DUNEDIN CITY AND SUBURBAN TRAMWAY COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 28

DUNEDIN CITY AND SUBURBAN TRAMWAY COMPANY.

SALE OF THE COMPANY'S CONCESSIONS AND PROPERTY. CHRISTCHUROH, May 12. Messrs Meares and Williams, solicitors,

have received cable advice from London stating that the New Zealand Electric Light and Traction Company have completed the purchase of the Dunedin and Auckland tramways.

We le&j-n from the- Chairman of the Tramway €?ompany that the information conveyed in the Press Association's telegram is only partially correct. The Tramway Company has been in negotiation for some months with Mr W. Gentry Bingham (acting for the NewZealand Electric Light And Traction Company) for the sale of its assets to that corporation, and as the result of cables which have passed during the past fortnight a definite offer was made by Mr TSingham for the tramway concessions and property. The offer wasconditional on certain things, one of those being a requirement that the Tramway Company should obtain from the City Council the right to use electrical power on the overhead trolly system for the haulage of its cars. The company have accepted the offer made by Mr Bingham on behalf of his company, and have addressed a letter to the City Counoil asking that body to consent to the use of electrical traction. This once obtained, the purchasing company have agreed to pay a substantial deposit, and the Tramway Company anticipate there will be no difficulty in the way of completing the sale, although some little delay may take place in conpequence of Mr Bingham's absence from the colony. He haa cabled the chairman of the Tramway Company that he may be expected to reach New Zealand in about three months.

It may be remembered that in November, 1892, the City Counoil passed a resolution authorising the use by the Tramway Company of electrical traction on the overhead trolly system, but the company has been unable up to the present to take advantage of this permission, although repeated efforts have been, made by it to dispose of its property, and secure this great boon for the citizens. There is at present before the council an application by Mr Bingham for the right to use electricity for traction, lighting, and power purposes. So far as the first-named is concerned, Mr Bingham's application tya« made under arrangement with the Tramway Company, and it is with respect to this alone that the council will at present have to deal. Mr Bingham will, no dauhfct on his return to the colony, da

his best to secure the full powers for which he "- has asked.