CHRISTCIIUROH TRAMWAYS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16981, 2 November 1920, Page 7

CHRISTCIIUROH TRAMWAYS.

NEW BUILDING OPENED.

The new building eiectod for the Tramway Board was officially opened yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a large gathering of members of the Tramway Board, Lyttelton Harbour Board, and relatives and friends of the Tramway Board's staff. Apologies were received for the absence of the Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C., chairman of tho Board, Mr Wm. Recce, the first chairman of the Board, and Mr S. K. rileigh, a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. The ceremony took place in the new Board room, a number ,of <peoches being made after refreshments had been served.

Mr S. A. Staples, deputy chairman of iho Board, said that tho Tramway Board had for a long period found the offices in Falsgravo street too far from "cho business portion of the city, and too inconvenient for the staff and the public. The new building, it was felt, would be a great convenience to all concerned. The Kite —19J perches—had tost tho Board something like £6000, and the building and site together about £L' 7,000. Tho car shed and the ground it stood on cost £9250, so tho total :o?>t of the Board's buildings amounted to £"30,750. Tho top flat of tho building, Mr Staples said, had been leased to tho Lyttelton Harbour Board for seven yearn at an annual rental of £250. Concluding, the speaker extended the thanks of the Board to Messrs IT. T. AV. McLennan, the Board's architect and draughtsman, E. V. Turner, the 'Board's engineer, and Frank Thompson, the genera 1 manager, for their work in connexion with the building. Ho then declared the building open. in the course of a brief speech, Mr D. Sykes, a member of the Board, paid a tribute to Mr H. Poarce, another member of the Bonrd, whoso assistance as a practical builder had been of great value.

Tho Mayor (Dr. Thacker, M.P.) congratulated the Board on the erection of The first Avar memorial to be set up in Cathedral square, and also upon their splendid building. He had seen tho foundation fitone laid . by tho Board's '•hairman, the Hon. J. Barr, M.L.0., and now the building was completed ho wished to compliment the members of the- Board's ordinary staff, who had worked hard for a long time under disabilities. He proposed a vote of thanks to the Board for. the afternoon's hospitality, which was carried by acclamation.

IJtr H. B. Rorensen, Chairman of the Lvttelton Harbour Born-d, expressed tho thanks of that body tfor tho invitation to attend the function, and Mr F. Thompson returned thanks on behalf of tho staff for the comnlimentary remarks made concerning them.

The building, the foundation stono of which was laid on March 31st, 1919, is a handsome modern structuro of tlfree storeys, and is of tho Italian TCenn.issnnco stylo of architecture. The lower portion of the facade is of Timaru stone, and the upper storeys of Oamnru stone. The windows on tho first floor aTO pi Doric design, and on the second storey lonic. At.the ends are classic windows and pillars supporting seg- ' montal pediments. On tho main floor arc the general offices and the ticket office, each beins reached by separate , doors, the traffic department's officebeing divided from tho main part of the building by an elliptical arch giving access to a rifilht-of-way from Cathedral square to Hereford street. The first storey is occupied by the board room, enquiry office, general manager's office, records room, engineers' rooms, and drawing office, and a strong room for plans, tho manager's and engineer's rooms beinjr situated in the most convenient positions. The top storey will be occupied by the Lyttelton Harbour Board's offices. The board rooms of both bodies aro splendidly-appointed, fibrous plaster ceilings of a tasteful design boing a feature. The building has a flat roof, on which a blue-print room for duplicating plans is situated, and from which a charming view of the citv may be obtained. It is heated throughout by a hot-water apparatus operated from the basement j in which part of the stnicturo are the main strong rooms. Concrete stairs lead to the floors, and there is also an electric lift. Tho architect is Mr. H. T. W. McLennan, architect and draughtsman to the Board, who made his plans \mder the supervision of Mr E. P. Tumor, the Board's engineer. The contractors were Messrs P. Graham and Son. ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED. Prior to the formal opening of the Chrietchurch Tramway Board's now buildings, in Cathedral square, yesterday, tho opportunity was taken to unveil tho roll of honour of employees of the Board, who had served in the lato ivar. There wae a, largo gathering present. In unveiling the .roll, Mr S. A. 3taples, deputy-chairman of tho Board, in the absence of tho chairman, the Hon. J. Barr, M.L.0., said that 73 employees of the .Board had gone overseas, and offered their lives on the shrine of duty. They went bravely to fight for the cause of fhe King, of justice} and civilisation. It was good to know that they had done their duty and upheld the best traditions of the race. Many had returned, and to those men it was a privilege to extend a hand in congratulation. Unfortunately, some had not returned —tho honours board contained ten names of men who had laid down their lives. To their relatives tho Board extended sympathy, with a hope that time, coupled with tho ki.owledgo of the nobility and justice of the causo their ioved ones had died for. would assuage their grief. Tho speaker concluded with tho quotation: "Greater love hath no man than this" that a man lay'down his life for his friends." Tho roll, which is of marble, has the following inscrintion: "The Great War, 1914-1919, Cliristchurch. Tramways IloH *of Honour." Then follow the names in order 6*f enlistment, those who macb the supreme sacrifice being inscribed in letters of gold:— "W. G. Skelton (killed in action, May, 1915), T. YF. Richardson, W. IVaddeli, W. Hot&ai,. H. H. Cowan, D. McEenzie, H. V. Hopkins (killed in action, May, 1915), J. Retallick, F. i'waytho (died of wounds, September 30th, 3017), C. A. Voae, IT. J. C. M*rtin, J. H. j Campbell, W. ©ick, "W. "Watson (killed in action, August, 1916), L. M. Fowke, A. H. Spr»U, P. C. Davis, P. J. Ivonnedy, W. I Slater, J. B. Ker, H. J. Wicks (kil!ed in action, October Ist, 191fi). G. H. Dubourn, W\ "Wing (killed in action, October, 191G), »C. Francis, J. R. Smith, A. Burton (killed in aet»rf>Ausuat 12th, 1917% "W. ijarhn (killed in action, November 23th, 1917), V. Sparks, P. H. rtavies-Collov, K. C. Scarlo, E. A.! Dowle, H.'V. Lestor, H. Hay:e. J. I. Bobbins, 3. AV. H. llofkina, \V. H. Coako, E. A. I Griffiths. E. J. Milk, H. F. Hay (killed la action, .November '25th, 1917), J. B. Ed- J wards,- C. G. Lamb, G. Barton, A. H. Bur!ey, < 3. Dunlop, J. P. McDonald, F. G. Taylor, ] W. Anderson, E. Barnes, L. P. Donnelly, , 0. -W. A. Hutchison, VV. G. Small, J. C. I Tulloch (killed in action, October 4th, 1917). "W". J. Richards. D. I\lcK*ftrney, D. Darrocb, ! O. 11. Hathaway, "W. B. Gibson, L.. G. Muir, J E. T. Bruneden, A. Chappell, J. Uonohue, \ B, Paull, J. Crowley, J. C. Cndrnhead, C. J. Holloway, A. S. Bennington, G. M. Herrick. J. A. Lummi3, H. Harris," C H. Price, H. H. Smith.