THE TRAMWAYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14169, 18 September 1906, Page 2

THE TRAMWAYS.

A MEETING OF THE BOARD. The Christchurch Tramway Board met .yesterday; present—Messrs W. Reece (chairman), H. Pearce, J. Richardson, D. Sykes, J. A. Fleshor, J. J. Doagall and A. W. Be-aven. Leave of absence was granted to Mr G. G. Stead and Mr 0. M. Gray, M.H.R. WORKS AND TRAFFIC COMMITTEE. The Works and Traffic Committee reported that it recommended that a siding of second-hand 401 b rails, with a 80ib check rail, should be installed up to the entrance to the Trotting Grounds on the Lincoln Road, at an estimated cost of £298. At the request of the New Zealand Electrical Construction i Company, the committee received the executive of the company, which desired 1 to plaoa before the committee without 1 prejudice* its view® regarding the con- , tract. The company’s representatives i went very exhaustively into the matter, and after, they had retired the committee passed the following resolution, which it recommended for adoption by the Board :—“ After careful consideration of the several statements submitted to the Works Committee by the representatives of the Construction Company, the committee is of opinion that it is not advisable to go further ; into the difference® in question until ; the contract is finally completed.” i In moving the adoption of the report Mr Recce said that the proposed work at the Trotting Ground would greatly facilitate the handling of traffic. The motion was seconded by Mr Pearce and carried. REPORT OF THE STAFF COMMITTEE. The Staff Committee reported that it had hold a conference with the repre- | Bcutatives of the Tramway Employees’ | Union with reference to the term® of an . | industrial agreement submitted by them. Further consideration of _ the question had been adjourned for a, time, but the committee expected to bo in a position to submit the final result of the negotiations to the BiJard for its consideration at an early date. The office staff would be affected by the Board carrying out the extension contract, and the committee recommended that instead of employing extra clerical assistance for the particular work required. the work should be given to one of the present staff and the vacancy time created filled by clerks lower in rank. The report was adopted. STREET WATERING. The Water Committee reported that it had given very careful consideration to the question of abating the dust nuisance in the district. It found that the present supply of water was altogether inadequate to efficiently cope with the nuisance, as it affected tramway passengers even in what might be termed central districts. For the Central ward the only supply was from the tank at the Board’s car-shod. Not only was the supply from that source somewhat limited, but too much time was taken in travelling to and fro, and there was also the cons .ant wear and tear on the points and crossing® in the carshed yard. The tank at the car-shed should be reserved almost exclusively for fire prevention purposes. The other two sources of supply were the Sehvyn County Council’s water-race at Riccarton and a creek below Breeze’s Road, on the New Brighton line. The total quantity of water available during an eight-hour shift was, approximately, 17,000 gallons. That would only water from eighteen to twenty miles once each | day, whereas the total track was 32 I miles, which in dusty weather .would require watering two or three times a day. To deal with the subject effectively a large central supply should b© immediately obtained. The committee proposed that the'recommendation of the electrical engineer on the matter should be adopted, and that th© City Council should be asked to permit a pumping plant to be installed in a vault at the rear of the Council Chambers, whereby water could be lifted from the river and transmitted to the sprinkler on the road by means of a water crane on the edge of the footpath. , A tramway siding should b© laid to connect with 'the existing lino in Worcester Street. The vault could bo almost entirely concealed, and would not, therefore, .disfigure the Council’s property. The operating switch could be placed in an ornamental pillar-box on the edge of the footpath, so that very few visits would be required to the plant itself. The cost of the installation, including the cost of the siding, would be about £393. The pump would have a 7in suction and discharge, and would be able to fill the electric sprinkler in from two to three minutes. The supply would permit all existing lines within a threemile radius to be served. The Board’s jurisdiction was, of course, confined to the track, its responsibilities under the order-in-council did not extend to watering the track, hut the Board would probably recognise the desirableness of minimising the annoyance caused to passengers by the dust nuisance. ' The committee was obtaining information which would enable it to formulate .a proposal by which the whole width of the streets traversed by trams may be watered. The Board ought to be able to do the work more economically than if each local body interested dealt with its own section's. The consideration of the proposal would bo contingent on the practical 00-oper-ation of the local bodies interested. If the local bodies through whose streets the tramways run would undertake their proportion of the cost of watering, they would then have their main streets effectually rid of the dust nuisance, and the Board would bo justified in considering the question of placing in other portions of the suburbs somewhat similar, hut pumping plants to that now recommended. These could also supply water for the local bodies own water carts, to bo used on roads not touched' by the tramways. The report, was adopted. TRAILERS. The engineer. (Mr F. H. Chamberlain) reported that eight of the New Brighton tramway cal'® could bo converted into trailers. They oould be put in first-class order, and probably made ready for the heavy November ' traffic. ! The chairman stated that the Board ’ would need a great' deal mere rolling stock in November than it had at pre®ent, and eight trailers would be of great value. Mr Chamberlain stated that four of the cars could be ready by November 1, and the rest not later than November 10. It was agreed that the work proposed by the engineer should be carried out. CORRESPONDENCE. The director of the Christchurch Technical Classes wrote in reference to the Seddon memorial proposals, enclosing a statement as to the proposed technical school in Christchurch. The Board'decided to reply that it wa® in favour of the scheme to found a college in Christchurch. A letter from the Hon H. F. Wigram, stating that he would be pleased to take charge of the Christchurch Tramways Bill in the Legislative Council, was received. A letter was received from the Christchurch Cycling and Motor Club, asking that the Board should grant it 25 per cent of th© receipts from the Cashmere Hill® lino on Labour Day, October 10, when the club would hold a cycling and motor hill-climbing championship. The letter was referred to the Faros j Committee, with power to act. ! The clerk of the Templeton Road Board -wrote asking that the Board

