BOROUGH ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16462, 14 June 1919, Page 6

BOROUGH ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT.

MANAGER’S REPORT. Mr. V R. ,H. Bartley, tramways and electrical engineer and manager, will submit the following report on the operations of these departments to the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday evening:— TRAMWAYS. The traffic, and the returns from the tramways are holding up remarkably well, as will be seen from the following figures. The amount received in fares for the month is £IOB6 Os bd, or £227 14s Id in excess of the amount received for the corresponding month of last year. The passengers carried have also increased considerably, being 23,403 in excess of those carried in May, 1918. The mileage run by the cars is 919 miles less, and likewise the hours in traffic have been reduced; this is entirely due to the alteration in the running" of the Morley Street section. The time-table in operation is tbat set out for the summer running; it has not yet been altered, as was done in May, 1918. It is the intention, in face of the traffic conditions, not to reduce this timetable if it can possibly be avoided; this is, of course,-providing the same conditions continue. .Is we are now well into the winter, every likelihood that the conditions wm continue. There are difficulties in connection with tills, and which every is being made to overcome, viz., the overhauling of the rolling stock. For comparisons 1 set out under the traffic records, May 1918 and Mar 1919 =— Main Route —

- Passengers carried- ... 103,141 126,124 Total fares £734 15 1 £970 0 4 Mdrley Street'Route — Passengers earned ... 12,676 12,996 Total fares £73 11 4 £66 0 2 Combined Routes — i Passengers carried ... 115,717 139,120 Total fares £BOB 6 5. £1036 0 6 The service has been maintained with, out interruption, and the plant is operating satisfactorily. ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEPARTMENT. The demand on this department is still increasing rapidly. During the month 31 new connections have been connected- to the supply mains and 32 fresh applications have been received, also 13 additions have been made to existing consumers’ installations. The highest load recorded at the power station and distribution since the commencement of the undertaking occurred on Tuesday, 10th instant; it being 1000 horsepower. This peak lasted over approximately two'hours. The month of June is usually thd heaviest from a peak load point of view, and I expect that the above load will even be exceeded, but over a shorter period. In the early part of the month the river level stood at sft. 0-iin., which is very low for this time of the year pin fact, it is the lowest it has reached during the year. The minimum river, or that which I regard as such, is 4ft. Bin., measured in December 1917. We are again troubled with shingle banks at intake, and have had to clear a good deal of debris away several times during the month. There have been three rises in the river since, and the 'matter again requires attention. The whole of the plant is carrying very heavy loads, and I am pleased to report that everything is working very satisfactorily. Nothing is being spared to keep the plant in condition, and by so doing we can reasonably look for continued satisfactory operation, even under the existing conditions.