THE TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1916, Page 6

THE TRAMWAYS.

MONTHLY REPORT, Mr. R. 11. Bartley, engineer, will submit the following report to the Borough Council this evening:— Main route:—Mileage run 12,045J miles, passengers carried 73,298, revenue per car mile lOd, passengers per car mile !>.(>, average fare per passenger, I.TOd, total fares £53!) IDs 2d. Morley-Eliot street route:—Mileage run 2579 i miles, passengers carried 13,535, revenue per car mile 7.2 pence, average fare per passenger 1.33 d, passengers per car mile 5.2, total fares £77 15s lOd. Combined routes: Mileage run 15,528, passengers carried 86,532, revenue per car mile fl.sd, passengers per car mile 5.5, average fare per passenger 1.7 d, total fares £Ol7 15s.

Tliis month's records, are an improvement on June, when the extra revenue obtained during the Winter Show week is deducted. A constant service lias liecn maintained throughout the month, in accordance with the timetable, with the exception of two instances, when slight delays were unavoidable. No trouble ha? been experienced with the plant, over and above the usual maintenance and everything is running smoothly. MOELEY STPEET-WESTERN EXTENSION'. Mr. E. H. Bartley reported on June 30:— The cost of making an extension at this period is likely to cost anything between 33 and one third per cent, to 50 per cent, in excess of what the same work could have been done for prior to the war, and I will endeavor to show the approximate cost of J mile of track and overhead gear under the present war conditions. As per (irecnshields' contract 0.2 miles of single track cost in round figures £35,6(13, an average of £5758 per mile, but in this is included a quantity of special work, points, crossings, signals, crashed track and'material, etc., winch cannot be taken into account in working out the price per mile for a run of straight track. These have therefore been deducted from the contract totals and under Greenshields' contract we now get a run of straight track per mile to cost £5300. Owing to the present conditions add 50 per cent., making a run of straight traak per mile to cost £7050. This amount is for single track overhead gear, double pole and span wire, double troliey wire, and cross sleeper construction,

and all work in connection with tlic laying and erecting of same, but docs not and includes thu excavation, ballasting, include any re-grading excavation or remaking of road as may or may not be necessary. As to the running and othei expe'nscs in connection with this supposed extension, t estimate them to be .-C2 lis lOd per day, assuming that the length of e.vtension be <lO chains.

No amount has been allowed for proportion of management cither general oi trallic, as this is covered by the charges on the whole undertaking and would make 110 material difference in this estimate.

On August 8, Mr. Bartlev writes:— further to my report, dated June 30, in which I dealt with the cost of installing a 40-chain extension to the Morlcy street line. ] also showed the.cost of working this 40-chain extension, treating U separately. For your further information, 1, will first show the cost of working the present length of track between ftgmont street and Morley street, and the revenue derived from same, and then treat the Morlcy street section plus the 40-chain extension in the same manner. Morlcy street section between Egmont street and Morley street, as existing:—■ Expenditure per day £2 lis 2d. receipts per day, fares 15s, dr, balance £1 16s 2d. With existing length of track plus 40-chain extension:—Expenditure per day £4 10s 4d; revenue per day, fares, £ll 15s; dr. balance los 4d. The item of £3 which appears in the revenue would be partly collected on the existing and partly on' the 40-chain extension. I have adopted this figure from the information supplied by the Westown deputation, when .vai'ting on the Council, and it is in my opinion about collect. Tt will then be clearly seen that 1 estimate, that if the proposed extension were carried out, the loss as at present on the Morley street route would be reduced from £1 10s 2d to 15s 4d per day. In addition, the Borough Engineer estimates the cost of reconstructing Morlcy street from the tram terminus'"to Wallace Place will be £ISO2 18s.

COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. The electric light anil tramways committee reported, inter alia:—That the Taranaki Society Prevention of Cruelty to Animals he informed that the Council regrets that it cannot see its way to grant the Society's inspector a free I»RS on the tramways. That consideration of the Question of ,1 site for conveniences at the tramway termini!#. Moturoa, he deferred. That in view of the recent fire a Repairs and Renewal Fund he established in connection with the Electric Light Department for the current year, and in connection with the Tramway Department, as soon as funds permit. That the report from the sub-committee re Mr. Opcnshaw's claim for compensation for land at the intake taken under the Public Works Act he confirmed. It was to the effect that the offer made by Mr. Opcnshaw to accept £7O in full settlement of his claim be accepted. That the charge for power supplied to the tramways be l.Jd per unit as recorded on the traction meter. That the electrical and tramways engineer be instructed to submit a report upon the question of lighting on the tram route. That tile electrical and tramways engineer be authorised to advise and assist the Fire Board ill connection with the installation of their electric fire alarm system. That the electrical and trainways engineer be instructed to determine the present arrangements in those cases where transformers, motors, etc., not being part of the Borough supply system, are oil consumers' premises. That the motors, transformers, etc, be offered to such consumers at prices to he fixed by the engineer, and that in the event of 110 gale being affected the equipment in question be removed. That consideration of the letter from the District Railway Engineer with reference to the railway fence, Moturoa, be deferred, and that the district engineer be requested (o confer with the chairman and electrical engineer on his next visit to New Plymouth. That the Soldiers' Club he informed that the Council will supply electric lighting for the ground floor of

the old Town liall for the period of one year for the sum of one shilling. That whilst in sympathy with the proposal for the extension of the tramways along Morlcy street the committee, in view of the present high prices of materials and the stringency of the money market recommend that consideration of tlie question be deferred for nine months. That the Borough engineer be instructed to submit a report and estimate of cost of the best method of dealing with the stormwater at the ear sheds, Fitzroy. That the request of the Educational Institute that the hours foi the schoolchiklren's concession tickets should commence at 8 a.m. instead of 8.3(1 a.m. be Receded to. That the repor' of the Town Clerk and electrical and tramways engineer with regard to the division of work between their respective departments caused by the amalgamation oi the Tramways and Electric Light Departments be adopted. That the report of the electrical and tramways engineer with reference to telephone communication to the reservoir be referred to the Council. That upon completion of stocktaking the electrical engineer (Mr. Black) be authorised to commence his leave in terms of the Council's previous resolution..