A YEAR'S WORKING. WELLINGTON ELECTRICAL TRAMWAYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1909, Page 2

A YEAR'S WORKING. WELLINGTON ELECTRICAL TRAMWAYS.

OUTLAY OF £564,354 FROM CAPITAL. A report was presented to the chairman and members of the Power Station and Tramways Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon by Mr. Stuart Richaidson, City Electrical Engineer and Electrical Tramways Manager, I legarding the working of the city tramways during 'the year ended 31st Maich last. It showed that the gross revenue from all sources amounted to £136,436 la Id, as compared with £125,010 14s 4d for the previous year, an increase of £11,425 6s 9d. TRAFFIC RECEIPTS. The traffic revenue, including Karori and Miraraar mileage dues, amounted to £129,832 13s 9d, an advance of £10,226 12s 7d over the preceding year. The traffic revenue j»er car mile was 14.12 don the city lines, .an increase of 0.3d. WORKING EXPENSES. , The working expenses on tramways and pow«r supply amounted to £91,672 | 19s, as compared with £82,839 0s 3d last year. The increase in expenditure is accounted for by the running of a "more frequent service and heavier cars, with consequent increased expenditure on maintenance of cars and tracks. The tramway working expenses per car mile were 9.69 d, as compared with 9.36 d last year. NET REVENUE. The excess of revenue over working expenses amounted' to £44,763 2s Id. After allowing for interest, sinking fund, and depreciation, there Ts a net surplus on the year's working of CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. The amount expended during the year on new works was £22,811, in addition to which a sum of £29,752 18s 3d, being the cost of installing the power supply system in the city, was brought into the balance-sheet, making altogether a total capital outlay of £564,354 5s 8d to the 31st -March, 1909. PASSENGERS CARRIED. The total number of passengers carried on the city lines during the year was 21.679,902, or 1,574,179 more than last year, which, when based on the population of the city and suburbs, viz., 72,000, works out at an average of 301 journeys per head of the population per annum. The average number of passengers carried per car mile on city lines was 10.53; as compared with 10.28 for the previous year. TRACK EXTENSIONS AND POWERHOUSE PLANT. No extensions to the tramways tracks were made during the year. An insertion was made of a crossover at the Lambton railway station, for the purpose of facilitating the shunting of cars. Mr. Richaidson again draws attention to the necessity ot extending the tramway lines from Willis-street, through Customhousefluay, to the General Post Office. The ilew plant at the power-house will be installed and ready for operation within a few weeks. The erection of the machinery, including the building of the concrete foundations, is being carried out by our own staff, under the supervision of the powerstation's superintendent. When the new boilers, bifilt locally, are installed, the station ( will be equipped with seven generating sets, capable of a normal output of 3000 kilowats. STATION PLANT AND TRAFFIC. The station plant ha« been maintained in a high state pf efficiency," and has worked very satisfactorily during the year. All necessary repairs * and renewals have been carried out, and the cost charged 'against the year's revenue account. The supply of current to private cOnsumeis has shown a very satisfactory increase during the year, and has very materially augmented the revenue. The centre poles between the Lambton railway station and the Thorndon railway station have hitherto debarred the 'running of side-door cars along this part of the Thorndon-quay route ; to overcome this disability, the overhead equipment has been altered to span construction, and no objection is now made by the Government to the running of these cars. It is contemplated lo extend the span construction to' the Thorndon terminus during the present year. OTHER MATTERS. The electrical engineer considers that the matter of carshed accommodation is one that should receive the eaily attention of tlie committee. Traffic returns for the year show an increase in the number of passengers travelling on all routes except Aroitreet. Another recommendation by the engineer is that it would be advisable to Jimit the articles that may be carried on the cars, excluding goods, and making # a reab&nable charge for bulky personal luggage. A further revision of the tramway bylaws has been found necessary, and recommendations as to additions and altertions will be plced before 'the committee on an early date.