TOPICS OF THE DRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5213, 1 March 1904, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DRY.

Ttlb City Council, at its special meeting last night, adopted the rcciiy ports of Mr W. 11. Wright TiuinvAY tramways and electrical extension, engineer, on tho subject of the proposed extensions of the tramway system. This approval, wo taka it, is subject to tho report of the Finance Committeo on tho question of ways and means. Tho cost of the different undertakings recommended by tho engineer is, roughly, £(34,000, and to this has to bo added extension of tho powor-hou.se, purchase of a new generating set, with probably two moro boilers and a considerable amount of rolling-stock. It, therefore, becomes a matter for careful consideration, first of all by tho Finance. Committee, and afterwards by tho ratepayers, whether it is advisable to incur all this liability at present. In bis letter covering the three reports. -Mr Wright sounds anoto of warning, based upon tho experience of Sydney, with regard to the danger of carrying extensions beyond the paying point into, sp a r.,0 ly -papul ato d districts. It will probably be found to be moro economical to establish omnibus services as feeders to the trams in some cases; but if either of the outlying districts in the old Melrose borough, should have to be omitted from the scheme of tramway extension, Ihero is certain to be animated, if not virulent, discussion on the point. Tho three districts proposed to bo included are> Ivilbi rnie, Melrose and Island' Bay. The extension to Ivilbirnie by the route strongly recommended by the engineer, viz., by tunnel from itlisobath street through Mount Victoria., is estimated to cost as much to the city as the other two combined, £32,000. There can be no l doubt that this lino would be liigbly popular, and would open up a largo tract of land suited for the erection of suburban dwellings, besides providing the means of carrying the- city population to rocrcatf.oiii grounds, etc. It will bo a. question with many people, however, whether tho Constable street route, costing only £IO,OOO, would not bo preferable, especially as from, it extensions could when required bo made to Hataitai and Miramar. This route, though more circuitous. would command more traffic, as it would pass through a. larger district, with a dense population. For tho Brooklyn extension, five alternative routes 'are reported upon, but the engineer pronounces in favour of one which, entering' the Town Belt from .tho foot of Nairn street, would! join the. Ohiro read near Mr ScagaFs property and reach its objective by a, lino about a milo in length, costing £20,000. Tho Island Bay line, which would be one milo and tbreo'chains long, is estimated to cost £12,000. It seems to us desirable that all tlirco extensions should be taken in hand; but tho ratepayers can only decide after- they have fully considered tho matter, an the light of the report to. bo made by the Finance Committee. Xu tho meantime, we commend to them for careful perusal tho reports of tho engineer, which we publish iu full.

Owing to the' rapid growth of tho shipping trade of Wclliugwant of ton, frequent complaints shipping are heard in reference to facilities, ’the inadequacy of the deepsea. berthage accommodation, especially for vessels discharging. At present there is only one berth which steamers of the lonic, Corinthic and Athonic typo can use. This berth, .No. 1, Queen’s Wharf, is well supplicyi with wharf cranes, and is, therefore, coveted by other deep-sea steamers eager to obtain quick discharge. The Turakina, which arrived on Monday, the 22nd •ultimo, from London, with 4800 tons to discharge at Wellington, was placed in No. 4 berth, Queen’s Wharf, where there are no cranes for unloading purposes- The most suitable berth, No. 1, Queen’s ■. Wharf, was reserved for the lonic, due ten days later. Owing to the abscpco of wharf cranes at No. 4, the Turakina could not work as many gangs as was compatible with quick discharge, and a*considerable amount of heavy ironwork to bo placed on the wharf could have been unloaded if wharf cranes had been obtainable. In consequence of tho Turakina being required to keep an engagement to load meat at Lyttelton, tho vessel was compelled.to sail on Saturday for tho Canterbury port with 200 tons of Home cargo for Wellington still on board, which , will entail expense to the New Zealand Shipping Company in, transhipping hack to Wellington. This emphasises the urgent need for extra berthage at tho Queen’s Wharf. Insufficiency .of berths for loading oversea steamers also is the subject of dissatisfaction. At present there are four lines of steamers of heavy draught which visit Wellington to load. There are only two berths at the Glasgow Wharf, to relieve the congestion, sometimes a vessel is required to berth at t-ho Railway Wharf, which is to bo dismantled shortly. The Railway Wharf, when, the alterations are' complete, will accommodate two deep-sea steamers, hut even then it is anticipated that further loading berthage will ho required. It is stated that, to add to tho trouble, there is a scarcity of insulated railway waggons,. and there is great difficulty -in keeping two ships loading. The tension is not lessened by sending tho local waggons to assist' loading operations at Wanganui.