ELECTRIC TRAWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11955, 2 May 1902, Page 3

ELECTRIC TRAWAYS.

THE CENTRE POLE QUESTION. THE MOUNT EDEN DIFFICULTY. A Herald reporter had a chat yesterday with Mr. P. M. Hansen, director of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, ■vith reference to some phases of the tramway question at present prominently before the public. A good deal of criticism has been levelled at the Tramway Company's centre poles in the street.?, and our representative asked Mr. Hansen if he could state why these had been 'adopted by the company in connection with their work in Auckland. Mr, Hansen said he personally considered that from the point of view of appearance the centre poles were undoubtedly the best. Their other merits lie had recently set forth in a "letter to the chairman of the Epsom Road Board, as follows:—" 1. Centre poles do not obstruct the traffic, but, on the contrary, they divide it into its proper channels, which considerably adds 10 the public safety. 3. It reduces the number of wires in the street.-; by 35 per cent. 3. The great dangei of trolley wires falling on the street and enuring in contact with vehicles is overcome by using a strong' steel bracket instead of the span wire used in side pole construction. *. This is the most important of all. Centre poles do not hinder firemen in fighting fires, which is the case if side pole construction is used. This was taken up by the Board of Underwriters, both in the United States and Creat Britain, some four years ago, and it was found that with side pole construction it was utterly impossible for the firemen to raise their apparatus. Therefore, it was decided that centre pole construction was tho safest in. every respect, and most of tho tramways in the leading lilies throughout (be United States and Great Britain are now equipped with centre pole construction. There is no doubt about j it, that people not accustomed to centre pole construction find it very strange when the poles have been first set. but in the course of six months or so, when those driving j vehicles have become accustomed to keeping on the right side of the road, they are found not only a protection against wires falling on the street, and the embarrass! of firemen fighting fires, but also—as already stated—a great aid to the safety ot the public, as centre poles prevent vehicles from crossing the streets too frequently, and compel vehicles to travel in a straight line." Asked if there was any probability of a settlement of the Mount Eden tramway question, which i.-. now agitating' the electors of that district. Mr. Hansen said he had no recent correspondence from England on the subject, but the directors of the company had repeatedly affirmed their decision to, at present at all events, construct tramways on Mount Ro.skill Road only. Our reporter pointed out that the district was still divided on the question, and that the co>t to the whole district in connection with railway bridge, roads, etc., was being urged as a reason why the people on the Mount Eden side should not consent to tramways on the Mount Roakill Road only. Mr. Hansen said he had no desire to go into the question, .but he could state that whatever cost might be invoked in .going over Mourn Refill bridge would not fall on the local authority. The Suburban Order-in-oounc.il provided that in such cases (lie written consent of the Minister for Railways had to be procured for the alteration of the bridge, and that " anything required to be done to such bridge shall be done at tlte expense of the local authority or its delegates, in such a manner as amy be approved and determined by the Minister." Tho Tramway Company, being the delegate of the local authority, would have, to bear the expense, and, as a matter of fact, they did bear the expense of the railway bridge at Newmarket. As to the roads, Mi. Hansen said the middle of the road had to be completed after the laying of the tramlines by the Tramway Company, and in the case of Mount Roskill Road the other expenses would be very trifling as compared with what it would be along Mount Eden Road. Asked finally as to the prospects of the Tramway Company extending their service to Mount Eden Road, Mr. Hansen said if would come no doubt, but, considering that the company had already pledged themselves to a very large mileage in proportion to the population, he believed it would be some years before they would go further afield or undertake any fresh responsibilities beyond, perhaps, some small city extensions, such as the Shortlaiid-strect line, recent I v decided upon.