TRAMWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12827, 11 June 1907, Page 8

TRAMWAY BOARD.

The Christehurch Tramway Boa-d ' mot yesterday afternoon, when there . were present Alessrs W. Reeco (Chair- . man), Georgo T. Booth, C. AI. Gray, AI.H.R., J. A. Flesher, J. J: Dougall, - J. Richardson, A. W. Beavcn, D. Sykes, and H. Pearce. WORKS AND TRAFFIC COAIAUTTEE. Tho Works aud Traffic Committee*, in their report, recommended that ihr* j car shod at Sew Brighton, puicha_ed j under arbitration awai _ from Mr John . Biightliug, be connected with tiie i Hoards lines at an estimatod cost of ! .(155. The committed hud also decid- ' cd to convert the old trailer into n;i inspection and break-down c_r, at mi , ojtim-twi cost of about £.200. In order i to lacilitate the handing of trailers iv tho Board's car shed, it had buoii found advisable to ii__t_ill a wire loop at tho junction of Jloorhou*. avenue and Fitzgerald avenue. The estimated .(tit of that was set down at £__'J3. Tho committee recommended that freo pu_sea bo given to the Alayora of Christchurch, Sumner, New Brighton and Woolston, and to tho chairmen of Road Boards in the tramway area. The report was adopted. SHELTER SHEDS. The engineer repotted that in accordance with tho i-iard. instructions, j *-ketches had been prepared showin.j j four different designs ol shelter shod., or waiting mom.. No. 1 was a similar design to tho 6hod already erected at j Breeze's road on tho Mew Brighton j lino, by the Heathcote Road Board. It ! was a wooden shed, match-lined with 1 galvanised iron roof, estimated cost. | £'26 10s. No. 2 was a galvanised iron ! shod, unlined, estimated cost, £18. No. 3 was a weatherboard shed, unlined, estimated cost, £12. No. 4 was a woodou shed, matchlincd, sido and front bay glass, with galvanised iron roof, estimated cost, £-15. In reply to a question by Air Gray aa to whether the City Council wero j willing to allow the Board to erect a | .belter shed iv Cathedral square, tho ; chairman stated that tho Council won! waiting for the design to be submitted, i bytoro giving their consent. The report was referred to the Work*. and Traffic Committee for conoidoiatinn. Tho Chairman explained that tho proposed Cathedral square shelter extended across tho footpath in front of tho Godley statue, for the wholo length of the railings. It would be elided in at each end. and would have seats all round. It-was resolved to forward the drawing! of the proposed shelter to tho City Council for their approval. ST. ALBANS LINE. The engineer reported that in accordance with tho Board's instructions, he took up the question of tho condition of Boa ley ;ivenue and Barhadocs street nling the Colombo .street road line with Councillor Otlcy, chairman of the City Council Works Committee, and the City Surveyor, Air Dobson. Ha pointed out to Councillor Otley ...at tho line was laid throughout to levels given him by the City Surveyor, it being neoossary for the lino tfl bo built to the level, of intersecting streets. Fn addition to that 4 Barb_doea street was a road which had an exceptionally high crown, and' after digging test lielcs, tho City Surveyor decided that it would put hi. Council to a prohibitive cost to strip the road,* in addition to which ho was afraid that by doing so tho road might be ruined by tho large amount of peat found under the surface. He therefore gave instructions to havo tho inside rail laid to tho road top, which was done in all cases. That road was unmetallcd on tho portion which the Council considered should now bo made up by tho Board. Councillor Otlcy said he would be willing to recommend that his Council should accept half payment of tho cost from tho Board. The estimated cost given by the City Surveyor amounted to £95. Tho Chairman said that if tho Council were agreeable the Board might pay the half cost of £95. Tho road was in a very awkward condition, and the question of liability for accident might arise. * It wae resolved to pay half the amount mentioned. LIGHTING CATTLE GUARDS. The engineer recommended an alteration in the present lighting -for protecting cattle guards on the Sumner line. Tho approaches to these guards wero now protected by night with a red oiled danger light. On several occasions tho present lights havo been interfered with, as lamps have been emptied and wicks pulled out, that evidently being done by mischievous small boys who did not realise the danger of such actions. To overcome any further liability of accident through lights being out through this cause, and to further light the cattle guards so as to enablo motormon to see any object which might be caught in the guards beforo their headlights would show up tho same, ho would recommend that three light clusters bo immediately installed at each approach to both embankment and viaduct, and that a further lamp be installed in Redcliffs near tho points of turn-out where expresses pas* both up nnd down trams. The report was adopted. BOARDS SECTION, NEW BRIGHTON. The engineer reported for tho Board's information that W. Afnrray, whose tender, amounting to £110. for filling in the section at New Brighton wns accepted, had failed to start the work when notified, and on enquiry it had been found that he had loft for Australia. Subsequently, however, tho secretary received a letter from the tenderer stating ho was unable to go on with the contract. Ho therefore pave the work to the next lowest tenderers, Alessrs Buxton nnd Bodger. their tender being £115 IDs, and the work had already boon put in hand. W. Aturrny. deposit, amounting to £5 10s. w«_ held pending the Board's instructions. Airs Ford, whoso tender was accepted for removal of buildings, had carried out her work in accordance with the conditions. Tho r*"ort was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Air H. A. Atkinson wrote urging the desirableness of proclaiming Burns's Jrttv ns a stopping nlace for trams on the Sumner line. The request was referred to tho traffic manager. Air AI. Cowan wrote, requesting that a tram should leave Burwood at about 4.30 p.m. each day. Tho hon. sec. of the Christchurch Lndies' Golf Club wrotff. asking if there was any possibility of the Board arranging so that the Richmond and Burwood tram, which left Tay street at -t.31 fi.m., might leave the Shirley Go'f inks instead, as the alteration would prove a great convenience to many frequenters of. the links. The letters wero referred to tho traffic manaser. Air N. Bias, Wellington. wrote requesting tho loin of the working dr.twintrs of one of the Board's .ot-ti-hination cans, from which he desired to construct a model. It was resolve, to reply that a blue print of one of the cars ws in possession cf the Wellington City Cmircil. ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN. Tho eecretary wrote, stating thit in pursuance of section 19 of the Chri-t----church Tramways District Art. lfK.fi. it would be rr-cessarv for the Board et its next meeting, which would be he'd on Monday. June 17th, to elect a chairman and <leputy-ch_irman for the ensuing year. THE HAULAGE OF METAL. The Woolston Borough Council wrote, asking the Board to quote a prico for constructing v siding from the tramline into the Council's yard, and for

