BOUND HILL TRAMWAY.

Western Star, Issue 949, 20 May 1885, Page 2

BOUND HILL TRAMWAY.

TO THE BDITOK.

Sib, —Your issue of the 9th inst. contains a report of a meeting of Wallace County Council, and therein I notice a discussion arising out of a letter read from Mr L. G-. Roope. offering to construct a tramway to Round Hill if the Council would giv* him a monopoly thereof for ten years. During the d scussion I not'ce that the Chairmin and some of the member expressed themselves in favor of grant in; this monopoly, and considered if a tramway^jwereYmade a road would riot he re- „ quired. "Would the Chairman'and'Mr Johnston like to see I lie roads to their stations fall into deciy, and in lieu thereof a monopoly of a: tramway granted, on which they must perforce travel ? The unswer instinct would is the one the miners would give—No. Mr Roope, through the Chairman, said the miners are in favor of a tramway. Why? Because be wants to mono ope.. ,If he i*i a man -of business, why .-,c for a monopoly ? Can he not compete in a f iir fifl I and without favor or protection ? Mr MoFherson savs the mine s are not in f;.vor of * tramwav, and from the length of time be has been connected with tho Hill and his.personal knowledge and acquaintance theewith, the members of the County Council may) rely on his statement being true. .The Chairman said the Round Hill wante I, encouraging. Does he. and his co'l'agues thi-ik granting a monopoly is the wav to encourage it? How would it do to grant Mr R >cpe a mining an I witer mon molv ? The miners will not 'bjeet to him maldngatramway but thiey will object to sacrifi e the ciianee' of a road. Why should they have to pav ciirtv and goldfields taxes and tie i the County pvnrct. them to support a tramway mo lopo } ? A road i 9 what is ;ri it is evident from jthej fe-lin? ;expressed"by so ue of to members of the County Counoil tbttt if a i rim way is made a road will not be required, and the evinciris of this opinion is just what the miners should object to.' IF tin Council wish to encourage the Round Hill district, th'-y will best do that, by miking a road open to the pu'lie wit ho-it let or biidrance; but it' they want to cripple it, let tl em grant a monopoly for tin years and lit ho road fall into decay. If monopoiies in tainways of this character, are bent'iiciil, "by is the present Government H fWor'o'f buving up private or company railways? When the Hon. Mr Richardson was lure, was not a sum of money granted for this road, and did not Mr Larnaoh also grant a subsidy, as lie wits so favor ibly impressed with the field? If the lat'er retains his present, position as Minister of Mines ha may y«t do more it) this way. Seeing the railway is now open to Orepuki, and there will be less heavy traffic on the Orepuki road, a little more miaht be spared for tho Round Hill. In the event of the Council acceding to Mr Roope's request, will it itnpojje a.uj fjjies, for delays, or upy polity i

for da-mge to pissengurs or goods, and at. the end of tonryesra to whom, will the tnniway belong ?—I am, &c, DIGtGEE.