OLD RAILWAY STATION HAD PROUD OCCASIONS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29385, 12 December 1960, Page 27

OLD RAILWAY STATION HAD PROUD OCCASIONS

[Specially written for ‘'The Press'’ by GEORGE D. FERGUSON]' Because of changing conditions, the new Christchurch railway station will never have a history as interesting as the old one had. It is interesting to recall, as to the old station, that nine members of the Royal Family graced its •platform. They were: Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria; the Duke and Duchess of York (later to be King George V and Queen Mary); King George VI. when he was Duke of York (the Duchess of York was unable, because of illness, to come to the South Island). Also welcomed on that railway platform were Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII). Well remembered, too, is the visit of the Duke of Gloucester. Then came Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip—the most notable Royal occasion in New Zealand’s history—and, later, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

In earlier years. Christchurch always had a general holiday to welcome each new Governor, on his first visit to the city. He was met on the station by the Mayor and other officials, and then by cheering crowds on the way to his hotel. There were also a number of decorated arches under which his carriage passed on the route. Many women and men prominent in education. medicine, science and military affairs passed through the old station’s portals. Lord Montgomery paid a fleeting visit to Christchurch. Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition members passed through the station on their visits to. the city from their ships. Sport Had Its Part Sport had its part with teams from overseas. Cricket, football, tennis, hockey, basketball, athletics, cycling, and so on. Ranfur.ly Shield games brought many supporters to Christchurch. One one occasion a special train from Invercargill arrived with between 200 and 300 football fans, accompanied by their Highland pipe band to help their team to try to win the shield. Other places to follow their lead were the West Coast and Waikato. Several contingents from Canterbury. and one from Otago, embarked at Lyttelton for the Boer War, and with the exception of those who took the horses over Evans Pass, they travelled by train from Christchurch. The same applies to World War I and World War 11, but there were no horses to look after then. Sad were the days on the station when the troops returned, and if the station could speak, it would have said. “How many faces I miss who will not return.” “Part Of Our Lives” And now for ourselves and the railway station—it almost seemed part of our lives. Many Lyttelton residents went' daily to Christchurch, some to offices and shops, others to factories and engineering works, girls and boys to secondary schools and others to the university. Many men connected with shipping, and many more travelled to Lyttelton to work on the wharves or in industry. In earlier days, if we wished to have a holiday out of Christchurch, our starting point was the railway station. I might say here that I was six years old when I had my first train journey. and that was 78 years ago. The important day of the year was New Year's Day, when Lyttelton held its annual regatta and

sports day. and thousands went to the port. Lyttelton later added a submarine explosion and fireworks at night. The railway ran three long trains each hour, and to prevent delay an extra engine was waiting to be attached to the tail end of each train, and as soon as it was full or empty, was sent away again. If my memory jioes not fail me. the record number of passengers carried was 24.000 each way in 17 hours. Horse Transport For New Year’s Day, race days, and People’s Day at the show, the railway had pill boxes on the footpath in front of the station, to assist with the sale of tickets. In the days of horse transport, the stand for broughams- (fourwheel cabs! was at the east end of the station, hansom cabs in front, and carriers’ vans to the west, opposite Manchester street. On one occasion, a passenger arriving at night, asked a cabby to drive him to' the Terminus Hotel, and he took him for a drive round the block before leaving his passenger at the hotel. When he looked out of his bedroom window in the morning, he was amazed to see the railway station opposite. Sunday schools and primary and secondary schools frequently travelled to their annual picnic grounds, combined grocers also had annual picnics, as also did the butchers. Some business firms and trades had their outings, all their starting points being the railway station. And now the old station is gone. It served us well over the years, and I, for one, will miss it. It is still for many, many people a place of many memories.