should give its attention to the damage done to the Middlepark Road at its southern end by traction engines delivering metal for the Board. The Road Board thought tlxa,t the Tramway Board should contribute to the cost of repairs. The secretary was instructed bo reply that the Board recognised no liability in the matter. Mr H. Ashworth (Wellington) wrote in reference to his patented time-table, and the letter was referred to the Fares Committee. The town clerk wrote stating that the Works Committee of the City Council desired to draw the attention of the Board to the numerous places in the city where the roadway immediately adjoining the tramway rails was not maintained at the same level as the rails. He was directed to ask that thb necessary repairs should be carried out at once. . The chairman stated that the work was being carried on as fast as possible and the letter was received. TRACK LIGHTING. A letter was received from the Templeton Road Board stating that it could riot pay a share of the cost of erecting lights on the Sookburn tram route on the terms proposed by the Tramway Board. Mr Bengali said that there was great need of lights in order to prevent accidents, and the Board should supply light. He would move that the Board should supply the three lamps previously decided upon with light, provided that the Road Board would erect the lamps. Mr Pearce seconded the motion. In reply to a question the chairman said that once lights were granted every district must have them, and the cost would run into thousands of pounds in a year. .Mr Flesher said that the Board, would inn the risk of applications for lights at every stopping place on every line. Mr Bengali said that the three lamps would bo actually at termini on the Riccarton-Sookburn lino, and each terminus should be lighted. The Board was giving light at New Brighton, Papanui and Cashmere Hills. Mr Reece said that the Board had granted lighting in those cases for a year only, and would bo' able charge for current as soon as the Bill was passed. The cost of a lamp was about £9 per year. The motion was lost. Mr Bengali gave notice to move that the lights at the termini of routes'arid those in Cathedral Square, and at the Hospital should bo cut off unless the local bodies interested would pay the cost of lighting. ■ MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Pearce said that considerable objection was made to the rule that residents’ coupons should be available only between the city and the sectional termini. A fourpenny section coupon,, for instance, was more valuable on Some lines than others, but coupons should be made applicable for any journey, from Heathcote Bridge to Sumner, for instance, just as readily as from the Square to the Bridge. He thought that the whole' question of ' coupons should he considered, and moved that it should be referred to the Fares Committee. The motion was seconded by Mr Flesher and carried. Mr Flesher asked whether the Board could not take action, in regard to the City and Suburban line, even before the arbitration with the company was completed. It had been said that the construction of the new line would begin about November 1, and it would be a great disappointment to travellers by that line if a start was not made then. The chairman said that the Board had. to wait for certain welding material that would probably arrive on November 10. The arbitration was going on, and it would be a serious thing to begin the reconstruction of the line until the arbitration was completed. Accounts amounting to £7967 ISs were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.