THE TRAMWAY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1916, Page 6

THE TRAMWAY SERVICE.

, BEPORT FOR OCTOBER,. i

TRAFFIC SHOWS INCREASE.

The engineer and manager >f the New Plymouth tramways (Mr. R. H. liartlev) has prepared the following report ou the work of the Tramway and Electric Lighting Department for October, for presentation at the Borough Council meeting this evening:— The tramwjy revenue and records are •as under: — Main route.- Mileage run 131522, passengers carried 52,317, reven-re per car mile IO.Od, passengers per ear mile 82, average fare per passenger ,1.7 d, total fares £585 12s 2d. Morley street route.—Mileage run 23802, passengers carried 14,012, "revenue per car mile 7.7 d, passengers per car mile 5.4, average fare per passenger 1 4d total fares £S3 ISs 2d. Combined routes.—Mileage run 13 passengers carried 90,320, revenue per car mile 10.2 d. passengers per car mile 0.1, average fare per passenger l.lid, total fares '£oo9 15s 4d. "I am again pleased to renort," Mr Bartley proceeds, "that the traffic re>' enue shows a good increase, 1.-eiiin- £;i7 12s Od ahead of September, and the passengers carried have increased by 7043. EQUIPMENT OVERHAULED. "The month has been a vcrv ousv one for this department and a considerable amount of work has been clone in connection with giving the tram car equipment its half yearly overhaul. 'l'lir whole of the irotor and elcetr.'cal equipment em each car has been taken down and all bearings examined, insulation of motors re-varnished, car-inofs, platforms, steps, fiamos ami unfli-rgear lt.v.e received a coot of paint. This work will naturally increase the maintenance cost for this month, whilst on the other bar. I. it should reduce the risk of traffic interruptions, and the amount of repairs necessary during the summer months, and it is a practice that I recommend to be adopted each half year. SPEEDING UP THE SERVICE. "The time has now arrived," the engineer resumed, "at which in mv opinion it is necessary to .'nircase the service, and I put forward a fresh time table which allows for the service to be increased f « a 10-minute one duri:i." certain times of the day, and with amnio arrangements for the busy hour traffic To obtain the highest economy with the suggested time-table it necessitates cars at less frequent intervals during certain times on the Morley street route. A very careful study has been made of this route, and I am'confident that the reduction can be made with little inconvenience to the Morley street passcnger-i This snggeste-1 time-table is for six damper week. I have not outline.! anvthimi for Sunday pending the decision 'of the Council as to eentimtous running. ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEPARTMENT "A heavy month has also b:en experienced with this Department, t good amount of work being called for at the power-house ir. the nature of machine repairs, etc. A new shaft has been fitted to one of the exciter turbines, the old one being completely worn cut. The cause of the excessive vibration on the two large alternators lias, been tratr-d. my tests showing a complete electrical out of balance in the revolving fields New field coils have been wound and fitted to one of the machines and the bad coils removed from the second, and replaced by good ones. The result is that both machines have now lost the vibration and are running at a greatly reduced temperature, the amount of exciting current required be'.ng reduced bq 20 to 25 per cent. Plans and specifications for a further set at the power station have been prepared and ed to various firms, asking for tenders. The Waiwakailio River has been fairly high all the menth, freshes necurrinz on two or three occasions, and depositing shingle at the mouth of tne This shingle has had to be moved twice during the month. EXTENSION OF MAINS. "The mains have been extended to 1 new site of Ironsand Co., Motorna Paynter's Lane. Pukckura Park, and the • extension for Mr. Martin, Smart road. is under constiuetion. All of the above ' -are within the estimates furnished."