TAKAPUNA TRAM SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 235, 1 October 1920, Page 5

TAKAPUNA TRAM SERVICE.

CURTAILMENT NECESSARY. Tlie necessity of husbanding coal in order to keep the Takapuna tram and ferry service going was the gravamen of a communication received this morning by the Mayor of Takapuna. • (Mr. W. Blomfield) from the secretary of the company. The letter ran as follows: "At a meeting of the directors of the company held to-day (Thursday) I was instructed to place before you this company's position as regards fuel. We are assured of a continuous supply of coal to keep the Pupuke running so long as the Hikurangi mine works and this coal is not commandeered for other purposes. As to the tramways, we have sufficient supply to run the locomotives until about the end of next t week, witb no definite supply to fall back upon after that date. Mr. Martin, tbe Auckland district coal controller, has a note of our requirements, and is endeavouring to augment our stock. By cutting down tbe service (say) to three trips in the morning and three trips at night, for the convenience of the business residents, we would be able to carry on for about three- weeks. Does your Council consider this necessary and advisable, or do you require that we run the full service until our supply is exhausted ': Your early attention and reply will oblige." The Mayor stated that upon receipt of the communication he had called together as many of the councillors as were available, and it had been decided to agree to tbe running of six trips daily —three in the morning and three in tine evening—to suit business people- As a result of conference with tbe company it had been arranged that the morning trips from Takapuna should be at 7, 8 and 9 o'clock, and the evening trips from town at 4.15, 5.15 and 6.15 o'clock; while on Saturday the trip- from town will be at 12.15, 1.15 and 0.15 p.m. Mr. Blomlield added that tbe Council had also agreed to the cutting out of /the Sunday service altogether in order to enable" the company to husband its supplies for a longer period. ' "The Council are resolved to help the company in every possible may so that the service may be kept going for the benefit of business people," said the Mayor- "Bayswater residents will, of course, suffer no inconvenience whatever at present, but if it becomes necessary the Bayswater trips will also be curtailed. We have made application to the chairman of the Board of Trade to see if the company can get a supply of Taupiri steam coal, and if it is possible a corresponding increase will he made in the Takapuna tram service,''