TRAMWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18013, 4 March 1924, Page 4

TRAMWAY BOARD.

TRACK RENEWAL WORK. The Christchurch Tramway Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs A. S. Taylor (chairman). IT. Pearee. Geo. T. Booth, D. Sykes, W. J. "Walter, S. A. Staples, J. A. Fleshcr, J. W. Beaukmd, and the Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C. The Works and Traffic Committee reported:—The work of renewing the Riccarton line, including the pulling over of the track to the better position, is complete. The next works to be done are Oxford terrace (south track only), Lower High street, and Victoria street. When the Oxford terrace work is beinc done, traffic can only be maintained by using the north track as ''single track," involving an awkward shunt up the Lincoln road at the Hospital corner. The Eiecarton people have been subject to much inconvenience for months past consequent on the renewal of track. A new time-table is now in operation. In view of this, the committee has decided to postpone the Oxford terrace renewal work as long as possible. The committee has given much thought to Lower High street track, which has always given trouble because of the swampy nature of the road bed. The committee has discussed several methods of concrete construction. The standard method is to lay down a bed of concrete twelve inches thick, partially embedding the rails in it, and with a tar macadam surface. Another method discussed was to lav an 8-inch layer of concrete deeper, and pack rails and sleepers thereon with shingle, and tar macadam as at present. Using the British Reinforced Concrete Engineering Company's fabric, the costs of 71. chains of track are estimated thus: Standard concrete method, £11,010; concrete bed with ordinary sleeper and ballast construction' above, £14,100; ordinary

methods without concrete, £O7OO. The committee has decided to renew the track with ordinary sleeper and ballast construction, but to experiment with both methods of concrete work mentioned for short lengths. Other Matters. The committee also reported that the Government had convened another Dominion conference of tramway employers and employees for April 15th, to discuss amended general tramway regulations. The committee recommended that no bonuses on gala traffic be given to resident committees in future in respect of galas held between December 23rd and January 9th. Mr Walter said that he had opposed this recommendation when it was before the committee. The report as a whole was adopted. The Sumner Borough Council wrote thanking the Board for complying, as far as possible, with its request regarding standing cars in Nayland street.