THE TRAMWAY SCHEME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 139, 21 September 1910, Page 8

THE TRAMWAY SCHEME

BOROUGH COUNCIL APPROVAL. SOME SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS. At the adjourned meeting of the Borough, Council last night the report of Mr. F. Black, A.M.1.E.E., of Wellington, upon the proposed installation of electric trams between Fitzroy and Moturoa, estimated to cost £39,72(5, apart from the electric light extension scheme, was discussed.

The Mayor said lie was very well pleased with the report, and a pleasing feature was that the expert's estimates bore out the figures submitted by the citizens' tramways committee to the meeting of ratepayers. He felt that liecould recommend the scheme to the ratepayers as a commercial undertaking. The expert's report and estimates of expenditure and receipts showed a loss of some £3OO or £4OO. But it had to be remembered that under the report the Council was going to have a permanent way maintained for them in the centre of the road, which would more than compensate for the loss. Mr. Black had mentioned the possibility of having the car-sheds erected 011 a site less highly valued than that in Liardet Street alongside the electrical sub-station. But it had to be borne in mind that eventually there would be a branch line to the Recreation Grounds' entrance at the head of Liardet Street, and the line to the car-shed in Liardet Street would compris« a good length of that branch. His Worship said that at the opening he did not propose to stick tightly to the .rules of debate. Councillor Browne was of the opinion that the section of line from Fitzroy store to the Waiwakaiho bridge coula be dispensed with, for it would not be largely patronised. The saving effected there would enable the Council to lay the Recreation Grounds' branch. Councillor Watkins said the same thought had occurred to him, and he (had intended moving, to that effect. He also thought it would be better to have the tram-shed built at one terminus or the other, and he suggested obtaining options over suitable sites. Councillor Browne said that the central site for sheds would be in the interests of economy. Councillor Hobbs considered several improvements could be made. The line could be shortened at the Fitzroy end, and that portion from HoTieyfield's to the breakwater could be dispensed with, for this would be very expensive work. With the money saved, they could run a line along Devon Street from the Coffee Palace to the Belt road. He considered the Council should not starve the west end, which was a growing portion of the borough. Cars could run from Belt road to Fitzroy, and make the Breakwater service a separate one, if needful. He did not think- the West Enders would vote for the present scheme, for they were getting nothing for their locality. Even the Recreation Grounds' line could be left for the Devon Street west line, for the former was catering for the east end. The Mayor read the clause of the report which condemned the Devon Street west extension. "I consider that the Devon Street west route, involving as it does nearly three-quarters of a -mile of duplication should be omitted," because "the town is not yet large enough to justify the duplication of any part ot the route."

Councillor Dockrill said the Council had had experience of the unreliability of estimates in electrical works. At Wanganui, too, the estimates of the tram scheme was £31,000, and the lowest tender was for £41,000, and eventually £4OOO more was required to complete. It would be wise not to fix the amount of the loan to be raised until the Council had a tender.

The Mayor moved the adoption of the report by the Council, explaining that the motion did not tie the Council to the report. Councillor Watkins seconded. Councillor Dockrill said no one could disagree with the motion if the figures in the report would be proved by the actual working. The motion was carried.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT EXTENSION,

The Council then discussed the expert's report upon the necessity for extension of the electric lighting scheme, estimated to cost £11,858.

The Mayor congratulated the Council's electrical engineer, whose recommendations for extension and additions ■to the plant from time to time were emphatically endorsed by this high authority, who also complimented the staff on the manner in which the plant had been cared for. It would not be possible to have the additional plant installed for next year's load, but they could do something—putting in the additional pipe-line to the power station, and the settling tank or forebay, which would place them in a better position to meet the demands for current. The department had money in hand, and tenders might be called for these works. Councillor Browne (chairman of the Electric Lighting Committee) thought it premature to talk of culling tendeis. He referred in detail to the report, and saia that in the main it was on the samei lines as Mr. 11. W. Climie's report. I Councillor Gilbert considered it might be advisable to have cUiothor engineer s report. This Council had unpleasant experiences of estimates in the past. It was worth £4O or £SO to make sure, and he would not be averse to spending a couple of hundred pounds on experts reports. •Councillor Browne saw no necessity for a further report, for Mr. Chime and Mr Black agreed as to the nature of the work required, and differed only m the estimates. Councillor Wilson said there was cr r eat urgency for the construction of the settling tank. A piece of debris i comin" down the tunnel and into those ! machii.es would ' mean the dislocation and temporary stoppage of the whole electric lighting scheme. Every wet or windy night was a most anxious time for the electrical staff, and the Councils employees were risking their lives, too.

The Council must undertake tliis work, and have it clone this season. Councillor Wilson remarked that the only objection he had to the tramways scheme was that there was a tendency to borrow too easily. Paying back was a harder matter. He thought that it would pay the town well to "go slow," to spend the next five years or so in bringing the electric lighting plant thoroughly up-to-date by construction of the weir, possibly some of the headworks alterations, and the purchase of some new machinery. This could be done out of revenue, and thus when the time came for trams they eould be -installed without adding to the loan load of the borough. A matter that had been overlooked so far was that the electric light plant extension and the tramways scheme could not be completed for 18 months or two years, and interest would thus have to be paid on the loan for two years before there were any earnings. Only one year's interest could be paid out of the loan. Where was the second year's to come from ? In answer to His Worship, "the borough electrical engineer, Mr. H. Black, said the installation of the additional pipe-line would reduce the loss of pressure and thus give them greater motive power. Councillor Browne said the difficulty might be overcome by placing the loan money on fixed deposit and applying its earnings to the payment of interest.