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PROPOSED RAILWAY IMPROVE
MENTS.
Consideration in the Council.
A SPECIAL meeting of the Newcastle
Borough Council was held last evening with
the object of reconsidering the proposal
made by the Railway Commissioners for
alterations in the Newcastle railway yard.
Alderman Buchanan occupied the chair,
and there were also present: Aldermen
Gillam, Webb, Thorn, Alcock, Moroney,
Laing and Rodgers.
The CHAIRMAN explained the objects of
the meeting, and the town clerk read the
correspondence which had passed between
the Railway Commissioners and the council
on the subject during last December.
Alderman GILLAM said that the Commis-
sioners had been led to believe that the
council would fall in with their views for the
extension of the tramway up Hunter-street
and the opening of the roadway from the
wharf by way of Scott-street or along the
wharf. The Commissioners now thought
they (the council) wanted everything and
were not inclined to give anything in return.
In his opinion the tramway should proceed
via Hunter-street, as he had always found
that where risks were great people were
cautious and on their guard, and it was only
where there was very little danger
that people became reckless and careless.
Some few weeks ago the Commissioners
had visited Newcastle, and had met the
members of the Chamber of Commerce, when
the matter was re-opened, and they (the
Commissioners) stated that the council was
not willing to work in with them. He
thought those present would do well to sit
down and coolly consider the whole question,
and they should then come to some con-
clusion which would be favourable to the
proposals. A public meeting had recently
been held to deal with the question, but he
did not take any notice of the result, as his
experience had taught him that people
attending such meetings would put their
names to anything. He did not, therefore,
look upon such as a test of the feelings of
the ratepayers. The question was whether
they could not take the matter in their
own hands, and deal with it. If the
ratepayers generally. were satisfied to
let the tram remain where it now stood,
the Commissioners would not oppose them.
The opening up of the roadway from the
wharf would relieve Hunter-street wonder-
fully. If they had the trams going up there
they would not be troubled with funeral
looking 'buses, and the road would not suffer
to anything like the extent that it did with
the present heavy traffic. He thought that
they should adopt the plans with the excep
tion of Newcomen-street, and that the Com
missioners would meet them on that point;
but if the authorities were firm, they (the
council) would receive concessions quite as
important.
The council then went into committee, as
the members would thus have greater liberty
in speaking.
The CHAIRMAN stated that he had the pre-
vious day called upon Mr. Angus, the engineer
for existing railways, who had shown him the
plans. It was proposed to erect a new foot
bridge where the old wooden bridge now
stood, and to build another near the new
parcels office, at the eastern end of the
station. The council would have liked the
Commissioners to take the tram under
the A.A. Company's bridge on the rail-
way line, and bring it out into Scott
street again opposite Timmony's hotel. It
would then run as far as Watt-street, where
a double "Y "would be laid. The plans,
however, provided for the extension of the
tram up Hunter-street.
Alderman MORONEY thought they should
meet the Commissioners and discuss the
who!e question with them. The original in-
tention had been to carry out a high level
roadway at Newcomen-street, and they wanted
the tram extended up Hunter-street. Al-
though a public meeting had been held, and
the idea of closing the public crossings had
been condemned, there was every proba
bility that they would shortly be closed
by Act of Parliament. If any arrange
ment could be made for a level crossing
at Newcomen-street the people would not
have much to complain of. The action of
the council in blocking the Railway Com.
missioners had certainly had an effect in the
introduction of the bill now before Parlia-
ment. If they could possibly meet the Com
missioners he had no doubt that they would
forego their scheme in reference to the tram.
As things stood at present the council should
take some immediate action, because if they
failed to do so action would be taken by Act
of Parliament, and they (the Commissioners)
would take what they wanted, and would
not be content with what the
council felt inclined to give them.
Alderman GILLAM said he did not know
any other place in Australia where there
were so many level crossings as they had in
Newcastle. At Newcomen street there was a
congestion of points, and he thought it would
be advisable to forego that crossing, and try
and get one opposite Mr. Rooke's stores.
Alderman THORN thought the level cross
ings should not be closed, and it would be a
great injustice to the city if they were. He
would certainly not give his consent either to
the closing of such or to the extension of the
tram up Hunter-street.
Alderman ALCOCK did not see why the
trams should not be carried up Hunter.
street. He was a property owner there and
had no objection to it, and, consequently, he
did not think others had.
