OLD CHRISTCHURCH TRAMS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22802, 30 August 1939, Page 6

OLD CHRISTCHURCH TRAMS

XO IKE EDIT OB OF IHB PRESS Sir, —I have been reading the letters on the tramways appearing in your columns lately. My ‘knowledge of the trams goes back 57 years, and I travelled daily on the Sydenham line for two years. The Sydenham line only went to the Show Grounds (Brougham street) at first and a drag carried on the service from that point to the hills. Later the line was extended to Devon road, the drag operatir. ' from that terminus. Steam haulage was used on this line for a considerable time before horses /e used. I do not remember what year the line was extended to the hills, but many years elapsed before it was done. On the Sumner line the steam trams ran to Ferry bridge, a coach servic from there to Sumner being run by Hayward’s of the Rink stables. The trams on the New Brighton route ran to Waindni only, and we had to walk the rest of the way. It was some time before this line was completed to the beach.—Yours, etc., G, D. FERGUSON. August 28, 1939. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS Sir, —I read with interest the letters in to-day’s issue of your paper about old-time trams, etc., and would like to add my reminiscences. With reference to the first Addington tram, its route was Colombo street. Tuam street, alon r " the park to the Addington railway station, later being extended to the Show Grounds. The Sydenham tram went as far as Devon road, and about 1895 or 1896 the track was taken to the foot of Cashmere Hills, and the Addington track terminus taken to its present site. ‘ * , ,

The Papanui tram travelled from Papanui to Christchurch railway station, via Moorhouse avenue. Later, in 1883 or 1884. the track in Manchester street was put down, and a single horse car was run to meet the trains. The Ferry road tram first went as far as St. Peter’s Church (Aldwins road), later as far as Cemetery road (now known as Princes street), then on to Ferry 'bridge, end tan. in. conjunction with Mr Hayward’s coaches. The Worcester street line was laid by the City Council, and continued to the Linwood cemetery gate. The Canterbury Company took it over for two- years, first having engines and then horses.

Then the New Brighton Company was formed. Mr Mclntyre was managing director, and Mr J. Thompson traffic manager. This firm took the whole line over from the council. The through line to Sumner was finally completed in 1888 or 889. The Canterbury Company went into liquidation in 1892. and it was then that the Christchurch Tramway Company, with Mr R. M. Macdonald as manager, was formed. "Interested” writes of the motorbuses which ran to the station. These were correctly called palace cars, and they came from Wellington, and ran on the tram track. Being the driver of the steam tram referred to by your correspondent, F. C. Fuller. I cannot recollect any fares being asked, but some of the spectators gave us a “tip” for their grandstand view of the procession in honour of the Duke and Duchess.—Yours, etc., C. JOHNSTONE. August 28, 1939. TO THU 1 ? EDITOB OF THE PBESS Sir, —It is a bit amusing to an oldtimer to read some of the letters on the old trams, especially the railway one. 1 can remember a steam tram_ knocking over a loaded waggonette in Manchester street and St. Asaph street, somewhere between 1881 and 1883. Also, about this time some enterprising chap put on what they called palace cars, which could run on the tram rails and run off when the steam trams caught up. And Mr Hayward’s buses met the trams at Ferry bridge, until they bought him out. If “Interested” would look up the Hon. Mr Hayward he could tell him quite a lot about the old tramway system. ' —Yours, etc., „ _ OLD TIMER. August 29, 1939. TO THE EDITOB OT THE PRESS. Sir, —I was conductor on the Lincoln road-Addington coaches over 45 years ago for R. McAllister. He also owned the Halswell-Tai Tapu coaches. The coach started from where the Sumner trams start from, ran into Colombo street, along Cashel street, and round the terrace, up Lincoln road to Hoon Hay road. Jimmy Hayes, who has been referred to, drove the Tai Tapu coach. One of the drivers was the well-known footballer, Frank Surman, and one young man who was a passenger on the coach, and who went to Warwick House School, is now a well-known doctor in the city. The Addington tram started fr«m where the ice-cream stall is in the Square, and ran along Colombo street, along Tuam street, up Lincoln road to Wilderness road, now known as Barrington street. Later, the Tramway Company bought out the Lincoln road coaches, and then extended the tramline to Hoon Hay road. I went on to horse cars, and was on the Sydenham cars when they went to Devon road. The Tramway Company had a coach to connect with the tram, and it ran to Dyers Pass road. The Brighton tram, which left Warners Hotel, had its horse stables where the Tivoli Picture Theatre now stands. . As regards, coaches, the drivers were; Riccarton-Islington-Templeton (J Wood), South Crescent road-Wil-lowbank (T. Catton), Opawa (Baunton), Richmond (Booker), Papanui (L. Smith), Avonside CJ. Jarden), Fendalton (W. Cochrane, J. Carlton, Captain Coventry. The last-named had a topdeck bus. At busy trips he would have his ' daughter collecting the fares. Conductors on coaches were called step boys. “City Born Ruraliste is correct when he says the tram ran to Devon road.—Yours, etc., SCOTTY August 28, 1939. TO THE EDITOR OT THE TRESS. Sir I have been interested in the history of the trams. They first ran on to Lincoln road, via Tuam street, to serve the 1882 Exhibition held m the South Park, opposite St. Asaph street, and were taken, as stated by your correspondent, “Lincoln Road, as far as the Addington railway station, which was about opposite where the Fern -Leaf buttor factory now is. A narrow road was there in those days. That was the terminus, until a few years later, when it was taken as far as Wilderness (Barrington street) for the opening of the Show Grounds. That was the end of the section for some time, and we used to get a ticket with nine rides for Is. , Before the trams ran, Murray s coaches used to charge 6d ©ach way. Eventually, the route was extended, to Hoon Hay read. Many will remember when the Sumner tram only went as far as Ferry bridge, and passengers had to change over into coaches for the rest of the journey round the estuary. About 1892, horse-drawn vehicles called palace cars, were used on Papanui line. They had flat tyres and could be pulled off on to the roadway to allow the steam tram to pass. Traffic has had a varied career during the years, not forgetting the old Corporation hearse that used to run to the Linwood cemetery via Worcester street.—Yours,^etc.^ ERNESS ROAD August 29, 1939. CSubject to the right of reply o£ “interested,” this correspondence is now closed.—Ed., “The Press. 1