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24
ASPHALTE v. TRAMWAYS.
The agreement between the Vestry, the North Metropolitan
Tramway Company, and the Val De Travers Asphalte Company,
respecting the maintenance of the asphalte roadway in front of the
Town Hall has been a constant cause of dispute between the two
Companies. The Asphalte Company maintains that the 6d. per
yard per year, the price for which the Company is bound to keep
the roadway in repair, extends to ordinary wear and tear only, and
that much injury is done to the asphalte, and expenses thrown upon
the Company by the defective condition of the rails, and claims
from the Tramway Company a larger sum, which claim the latter
company resists. There has already been, some four years ago, one
arbitration, at a great expense, upon the same point, but which,
owing to some legal technicality, was practically abortive so far as
the settlement of the question was involved, though nominally it
went against the Tramway Company, which was condemned in
damages and costs. The dispute is again renewed upon the old
lines, and the Board of Trade has informed the Yestry that it has
appointed Mr. C. Hutton Gregory, C.E., as the arbitrator. It is
possible that the Yestry may have to appear nominally as a party in
the case, but the issue is between the two Companies, and, except as
to some trifling costs, the Vestry is not concerned. The Vestry will,
as hitherto, insist upon the roadway being kept in repair by the
Asphalte Company, leaving the question of costs to be contested by
the Companies.
SUN STREET (APPOLD STREET) IMPROVEMENT.
The following tables are the most recent supplied by the
Metropolitan Board. (See pages 30 & 31.)
The Vestry has up to the 25th March last paid off the loans of
£65,000; £4,365 in principal, and £8,792 in interest. Since
then by the recoupment the principal has been further reduced by
£10,752. The Yestry has also received a cash payment from rents,
&c., of £2,200. It is expected that by another year the whole of