The Car Comes To Christchurch

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30193, 26 July 1963, Page 9

The Car Comes To Christchurch

i By

ALAN M. EYLES

'T’O a background composed A of the Boer War in South Africa and Canterbury's forthcoming 50 Year Jubilee celebrations, the first motorcar “teuf leafed” its way along the dusty streets of Christchurch. The vast majority of citizens in those days accepted without question the fact that the horse was man's sole respectable means of personal locomotion, and that these new-fangled horseless carriages were not only objectionable to the nose, the ear and the eye, but were undoubtedly a menace to public safety. Much has been written regarding the general prejudice which prevailed against the introduction of “automobilism” in the early 1900's, and as criticism was levelled principally at the dust clouds created by the cars of the time, there was a certain amount of justification. Opposition Vested interests such as livery stables, fodder producers, harness manufacturers and so on added their concerted influence against public acceptance, but the general public was not particularly impressed anyhow.

It was into this climate of public opinion that the early automobile made its way into local society, and the attitude which that society took is well expressed in the following account from the “Lyttelton Times” on Wednesday. May 9, 1900: “A weird looking vehicle has recently been seen travelling through the streets of the city, much to the amusement and astonishment of the onlookers. At first appearance it looks like an ordinary packing case placed on three wheels, the Jehu of the concern sitting on the top. A constant series of explosions of the “teuf teuf' order suggests that it is on the principle of a motor tricycle, and closer inspection corroborates this view and shows that the

mechanism is hidden within the packing case. "To the lay mind the position of the passenger seated on the case is by no means an enviable one, and seems something akin to sitting on the edge of an active volcano. However, the machine covers the ground at a considerable speed and on Saturday evening it was ridden for about 20 miles. "It has been constructed by Mr F. Dennison, cycle mechanic and engineer, of Cathedral square, who is to be congratulated on the successful results of his ingenuity. At present the machine runs on three multicycle wheels, but it is Mr Dennison’s intention to have it fitted to a four-wheel car.” Local Product This is the interesting description of certainly the first motor-car to be constructed in Christchurch. and very probably the first to be built in New Zealand, the name of Mr F. Denraisan. cycle mechanic, being worthy of record. His engine would most likely have been one manufactured for stationary use. and his component parts selected from his cycle stocks Shortly after the article of May 9 appeared. Dennison’s intention to modify the vehicle to four wheels must have been put into effect, and it was on this second model that he made his attempt to drive to Oamaru and back to Christchurch. This attempt was made over early roads and bridges during the middle of winter, the severity of which might be estimated from the formation that month of a club in Ashburton to promote ice-skating on the lake in the Ashburton Domain. Against these odds of climate and road surface, he pitted his car with its underpowered engine and its narrow highpressure tyres. The following brief account, dated Tuesday. June 19. 1900. is not altogether surprising: “Some interest was created in Ashburton on Saturday night by a motor-car in which

Mr F. Dennison, of Christchurch, is making a journey to Oamaru. Between Christchurch and Ashburton the vehicle met with a breakdown, but at the latter place repairs were satisfactorily made.” Blew Up It would be pleasing to record that this pioneering journey was successful, but although the press of the day took no further interest in the matter, personal information reveals that the car “blew up” on the return journey and that when fur-

then repairs were considered } impossible the attempt was } abandoned. Thus the initial impact of { the motor-car upon Christ- } church drew to its not alto- } gether unexpected conclusion, } but it must be remembered j that the attempt endeavoured 5 to overcome the accumulated I challenge of complete lack of { motoring facilities en route, a } very poor motoring highway, j a severe winter and an made- } quale vehicle. However, it did introduce { motoring to Christchurch, and } a subsequent article will trace j the impact of this new ! phenomenon on local society 5 as it was 60 years ago.