TRAMWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17769, 22 May 1923, Page 3

TRAMWAY BOARD.

YESTERDAY'S MEETING. The Christchurch Tramway Board met yesterday. Present —Messrs D. Sykes. (chairman), A. S. Taylor, J. W. Beanland, H. Pearee, S. A. Staples, Geo. ,T. Booth, W. J. Walter, J. A. Flesher, and the Hon. John Barr, M.L.C. Power Plant. The Works and .Traffic Committee reported that the storage battery had again reached the renewal • stage. It would cost £9500, and as its "life" was only about seven years, the depreciation to be provided for was a heavy annual charge., The installation of automatic sub-stations at Fendalton and Cashmere, and the increase in traffic since the battery was first installed, had altered the complexion of things considerably. The committee did not propose to renew the battery, but to purchase in its place a new 500 k.w. rotary converter to be installed at Cashmere, and to transfer the 300 k.w. converter at Cashmere to the main station. That change would provide more power for the Hills tramway, and by an extension of feeders along Barrington street to the terminus of the new Spreydon extension, would enable more power to be available for all the south-western lines. The greater part of the expenditure would be found by the Depreciation Fund Commissioners, consequently there would be no addition to the .interest charges, for which the revenue account was responsible. Suburban Extensions. The Works and Traffic Committee reported that. the Brjndwr Tramway Committee had again drawn attention to the need for a tramway to' the Bryndwr Railway Station. The South Brighton Progress League had written asking when the proposed South Brighton extension would be constructed. The committee had replied to both correspondents that it was not in a position to give any indication as to when it would be able to deal with the matter Mr Walter said the Bryndwr and South Brighton people should be given some indication as to when the work could be done. The Board should endeavour to get a clause included m the new Bill giving power to raise loans for the two extensions without going to the ratepayers. The clause was passed.