THE TRAMWAY BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7678, 11 April 1903, Page 4

THE TRAMWAY BOARD.

The Tramway Board continues to push on with its preparations for the conversion of the city lines, and evidently means to lose no time in- getting tbe new system under way. On Thursday the Board bad before it a comprehensive- report from its Engineer upon the details of the system, which was considered at length. The report, which dealt widely with the various features of the conversion, was largely a technical document, bhit it was couched generally in sufficiently plain language to be intelligible to the lay mind. Upon the question of the single versus the doubletrolly system, the Board has reserved its decision. The suggestion that the single system would be responsible for the electrolytic corrosion of the gas and water-mains, arid would interfere with the telephone service, was met by tlie Engineer, who reports that this will not be so if the installation is properly carried out. As the -ingle-trolly system is much the cheaper of the two, this is a somewhat important declaration. The question of the gauge to be adopted also occupied considerable time at the meeting, but this, too, was ultimately left over for further consideration. The proposed extension of the service to the railway station, and the doing away with the stopping station in front of the Cathedral, show thatthe Engineer had studied the necessities of the service from a popular as well as an- expert point of view. The carrying of the traffic round to the west side of the Square will do much to relieve the congestion! which at present exist.-?, although even that will hardly relieve' the crush of traffic which centres round the Bank of New Zealand comer with tha arrival and departure of the southern traffic. This will have to be considered when 1 the question of gauge again occupies the attention of the /ißoard, for there seems to be no other method of relieving this unhappy corner. The Board, however, is obviously approaching the subject determined to haye the system right from the start, and the citizens may congratulate themselves on having elected such a responsible body to preside over tbe launching of the system.