THE ELGIN ROAD TRAMWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17097, 31 August 1917, Page 7

THE ELGIN ROAD TRAMWAY

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. The commission of inquiry into tho Elgin roae tramway was continued yesterday afternoon before Mr J. It. Bartholomew, S.M. Tho evidence of a number ol Maryhill rosidents was taken. Francis B. Smith said ho was engineer and town clerk of the Mornington borough at tho time tho Elgin road lino wns projected. Ho loft immediately, before tho construction of the line. Ho had given this matter very careful consideration; and' ho did not seo any possibility of tho Elgin road tramway earning more thaji 30s a cwy, gross takings. His attitude towards this hno led to some unploasantness with tho residents, and he resigned. He Icitew that the takings had been less than his estimate. Ho was valuer of tho borough at tlm time, and was in a position to say that tho Elgin road lino would not bo of service to any part of the Maryhill district, because they could get to the main lino easier than to go to tho Elgin rood line. The Maryhill line was the most serviceable to the- borough, bocause practically all the buildings were situated between Elgin road and down the hill towards Caversham.

Cross-examined by Mr Nicolson, -he said that if tho records proved that the takings exceeded his estimate he would doubt the accuracy of tho records. Tho fact that tho people wanted the Elgin road lino showed that , there was a need for it. The original estimate of tho line was £13,000, and it cost £14,000. Although Mr Ferry's contract was for £7000, he knew beforehand that it would cost £13,000. A good deal of this expenditure was for road grading and wall expenditure. Continuing, he eajd it took him from seven to eight minutes to go from hie place to tho electric ear hno. The people on the lower side of tho Maryhill line, with good roads, would prefer to use tho electric car service. He did not know that the difference in the revenue on the two lines was £80 in favour of Elgin road. Captain fSundstrum stated that he owned property in Maryhill terrace. It had greatly depreciated as a result of tho stoppage of the Maryhill lino. It was almost impossible to get a tenant now that the tram was not running. The position would not bo altered if tho Elgin road ear was running. Christopher Wren said he had property at Maryhill, and when the car service stopped negotiations for its sale fell through. His property had depreciated in value. John Henry Seidelin, Byron street, stated that visitors to his nursery had fallen off somewhat since the tram stopped. William James Bolt and James Hore also gave evidence.

_ Alexander Bathgato stated that he had resided in Mornington for 40 years. Ho romemibcred when the Mornington Tramway Company was promoted. Hβ knew the Mr Youngman referred to by Mr Grigg in his evidence tho preceding day, and thought it extremely unlikely that he would lio rleputed to canvass for buyers of shares. Mr Horace Bastings, when speaking to him, mentioned tliat tho proposed tramway route would go_ past his (witness's) residence, and no mention was' made of the Elgin road route. This showed that it was the Maryhill extension which was contemplated. Regarding the westernmost portion of *,he Elgin road district, marked blue on the map, it was not suitable for settlement. Hβ disagreed with the opinion of Mr Joachim _ that tho Elgin road line was the more suitable of the two, for tho reason that"the Maryhill tram would serve more of the Elgin road people than the Elgin road line tram would of the JMarvfiill people. As a matter of fact, the Elgin road tram would not be of the slightest assistance to a majority of the residents of Maryhill. To Ilia certain, knowledge a large number of people who lived at the terminus end of the Maryhill Sine, but who were in the Elgin road district, used tho Maryhill tram regularly. In reply to Mr Nicolson, he said that, if tho Elgin road tram were running, it would rob the Maryhill line of a good deal' of traffic.

In reply bo Mr Lewin, he said he had heard of no endeavour on the part of the Elgin road people to get the Momington Council to reinstate this tram service.

At tho request of xho magistrate Mr Lowin called William Anderson (Government in/ spector under the Inspection of Machinery Act), who stated that he had inspected the machinery at the Mornington tramsheds. He found the boilers in fairly good condition, considering their age, but he had found it necessary to reduce tho pressure of Dteam 101b per square inch. They were set at 761b, and this reduction brought them down to 661b. """ '

To Mr Nicolson, he eaid that he did not know the haulage placed -upon the boiler at the present time.

In response to a further request from tho Commissioner, Mr Lewin called Geor"c Ross (marine engineer, employed by the City Tramways Department), who stated that he was with the Government inspector of machinery when he inspected the boiler used exclusively for tho Maryhill line. Tho reduced pressure would make it impossible for the car to bring up a full load. He could say without fear of contradiction that tho • redaction in pressure would out down by at least one-third the load of tho ear. Tho boilers at Mornington wero last inspected in May, 1916. The only effective way of running Maryhill trams now would beby some other moans—either by an electric drivo or a now boiler.

To Mr Bathgate: There was no machinery in the shed which could be used < for th'c Maryhill line

Re-examined by Mr Lowin, he said there waa riot sufficient sunpTua power from the main boiler in tho power house to permit of it being used for the Maryhill line. rhe parties desired a little time to consider tho new situation which had arisen as a result of the evidence regarding the boilers, and tho magistrate adjourned the Commission until Friday of next week