The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, MAY 14. 1909. THE PATUTAHI TRAMWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2501, 14 May 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, MAY 14. 1909. THE PATUTAHI TRAMWAY.

There have been so many delays in connection with the promotion of the Patuahi tramway scheme that we sincerely trust the Gisborne Borough Council will do all in its power to expedite the progress of the work. Everyono knows that the roads in and around Gisborne are the worst to be found in any town cf similar size in the Dominion, and it is generally recognised that tho underlying cause of this . deplorable state of affairs is.the difficulty in securing a supply of metal at- a reasonable rate. Under the old waggon system it cost the borough anything from 15s to £1 per yard to place Patutahi metal on the streets of the town, and only a ivory limited amount could be . obtained. Not only was the cost virtually prohibitive, but the supply was so restricted that only patching work could be carried on in the borough. Latterly the purchase of a Straker waggon lias brought about a new system, which, though in advance of the old one, fs still fearfully expensive. His Worship the Mayor claims that by means of the Straker waggon Patutahi stone is being placed on the roads for 8s per yard. The claim is absolutely unjustifiable, and if the position be closely examined it will be found that after allowing for depreciation on machinery the metal costs fully 12s to 14s per yard. However, tho chief drawback in regard to the present system is that a sulßcient supply of metal cannot bo provided to enable the borough to make anything like reasonable progress with the construction of its thoroughfares. The present Straker cannot, under the most favorable circumstances, bring 2000 loads of metal into town in a year, and this quantity is almost a flea bite in comparison with the immediate requirements. This brings us to the obvious advantages of tho scheme which : s being placed bcfoi-e the ratepayers by tho Cook County Council. That body offered to the Borough Council some time back that if tho latter would undertake to purchase at least 8000 yards of metal per annum for a period of five years to supply the same at a haulage rate not exceeding 3s per yard. The charge might bo less, but it would not bo more. The offer was made in order that the county authority would feel justified upon its acceptance :n entering upon the construction of a tramway to bring tho metal from the quarries by rail. As this would bring the cost of metal laid on Gisborne streets as low as 7s Cd per yard the Borough Council naturally accepted tho offer. The present Mayor, however, has always been opposed to the Patutahi scheme, and lias been endeavoring to prevent the Borough Council from giving effect to its former decision. Tin’s, to our mind, betokens a sense of public morality that it would be deplorable to discover in our municipal affairs, for it would bo simply disgraceful for the borough to attempt to back out of the undertaking formerly made after tho County Council has gone to great expense and trouble over the matter. The fact that a formal agreement was not made at the time may leave the borough free from any legal liability, but the moral obligation is so clear that it cannot bo disregarded. In any ease tlio scheme which is under discussion is still by far the best which has yet been propounded for supplying the boroilgh with the metal that it so urgently needs. It has been suggested that the borough should construct its own tramway, but this would surely be a foolish proceeding when another body is willing to take the financial risk and asks so rensonab'e a charge for haulage. It is extremely problematical whether the borough could bring the metal in any cheaper than 3s per load, and it is quite possible that the cost .might bo more. Moreover, the rails would have to run through county roads and the borough would have to obtain the permission of the county to lay down the tramway. Another■* suggestion is that the borough shou'd run a tramway to the Gentle Annie quarry, over which it is claimed the borough lias recently acquired rights. The manner in which these rights have been acquired was so peculiar that in deference to the reputation of the Borough Council we do not care to outer into details, and would merely suggest in passing that he position might with advantage be investigated by the new members of that body. As to a tramway, it can be stated that the cost would almost, certainly exceed very materially the cost of one to Patutahi, partly because of the greater distance to be traversed, but chiefly on account of the undulating and sometimes hilly nq/turo of the intervening country. This difference in configuration would not only increase the actual work of construction* but would necessitate the ,■ use of heavier engines for hauling, and this in its turn would spell heavier and more expensive rails. One other contention remains, and wore it made by anyone other than the Mayor it would not deserve a moment’s consideration. It is that the borough can bo better served by having its metal eurried—by Straker waggons ; than by tramway...-, This is not a. mat- _ ter for decision bv statistics, although these can readily lx? provided to enforce the correct conclusion, h,ut it, is purely a question, of commousonse. Anyone gifted with ordinary intelligence, inhst see that, in carrying metal in, large quantities a matter of ton or fifteen miles,' the use of rails rmtst be advantageous. On the proposed tramway the Conn tv Council will guarantee 'to do-

liver to the borough at least- 8000 yards per annum, and if necessary could easily double that quantity. In other words, should the ratepayers sanction a loan for the construction of roads there need bo no uncertainty as to whether or not the metal can be obtained when it is required. Under the Straker system the cost of haulage would be at least double the amount mentioned, and the certainty of supplies could only be ensured by the use of a large number of Strakers —certainly more than six or seven. The passage of these up and down the thoroughfare between the quarries and town would be simply ruinous to the roads, and the. County Council naturally would not permit the traffic. The position can be briefly summarised by stating that although the Straker is preferable to a horse propelled waggon, it still fails to avoid the old evil of constantly destroying tlie road over which it must travel. By moans of the tramway the destruction of the Patu-tahi-Gisborno road is avoided, an ample supply- of metal at all seasons of the year is assured, and a guarantee is given that the price will be reasonable and very much lower than under any system yet placed before the local bodies.