THE TRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1916, Page 5

THE TRAMS.

SERVICE LIKELY TO-MORROW.; FROM FITZROY. TO TOWN. GOVERNMENT INSPECTION FINISHED. Unless any unforeseen difficulties arUKt a temporary tram service between Fitzroy and the town railway station *lll be inaugurated to-morrow moaning. For the past few days everything has beetk in readiness to run the trams over this route, but u start could not be made without a permit from the Public Work# Department. Yesterday an inspection was carried out by the Government officers, and their work will not be completed until to-day, but we have the best authority for stating that it ia practically certain a permit will be granted to-day and that the trams TjrlU run to-morrow. The inspection of the tramway system was carried out by Messrs H. H. Sharp (Public Works Department) and G. Parry (Government Electrical Adviser), and they were accompanied by Mr.' F. Black (consulting engineer to the New Plymouth Borough Council) and Mr,' H. R. Hartley (tramways engineer). ' A start was made in the morning by tn examination of the tramway route, and the two bigger class ears were brought out. These ears, which are splendidly constructed and ai'p of handsome appearance, are built to acaommodate 46 passengers each, and they compare, very, favorably with the best tramears antployed in the cities. The trams ware taken from the depot at Fitzroy to tie town railway station, and during the journey a thorough inspection of the route was made. Later in the morning the four smaller ears were subjected to a similar test. These cars are constructed on modern lines, and each vehicle will carry 32 passengers, seated. In the afternoon one of the small cars was employed for the inspection of the overhead lines and the general electrical system, and the car was taken over the line up Devon Street west paßt the Post Office, in addition to traversing the route to the railway station.' In meantime the work of testing the brake* was started, and the hill approaching the Henui River bridge was selected as the place for this test. Two or three ears were put through the test before dusk, and the other cars will be dealt with this morning. Mr. F. Black statld Inst night that he was perfectly satiined with the result of the inspection, and as far as could be judged he saw no reason why the Government officials should not pass the system. TO-MORROW'S ARRANGEMENTS. In anticipation of the Government per' mit being issued, Mr. Bartley has completed his arrangements for starting the temporary tram service to-morrow. It is proposed to run a fifteen-minutes time-tablo from 7 a.in. till U p.m., the first car in the morning leaving the depot at Fitzroy, and the last car at night leaving the town railway station for Fitzroy. Three cars will- be employed, but if the traffic should demand it extra facilities will be provided. The Mayor has decided that there will not be an official opening, and this ceremony will be postponed until the full service is commenced. The temporary route has been divided into penny sections as follows:—Waiwakaiho bridge to Fitzroy railway station; from here to Eliot Street; from here to town railway station. The inauguration of the trams to-* morrow will come at a particularly opportune time, for the Gala D&V at the Eifet End beach will attract thousands of country people to town. It is not yet possible to gay when the full service will be in operation, hut advice has been received that the balance of the machinery necessary for it Is,on the steamers Kumara and Opawa. Bith these vessels are now due in New Zw-. land, CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAMS. The trams mark an important stage in the progress of New Plymouth. There has been considerable delay with the scheme, but this has been mainly due to the fact that it was decided not ,to' proceed with the work until the Greater New Plymouth scheme was completed, and owing to the fact that the con- , tractors were delayed in receiving de* I jivery of the rails, due to the outbreak ' of the war. -The principal steps in the scheme are as follows: Completion of Greater New Plymouth scheme, September 2, 1912. Tramways poll taken, March 5, 1013. Agreement with consulting engineer finally arranged, April 14, 1013. Surveys of tram routes commenced. May 9, 1913. ? Plans, etc.. approved bv the Council, October 13, 1913. ' Tenders invited for principal contracts, March 31, 1914. i Tenders (Messrs F. S. Greenshield* & Co.) for principal contracts, permanent way, overhead, equipment, and rollingstock, accepted, July 28, 1914. Tenders for erection of car-sheds closed (accepted tenderers Messrs Shaw and Payne), January 12, 1915. 'Erection of car-sheds commenced F© ruary 2, 1915. '