WADESTOWN TRAMWAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1150, 10 June 1911, Page 5

WADESTOWN TRAMWAY.

the overhead : gear.

The overhead gear required to complete the Wadestown tramway as 'far as Pitt Street may possibly arrive by the Athenic, which is duo from London on Tuesday. To tho delayed arrival of this material a tale attaches. The equipment for which the Wadestown line, otherwise completed, is now waiting, was originally ordered in good time, and was dispatched frcm England in tho Aotea. This steamer, with tho Wadestown material aboard, was wrecked near Cape Town on January 22 last. Duplicating the order for tho material devolved upon an insurance company. -Somo delay appears to have occurred owing to a doubt as to whether the cargo of tho Aotea could be salvaged. The position at the moment is characterised by a degree of uncertainty, . but it is highly probable that either a single or double set of the material required to completo the Wadestown _ line is aboard the Athenic, and will ai-rive on Tuesday. Part of the Aotoa's cargo was salvaged, and if the Wadestown material was anion? the goods saved, it will probably have been forwarded by the Athenic. The order for a duplicate set of material was eventually placed, and it was dispatched from England, by what steamer is not yot known, at some time during April. This lends colour to the supposition mat it is aboard the Athenic. This Wadestown material, the lato arrival of which has delayed tho opening of tho line, includes overhead wire and supports of a new and improved pattern. The trolleyirire used 011 existing lines in Wellington is of ordinary circular shanc, and the supports.by which it is upheld como so far over the wire as to engage the trolleyhead and give rise to considerable wear and tear. ' In tunnels there is a percei)tiblo knocking as tho trolley-head comes in contact-with the supports. Tho wire that has been ordered for Wadestown resembles a figure of eight in shape. On tho lower half of tho "eight" the "tr'olle.vhead runs smoothly and without knocking. the grin of the supports being confined to the upper half of the wire Trolley-wiro of this improved tyoe wili be used henceforth on ail new 'lmes in Wellington.