NEW PLYMOUTH'S TRAMS
OFFICIAL OPENING
MAYOR'S INTERESTING SPEECH
FACTS AND FIGURES
The official opening of the New Plymouth tramways was held on Thursday in wintry weather, aud in tho presence of a largo number of people. Among those occupying distinguished seats were the Mayor of New .Plymouth (Air. C. H. Burgess), ex-Jlayors Messrs. J. E. AVilson, G. W. Browne, E. Dockrill, J. B. Hoy, It. Cock, present and past councillors, the Mayors of Strutford (Mr. J. W. Boon) and VVaitara (Mr. E. Beckbc-ssinger), Mr. J. B. Counett (chairman of " tlio Harbour Board), Mr. J. Brown (chairman of the Taranaki County Council). His AYorship read apologies for non-attendance from the Minister of Public Works, tho Taranaki members of Parliament, and others.
In tho course of his speccli, tho Mayor made interesting references to the undertaking; He said"Originally Ji-45,000 was considered sufficient for tho work, but eventually a loan was raised for ,£55,000, and to this was added a further ,£5500, making a total of <£60,500. "In addition to this the electric light incurred a liability of some il-iOOO to pro. vide machinery to supply power to the tramways, but for this, of course, wo anticipato an immediate and adequate return.
• "Another source of expense has been tho renewal of the road on what is now known as the tramway route. The cost of this, which is a tar-sealed road, has been heavier u great deal than the council anticipated, but I think in 'time wo shall realise that the work was justified. It is a clean street the whole length of the route, and must add to tho comfort of thoso living about the route, and al6o to those travelling in the trams, as thc\dust nuisanco should be- practicall.v"elnvfW.ated. "Other expenses were incurred through the unfortunate circumstances, that owing to tho outbreak of tho war we were unablo to start the work until latd~"autumn, instead of early summer, and tho couse.qiHjnce was.that our were consideraoly cut hp, entailing an extra amount for maintenance.
"However, tho direct charge for Interest and sinking fund against ,the tramway system is on 'che .£OO,OOO only. This liability, witli working expenses, will necessitate receipts of something - like .£2OO per week, or. taking the population roughly at eight thousand, it means 255. per year for every man, woman, and child in tho borough.
"This if. s heavy charge, and we aro, of course, nol optimistic enough to think wo shall achievo this for two or threo years. Tja experience of other towns, however, has been that tho loss has not been as beavy as anticipated, and wo trust aud hopo that the same may bo said'of our own line. Though there may bo a direct loss for some little time, , wo. think tho indirect benefit to bo "set. against that .loss will to a largo extent minimise tho same.
,r We know that from time to time people havo como here with tlio intention of settling, but have been prevented from doing so for the want of conveniences to be found in modern towns, and if wo want increased population, and increased population means increased prosperity, we mu6t have modern conveniences. That wc aro providing these, the tramways, is only ono of tho many things the council has'had, in hand. . , back fourteen years all wo had in tho lino of modern oouvenicnces practically consisted of an old and out-of-date' water system, a library, of oiio room, which was Bituated in our very antiquated Town Hall. Now the position is this, wo havo an up-to : dato water system, gravitation, second to none in the Dominion. Wo have a drainage system which cost us .£16,000, and this must sooner or later, and tho sooncv the better, bo extended. .We have also, an .electric light system, which has cost us something like ,£60,000, and bas not only- paidi'its way ■ from'.its' inception, but has .added'considerable ex ; tensions out of . soino'.£7ooo or. more. ' AYo havo, public saltwater ■ baths,; first-class library aiid reading-room, sea-i sido pavilions, and to-day wo havo addedtramways. AVo propose. shortly,, -s-hen! tho war is over,' to erect a refuse de-' structor, and have also in view the build-, ing of a museum,' which is primarily to houso the. collection so geuorously don-; ated by tlio, Messrs. Skinner to the' bor.ough. You can see, lilen, .that tho' Borough Council during tho last fewyears has not been idle.' "A considerable amount of progress has been made apart from council undertakings—we have a very efficient Technical College, and our High School has in tho last few years advanced wonderfully, and tlio trouble with the governors of tho school is to keep pace with this advancc.' AA'e havo now also a very comfortable and up-to-date- houso on Alt. Egmdnt, which has sinco its erection attracted a considerable number of visitors to Now Plyniouth. "Qui seaside, committees have worked hard also, so that our beaches are now immensely popular, both with our own people and thoso towns along the line. Out harbour is practically completed, and we she', I shortly be able tp accommodate, as fur us the "draught of water i.s concerned, the largest vessels trading. to New i i Jymouth. "Now meat works aro boing erected, and the iron-sand prospects at tho time look very hopeful. "All this may not appear to havo «ny' connection with trams, but.l have dwelt on them to justify the faith of those who first decidcd that tramways should be provided for Now Plymouth. I think we' may congratulate the promoters on tho success so far achieved. Before concluding, a few words on bcliaU of tho staff. A tramway system, like any other business, depends largely upon its stalf for its success. In Mr. Bartley, I consider, we have a very capable and efficient officer, and under his guidance I am sure we 6liall get the best working results obtainable. A great deal also depends upon the men who are working th» cars, etc., and I am pleased to say that the manager has so far expressed his entire satisfaction with all the men under his control." . . Mr. J. E. Wilson, an ex-Mayor, said ho considered that the town was on tho eve of great development. There was every prospect of tho harbour being opened to'largo oceangoing vessels. In-a few months the freezing works would 1)0 open. There should be considerable expansion of population Tvitliiii the next two or three years. After other speeches, the Mayoress drove the first car forward, tlio ribbon was j broken, aud tho service formally opened.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 11
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1,084NEW PLYMOUTH'S TRAMS Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 11
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