CONSTABLE ST. TRAMWAY EXTENSION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 6

CONSTABLE ST. TRAMWAY EXTENSION

■■ • r . "■■■- WORK HELD UP OWING TO FEEDER WIRE SHORTAGE. When it was seen how well the work of track building and road formation in connection with the Constable StreetCrawford Road tramway extension was going forward it was confidently anticipated that the city would have tho advantage of a double service to the suburbs east and south-east of Mount Victoria by Christmas time, when tjie traffic to Lyall Bay, Seatoun, and Miramar is usually at its liveliest, but though the solid work has been pushed through in : good time, there is at present no prospect of having the cars running; over the new line by the yearend • Indeed, tho time when the new section will be utilised is very vague, as there is still no word of tie feeder cable having been shipped from England, though in the ordinary course of things it should have been here' weeks ago.. It is thought possible that the embargo 'against the export of copper from England might have affected the shipping of the copper wire (armoured and bare), but a recent letter received appeared"to indicate that the wire was available, and the delay was ' only being caused by tho prevailing dislocation. lfcv the''shipping'-arrangements caused by tho war. Inquiries have been made as to whether tho desired length of cable is obtainablo. in the colonies, but so far no answers have been received to encourage the hope that a Bupply is available within tho colonies, so that unless the wire cablo on order turns up unexpectedly there is no chance of the cars buzzing down Crawford Road this year. The double track has ; now been laid for the full length of the new section, and the gang is now encaged in duplicating that portion of the track which traverses Constable Street,, in order that the greatest efficiency may be obtained when tho new section is added to the service.

The new car shed at Kilbirnie South will be a plain, barn-like building, capable of housing fort.v r eight cars—six tracks, with accommodation for eight cars pn each track. The walls mil be of reinforced concrete and tho roof of' asbestos tiles. It is to be crected on Oncpu Road, near the junction with, tho Seatoun Road. Tlio tender of Mr. Knight nas been acoeptod.