WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1454, 31 May 1912, Page 5

WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

tßy Tclesraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, May 30. The dangerous practice, common among lads, of hanging on to tramcars while riding bicycles, iccl yesterday afternoon to un accident which since has had a fatal result. Jinslam Wood, about- 17, son of the railway traiiic iiLspcctor, was ireu-whcoling on his bieyolc ami hanging to a car whsc/i was going up tiie river bank at .smart pace. Lotting go and swinging clear, ho collided violontly with a cart being driven in tho opposite direction, the. driver of which could not senium. Tiie lad, who seemed to be badly injured, was at once conveyed to a private hospital, whero ho died to-day. Very successful trial runs with single and trailer cars were held yesterday over the Goiiville-CasfcJecliff Tramway Uoard'6 lino. Everything worked without a hitch, and favourable comments were passed on tho solidity and good workmanship of tho track and overhead gear, which, by reason of various improvements over older linos, arc stated to be the most up-to-rtato in tho Dominion. The system now only awaits passing by tho Public Works Department, and it is expected that the service vnll bo opened to traffic in a week or two. Mr. W. A, Veitch, M.l\, left for Wel : lingtoi to-day to attend tho opening oi tho Cost of Living Commission. A largely attended meeting of Dunetown residents was held last evening to consider a scheme by Mr. E. Crowe, engineer to tho Wanganui Technical College, for giving improved means of' access lo tho liill suburb. There iiro many difficulties in the way of extending* tramways to Durietown, and tho steep grades make too heavy the expense in running for tiie somewhat limited population to bear. Mr. Crowo therefore proposed to drive a tunnel into tho foot of the hill and sink :t shaft from the crest to the junction with the tunnel in this shaft. An electric iilt would ply up and down, making the journey to the top of tho hill (200 feet) in about a minute. Mr. Crowe submitted plans and full details to tiio meeting, which approved of tho same, and rrsolveu to ask tho Wangnnui'Horongh Council to either instal ths lift-way as a municipal entorpriM? or grant a concession for a umvate io undertake it. .Should the latter course be adopted, it is understood that the requisite capital will be forthcoming from Durietown people tlwmselves.