TRAMWAYS AND LIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1917, Page 6

TRAMWAYS AND LIGHTING.

ENGINEERS' REPORTS. Mr. R. H. Bartley (borough electrical .engineer) will report to to-night's meeting of the Borough Council:— Tramways.—The total amount of revenue in fares for tlie month is £922 15s fld, which, hi inv opinion, is very satisfactory, especially when one considers that February is the shortest month of the year, also that the mileage run by the cars is only 113,495, as against 17.870 in January a reduction of 1381 miles. The passengers carried per ear mile are certainly less for this month, as compared with January, but, generally speaking, the traffic is holding up well. Very little trouble has been experienced with the equipment, and the repairs and maintenance hav/been normal. I have considered it necessary to instal two extra track drains-', one on the Te Henui bridge and the other in front of the West End .School. At both of these places I have experienced a good deal of trouble in getting rid of the surface water, and with the type of drairt now fixed the trouble will be greatly reduced. The overhead gear has all been examined during the month, and I am pleased to report that it shows no signs of abnormal wear in any part. It has been necessary in several places to re-strain the trolley wire, and also the span wires, in order to comply with Government regulations. Records for the month.—Main line route: Mileage run, 14,283 miles; passengers carried, 113,127; revenue per car mile, 14d; passengers pei car mile, 7:9; average fare per passenger, 1.7 d; total fares; £844 2s 7d Morley-Eliot street route: Mileage run. 2'212 1 / rJ miles; passengers carried, 13.422; revenue per car miles, 8.4r1;,-pas-sengers per car mile, 6; average fare per passenger, 1.4 d; total fares, £7B 13s Id. Combined routes.—Mileage run, 10,405% miles; pasesngers carried, 120,549; revenue per car mile, 13.4.1; passengers per car mile, 7.7; average fare per passenger, 1.7 d; total fares,- £922 15s Bd. ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEPARTMENT. February has been a fairly satisfactory month for the electric lighting department; 86,100 units have beem sold, as compared with 52,130 units in February, 1916, and we may look for the units sold to gradually increase each month for the next sit months to come, owing to the nights becoming longer and the load'gradually increasing. I am anticipating that the power-house plant will have to work up to its full capacity, and perhaps over, during the coming winter, and with this object in view 1 am endeavoring to bring everything into good working order. Much of my time has been spent at the power-house during the present month on this work, and I am pleased to state that I have been able to balance and true up machine No. 3 (90-k.w.), and that it is now in a condition to stand a strain if necessary. Further repairs to other machines still remain to be done, including the overhail! of governors, and lining up of turbine excite: - pot, and I hope to have these completed before the end of March. The Waiwakaiho river has remained very low all the month, and with very little fluctuation. We have not. felt the want of water to date, but before the winter commences I will endeavor to remove a quantity of shingle from the mouth of the intake, thus lowering the river-bed at this point and allowing more water to enter the race. The ssub-station machinery has given no trouble,, but I have had to adopt measures for reducing the temperature in the engine-room. During January and February, and on previous occasions, the eiifjlrc-voom temperature has been up to DOdeg. F. This greatly increases the running temperature of the machines, which is very undesirable, and is due to the, windows on the north side of the building having to remain closed. The measure I have adopted to reduce this temperature is a 20-ineh exhaust fan, at a cost of £4. TRAMWAYS CONTRACTS. Mr. Frederick Black, consulting engineer, reports-—I have to report that the expiration of maintenance certificates on contracts No. 2, 3 and 4 were issued on December 14 last. With the exception of a retention of £4O in the case of contract No. 4 owing to delay in receipt of some car materials from England (which matter has already been reported on, the whole of the construction contracts are now wound up. The works were embraced in six contracts and one indent order. On the engineering works (contracts 1 to 4) the net additions total £l2B 7s, and on the" bui! ,,: <m works (contracts.s and 0) £052 13s Vd, a total, of £7Bl Os lOd. The gravid total shown is not quite the complete cost of the works, as a number of sundry matters, including alterations t( telegraph and telephone lines, lowering water mains and so forth, were not carried out undei the main eontracts. The engineering and legal costs are also not included.

. Jit-fore concluding this, my final report, I should like to place on record a brief statement aa to the progress made on the .indertaking since its installation was definitely decided on. The Council appointed me consulting engineer for the work on March 31, 1913. Surveying, "reparation of plans and specifications, complying with legal requirements and await'ng receipts of tenders occupied 16 months. Construction on the. roads commenced on May 3, 1015, the first car was run on February 15, 191<i, on the Fitzroy-to-railway station section, and pnbli? service on this half of the system was started on March 11. Work on the railway station-to-Moturoa section, which bad been delayed by war condi-

tions affecting deliveries of some materials, was completed on April 20, 1916, and public service on the full tramway system commenced on the following day. The last of the contract maintenance periods expired on November 12, 1916. Notwithstanding the unprecedented conditions of the period occupied by the construction of the works, the rate of progress made was not greatly less than would have been the case in normal times. It is a matter for gratification that, also under these conditions,' the whole of the plant and material came [rom British manufacturers, the car bodies, further, being of New Zealand construction. Finally, the cost of the works has been practically on a pre-war basis, such increases as have had to be met being small in comparison with the total amount spent. It now remains for me to thank the Council for the'"consideration it has always shown and the confidence it has reposed in me throughout the whole period of these works. I do this most sincerely, for I am sure that the relationship between us could not have been more pleasanl and cordial than has been J&e case. At any time oe> would an-

preeiate the trust which lias always been shown, but during a period whon the dif- j fleulties connected with the carrying out of an undertaking of this nature have been more than ordinary it lias been doubly pleasing to have one's efforts so completely supported. I need scarcely add that my interest in the progress of the undertaking will not diminish, and I'trust to shortly see it well established as one of the most valuable factors in the development of Greater New Plymouth.