MOTOR ’BUSES FOR PETONE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8748, 2 June 1914, Page 2

MOTOR ’BUSES FOR PETONE

THREE TO BE PROCURED. A special meeting of the Petone Borough. Council was held last evening to settle upon the class of motor’bus to be obtained for uso on the borough streets by the council. A largo number of tenders were received, coming from practically all the bestknown makers of motor-’buses in Great Britain; and one from Germany. There was a full meeting of the.council, and th© Mayor (Mr J. W. McEwan) presided. ' , PWor to the tenders being discussed, site for the garage was decided Upon. At a former meeting land in Cuba street was set apart as. a site, but last night the decision was reversed oj} the motion of Councillor Anderson. The Mayor pointed out that the Jackson street site, contemplated as an alternative to Cuba street, would not he central, and advised the council to boar in’mind that a central site should be selected.

Councillor Townsend said that the ■gasworks site was .an .ideal one, hut for the fact that it would cost from sixpence to on© shilling a day in. running the 'buses above the Jackson street site.

1 Councillor Anderson moved, “ That the Jackson street site be selected,’’ Councillor Broeklebank moving .as an amendment “ That the gasworks site be' chosen.” Councillor Broeklebank said that the land in Jackson street was too valuable to be used for a garage. Councillor Forsyth opposed, both the gasworks and Cuba street sites. The amendment was lost, and a further amendment by Councillor Cox that Hcretaunga street be selected was carried on th© casting vote of the Mayor. . The tenders were then considered. On the advice of Mr Drake, motor inspector to the City Council, a wormdriven car was’decided upon. It was shown that the specifications, which provided for the seating of thirty passengers on an eleven-foot wheel base, Would give too much of anjspverhang, which was not desirable. According to expert opinion, weight was of particular consideration, on account of the cost of tyres. ■ One car bought by th© ( City Council was found too heavy for the tyres, and when the cost was worked Out it was found that' the car cost 7d per mile running for tyres alone. A chassis weighing from two tons to two tons and a half was suggested as .ample for the work required by Petone. After lengthy discussion, the tenders were reduced to five. Mr Drake pointed out that all the makers of the cars for which tenders were submitted were reputable firms, and all would give satisfaction* if driven by an expert. Eventually the Maudsley vehicle was decided upon, on the motion of Councillor Anderson. Three ’buses are to be procured, two thirty-passenger ’buses at a cost of £777 9s for each chassis and a brake horse-power of 30.5, and a third ’bus to carry twenty-two passengers at £440, with a brake horse-power of 20 K.A.C. rating: The bodies ar© to be built in th© Dominion.