TRAMWAY BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15510, 10 January 1911, Page 5

TRAMWAY BOARD.

YESTERDAY'S MEETING. The Christchurch Tramway Board met yesterday afternoon; present— Messrs H. Pearce (chairman), G. T. Booth, W. Reeco, J. A. Flesher, C. M. Gray, D. Sykes and S- A. Staples. A MOTORMAN DISMISSED. Reporting upon a collision on December 30 between an electric tram and a steam metal tram, on the Burwood line, the Works and Traffic Committee stated that the accident was due to the action of the motorman in passing the loop at which he was timed to pass the approaching tram. In accordance with tho rule that a man responsible for a head-on collision should be dismissed, the motorman had been dismissed. In view of his straightforward acknowledgment of his mistake, and his provious good character, the committee had decided to give him the next vacant position in any other department for which he might apply and for which he was suitable. Tin's course was approved by the Board. WOOLSTON SERVICE. The Board decided, upon the recommendation of the Works and Traffic Committee, that the loop on the AVoolston line at Princess Street should be extended to Bam ford Street, at an estimated cost of £54(5, in order that the Woolston trams might be run to the end of tho threepenny section without interfering with the Sumner trains. OP AW A LINE ALTERATION. It was stated that a report had been made by the manager to the Works and Traffic Committee, suggesting that as the Christchurch City Council had decided to extend Wordsworth Street, Sydenham, through to Colombo Street in a direct line, the Opawa line should be carried along the new road with a view to avoiding the dangers of three very awkward corners in Queen and Lawson Streets. The cost of making a single-track connection with Colombo Street, allowing for the value of material recovered from Lawson Street, would be £Bl9, and the cost of a double track connection joining tho loop at Battersea Street would be £IO6O. The committee recommended that a. single-track connection should be made, and the proposal was approved. CENTRE POLES. A request was made by the Sydenham Burgesses' Association that the tramway poles in the centre of the road at the Qolombo Street railway crossing and Carlyle Street .should bo removed, as they were a source of danger to traffic. Tlie chairman .:;aid that the engineer had reported that no danger was involved by the presence of the poles, and Mr Staples added thai a keeper at thi> Colombo Street crossing had told him that there was no danger. • Mr Booth expressed a contrary opinion. He said that the ri&k occurred when traffic, congested by passing trains, was relieved by tho removal of the obstruction. The letter war: referred to til© Works

| and Traffic Committee, with power to i act. J CASHMERE EXTENSION. I The Minister of Internal Affairs, the 'Hon D.-Buddo, wrote acknowledging , the receipt of the Board's letter stating | that a petition was being promoted in the Hackthorne district asking that it should be included in the Board's dis- , trict, and asking that the necessary Qrder-in-Council should be issued without delay. The Minister stated that every effort would be made to give effect to the Board's wishes, provided the petition was found to be in order. In a letter dated January 5, the Minister stated that the petition had been received and would be considered without delay. A resolution was carried defining tho snecial rating area for the Hackthorne Road tramway. MISCELLANEOUS. The Works and Traffic Committee was instructed to report on an application by the Hcathcote Road Board that the Tramway Board should hand over to it, free of cost, the portion of Page's Road .between Breeze's Road and the New Brighton bridge, provided it was successful in forming a loan area to complete the road. A suggestion was made by Mr Staples that " rnillese " oars might be adopted by tho Board for the extension of some of the suburban services. It was decided that the engineer should report on the proposal. Reference was made in the Works and Traffic Committee's report to the question of duplicating the track in Moorhouse Avenue from Colombo Street to Antigua Street, to prevent any interference with the profitable show ground traffic. The report stated that consideration of the proposal had been postponed pending a general report on the extension of double tracks. The tender of Mr J. Taylor, £llO, for renovating the cottages removed to Sockburn was accepted.

Accounts for £62~52 9s 6d were passed for payment. t