MAINLY ON TRAMWAYS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 859, 4 July 1910, Page 6

MAINLY ON TRAMWAYS

IN AUSTRALIA. THEIR WAT AND OTJRS. (By Telegraph.—Bpeclal Correspondent.) Christchurch, July 1. Sorno interesting comments on Australian affairs were made to-day in an interview with Sir. J. A. Plesher, a member of tho Christchurch Tramway Board, who has just returned from a visit to the Commonwealth. Mr. Plesher devoted some little time to studying the Iraniway systems in the chief Australian cities. "The newest electric system," Mr. Plesher said, "is that at Adelaide. It is bigger than the Christchurch system, but no better, while (lie cost, of the system was -£1,250,000, of which ,£2&i,000 was paid for tho old company's concessions. The money was supplfed by the Government by debentures carrying ,'ljj per cent, interest, and up to the "preseut 55 miles of track have been laid down. The power is supplied by the Electrical Supply Company, but the trust' is contemplating the erection of a powerhouse at Port Adelaide, eleven railen away.

Tim offices aro the most complet*, oud replete in Australasia. The men's quarters are very line, being supplied Willi billiard tables, card tables, and other facilities for amusement and entertainment.

There are 100 cars on the system, each carrying 50 passengers, and 50 other curs are in course of construction, each to be capable of carrying GO passenger*. The bodies of the cars are being built in a furniture factory—the largest cstabment of the kind in Australia—and the model followed is very similar to that of the Dunedin vehicles. The system makes provision for the employment ol about AGO conductors.

The men on the cars did not impress Mr. -i lesher as being as smart as the Christchurch men, but, perhaps, that ■was on account of tho laxity of the authorities, who permit smoking at termini, and other practices not allowed hi-.ri>

Melbourne still has the old cable car service, bnt, as the concessions run out in six years, preparations arc now boiii" made for the installation of an electric system Melbourne has, apparently, fallen behind in the race with its rival hydney, for the population of the harbour city is now larger than that of Melbourne, though, a few yearn, Melbourne was leading. Things appeared to be dull m Melbourne.

Mr. Flesher could not help noticing a remark by the Chief Justice of Victoria who was president of some hospital association. He referred to the decline in the subscriptions to the association, and attributed it to the fact that city property was unsaleable in Melbourno. Walking m that part of Collins Street near the station, Mr. Plesher found that it looked quieter than Christchurcli. Mr. Plesher has nothing but admiraaon for the Sydney tram service, and the energy of Sydney people. There were now 170 miles of electric single track, and about 20 miles of steam track. There were 892 electric motors, and other vehic cs brought the total up to 1271. The longest cars are capable of seating 80 persons. The service is kept going constantly, and trams are running all through the night, and taking the place of the suburban railway traffic, which is such a feature of Melbourne. Mr. Plesher noticed that the Ahermito welding process, which was not satisfactory in Ghristchurch, is thoroughly successful in Sydney, and is used i'n the busiest; portion of the city. Ho also noticed that the time-table running ot cars on the long distances was checked by automatic recording clocks. The niotormou pressed a button, which caused the clock to record on a tape tho time of their arrival at the station, and he might have to operate on two or three clocks during his journey, so that, if he travelled either too slow ur too fast at any stage; his sin would find his out. Another useful thing was the placing ol jacking outfits at various points on the long-distance lines, so that any breakdown could be speedily dealt with, as in Wellington. It is six years since Air. Plesher last visited Sydney, and ho was astonished at the changes which have taken place in that city. Poverty was not now apparent in the streets, and he never saw a single youngster following the occupation of street match vendor. The City Council have removed all the fences from the parks, and have hung electric lights among the trees, and erected tea kiosks, which supply refreshments every day, and at all hours. The resumption of work in the city is being carried on on a big scale, and the city is being tremendously improved by it.