THE ELGIN ROAD TRAMWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17104, 8 September 1917, Page 5

THE ELGIN ROAD TRAMWAY

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. *

The Commission of Inquiry ae to matters regarding the Elgin road tramway was resumed at the Law Courts yesterday afternoon before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, B.M. (Commissioner). Mr E. E. Nicolson represented those who objected to tho lifting of tho rails laid on tho Elgin road route, Mr A. Bathgate appeared in support of tho Maryhill route, and Mr G. A. Lewin (town clerk) represented tho City Council.

Charles F. Alexander, tramways manager, said most of tho traffic would come from the far end of tho line. Tho general opinion with regard to most tramway systems was that tho nearest portion of tho line did not supply many passengers except on wet days and special occasions. The bulk of the traJfic almost invariably came from the terminus and adjacent to it. The Commissioner said it was admitted that the people- at either of tho termini would be equally well sorved with either route.

In reply to Mr Nicolson, Mr Alexander said that from the point of view of future requirements tho Elgin road route would be preferable, as it would pemit of extensions, whereas an extension of tho Maryhill route would accentuate tho evils complained of.

Captain Sundstrum stated that there were at present several very good second-hand boilers on the market of sufficient horsepower for the purpose of replacing the present MaryhiU boiler if it should .bo found to bo unsuitable. He knew of one particularly good boiler of 30 horee-power which was available.

Mr Lewin was granted permission to put in as evidence the four reports relating to the routes —three by the tramways manager and one by Mr Roberts (civil engineer). Mr Bathgate said he was satisfied that a great deal of irrelevant matter in the way of evidenoe had been introduced, although he knew that the commissioner did not agree with him on this point. He contended that tho Maryhill route would serve the greatest number of people. One of tho objections raised by the Elgin road people was that the lifting of the rails on that road would deprive them of the possibility of tho line being reinstated. The Commissioner: It is not so much the lifting of the rails they_ object to as tho revocation of the Order-in-Council.

Mr Bathgate said the Ma-ryhill lino served a very considerable number of residents in the Elgin road district, and that the Elgin road line would serve few, if any, of the Maryhill residents. It was admitted that the Elgin road line was a failure as a cable line, therefore, he submitted that the Order-in-Council applicable to it should be cancelled. To repair the Maryhill line 40 chains of running rails (20 chains of track) would have to be lifted from Elgin road. This could be done without serious injury to the track, and they could easily bo replaced when available. He contended that if this were done the Maryhill service could be resumed in a few weeks or a few months at most. He suggested that instead of cancelling the Elgin road Order-in-Council the Government should intimate that no steps would be taken to enforce its provisions till a reasonable timo after tho war, and would not interfere if the council lifted tho rails. Such a course would preserve the position of the Elgin road residents and permit of the Maryhill 'line being reinstated without undue delay. Mr Nicolson said the suggestion that bocause the Elgin I road route was level the residents living adjacent to it would not be seriously inconvenienced if the trams were not resumed was no argument; otherwisp there would bo no necessity to construct a line to St. Clair, for example. Ho submitted that the City Council should take tho advice of its tramways manager (Mr Alexander), who had a wide experience, before committing itself to any scheme . Mr Alexander had good reasons for favouring the Elgin road route, which permitted of future -xtension, and also for convenience in linking up .with the city system—points which could not be overlooked. It was just a question' whether tho City Council was properly considering the advice of its expert in preparing to sink a sum of money on the Maryhill route! The Commissioner said it was not fair to say* that the council was prepared to spend money on the Maryhill line. They had it in the Mayor's evidence that the council had not considered either the merits or demerits of the case.

Mr Nicolson asked if the council was right in seeking to revoke tho Order-in-Council. The fact that the line was laid and that subsequently a char-a-banc was run showed that there was great necessity for giving a tramway service to this part of the city. The reason why tho service was abandoned was not because of insufficient patronage but because of the state of tho finances of the Mornington Borough Council, and because of obstacles connected with the running. These engineering and other faults had nothing whatever to do with the question whether or not this Order-in-Coun-cil should be revoked.

Mr Lewin admitted that there had been a mass of conflicting evidence, pome of it of an irrelevant character. It must be freely admitted that the withdrawal of any tramway system, especially if it had been in voguo for a number of years, as the Maryhill system had been, must bo a serious inconvenience to many people quite apart from any depreciation in the value of>,propcrty in the neighbourhood. He combated the 'idea that the council was responsible for the-condition of affairs existing on_ Elgin road. The position as-regards Mnryhill was simply a war measure, and to _ resume running , on that line mea.nt the lifting of a length of the Elgin road rails. The Commissioner pointed out that the council* was seeking to destroy the legal existence of the Elgin road trambne.

Mr Lewin pointed out that there were certain anomalies a,s far as the Order-in-Council was concerned. The Public Works Department was not officially cotmisant of the fact that trams are not running on the Elgin road track. As far* as the City Council was concerned the existing Order-in-Council was unworkable, and would hare to be revoked if it were decided to resume traffic on that route. The reduction of the steam pressure on the Maryhill boiler to 651b had altered the position entirely, and before anything further was done towards reinstating the service this aspect would require to be reviewed. He mentioned that in framing his report the commissioner must give due consideration to the reference to the non-use of the Elgin road rails in the order of ref n rpnco in the commission signed by his Excellency the Governorgpneral. Tt had to bs» remembered that this route had been idle for n very long period, except for a very slight experience of the ohflT-a-banc.

The Commissioner: Ton cannot call it slight. if you consider the cost. — (]>"ghtpr.) The Commissioner smcl he had to thank Messrs Bathgnte and for >h" very exhaustive manner in which they had nvpFonted their views. Ho had also to thnnlr Mr liowin for the verv fair way in which he had wafcohod the council's interests and for the trouble he had gonn into in provi'iing documents. He would to the Government in terms of the commission.