TE AROHA TRAMWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1943, 18 December 1884, Page 2

TE AROHA TRAMWAY.

Change of Management. At the meeting of the Ptako County Council yesterday, the following monthly report of the Tramway Manager was read :—: — To ihb Chairman Piako County Council, Camukidgk. Sir,— l have the honour to report for the information of the Council that the revenue derivable from the tr.lmw.ly for (he four weeks ending Saturday, December 13th, is as follows .• — Ist week— lB4 trucks at 4s 6d, ,£4l 8s ; up carriage, £2 7s— Total, £13 15s. 2nd week— l 96 trurk* .it 4s Cd, £44 2, ;up carriage, 10s— Total. £45 Is. 3idwcek— l7C ttucks at 4s 6d, £39 12s; up carriage, 13s-Tot.il, £40 ss. 4th week— lBo trucks at 4s 6d, £40 10s ;up carriage, £3 Is Cd— Total, £43 11s 0(1. 730 trucks at 4s 6d, £160 12s ; up carriage, £7 Gd.— lota), £172 12* 6d. 2 I h.i\e to recommend that the followi-.K alterations lie made to Butler's Spur during th<holidays. Ihe top ot ihe spur to be made up to the straight line ot the grade, and the sm ill hollow about the centre of the grade to be raised three (3) feet. The brake gear to be shilk'd from its present position to the top of the grado about the i.imc distance back as the Fern Spui brake. I would recommend also that this work be dome by contract. If the council decide that the above work 1 , shall be gone on with, I shall be obliged if \ou will let me know as early as possible, in oidor th.it I may prepare for letting the work. I have just gone into the matter of expense, and estimate the cost of making the above alterations will be about £175. H. H. Adams, Manager. Respecting the suggestion that £175 should be spent in improvements, Or. Smith did not think that such an expenditure was at all necessary. He had vi.Mted the tramway in company with other members of the council, and they all couMdeiod that the improvement suggested was nei-d-lebs. — The other councillors were of the same opinion, and it was accordingly agreed that nothing should be done in the matter. Management. — Cr. Chepmell thought it was near time the council took some bt.^ps in respect to arranging for the future m in agement of the tramway. To his mind tinmatter seemed to be in abeyance long enough. They were all doubtless aw.ire that both the chairman of the tramway committee and the tramway manager had resigned during the existeuce of the old council, and their resignation had been accepted, and the management was now being cairied on simply by the custod\ of tli >->r gentlemen. It was near timu th.it the whole business of the (lamway should b>put on a satisfactory basis, lie felt \v\ j son y that the chairman of committee w.is not present, but he did not see that the council should wait any longer. He thought the best thing they could do was to let t!io present foreman, Mr Cookson, go on as manager, and if there were any slip ( r nct-i dent which required the service* of an engineer, the county engineer \v«v* available. — Cr. Murphy did not altogether agree with this pioposition. As Mr Adams had re signed his position as manager, he would suggest that he be asked to act as consulting engineer. If Mr Adams refused to act, then others could be asked. He felt thoroughly convinced that in overlooking Mr Adams' wist experience, particularly so far as the tramway was concerned, the council would make a great mistake, and the loss would be their own. Mr Adams thoroughly understood the construction ,md working of the tramway ; whereas another man, tlrnigh of equal, or, perhaps greater professional ability had not the experience. By employing an incompetent man they might be subjected to a heavy loss, which it was well to avoid in their present financial weakness. Cr. Maclean thought that as the other councillor* who took »nch a great inteio-t in the tramway and its working were not pre&ent, it would be well to adjourn the matter for a month. Cr. Chepmell though the thing had been allowed to drag on too long altogether. Cr. Gould could not understand the absence of the three councillois to whom Cr. Maclean had referred. They knew this question was going to be brought forward. H> thought the coining 1 holidays offered a good opportunity for a change of management. There was no necessity for the expenditure of the sum named in Mi Adams' report. They had been po&itncly assured that Mr Cookson ivould not accopt the position of manager, but on being askod he had willingly consented. He was one of the four councillors who had paid a visit of in&pection to the tramway lately. They inspected the locomotive which had been purchased at great coot for Use on tiie tiam- I way and found it exposed to both mvi and rain. It was taking injury, and ought to be advertised for sale at once. He wa-s satisfied *,hat the engine would never run on the line, and even if it could bo run he believed the work could be done better and I cheaper by horses. — Cr. Smith also referred to what seemed the extraordinary absence «jf the other three members. He thought tins matter had been allowed to remain in abeyance long enough. — On the motion of Cr. Smith it was then agieed that Mr Cookson be appointed tramway manager at his present salary. — On the motion of Cr. Murphy, it was agreed to ask Mr Adams t') act as consulting engineer. — On the motion of Cr. Maclean, it was agreed that Mr Henry Buttle should continue as secretary and collector at the present .salary. Tkamway EvrKNhiON. —Mr Peter Ferguson w rote, di awing the attention of the council to the advisabity of connecting the tramway with the new battery now in couise of erection. The grade from the foot ot May Queen Spur being surveyed, there should be no delay in having the work proceeded with under the £2 to £1 system. He thought the extension would enable the council to run the tramway at a pi otit, instead of a lobs, a* hitheito. — The matter, after a short consideration, was adjourned till next meeting.