TRAMWAY BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13937, 20 December 1905, Page 5

TRAMWAY BOARD.

The Christchurch Tramway Board met yesterday; present—Messrs W. Recce (chairman, G. G. Stead, C. M. Gray, F. Waymouth, A. W. Heaven, J. J". Dougail, G. Scott, H. Pcarco- and A. B. Morgan. THE EXHIBITION TRAFFIC. PROPOSED TRAMWAY SIDING. . Messrs R. Allan (Executive Commissioner) and I<\ H. Barns (chairman of the Exhibition Traffic Committee) waited on tlm Board to make proposals for the establishment of a tramline to serve the Exhibition. Mr Allan, after apologising for the absence or Mr Munro (Executive Commissioner), stated that the Exhibition Committed had already approached the Board and had been told that the Board had no funds to spend _on an Exhibition siding. The Exhibition Committee knew that it had the sympathy of the Board, and that the Board must realise, whet an important thing the Exhibition traffic would be. The deputation had com© to ask the Board to build, a trade, which was estimated to cost about £I7OO or £IBOO. The committee© proposed that the trade, should be from the railwaystation along Manchester Street, High Street, Colombo Street, Victoria Street and Peterborough Street to Park Terrace, and the return journey should bo made along Park Terrace", Salisbury Street, Victoria Street and - Colombo Street to the railway station: The new loop line would, therefore, bo in Peterborough Street, Park Terrace and Salisbury, Street .In building the track the Board could probably use some of its second-hand material, and when the track was taken up much of the material would be fit for use again. It - was estimated that the material thus saved would be worth £SOO or £6OO, and the Board would be asked to pay for that material. The Exhibition authorities would he asked to provide something like £I2OO for the cost. The committee propceed that a five minutes’ service should be run from the railway station. The far© from the station, or from any point on the line should be 2d, and thefixhibitiou Committee should be allowed id on each fare. It was thought that the faro of 2d would not be too much for the special service, but if the Board preferred to charge Id, the Exhibition authorities would be satisfied so long' as they received the halfpenny. Kilmor© St-root would have been preferred for the track, but there were difficulties in the way of using it, and under the proposed arrangements visitors would be undor .no hardship in having to walk five chains from the stopping-place to tho grounds. The proposal would bo placed fyofere Ministers, and it was likely that they would 'avour it. The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward ’had expressed approval of the proposal. 1 that the Government would be expected to pay, the whole cost of £IBOO on condition that the .Board would agree to take back material estimated at £SOO or £6OO. He thought that the material would be valuable to the Board, and the Board would be asked to take it under any circumstances. The Exhibition authorities should have thoir halfpenny from every "fare, oven in tho case of passengers on the special cars who did not go to tho Exhibition. ,

Mr Stead asked during what part of the day the service would be required, and Mr Allan replied that the Exhibition would be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The exact timetable would be a matter for the Board.

Mr Gray suggested that'the committee might meet the Board by making an offer of, say, £9OO for the track, leaving the Board to complete the work and take the proceeds.

Mr Allan said that he would rather do the work as suggested and take the risk of making a profit on the percentage of fares. Mr Stead said that it would, perhaps, ho unwise to tie the Board down to a five minutes’ service, as the Board should have tho opportunity of making its arrangements to suit the conditions. Mr Allan said that the service should bo as suggested during the busy hours at any rate, but it would be for the Board to consider what should bo done at other times

The deputation thanked the Board and withdrew. The Board went into committee to consider the proposals, and on resuming, ■ the chairman reported that it had been decided to ask the Exhibition Committee to make its proposals in writing, and the chairman and Messrs Gray, Dougall and Pearce, had been appointed a committee, to go into the "proposals. " y THE PROPOSED LOAN. - The Finance Committee recommended that the necessary advertisements relating to the proposed loan poll should be published. In the event of the poll being successful, the rate of interest offered should be, 4J per cent, and that tenders for the purchase., of the debentures should bo invited, a deposit of 10 per cent to accoihpany each tender. The successful tenderers should have the option of paying the whole balance on allotment or by instalments covering the period of twelve months. The loan should expire on the same date as the existing loan, namely, October 1, *1934. The report was adopted. HOLIDAYS. The Finance Committee recommended that all salaried officers and clerks not in. receipt of extra pay for over-, time should be , given a fortnight’s holiday every year, the first year’s service for that purpose to begin on January 1, 1906. The recommendation was adopted.

Air Dougall asked whether mbtormen and conductors were allowed any holidays.

The chairman stated that - overtime was paid to those employees. Air Dougall said that there should be some provision for annual holidays for all employees. There was some arrangement for holidays In the railway service, and the Board might make inquiries with a view to instituting a scheme of holidays. Air Gray said that he would like te see some action taken in the matter. Tho Board should endeavour to give an annual holiday to every employee. THE RAILWAY CROSSINGS. A letter was received from tho General Manager of New Zealand Railways in reference te tho question of crossing-keepers at Lincoln Road and Riocartou Road. The Department had had to provide two new signalmen at each crossing in place of the one that was at first thought to be sufficient. The Board was asked to pay for the two additional men, as their engagement was due solely to the electric tram service. The district traffic manager also wrote, forwarding an account for the wages of the two, signalmen. The chainnan said that, the original arrangement was for two men at each crossing, one to bo paid for by the, Board, and the other by the Railway Department. It was now stated that throe men wero required, and the Board was asked to pay for two. There were two new signalmen, in addition to the' original crossing-keeper. Air Dougall said that the trams had some rights of the road as well as the trains. It seemed that the Department was to rule the "trams entirely, and he objected to the arbitrary treatment of the Department. Air Chamberlain (the engineer) said that tho trams ' were unable to cross, the railway line between midnight and 7 a.m., tho points being absolutely against them. Tho Board could secure the use of the line only by paying for a signalman. Air Boavon staid that the Board was not to bo dictated to by tho Departpartment and the Board should each

pay half the cost of the crossing-keep-ers, as the original arrangement had been. He moved that the Board could not accept the Department’s definition of it® -arrangements with the Board, but was prepared to pay half the cost of crossing-keepers. The motion was seconded by Mr Way mouth and carried. A letter was received from the City Council protesting against the raising of the tramline at the Lincoln Road railway crossing, and stating that th© Council would hold the Board responsible for any accident arising from, its action.

The chairman said that the railway lines were much higher than the road, and as the, road could not be raised when the tramwjay was constructed th© engineer had had to do his work with th© least possible alteration to the road. • The letter was received. ■ MANCHESTER STREET LINE.

A letter was read from the secretary of tax© Public "Works Department'stating that in accordance with the report of the inspecting engineer, the Board was authorised to open the Manchester Street tramline for'traffic. The letter was received. MISCELLANEOUS.

The Mayor of Sumner wrote in reference to the proposal to construct an esplanade, stating that 'it was hoped that the money required would be raised by means of public subscription and a loan. If the Board could .not subscribe to the fund, it was hoped that it would be able to guarantee twothirds of the annual interest and sinking fund. ;

It was decided that the Board had no power to grant the request., Accounts amounting to £4965 4s 5d were passed for payment. A special meeting was held for the purpose of receiving the balance-sheet for the year ended March. 31, 1905. The chairman was authorised to sign tli© balance-sheet.