COOK COUNTY TRAMWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2492, 4 May 1909, Page 4

COOK COUNTY TRAMWAYS.

MEETING AT PATUTAHI. There was a large attendance of ratepayers in the Patutahi riding of the CooW County at the Patutahi public hall last evening, when Crs. It. Sherratt and A. F. Matthews attended t»outline the scheme of the Couniy Council to raise a loan of £30,000 to construct a light line of tramways between Patutahi and Gisborne. Or. Sherratt occupied the chair, and, said itt bad been asked why the Bcv**? rough Council had not been taken into the scheme. The reason was that the speculation was/ a good one, and the Patutahi quarry was such a good' property that it was not desirable to hand any portion of the quarry over to another local body, and further, the title was not as firm as it might be, and it would be unfair to offer the Borough a share in a title that was not complete. Cr. Matthews said that they were all aware of the scarcity of good metal in the district, and the difficulty in making good roads. The metal from ther rivers was not good for heavy traffic, but the best metal in the whole county was the Patutahi limestone. The only way to get decent roads, and to get the produce to market was by having steam tramways to take the heavy traffic. Exception had been taken to the proposed line of route because it ■did not go down the main road to Gisborne and cross the railway line. That would be the best route, but if the tramway crossed the railway line an overhead bridge would have to be built, which would prove too expensive. Mr. Chambers years ago had advocated the same line, and had practically fathered the scheme. In the interests of the whole district the ratepayers should vote for the loan, because as a first point the line would pay. A tramlinewas 20 per cent cheaper than the Straker waggon for carrying heavy loads. It had been said the Borough Council were not committed to any contract without calling for tenders. Still no statute said that one local body could not enter into an agreement with another local body to get cheap metal to get good roads. The Borough "was trying to get good roads by using Kaitaratabi shingle, whic-h was mostly .silt, and became slush with the first downpour of rain. If Patutahi metal was properly broken and rolled upon the roads, it was one of the best road metals that could be got and eminently suitable ror-*£, tarred roads. The Patutahi road, since the Straker waggon had been passing over it, had cost about £I2OO to maintain. and the road v.'as not a good road even at that- expenditure, -A tramway line would not cut up the roads, but would carry all the heavy traffic, and. both passengers and goods would bet carried under cover. It was also hoped; that a branch line would run into the* Patutahi township. - Tbe Council only asked for power to raise the loan, and until everything was ready the work trould not be commenced. The Borough Council was composed of men. who would never think of rescinding a resolution once they had given their vote to an agreement. He askedythem, as representative ratepayers, to vote for the interests of the district. Mr. John Clark said that he was not against the scheme, hut would like more "information from the members of the Council. He thought if the Borough was to share in the profits the Borough should also join in taking the risk. He did not think the line would ever pay to cart in wool, because wool was usually taken to :$ store ana dumped, and tramway carriage would cause too much handling. As a matter of fact, therei was no legal contract with the Borough to take a certain quantity of stone, unless the contract was under the seal of the Council. If the Mayor could block the agreement being ratified he would. The County had power to claim damages from the Borough for the damage done to the roads by ilie Stra'ker waggon, and should have claimed them long ago. He held that the Wailiirere metal was better for roadmaking that Patutahi metal. ~ - Cr. Matthews, in reply, said the \v aihirere stone was of uneven quality, and unless picked was of little use tor roadmaking. It was foolish to put- poor. metal on the roads when good Patutahi metal coxild he got at a cheaper price. Mr. Leslie Reynolds had condemned Waihirere< stone as utterly unsuitable for roadmaking. . Cr. Sherratt- moved that the poll be taken. , . , Mr. Owen Gallagher seconded the motion. , , Mr. Clark.moved that the agreement with the Borough Council be ratified before the poll be taken. . ■ Cr. Sherratt’s motion was carried almost unanimously. _ A vote of thanks to Cr. Matthews brought the meeting to a close. Cr. Matthews will address the ra t-e----payers on the tramway question in the Kaiti school at 4 p.m. to-day.