesterday was attended by the Mayor (Mr F. Townsend) and Councillors Btedic, Warded, McGrath, Richards, and Milt. A large deputation, headed by Dir J. H. Otto Schwartz, waited on tho Council in support of tho petition presented at the last meeting, asking for improved means of communication between Seatoun and tho city, especially' in the evenings. Mr Schwartz said it was quite impossible for. business men to continue residing at the hays under the present conditions, which nailed them down to 5 o’clock. They had constant occasion to come into town in the evenings on business, and besides, they 7 were debarred from taking part in any amusement or attending any lodge meetings. Tho position was quite intolerable, and unless something was done to give an evening service at least once or twice a week, some of them would simply have to’ leave tho district and live in town. Mr W. ’Wilson said at present there was only one evening boat a week. If the Council could arrange for a service three limes a week, say Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, it would do a groat deal to increase the popularity of tho place. Mr S. R. Kennedy, combating tho objection that a sea service did not benefit the Miramar fiat, said tho people of Seatoun and Karaka Ray were paying, in tho way of faros, the whole of the interest on the wharf loan. Dir Heath also spoke. Tho Mayor said he had endeavoured, under the instructions of tho Council, to make arrangements with a carrying company, either ferry or otherwise, to meet the case. The best arrangement ho could make was for a subsidy of £ls a month, which was out of the question. The Miramar Ferry Company’s proposition, to rim two extra boats a week, was even more expensive, something like £l6O a year. A borough in its infancy could not think of that. Tho Council was just as anxious as the deputation was to have a good service, and would go into the matter at once. Tito ferry service alono was not adequate for tho borough, because there were probably as many people on the Dliramar side who wanted to get to town at night as in Seatoun or Worser Bay. Voices; Nothing like it. Ratepayers, perhaps, but not residents. Tho Mayor said they would have to consider tho people of Miramar as well. At the present time ho was in communication with a party who believed he might bo in a position to put on a service every night in the week right through to- Seatoun. It would connect with the Constable street tram. He anticipated something could be niado known in the course of a few days. He assured the deputation that the subject would get careful consideration. Tho Council then went into committee to consider the tramway proposals. These provide for tho construction of the main line at an estimated cest of £32,750 (including three cars and four waiting-sheds), and an extension of fifty-two chains to Dliramar North at a cost of £3900; total, £36,050. Tho landowners affected have promised to contribute £15,500, and the borough will consequently have to raise a loan of £21,150. It is proposed to float a loan of £21,500 at 41 per cent, provision being made for a sinking fund at Lf per cent.’ The loan will be secured on a rate of Id in the pound on the capital value, producing £I3BB. The route proposed to be followed is by Ooutts street, along the Watte Peninsula Land Company’s southern boundary, thence in a straight line to tho intersection of Dundas and Church streets, Seatoun. The Dliramar North line will go along the main south drain by Alexander street. Park street, and Dlatai road to Karaka road. The total length of the track is 354 chains. Tho Miramar North line will he 152 chains.

After the matter had been discussed, it was loft in the hands of the Mayor to undertake certain negotiations, upon which he will report to a meeting of the Council to-morrow evening.