PALMERSTON TRAMWAY PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12807, 3 June 1914, Page 8

PALMERSTON TRAMWAY PROPOSALS.

SEIJF-CONTAIXEI) SY STE M. TO BE SCBM ITT ED TO RATEPAYERS. ESTIMATED COST £45,200. The following is :i summary of tlie proposals of tho Australasian General Engineering Company's offer to equip and run a tramway in Palmerston Borough as a private undertaking: Length of tramway, 9 miles more or less; rolling stock to consist of six self-contained electric transmission cars and six trailers; seating accomodation for o<>, allowing comfortable standing room for K> additional passengers; normal speed of .'SO miles per hour; trailers' seating accomodation provides for 20 passengers with standing room for 12; tendered price £3L--200 includes all labour, supervision, supply, construction and grading of track ready for working, the whole of work to be subject to approval of Public Works Department: erection of car shed and workshops at estimated cost of £1200; machinery of workshops is estimated at £BOO. The Company is prepared to undertake the contract under alternative provisions and tender as follows:—Council may take over on completion at tender price; Company run tramway as private undertaking giving Council option of taking over at expiration of seven, 14, or 21 years on payment of terms which shall consist of full contract price less 4 per cent depreciation per annum; contract is to be completed in one year; on signing contract Company will deposit with Council 5 per cent of whole estimated cost of £48,200 and will guarantee that contract will be undertaken on the stated terms. Shelter sheds will also be erected and cost added to contract price; Company will also maintain track and 18 inches outside each rail; Company also undertake to keep everything in first class order any dispute to be referred to arbitration; Council will be allowed to carry out any part of track formation under supervision of Borough PJngineer who will be responsible to Company's Engineer; Company not tn have right to sell its option to construct tramway; Company will agree to make extensions where approved by both parties at cost of £358.3 per mile; Council to have right to run motor service in untrammed streets to act as feeders; offer is subject to ratepayers agreeing to Council delegating its powers, subject also to proper legal agreement and also to the guarantee, being available on or before Kith June, 1914. The schedule of prices, interest, etc., are: —9.1 miles of track, with loops and crossings, £34,200; barn and workshops, £1,200; workshop ma r chinery, £800; rolling stock, £12,000; -total, £48,200. 5 per cent interest on £48,2000, £2,410; 4 per cent depreciation, £1,928; total, £4,338. Daily interest and depreciation for (i cars, £ll 17s 9d; daily depreciation on contract per car, £1 19s Bd. Management and maintenance per day.—Manager, 17s; 2 inspectors at 14s, £1 8s; clerk, 10s, carshed foreman, 12s; cleaner, 9s; 2 track men at 9s, 18s; total £4 14s.

Management and maintenance charges per car per day, 15s Bd. Guaranteed oil and fuel consumption at 5-8 pt. per b.h.p. per hour, 5-8 x 40-1 x 10-8 -- 50 gallons for l(i hours at continuous full load. 50 gallons fuel at Is per gallon, £2 10s per day per car. Car mile revenue required.—Based on 5 ears averaged running at 120 miles per day each: —Managing and maintenance cost, 15s 8d; oil and fuel, £2 10s; 2 motormen at 10s, £1; 2 conductors at 9s, 18s; depreciation, £1 19s 8d; cost for 1 car, £7 3s 4d; cost of 5 cars, £35 Kss Sd; 5 cars at 120 miles per day, (500 miles; car mile cost at 5 cars, 1(5 hours per day, 14s 3d. Suggested service and fares. —Railway station to Duke street(via Square and Broad street), 59 chains; Duke street to Terrace street (via Broad street), (52 chains; Broad street to Hospital (via Terrace street), 48 chains; railway station to Grey street (via Square and Rangitikei street), 53 chains; Grey street to Pascal street(via Rangitikei and Featherston streets), 02 chains; railway station to Ferguson street (via Square and Fitzherbert street), 72 chains; Ferguson street to bridge, 86 chains; Fitzherbert street (Ferguson street to Fitzroy street), 9(5 chains; Ferguson street to Botanical road, 80 chains; Broad street and Main street to Napier road railway crossing, 54 chains; railway station to Showground (via Short street or Square and Cuba street); Opera House extension to be included in the above. Fares to be Id for each section.

Minimum Service. —7 o'clock to 9.30, 15 mins; 9.30 to 11.30, 30mins; 11.30 to 2, 15mins; 2 to 4, 30mins; 4 to 8, 15mins; 8 to 9, 30mins; 9 to 11, 15m ins.

After lengthy discussion Cr. Woou moved and Cr. Broad seconded—That the resolution passed at a meeting on April 7th, 1914, to authorise the raising of a loan to instal a tramway on the Edison Battery principle be rescinded and that the whole question of tramway installation be re-opened.— Carried. Another discussion followed, after which the Mayor moved and it was seconded—That the offer of Mr Charles P. Eden, on behalf of tho Australasian Engineering Company, to instal a tramway in the Borough, subject to approved guarantee being forthcoming on or before the l(sth June, 1914, be submitted to the ratepayers for their consent to the Council delegating its powers under "The Tramway Act, 1908." Clause 2 to be modified allowing Council to take over at any time after expiration of 21 years upon giving 12 months' notice. —Carried.

[The full text of the above will ap pear to-morrow.]