SOUTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 13, 29 September 1909, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND.

“ Pay-As- Yon-Enter ” Car. The “pay-as-you-enter” car has been recommended to the consideration of the Christchurch Tramway Board by Mr. William Reece, who took notes of numerous tramway systems during a recent trip to Europe. After a discussion which took place on the subject at the meeting of the board last week, Mr. Reece said (according to the “Press” report) they were magnifying the difficulties of the “pay-as-you-enter” car. It had been adopted by the United States and Canada, and they had no more frequent stoppages in Christchurch. He saw no difficulty in people boarding and alighting from such a ear. The main feature nad been overlooked, and that was the freedom from accidents. Cars with indiscriminate entrances were going out of service. The “pay-as-you-enter” car simplified the collecting of fares, gave greater freedom from accident, and greater ease in loading and unloading. He had only suggested that this car was an improvement on the present type, and was worth while looking into. They might improve their own make of cars. At present the middle seats were open to tue streets, and that was provided in the new ears. Their cars no doubt were good, but they could be improved. He would not suggest deferring the present tenders, but he thought they could have their ears half cabin and half open seats, but fixed at the sides, with a passage right through the middle. That would enable the conductor to control the people. The conductor had just as much difficulty in looking after the passengers in the present cars as he would with the new type. In the latter ease the freedom from accidents was a great advantage. Mr. Reece’s report was referred to the board’s officers, and it was resolved to inquire from the patentee of the “pay-as-you-enter” ear for quotations as to royalty for manufacturing the car in New Zealand.

Accidents and Fatalities. Accidents and fatalities nave been numerous during the week. James Morrison, a farmer, was killed near Owaka, Otago, his- neck being broken by a fall from a dray. A railway shunter named McCabe was killed at Marton while flyshunting, through his overcoat catching in the brake of a truck, dragging him along until he was killed. Thomas Brown, a bushman, was killed in the bush at Puriri, a log he was cross-cutting rolling on him. A baker’s carter named Ernest Perry was pinned to the ground and suffocated through his cart overturning at Eltham. A young man named Jas. Manson, who fell 27 feet to the bottom of the Arch Hill reservoir, died at the hospital on Friday. While driving down Eden Terrace on Thursday night Miss Violet Mettam, of Paeroa, was thrown out of a sulky and sustained