delivering metal from Andrews 1 Quarry into the yard. Tho writers added that I they had written to the City Council on tho subject of using the Board's waggons for the haulage of metal, with the view of reducing the co3t- cf maintenance of tho Ferry road, which was so much cut up by tho heavy metal drays. ITie Board resolved to ask the engineer to report on the matter. FREIGHT CARS. Air Doug'jii asked if it was intended to run bajigage or freight cars on the longer linos to Sunnier and New Br.giiton. Ho thought that a good source of revenue was at present being wasted. Such cars wero run between Auckland and Oiiehunga, in opposition to the railway, and he considered that tho .hristchurch Board could do the same. Tito Chairman said ho thought that a special report might be procured on the question of carrying freight generally. .Mr Dougall replied that tho traffic manager had already reported on tho uiuiter. Air Richardson said the Board had decided tliat a baggage car would he put on tho Sum ncr lino directly the lino was completed, and in the plan. I for tho car-shod at Sumner provision [ had been niauo for b;-.gg«ge traffic. Air Poano said ..ere wero po_-ibili-ties of a good freight trade being built I up over the Sumner line. ! In reply to a question, tho chairman : said that in Dublin and other places thero were distributing centres for the ; height traffic, with men in charge. j Air Flcsher said ho questioned very j muJh whether such a system would pay | the Christchurch Tramway Board. I Air Gray said he did not think it ' would. Air Dougall pointed out that a central depot would have to bo procured as well as a distributing centre He moved that the- traffic manager shou'd be requested to furnish «i report on tho question of freight cars ou tho dif- | feren-t lines. j On tho motion of Air Beavcn it was 1 also resolved to request the secret-ry ;to report on tho financial aspect of the i question. TRAMWAY E XTENSTON«. Air Gray moved, "That tho following proposed extensions of the tram.ay system be. referred to' tho Works and Finance Committees, to consider and report:—Cashel street lino, Da.hngtcn Bridge, Colombo Street North, Selwyn s tree"t, duplication of Worcester street, connecting St. Albans with Burwood, and the Cathedral square connection." Air Gray said that according to tho estimates placed before them, tho proposed extensions would involve an expenditure of from £10,000 to £45,000 if tho Hues were electrified. It would be necessary to raise another loan to carry out tho extensions, and the finance Committee wcnld be ablo to say what amount should ho raised. Tho motion was seconded by Air J AIr Fleshcr asked if Air Gray would includo in his motion the cost of electrifying the Opawa, Fendalton and Burwood lines Air Gray replied that tho Government would not allow an electno service on those very narrow roads. The Chairman pointed out that the Board had, under their Ordor-in-Coun-cil, permission to run electric traffic on these roads Air Pearce said he was confident tnat some of the proposed extensions would pay very well. . Air Gray's motion, amended in the direction proposed by Air Fleslier, was put and carried. THE SUAINER LINE. Air Pearce drew attention to the heavy vehicular traffic that the tramway track from Redcliifs to Sumner was at pi-sent bearing. The road between those two points, ho said, had recently been metalled, and nil the carts took to tho tramway track, whfh was now very much cut up. In main places, there wero nits which extended right down to tho deepen*. Ho did not know what tho position of the Board would be in tho event of an accident. .... , « . Tho Chairman replied that tho Ordcr-in-Council"gave the Board permission to make open construction along that section of the line, and the tramway track wo. really no part cf the rond. and ho did not think tho Board could b-j held responsible lor an accident on that open construction. SCHOOL TICKETS. Air Fleslier urged that tho monthly charge for school children using their tickote only twico a day, should be reduced. Ho ako advocated that the school tickets should bo available for a term instead of for a month. He moved that the matter be referred to the Fares Committee. , Tho motion was seconded by Air Gray. Air Dougall pointed out that with*it tho last month or so the Fares Committee had oonsielored the whole matter of fares very fully, and \hen there came another attempt to tinker with tho question. He strongly objected to any alteration being mado in fares at tho present timo. Tho Chairman said that tho point had been raised ns a consequence. of , the concessions made to the technical scholars. Air Booth said ho did not think tho fn.rcs for other children were altogether satisfactory, and the* Fares Com mittee should not resent any propo6i>l to reconsider the matter of fares, if new light had beon thrown on the subject. AlrSyke. claimed that the charge fo r anprpntiecs' tickets should be reduced. Tho last annual statement showed that only eleven apprentices' tickets por month had been issued on the Lincoln road lino, whereas over 200 should hive been issued monthly. The charge was too much, and tho apprentices either walked or cycled. Mr Flcwrhers motion wa-*» then put and carried, Air Dougall cTiWnting. THE HEATHCOTE BRIDGE. Air Gray asked when the alterations to the Heathcote bridge would be finished. The engineer replied that tho work would be completed in --other week. Accounts to the amount of £391.0 18s 8d were pas,s*xl for payment. The Board then went into committee.