THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1898. ELECTRIC TRAPAWAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3437, 19 May 1898, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1898 . ELECTRIC TRAPAWAYS.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established 1845, and the Hew Zealander,

Tan- visit to this city of Mr Bingham, who represents the Kew Zealand Electric Light and Traction Company of London, is an event of relative if not intrinsic importance. It is likely to focus public attention on to a subject of large and general interest here, namely tramway reform. As we have already pointed out, and as is obvious, the need for improved transit of this kind through the city is conspicuously great. We have to bear with a tramway system which is unsatisfactory' in all respects. It is slow, incomplete, and follows such Inconvenient routes as to be almost useless to that large body of travellers who would willingly patronise a modern system. The growth of the town has been ignored in this respect to an extraordinary extent. To give an instance, the condition of our tramways is comparable to that which would prevail in the matter of street lighting if we used kerosene lamps.

That tramway roform must be effected, and that at an early date, is unquestionable. The early date is made available by the approaching termination of the existing tramway contract. Then the question arises, what motive power is to be used ? Only one answer can wisely be given. The motive power should be electricity. For some years tramway propulsion has been in an experimental stage. Steam motors have been tried, as in Sydney, where trams that look like clumsily-built trains lumbar noisily and slowly through the streets, frightening horses and promoting local dissatisfaction and the derision, of visitors. The cable system has also been given a trial, and obtains now in Melbourne, where, though the roads are level and all the conditions favourable, breakdowns are frequant and the scheme of haulage generally is incomplete. Within the last few years, however, the superiority of electricity over any other traction power has been proved beyond the possibility of doubt in America and in other countries. What has been done in England in this respect was indicated in the interesting interview with Mr Bingham which we published yesterday morning. What good results have been • achieved on the Continent may be gathered from the fact that last year the electric tramways of Havre carried 11,131,363 passengers, an increase of nearly 1,500,000, or 1411 per cent., over the previous year. In America this system is rapidly superseding all others. It is in general use in most of the large cities, and has triumphantly survived the severest tests. For example, iu soma Californian cities it has j been adopted where cable traction was formerly in use, its superiority being ! so marked as to warrant the governing' bodies in allowing the cable works

to fall into desuetude. At Oaklands, in the State named, trams are run as far as six miles away from the source of power, and that over a grade sometimes as great as one in seven. Coming back to Australian experience, the New South Wales Government recently sent one of its high officials to America to obtain information in connection with tramways. He returned completely convinced that electricity was by far the best power to adopt; and on his report the Government is now building electric trams along the principal Sydney thoroughfare, and proposes to gradually convert the whole steam system to an electric one.

The overhead trolly system has, as Mr Bingham says, been found the most effective. There was a prejudice against it at first, based on a superstition that it was dangerous. Experience has dissipated this fear, however, in New York, in California, in Liverpool (where it is used on the lines that run along the Mersey docks), and in Sydney, where the only existing electric tram attracts many more passengers than can be carried, and where the overhead plan is to be used for the new lines now being built. It is the system which we should like to see adopted here, because it is the most modern, the swiftest and most convenient, and is not as costly as others. Very soon the city tramway system must be reformed in route as well as in motive power. The route will undoubtedly have to be altered and extended to suit the changed geographical conditions of the city. And bettor motive power must be obtained to ensure such a fast and comfortable service as the city now notoriously lacks. Therefore Mr Bingham’s visit, though it may not have any business result to him, is useful as tending to arouse practical interest in this important (inaction.