TRAMWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12364, 1 December 1905, Page 2

TRAMWAY BOARD.

The Tramway Board mot yesterday. Present— Akssib W. Recce (chairman), F. Waymoutli, J. J. Dougall, G. Scutt, H. Pearce, and A. B. Moigaa- Apclogics for absence were received trom .Messrs C. M. Gray, Geo. G. Stead, ond A. W. JBedven.

The Railway Department wrote in reference to tbe payment of wages of tho extra signalmen on the Riccartcn ad Lincoln road lines. The agreement* drown up were returned, with a not.fication that they could not be signed iv thei? prosent form.

The chairman said tlae differcmv was that the Department requited the Board to pay the whole wag.s of the ext.a iren, whereas it hud bten arranged that the Beard should contribute half. The Minister of Railways had agreed to tho arrangement, but evidently the D partment was not canyi g out his ntentions. It was decided to. inform the district engineer that the Board was await ng a reply from the general manager, to a letter dated November 6th. . . Piofi**or Bickcrton wiote complaining ol" the unsatisfactory timetable for lNeyv Brighton, and the consequent inconvenience to visitors to Wainoni. He pointed out that a considerable revenue could bo derived from that source, if more satisfactory arrangement- wero made. The chairman pointed out that it was not passive to increase the service during tho timo construction work was going on. , , It was resolved to reply that the matte. would receive coiifiideiation when tlie new time-table was drawn up. In response to letters from Mr haddock, nnd tho New Brighton Borongu Council, it was decided to receive deputations at the next meetingA formal letter was received from tho Woolston Borough Council in regard to the proposed new bridge over the Heathcote, at an estimated cost ot £3000. Tlie various allocated contributions from tho local bcdics concerned wero specified, and it waa stated that tlie Council would apply to tho Ixc-ver-nor-in-Council, two months from da.c, for permission to construct tho bridge, aud objections must bo lodged before tliat date. The letter was received. Tho engineer reported that tho alteration of one of the side channels along Manchester street would be completed in accordance with tho instructions of the Inspecting Engineer by Friday night. In response to a telegram Mr Holmes had stated that Manchester street could not Ikj opened for traffic until inspected. He would bo in Christchurch next week. Tho report was adopted. Tho Fares Committee reported that it had arranged for fxl excursion trams to commence running to Sumner on Deoember Ist. Tickets will be issued providing for return up to G p.m. on the day of issue only. These excursions would U suspended when the line was broken for construction purposes, also on public holidays. As soon as tlio new line to New Brighton was laid tho excursions would ba run to that resort also. The committee recommended that a ticket similar to a sample attached applicable to all lines, be used instead of the present separate ticket for each line. That method would reduce the otlice work considerably and would also bo a convenience in other ways. It would necessitate tho deletion of a few overlapping sections, as to include them would make tho new ticket system too complex. • The committee recommended that the 4d section from New Brighton to Aldwin's road should be extended to Stanmoro road. It had been reported tliat at New' Brighton one or more of the stoVekeepors wero in the habit of purchasing 54 ride coupons and selling them in smaller quantities. Tho fact that passengers wero able to purchase these coupons at a smaller initial outlay than if they were purchased from tho Board had doubtless encouraged the practice. Tho returns in proportion to tho traffio showed that a much larger amount was allowed by way of discount on tho New Brighton lino than on any other line, and as the practice if not checked would doubtless bo adopted on the remaining lines, tho committee recommended that it bo authorised to havo a by-law prepared whioh will stop the practice. Tho only other method would bo to make the 54 rido coupons "not transferable," but' that would bo a considerable inconvenience to many purchasers. Tho report was adopted. The Chairman 6aid they had gone into the now scheme of works, and the Board had practically como to a decision. Thero was no need for delay, and he thought tho question should be referred to the Finance Committee, with a view to taking tho neoessary steps for securing a poll of tho ratepayers in regard to the loan. Tho matter was l-efcrrod to tho committee as suggested. Tho Chairman said it had been suggested to him that tho destination cards with fuller information, should bo placed on the sides of the cars, as, well as back and front. The engineer was requested to report on the matter.