NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 168, 15 January 1914, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAY.

J'TRTIIKR I'KOiaU'XS. COXKKHKXCB WITJt MR BLACK. llio Xew I'lyniouth tramway ncheuit! advanced another sLigu last ni>;lit, when a special meeting of the Borough Council was held to meet Mr. !•'. Black, consulting engineer to tho Council, and tliM'ii** with Jiim matters of <U»tai! ill. connection with the .New I'lvinoutli tramways. There were present: I'll* .Mayor (Mr. <!. \\". lirowne), ,iml frs W. Amburv. A. It Johnstone, F V Jackson, .1. T. llannix, X. T. Maunder', and \\. A. t'ollis. The. .Mayor stated that tho discussion, would he of a conversational nature. Air. JSlack had, he said, brought plans ot lbs ears proposed to Jie used, also ot the car shed, and the general conditions of the various contracts. In order to save delay, these latter had boon already submitted to the Council's boKeitor. J!r. Black hoped within a fortnight to havo everything,ready to place before the various (Soveromeut departments, anu he expected to obtain the necessary Ordcr-in-Council within . si*' weeks. Xo dilliculty was anticipated in getting this through. A rough j)ian of tho ear shed, which is to bo built at I'itzroy on tile Public Hall site, was first submitted and explained. Jt provides for a building being erected. in wood and corrugated iron. Provision is being made, at present, for Ji wising eight cars on three lines of rails, two of which will bt provided with pits, which are connected so as to allow of any undergear Iteing ri-inovcd from one car to another if desired. Three extra cur lines can be laid on tho tiitc when necessary, and the shed can bo extended to accommodate eighteen cars, Oillco accommodation for tho trallic manager and for tli« tram ollico stair, a mcssroom for th* men and lavatories a-, well aa a work shop alongside;" are ul ,o planned. Somo discussion ene-uci regarding th« sulistitution of brick or concrete, for wood and galvanised iron, but the question of fmanco proved the stumbling block. It was. moreover, pointed out that the building would be hy no luciins unsightl), and would be eminently suitable for tho purposes of a car shed. 1 Black stated that tho sul>-stntion would ho erected either in brick or ferro concrete.

lie submitted plans of two types of car which lm had designed for Xew Plymouth. One was a singlo truck car for ordinary Ira (lie. It was of ttw combination type, and would! sent 33 passengers. There was 11 smoking apartment at ouch end to accommodate eight passengers. This cur was a departure from previous combination cars which had a footboard the full lcn«tl of the open part, in thi< car tiht panelling was carried past th« open portion, leaving the same entrance as an ordinary) ear. A ]>asKagc-way extended through tin whole length of th« 1 centre of the car He remarked Unit winfc. the. new regulations did not prohihit footboards, yet. it w<ia fairly evident. that they "would be prohibited at ?" . ( ' a,l 3 to. The larger car was ft hogm car, and could seat 44 passengers, this was for use at rush ii.'.ios. ft was of liandy design, and con formed closelv to the nMier ear in f;ene.ral features, which was decided advantage, as people would not h.ne to iamiliaris* fliemsehes with two tvpes o, I'oua* ot the, smaller and two ot the larger ears Were, provided f6r. " " "

r A' t0 qnc-tinii,, Mr. )il,ick jJa u «nmllor cur could carry AO yj)nssoii2oi's if necessary. and the linger car Itw passengers. 'Regulations iiijighf be hrimg'ht in that would not al,ow of so many extra being Carrie,l, hut it was safe to say. Hint each car would .he allowed to earn' 75 ]»er cent, over its sealing accommodation. wluea would be oti and 77 resncetivelv. r

_ J In? nm'stiou of trailers was ,ils» , MisciLs-i'd, but it was pointful out. Ky •Mr. lllaek (lint Hi,, pi, Department would not allow trailer* to he used <ni a, jjradi! of mow than imp m lorty, wliicli would prohibit their u#» <lll eerl ain Xrw I*l viiiom ti sit! ions. Ou il»- motion of (Vs. Amlwrv aiuf -ifaundi'i". it was that tile tvM »t car a- suited i>y .Mr, l«, u .k ohouM (he ~il(n- to I® ivtl. to further .jurrit-s „Vl.r. Mick siiul that jf every I bin;* went, jt would lie just twelve month* More it " start could lie in;, w |(], t j, p ac ( ull j , ''"'"i" ll! the tramways, a* it t would (ake live months f„ r t'emlers t( "■ *7 '■"•■"ivnl. and «i-. w swe » ' liionlli, tliercaller l.,.f„re tin- .successful tenderer could -et hi, meU-rnl ami i-«h to ,tmt. work, lie pointed out timt provision 'had boon m.ule in tl>« eouditions that tlit- (Vimicil eoulil tnke over any completed ;i , ;I|lv li)))t «itlio„t wan,,,. i,„. o{ ;'»"l ra.l.. Til is I enabl. the <,oune.l 111 run the tni'.-s Orel- on* m-tmn much quicker tJ, :l n otherwise I «,i». be said, in conn.„f xhis absolutely impossible for (lie cilKincei to net « (imo i'or its* completion, •ontraelor.s would submit (heir „w« ti m> for completion. This wmihl hj» unbodied as an .-n-Lunl condition of tlic \ wilh <lll ' would" j.l'i e 'tencliir.'' ( '""*" U ' ro '' wi "' n »wplii« Ihe work, he. said, would bo let is t"uv eomracU, viz., (1) buildings, (-2) , permanent way ami overhead work, (111 / sulMtiition equipment and (-1) ears