THOSE TRAMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17130, 4 September 1926, Page 15

THOSE TRAMS

(To the. Editor of tlio Herald.) Sir.—l craw your indulgence to enlighten the ratepayer., of Gisborne who probuniy arc ignorant of out' obligation to the Governor-in-Conncil ill tramway matters. (hi December 22. 1911, the Borough Council applied for an CYder-in-Connc.il to construct a tramway according to deposited plans marked I'.W.D. 30869, and 30920. The

necessary order wa.s granted iwa'vsv conditions specified in that order. Tiie first schedule reads: —Route No. 1: .\ sing.e line with loops commciSjiuß at tiie Governmeni ,-tuima.u at the junction of Gladstone toad and Read's Quay, thence in a, north-wester!) direction alonjj Ciadstono road i.o ii.-> termination, and thence along (lie in..on county read to a point about 220 foot west in tiie western side of the entrance to the Gisborne Park Company's raeetoarse, being a total .distance of about 2 miles 43 chains. Route No. 2: A single line with loops, commencing at a point on iUmte mi. I at the junction ol Gvey street with Gladstone road, and proceeding thence i.n a south-westerly direction along Grey street to opposite the railway station; thence in a .southeasterly direction through the railway yards lor a distance of about 9 diains, being- a total distance of about 39£ clems; route No. 3 being the existing Carnarvon street section. Ui -May JO, 1921, the Council obtained a further Order-in-Council for the Ormond Road section. Clause 26 of the conditions in the> C'rder-in-Council states: "The construction of the works authorised by this order shall be substantially commenced within six calender months of the date hereof, and the said works shall bo completed to the full extent of this order, and the tramway opened for traffic at the expiration of 36 calendar months from the date hereof." Clause 45: "If the local authority fails or neg-! lt?:t.s to complete and have open for ! public traffic the tramway or any pur-j tion within the time hereinbefore | limited in that behalf, it shall be lawful; for the Governor by Order-in-Council either to revoke this order in so far asi it re!cites to the portion of the tramway j not opened for traffic, or to impose] upon the local authority a fine for every week or part of a week of such default the sum of fifty pounds (£SO), such tine to be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction by any person appointed by the Governor to recover the same." Clau.se 46: "If the local authority fails or neglects to fulfil any of the requirements of this order relating to the maintenauce of traffic and the securing to the public the full benefit of the undertaking, it shall be lawful for the Governor by Order-in-Council to impose upon the local authority a line of live pounds (£5) for every day or part of a day of such default,'such line to be recovered in any 'Court of competent jurisdiction by any pe.'son appointed by the Governor to recover the same." Clause 48: ''The Governor shall be the sole judge of the fact whether the requirements of this order have heen complied with, and he may from lime to time inquire into any matter connected therewith or arising hereunder in such, manner as he thinks Jit. and his decision shall be linal." I should like an explanation ;is to what measures the Council would take to re 'Coiijile their attitude towards the ralepayers upon suggested tramway extension loan proposals with the condition of the Order-in-Council should an inquiry be petitioned for. It would appear as though our Council have laid tis open to fines amounting to "approximately £21.750 sjiou'd the Governor order >, i public inquiry, a.s he is entitled to. whether the trams stay or go. Hoping to hear Ibis explained at bis Worship the Mayor's meeting on Monday next. — I am. etc.. "ASSOCIATE."