STREET TRAMWAYS. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4445, 18 May 1876, Page 3

STREET TRAMWAYS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir—Would you kindly oblige by according me space in your correspondence coUiinii for the purpose i.f staling v fe-,v objections to the use of trannv^s ia the streets of Dine din, which t'.ie rity Council have aflitmed the desi/ability if establishing. 1. With our present small population, they are not required, as unless special and inequitable prvilvges are allowed in their favour, they cannot carry passengers safer, cheaper, or with more expedition than well horsed cab 3 aud busses, and pay aB a speculation.

2. Even if by fostering the project, and handicapping opposition, th.rv could do so, the City Cuuucil would not be jusiiiitid in inflicting on a very large riumbor of respect able citizens what they would moet undoubtedly find to be a nuisance. 3. As street tramways cannot be profitably worked anywhere without a double line, and as there is not room for two lines on a considerable portion of the business part of Princes struct, without great hindrance and dacfjer to other traffic, and to the cars themselves, they are totally inadmissible oa Ihe live pi'oposed. 4. They cannot bo run after dusk in any case, without great risk of accidents to pedestrian and all other traffic, as tb.e rails frequently cannot be seen, although the o.vs may carry lights, and this grand source of daoger attends them by night and by day, that their drivers can render no assistance in the way of avoiding an accident, except by a dead stop, which, in practice, thtre is often not tiino to do, and in Home cases (as in the ease of a run awi'-y vehicle), it ir not advisable to do.

5. It is objectionable on principle that any personorpersons shouldbepermictedto virtually monopolise a largo portion of a streeb, to the hindrance, los-s, incouvenienuo, aud dauger of any other members ot the com> inunity. 6. As the introduction of horse-cars would probably be attempted to be followed by steam ones, which are eminently more objectionable {rotwithatacding the " absolutely noiseless modern street steam-engines, emit ting neither smoke nor steam," of which your High street contemporary v?rote the other day, but which have jet to be invented), the citizens shou.'.d resist their initiation by every means in their power. Fina'ly, I may state that I h:ivo nor, nor ever had, any interest iv cab or 'bua property, am eot a mere theorist, but a practi cal driver for many years ; can use my eyes and my judgment; have seen a streeb car, rode on one, aud been all but run down by one in broad daylight j and would counsel the business people on the proposed live of route, aad all drivers of every deecription of vehicle in the city, to enter their protest agaiust the layiug down of a street railway, single or double, on the priucipal business thoroughfare in Dunedin.—l am, &c, Kip Van Winkle.