THE TRAMWAY SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 356, 6 April 1910, Page 8

THE TRAMWAY SCHEME.

Tii'i-: l-'IitST Ml.) YE. A meeting of the Tramways Commit tee of the M-w Plymouth Jit,rough Council was held last night in tiie Mayor's room. There were present: His Worship the -Mayor (Mr U. Ti*li), Councillors ik'llnnger, Jirowne and Uoekrill. The borough and electrical engineers aJao aueuded, and lUe Town Clerk. llis Worship submitted ta. ; following report: — "A tramway eommittee was set up k«t year, and the .present meeting is the first that lias been called. i'he Council have kept the question of tramways steadily in view. The old railway line has been purchased, giving an extra road to Fitzroy, which will relieve the traffic over the Te Henui bridge on the Devon line: while the new bridge over the Ilnatoki river nnd Gill street extension will relieve itie traffic in New Plymouth central; and sufficient land lias been purchased in Liardet street aa a site for a distribution station and car shed. "As a tramway system will be of great benefit to the people living in the ■uburbs, equally with those in New Plymouth borough, for thin' reason I should have liked to see a Greater New Plymouth formed. However, that question was considered by the ratepayers in tne proposed St. Auhyn town district, and rejected by them. I now suggest that a tramway rating area be formed, including New Plymouth borough, Fitzroy tow district, part of the Hurworth ridingg, and part of the Barrett and old Oraata road districts, thus forming a tramway district from Fitaroy to the breakwater, extending from the aea to (i line inland to be decided upon. TM» "tramway area, could, when the ratepayers so decide, form the boundaries of a Greater New Plymouth. The tramways would be controlled and managed by a biud, the members of such board I to be appointed or elected by the rate- , payers within the proposed rating district. I consider New Plymouth specially adapted for a tramway sfervice, for it has the advantage of having more than sufficient water power to generate the current required. I quote the following from Mr H. W. Climie's report. He says: "Upon measuring the quantity of water available in the Waiwakaiho river I conclude that the minimum quantity to be reckoned on is thousand cubic feet per minute. With this quantity of water, and making use of the total fall available between the intake and outlet of the tail race, an effective 875 horse power can b« ootained, this being equal to nearly 660 kilowats of electric energy. You have at present a plant capable of giving 180 kilowatts; therefore over three time* the present output can be obtained from the minimum flow in the river." Recently Dr Hentye, a tramway oxpert, passed through New Plymouth, and stated that it was not necessary to erect an additional line to carry ourrent from the power house to supply the electrical energy required to work the tramway. An up-to-date storage and buffer battery, he said, could be installed at considerably less cost, and the fluctuation would not interfere with the present lighting system. There are several important questions to be decided: (1) Boundaries of tramway district; (2) ratable value of the said districts; (3) question of employing competent person to prepare estimate of cost and report 'generally; (4) what system to adopt; (5) what attitude the Borough Council will take in regard to the proposal of forming a tramway hoard; and (ft') what arrangements can be made to supply current. "I recommend that a representative committee be appointed- to consider the question of tramways, and bring down a. report, such committee to consist of representatives from the New Plymouth Borough Council, the Fityroy Town Board, Taranaki County Council and Barrett Road Board. And the following gentlemen: Messrs C. Carter, Newton King, R. Cock. W. J. Penn, T. C. List, J. McLeod, R. Ellis, G. Blanehard, H Okey. Frank Newall, A. C. Downes, J E. Wilson and James Sole, with power to add to their number.

Mr Tisch also Stated that he had received from the town clerk at Wanganui the following information concerning the Wanganui tramways:—Length of tra-ek Similes, including turn outs; cost of construction per mile, about £5500; number of cars, 6; Seating capacity of each, 32 to 40, and standing capacity 80 to 90; cost of cars, £1250 each; horse power of engines, 135 h.p. The report was adopted, and it was l decided to convene the first meeting of the whole committee for Wednesday, 20th inst., at 7.30 p.m.