NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 279, 4 May 1915, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAYS.

A START MADE. j 1 Tim MAYOR RUEAKS THE TRACK. | If the <rlnrious weather which favored j the initial proceeding's in connection | with the New Plymouth tramways I Hu'-.ne is any criterion of the fortunes | of this municipal venture, then the in- | vestment must wove, one of the best j upon which the borough has cm-. harked. There \x:v; quite a b.<f number of the public at the point iixod upon for the. formal starting of the trick at 13 a.m. yesterday, when the .Mayor and all the, newly-elected councillors were on t'iio spot to do honor to the occasion which marks one more step in the progress of the town and district. It has J been a long wait for a commencement of the work since it was first decided upon hut in the meantime the town has grown, and Greater New Plymouth has added to the importance of the borough. The spot chosen for the formal .ceremony of breaking the roadway for the purpose of the track was opposite the oilwell on the town side of Mr. Inch's residence, and it was there that his Worsain the. Mayor, swinging the pick with creditable dexterity and energy initialed what should prove, to he the greatest boon for the residents of the borough, |

{'.nil add to tin; ii'diiconients for .further settlement as well iis for an ever-increas-ing inllux of visitors. Yesterday's proceedings were opened : by Mr. V. S. Greensliields (a member of the firm of contractors who have obtained a high reputation for tramway construction \vork) ; asking the Mayor to, formally start the construction. He remarked that from his experience of similar ventures in other, towns the first year's revenue would show a balance on ] tee right side. A large number of peo 1 pic lie had met had laughed at the. idea of trams in New Plymouth, and express- • c.:l the opinion that they would not pay for the grease on the rails. He strongly advised that the Council should not fix the fares too low at the start, for while it; was easy to bring fares down it was very difficult to put them up. His experience in other towns was that the revenue for the first year exceeded nil expectations, and it might be that that experience would he more emphasised in Mew Plymouth. There was a straight run between the Breakwater and Fitzroy, so that the work should progress satisfactorily. He had no doubt that the trains would prove a. good investment for the borough. Mr. Groenshiolds t'.iicn formally called upon the Mayor to perforin the initial ceremony of breaking tlie track-, and handed him a new pick for tlie .purpose. The Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson) tiicn addressed those 'present, mounting a heap of broken metal for tile purpose, ll'e said they were met to begin a work which he believed was most material for tire welfare of New Plymouth. The project had been mooted during the mayoraty of Mr. G. Tisch, but it was decided, not to take action before taking steps to merge. St. Aubyn, Fitzroy and Vogeltown into the borough That being accomplished, the next step was to obtain / estimates of tlie work to submit to the ratepayers so as to secure their authority for the loan, and that authority was given in March, 1913. Possibly the people might consider that it was a long I time to wait from that time to the present before a start was made, but it [was necessary to get an Order in-Coim-i cil, and that occupied a considerable i period, after which the work had to be advertised for tenders, so that it was duly of last year before the contracts for the whole work were signed by Messrs Greensliields. The work was ousting more than was estimated, but the borough was fortunate in closing the contract before the outbreak of tne war, for had notification of hostilities been made before the contract was signed it; would probably have boon very diffic:it to find any contractor sufficiently plucky to face the risks consequent on t'lie war. The contractors, however, had stood to their bond, only asking, as a matter of fair dealing, 'for certain additional costs,, and the Council had thought it only reasonable, under the circumstances, to concede some. £3OO or

£4OO. In doing this lie thought the ' Council had acted in the right spirit. Owing to delays in shipping it was not until that day a start could be made, the work being carried out under the superintendence and control of Mr. F, I'la-ck, of Wellington, lie considered the Council was particularly fortunate in having Messrs Greenshields as contractors, for their experience had enabled a saving of one or two thousand pounds. The route presented no difTieuties, so that it was expected rapid progress would he made, and that the line would lw open for traffic in time to eater for the Christmas trade. With regard to file financial success of the scheme, the Mayor said he was optimistic as to its making a fair -return. It might probably happen that a small rate would lie necessary for tne first vear or two, but after that he had no doubt that the trams would pay their way, and more. He quoted the experience of Wanganni, where the revenue from the tramways had increased year by year from .-eSSOO in 10OIMO to £19,458 last year, and he pointed out that New Plymouth was more favorably placed than many towns where the cost of power was very expensive, whereas the power here would Jie supplied at a reasonable rate by the electric light department. With regard to the inconvenience caused to residents through breaking up the streets, i.e assured them that the Council would do all in their -power to -minimise the discomfort, which he asked them to bear v.-ith good grace. (Applause). ;Mr. Greenshields then handed a now pick to the Mayor, who, after remarking that the men on the work would be expected to use the tools with greater results than he hoped to show, then swung his pick to good purpose, having I'rst applinl the customary moisture to his palms. Thus was the laying of tne tramway formally initiated' amidst tin:- cheers of those present, after which, as an example to the young men who might he going to the front, his Worship started a trench, but speedily came to the conclusion that the contractors lsiust have put down concrete below the surface of the road.

The contractor then formally presented the pick to the .Mavor, who, on the call of Mr. R. <"\vk, was accorded three hearty cheers, a similar compliment being paid to the contractors on the initiative of Mr. Newton King. The ratheriiig then disjiersed. Subsequently, at the invitation of Mr. Greenshields. the success of the enterprise wa-s duly toasted, Mr. Greenshields handing 1,0 the Mayor ac! Ie for ,C 10 to tne lYlglau Kuud, in lieu of the usual memento ;;ivcu on such occasions.