TRAMWAY BLATTERS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14974, 22 May 1914, Page 5

TRAMWAY BLATTERS.

THE BOARD'S VARIOUS ACTIVITIES. A short time ago the Christchurch Tramway Board issued a special 2s 6u ticket of thirty penny rides for special rating areas such as Cashmere, Dallington, and Fendalton, the idea being that the production of these tickets would save patrons .tho bother of handling change' and cash. These tickets are not exactly concession tickets, but they have no time limit as ordinary concession" tickets have, and judging from the small number* of people who are availing themselves of them, the fact that they can be procured is not generally .known.

There is a pleasing spirit of co-opera-tion exhibited between various local bodies and the Tramway Board in the use of poles?, and the co-operation will result iv a considerable lessening of the street obstruction nuisance. For instance, the Ileathcote County Council have an electric lighting s?U.cme in hand, and the Council and tho Board have decided to use the same poles for the carriage of cables for current. The Hoard have got m hand a scheme for the erection of large illuminated "destination hoxes," which will bo placed at the various points in the Squaro from which cars start. One wilj be at Broadway's Corner; others at the Shelter, tho Bank Corner, etc., and it is anticipated that they will he of considerable convenience to strangers at night, who aro uncertain of tho starting places of the cars. The conversion of the former "men's locker room" at tho tramway depot into a social hall for the men is being proceeded with, and the committee in charge of the club's arrangements expresses itself as highly pleased with what the Board i.s doing in the matter.

The conversion of tramway rolling stock into tho "centrc-aisic" type is proceeding well, and the Board anticipates no difficulty in adherimi to the dates mentioned in the recent Tramway .Air.Midins Bill, namely, that 50 per cent, of tho total rolling stock must he completed by June Ist, 1914, and the balance in six months from that date.

Tho plans for tho work of shifting the centre poles up the Papanui road have been forwarded to tho . Public Works Department, and as soon as thoy have been approved tho work will be put in hand. The Board evidently are trying to educate tho public into taking'caro of itself. On tho 19th itist., when the Addington tram was passing Messrs Priestnal! and Co.'s tobacco shop, a young man dived off tho footpath, under the car-rail, and hoarded the tram in a hichly irregular manner. There was another car on the track at the same time, and a serious accident might have happened, so tho Board have handed the case ovor to the oolice. Again, at New''Brighton, a small boy .jumped on to a moving trailer at tho corner of George street, and jeopardised his limbs and life. The police were notified, but it was suggested that the local police officer should give the boy a good talking to instead of prosecuting. Tile material for the electrification of the North Beach line is duo early in August, and the Board have made all arrangements, so that no delay will take placo in putting the work in hand.