OBSTRUCTIONS BY TRAMWAY POLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 81, 7 April 1902, Page 2

OBSTRUCTIONS BY TRAMWAY POLES.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln Saturday's "Star" I see that "Hobson street Ratepayer" doubts my statement re my experience in Sydney in the construction of the electric trams. I now enclose for your inspection papers to show that my Statement is correct. Now, sir, it is "Ratepayer" who knows nothing about Sydney's electric trams, or else he would not have made such a number of false statenx .its in bis letter. He says George street is the only street in-which centre poles have been used.- This is incorrect, as the whole line from Circular Quay to the railway station and from the corner o) George and Harris streets, along Harris street to Pyrmont Terminus, has centre poles, and these are the only two streets where the rails were laid down for electric cars. In all •the other streets the rails have been laid down a number of years ago, and used for the steam or cable cars, and the two tracks are so close together that it would have been impossible to put poles in the centre, and "Ratepayer" Avill know this if he ever has been in Sydney and tried to stand between two passing steam-cars. Further, "Ratepayer" says:—"Also on the new lines lately constructed by the Government along Castlereagh antl Ehzabeth streets, and that after *the New South Wales Government has sent its experts to make enquiries m Europe and America, side poles have been used." This is also false, as, the rails in Elizabeth street are laid down more than ten years ago, and have up to recently been used by the steamcars only, and all that was done last year on'this line was the bonding of the rails to make them available foi the electric cars. This line of rails will be used by steam and electric, cars until the completion of the power station to supply current for the lines running up Oxford street, when it will only be used by electric cars. Referring "to Castlereagh street I would like to ask "Ratepayer" if he knows that., Castlereagh street is a single track line, and I believe had he known this he would nOt have mentioned this street, thereby showing that it is he and not me who knows nothing about the electric lines in Sydney. The cars from the railway station are running along Castlereagh street to the Circular Quay, and returning via Pitt street, and I would like to know where to put centre poles on a single track line. I would be glad if "Ratepayer" could mention me a single street in Sydney where rails have been laid down for electric cars and side poles have been used. On all the lines in Sydney which are converted from steam into electric cars the old rails are.being used, and therefore poles had to be erected on the side. Ido not doubt for one moment that a number of collisions with poles took place in Sydney, and here in Auckland I believe it will be just the same, but the more collisions will take place the more careful drivers of vehicles will be, and keep to the side of the road. . In reference to the poles in Custom street, all I can say to "Ratepayer" is "Keep to the left side of the road, and you will never collide with a pole."' The same applies to the pole in Albert street, mentioned by him.—l am, etc., ENGINEER,.

[Certificates showing that or.r correspondent was employed as lineman on the Sydney tramways from December, 1899, to July, 1901, were enclosed with the above letter. —Ed., E. S.]