PROPOSED ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81860, 9 October 1906, Page 3

PROPOSED ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

FITZKOY TO THE BREAKWATER. OFFER BY PRIVATE SYN'DL CATE. ESTIMATED COST £30,000.

Messrs Roberts and Stokes, acting for the promoters, an English syndi -•ate, had a letter he "ore the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday, concerning the proposed electric street tramway syste n. After dilatirJK upon the immense idvantages of eleclric traction, they said that after carefully considering all the requirements of New Plymouth, they were of opin'on that a. system such as they propjsed would prove ,1 successful venture, and provide means which would greatly faci'ttate tingrowth of the town. The proposal was that for a commencement a system of four errs should be installed, each with a seating capacity of 27. and to be provided with motors sufficiently powerful to haul a trarler car capable of carrying an additional 27 persons, making a total seating capacity for cai and trailer of 51. The trailers would be attached only to cope with heavi traffic. The route for the proposed track was: From Fitzroy, along Devon street, as far as Brougham street. thence down Brougham street to the railway station, and along the South road to the breakwater. A branch line would continue down Devon streel from the corner of Brougham street, to a distance of about three-quarters of a mile past the Post Office. Branch lines and extensions could be added later when the demnnd was sufficient to merit them. With four ears there would be a section between Fi'zroy and the Breakwater of one car every twenty minutes at an average speed of ten miles an hour : but to cope with the heavy load, say, between 8 o'clock and 9.3", 12 o'clock and 2.30, and -1-30 to 1i.30, it was proposed that the cars should he run faster, and also that not every car should make the complete trip to the Breakwater, thus establishing a service of one car every seven or eight minutes The most suitable timetable could, ol I course, be compiled The whole route from Fitzroy to the Breakwater woulu be divided into six sections; that was

to say, one stopping place at the railway station, and two on either side between the station and the termini. Tic branch line from Brougham' street corner to the Devon street terminus would be another section. The overhead

trolley system would be adopted. The promoters intended to instal suction gas producers and gas engines as generating plant, but this might be changed to oil engines. The capital outlay was estimated at £30,01)0 for a first-ciass modern system, and the yearly working expenses, after allowing for interest and depreciation, £1750, which worked out at Od per ear mile. The ears would run from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m , so that each car would travel V2s miles per day, making a total of 512 ear miles per day, or 18l!,880 ear miles per year. Penny fares would be charged on each section, or part of a section. Therefore to cover working expenses.

passenger revenue must be equal to sixpence per ear n:iU\ which meant that :li>72 pci.uy section passengers

must be carried per (Jay, on an average. Messrs Roberts and Stokes, in concluding, stated their opinion that after a time when the public became acquainted with the many advantages offered them, and perhaps a system of parcels delivery organised, there was not the slghtesl doubt but that the concern wi uld pay. A precis <,t the report, which was of considerable len;,Ji, will he provided by the Town Clerk to each Councillor, and the question will be discussed at next meeting.

The Town Clerk said tliat, not galhering what the writers required, he hail approached the local manager of the firm, and the latter had ascertained that Messrs lioberts and b'tokes merely asked concessions, without expectine; the Council to take up the scheme,