THE TRAMWAYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13934, 16 December 1905, Page 13

THE TRAMWAYS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Owing, no doubt, to the excitement of the elections, the interest in our City Tramways has been kept a little in the background, therefore, I was very pleased to read the letter signed “ A Traveller,” in this morning’s paper. I hope this very practical letter will servo to show the Board that tho citizens are keenly interested in the running of the trams. Your correspondent refers to the line through the Square, pointing out very forcibly tho urgent need for the "Speedy execution of this very necessary work. Tho Board, by taking this matter in hand at once will not only be considering their own interests, but the convenience of the public, who have only ceased advocating the work, thinking that the Board had decided that the lines should be laid so soon as money was available. With regard to th© New Brighton line via Worcester Street I certainly think the Board is making a very grave mistake in allowing this line to terminate in the Square. Why should tins line and the Riocarton lino bo treated differently bo the other lines? The Woolstdn and Papanui care all run through the Square, and tho Board's Route’s ■ Committee evidently consider this the right system, for in their report presented at a previous meeting of'the Board, they recommended that the Cashmere Hills cars should run through tho Square to Edgware Road, St Albans. This recommendation naturally met with satisfaction, being a sensible and businesslike proposition, and is sure to prove a good one, not only from a revenue point of view, but also add to th© convenience of the Sydenham and St Albans residents. This being so one fails to see tho Board’s object in adopting such a very different course for the Riocarton and Linwood care. Your correspondent’s suggestion that tho Ihnwood «w» should run down

Manchester Street to the Station, and return via Colombo Street, or vice versa, is an excellent one, and well worthy the serious consideration of the Board, more especially in view of the Richmond cars coming in via Worcester Street. ■ With a population of fully 10,000 people east of Latimer Square and quite seven-eighths having their work or business south of Hereford Street, it will bo readily seen how much more convenient this route would bo. By the adoption of this route the revenue from tho penny section would be enormously increased, as great numbers would bo induced to use the oars, instead of walking, which they would have to do if the Board adhere to tho present arrangement. I would also like to suggest that tho Bealoy Avenue cars should run to and from the station via Manchester Street instead of the Fitzgerald Avenue, and the Papanui cars via Colombo and Manchester Streets, making a five minutes service to and from tho station, and that the Riocarton cars should run to Fitzgerald Avenue instead of standing in the Square for ten minutes. If this suggestion were adopted it would give a quicker service through the city, which would help to make the cars popular. There should be no cars standing in tho Square. Every car should bo on the move and earning venue. Until this idea is carried out our Christchurch trams will never bo th© success they should be. In Dunedin and Wellington, with a throe minute service, people in th© city, having to move from point to point, wait for the trams, but here wo all prefer to walk rather than wait ten minutes for a car. I hope soon to see

the Board adopt an enlightened policy, and that wo shall see tho cars traversing our main arteries every three minutes.—l am, etc., December 13. EAST.