A SUBURBAN TRAM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7049, 10 February 1910, Page 1

A SUBURBAN TRAM

FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR WADESTOWN LINE.

“I hope this is the last time I shall ■come up to Wadestown bn foot, remarked the Mayor -of Wellington to a Wadestown -audience last night. He was- referring to the early prospect or a tramway tapping that well-situated suburb. Detailed surveys nad been made by the city engineer, ho continued, and ho was going to interview the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department within a day or two with the plans, and get the Govornment oouiscivt to work. Strange to say, though the -city had such an able engineer as Mr Mbrton, the Government ‘did Wot trust -any of the local bodies in these matters. That morning he (the -Mayor) had had a most satisfactory interview with the'hankers, and if the Government passed the plans the work would go ahead without any trouble. “It’s your duty to pay for it,” added the Mayor blandly, ‘but an Wadestown I understand that you -regard duties as pleasures.” The founder of Wadestown. Mr Wade, would be very much .astonished could he see it now, and tile trams would make *a wonderful difference, just as they -had done to Lyall Bay. That place was neglected, though it was only five minutes’ walk over the dunes- from the tramline, hut as soon as a tramway Was laid to it, people .went to the beach an thousands. A suburb would not gtow ’until it had a tramway. Mr J. P. Luke, M.P., remarked that Wadestown waited -a long time for its tram, but it was'close at band now, and he believed that the beautiful scenery on the route Would attract so many visitors that the undertaking would soon become a financial success. . The City Council will meet this evening to authorise the raising of a. special rate to cover the expenses of the Wadestown tramway loan of £33,000.