THE DUNEDIN CITY AND SUITOR BAN TRAMWAYS ACT, 1900."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11924, 24 December 1900, Page 3

THE DUNEDIN CITY AND SUITOR BAN TRAMWAYS ACT, 1900."

; TO THE HDITOH. Sih,— Notwithstanding a vote of the. rate-puyei-s, I consider (ho moral contract of sale cannot bo vitiated. Any remarks therefore arc not with personal bias either way; and as there is "no necessity for a public meeting, may one crave your invariable courtesy? The bill has been mosl carefully drawn:' and it contains t!io extraordinary power of compelling majorities to become minorities; or, in other words, to tret over the ambiguity of incoinin" (an occurred in the £75,000 water loan) of section 132 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1886," the council may take the ratepayers' vote as often as it " may think fit." Five per cent, is the price for the debenture. No doubt such a large amount— £200.000—may be bought for 3-i per cent., but with amortization, etc., added, another li, per cent, will have to be also added. I would respectively suggest a perusal of the act. Touching electricity as a motive power, I have facts and figures before me which may prove interesting. The engineers of the London County Council have unanimously decided for the underground slot system. The statistics from the " Electrical Bureau of Fire Underwriters" show losses of over £500.000 in America in 1E97 through electrical causes: overhead wires particularly, with an increase of insurance premiums in consequence. " Crosses by telephones, telegraph, and other signal wires with electric light or power, including tramway wires in the street."' It is with some diffidence one ventures to express an opinion of the dangers which may arise, under subsection 1, section 4, in giving legislative power for converting minorities into majorities. As a prohibition friend remarked the other day: "We shall now agitate for the same power ns this act provides." By the way. would it not be advisable to pause till the electrical engineer is appointed; a few months is nothing- either i way? —I am, etc.,

Fkedk. jMauaud.

Redcliffe Crown Brand Galvanised Iron is the iron to use in exposed positions.