THE TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16769, 19 June 1920, Page 9

THE TRAMWAYS.

ENGINEER’S MONTHLY REPORT. Mr. R. H. Bartley, tramways engineer and manager, in his monthly report to tho New Plymouth Borough Council states:— Tho returns for the mouth again show an increase over the working of tho corresponding month of last year. The increase ixiing £146 15s 8d and an addition of 19047 passengers curried. It is interesting also to note that the car miles have been reduced by 404 miles in' the mouth’s working. Tho monthly returns are as under:— Main Route. —Passengers carried 143,053, total fares £llO4 2s. MorleyEliot Street route.—Passengers carried 15,115, total fares £7B 14s fid. Combined routes. —Passengers carried 158,167, total faros £llß2' 16s fid. Electricity Department.—The demand on the department is steadily increasing as will be seen, from the following figures: The applications received during tho month arc 52 (this being the highest number yet received in any one mouth). Tho number of new customers connected to tho supply mains are 21, and the additions made to existing installations are 18. A good deal of work has been done at tho intake during tho mouth in raising tho river level, approximately 18 inches. This is only a temporary measure to overcome tho effect of ishinglo deposits. The work has withstood the force of ono six foot rise in the river and it is hoped that it will stand up unjil tho new intake is completed and put into working order. The plant is as may bo expected, carrying heavy loads, but is, under the circumstances, working satisfactorily. Electric ’Bus.—The following are the pionthly records for the working of tho ’busi on the AVestown, Vogeltown and Frankley Road routes:—Passengers carried, AAos town 4966, Vogeltown 31154, Frankley Road 322; total passengers carried 8342. Total mileage run 2247. Total amount fares received £92 17s 6d. lam of opinion that it will nqt bo a wise policy to allow the bus to continue in service for very such longer without giving tho body some attention in the shape of paint and varnish, in fact 1 must recommend that it bo attended to right away. 1 have been endeavouring to hire a ’bun temporarily during this period of renovation, and will, I hope, in tho course of a day or so be able to put a recommendation forward. Thu vehicle under consideration may possibly not be ablo to handle the traffic as well as the present ’bus, but would suffice to prevent a good deal of inconvenience (bat would otherwise bo caused should the service ho temporarily suspended. .ITin period of lay-up of the present vehicle I estimate at approximately throe ■.iccks.