ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3436, 18 May 1898, Page 3

ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

VISIT OF MS W. G, BIHBHtM.

PROPOSED CONVERSION IN WELLINGTON.

Among the arrivals by the steamer Rotoiti last night was W. Gentry Bingham, engineer of the New Zealand Electric Light and Traction Company of London. A month ago Mr Bingham arrived in this colony. He spent a day in Wellington and then proceeded to Auckland, where he has since been in negotiation with tho City Council in regard to an electric tramway system for the northern capital. When seen by a representative of The Times last night, Mr Bingham said that, apart from Auckland, he was at present unacquainted with the actual position of electrical affairs in New Zealand. His mission here, however, was to introduce f-lectricity for traction and industrial purposes generally, as well as to extend its use for lighting. In particular he hoped to be able to make such arrangements as would enable Wellington and other towns to enjoy the benefits of electric tram cars. ‘‘With reference to Wellington,” continued Mr Bingham, “lam totally ignorant of the position of tramway matters iu the city; but it is my intention to approach the municipal and tramway authorities here immediately with a view to obtaining their joint consent to a conversion of the present system of horse traction to electric traction.

“ As to Auckland, during my visit I laid my proposals for a concession before the City Council, and had several interviews with tho Streets Committee. My proposals were very favourably received, and I have every reason to believe that they will be accepted. I have lodged with the Auckland City Council as an earnest of my company’s good faith a deposit of .£IOOO. I return to Auckland next week to receive the Council’s final reply. “Although I lauded here only a month ago last Wednesday, I have already received inquiries from several of your towns and communities, all of whom seem to be very desirous to have electricity introduced for one purpose or another. After opening negotiations here, I proceed to both Christchurch and Dunedin, to lay proposals before tho local authorities and other bodies concerned with reference to the introduction there of electricity, for tramways as well as for lighting purposes. “ The body of gentlemen that I represent are interested in some of the largest electrical ventures in England. Of those, I may mention the City of London Electric Light Company, tho British Electric Traction Company, the Brush Electrical Engineering Company, and the Gas, Water and General Investment Trust. These bodies are at the present time carrying on very large enterprises in England, America and other parts of the world; and it is their intention to themselves conduct and manage any concessions they may obtain in New Zealand. They have a stake in electrical work generally so large as to be a guarantee that anything they take up in that connection will be carried to a successful issue.” In the course of general conversation, Mr Bingham stated that in the application of electricity as a motive power, the overhead trolly system was the one that had proved itself to be the most useful for practical purposes. The Electric Traction Company laid down the first system of the kind in England, namely, the South Staffordshire tramways, which had been operated for the last six of seven years with the greatest satisfaction to the local authorities and the inhabitants of the district, and without a single traffic accident. ‘ The same company built the first electric conduit system in operation in the world—that at Blackpool, Lancashire—so long ago as 1885. It also equipped and ran the accumulator cars on the Birmingham Central Tramways, one of the first tramways to experiment with the accumulator system. The Liverpool Overhead Electric Railway, which runs along tho Mersey docks for several miles, was another line equipped and run by the company. This was the first railway to be built for and run by electricity in the world.