Alderman RODGERS had never been against
the Commissioners' proposals, in fact he had
been in favour of the greater portion of
them. He thought fresh negotiations should
be opened with the railway authorities now,
though, as he believed, they (the Com
missioners) would carry out their owns plans
irrespective of the council. He doubted that
any compensation could be obtained as
far as the closing of the crossings
was concerned. All their heavy timber
traffic now went to the west end
of the city, and they would have the benefit
of a new crossing at Brown-street. The re-
moval of the boat harbour and sheds would
mean a very considerable gain under the
Commissioners' proposal, as they had in reality
sold their right to it to the lessee. The only
strong objection he had to the proposals was
the tram extension, but in view of the fact
that several large property holders in the
street considered the work would advance the
best interests of the city his objection was, to a
large extent, removed. As far as the peti-
tion against the extension was concerned
he did not take much notice of it, as he
would sooner have the name of one property
owner than a dozen tenants, such as many
whose names were attached to the document.
He had taken greater exception to the closing
of the Newcomen and Wolfe street crossings,
but if they got the crossing at Brown-street
it would compensate for this in a great
degree. He did not feel so certain that the
Commissioners would not agree to the tram
going up Scott-street.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the Com-
missioners had in view the construction of a
third railway line to Honeysuckle Point, and
consequently they would not be able to make
room for the tramline.
Alderman RODGERS, continuing, said the
"V" in Watt-street was objectionable, but
he had come to the conclusion that it would
be better to favour the railway proposals
than to cut off all communication, as he felt
sure the authorities would do what they
chose if the council did not work in with
them.
Alderman WEBB said he did not object to
the closing of Market.stret, but he had
objected to the closing of Newcomen.street.
He thought the ratepayers should be con-
sidered quite as much as the property-
owner, and in that respect he did not at all
agree with the previous speaker. He also
objected to the extension of the tram up
Hunter-street.
Alderman LAING said they were all aware
of the fact that he was in favour of the alter-
ations as proposed by the Commissioners, as
he was a great sufferer by the present system.
A person could not walk up Hunter-street at
any time in the day without meeting heavily-
laden drays which, under the new system,
would be diverted to another street. He
thought the travelling of a tram up
the street would not do it nearly as much
harm as the drays referred to. With regard
to the level crossings, if they fought against
the closing of them the Commissioners would
get the matter done by Act of Parliament,
and they would then be utterly powerless.
The CHAIRMAN said he had always been
in favour of the opening of the streets as
proposed, and he hoped the gentlemen pre-
sent would make up their minds to meet the
Commissioners in a fair and reasonable way.
The meeting then resumed its sitting in
council.
Alderman MORONEY moved. "That a
deputation consisting of the Mayor, and
Aldermen Buchanan, Rodgers, Thorn, Al-
cock, Laing, Gillam, and the mover, meet
the Railway Commissioners with a view of
coming to some amicable settlement of the
question."
This was seconded by Alderman ALCOCK.
Alderman RODGERS pointed out that the
members of the proposed deputation held dif-
ferent views, and if they went before the
Commissioners the latter would want to know
what the people really required. It had been
said that the Commissioners would not con-
cede them anything further than was shown
on the plan, but there was a possibility of
their getting a high-level bridge at Newcomen
street, and this would be a concession and an
important one. He would suggest that
Alderman Moroney alter his resolution, other
wise he (the speaker) would be compelled to
move an amendment.
Alderman GILLAM then moved as an
amendment, "That we accept the plans
before us for the whole of the work to be
carried out as shown, with the exception of
the crossing at Newcomen-street." If such
were carried they could go before the Com
missioners with full power to settle the ques
tion in one way or the other.
This was seconded by Alderman RDGERS.
Alderman MORONEY pointed out that they
had a petition signed by 270 residents oppos-
ing the closing of the crossings. He thought
they should consider these people. If they
meet the Commissioners and pointed out the
feelings of, at least, a large section of the
ratepayers, there was a possibility of their
getting the concessions. The matter of
finality in regard to the crossings was already
settled, as they all know that if they could
not get what they wanted they could do
nothing in the matter. It was different with
the tram, re they (the Commissioners) could
not take it up Hunter-street without the
permission of the council unless they brought
in a special bill.
Upon being put to the meeting the amend
ment was carried.
Alderman WEBB then called for a
division, in order that it might be clearly
understood that the majority were agreeable
to the extension of the tram line up
Hunter-street. The division resulted as
follows :--For the amendment : The
chairman and Aldermen Rodgers, Gillam
Alcock, and Laing. Against: Aldermen
Thorn, Webb, and Moroney.|
The meeting then adjourned.
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