New transport heralded in 1869

Press, 29 December 1988, Page 17

New transport heralded in 1869

Readers of the Lyttelton Times” on June 22, 1869, were probably unaware that an advertisement on page one heralded the beginning of a revolution in the city’s mode of transport.

Amongst the shipping notices, and advertisements for account books, crinolines, laced stockings and “the most sublime and startling production of the age — the Grand Moving Tableaux of The Apocalypse ...,” was the following: ; Velocipedes of every description for gentlemen, ladies and children, best forged steel, with brake and best hickory wheels. The French Velocipede Company, through their English manufacturers, offer the very best Velocipedes at prices from £6 to £l4. The English wholesale agents are S. and E. Ransome and Co. Bicycles!! Bicycles!! Tricycles!!! I have just completed the first of the new bicycle or twowheeled velocipedes in the province. It may be seen at my manufactory. —H. Wagstaff (Trollaway Works). The following day, June 23, the “Town and Country” column breathlessly announced: “Velocipedes — A Wellington paper notes the appearance of a velocipede — local manufacture — in the streets of that city.” By the following week, the same column was able to smugly report that “this novel mode of locomotion, which has become such a popular means of amusement in Western Europe and America, has beeen introduced into Christ‘church.” In the same issue, under the “New Advertisements” section, was the triumphant announcement: • I am prepared to manufacture them in any form at less cost than they can be imported. J The cautious reporter, however, had some reservations x about Mr Wagstaffs bicycle, and noted that “there are points in which improvement may be effected as the manufacturer becomes more acquainted with the principle of the machine.” In 1907, Canterbury Museum received a velocipede which was alleged to be the first such made in Christchurch — but, by a Mr Gotch. It has been impossible to trace any person of this name, but it may be that he was an employee of Wagstaff for a short time. It is however, pertain that

Gotch’s velocipede would also have caused the “Times” reporter some anxiety, with its unsprung steel frame, lack of brakes and roughly-joined wheels apparently made from gas (or similar) piping. The newspaper continued to provide snippets of news for those interested in velocipedes. The July 3 issue contained no less than three articles, starting with a report of a 50-mile journey from Bothwell to Hobart Town and back, in heavy rain and over recently metalled roads.

Another was based on an article in the “Pall Mall Gazette”

concerning the escapades of “a comic singer” who had injured a number of bystanders after careering along the footpath at the heady rate of 10 or 12 miles an hour. It speculated on the “absolute necessity of mounting a certain number of the police force on the new vehicles so as to enable them to cut off the retreat of the reckless and assist the unskilful drivers of these ingenious but dangerous locomotives.”

A "scientific” interest was also evinced in a discussion on the use of an Indiarubber tyre which would “make quite a revolution in the employment of the vehicle

on rough roads, and in the rate of speed and ease of working it.” (The velocipede, with its ironshod wooden wheels and primitive springing, was aptly dubbed “the boneshaker.”) It was asserted that, if a velocipede were fitted with India-rubber-coated wheels, “an almost incredible rate of speed may be thus obtained — that the velocipede can be moved at the rate of 20 miles an hour... nay, it is said, that an active young man may even drive the machine at a speed of 40 miles an hour... As for the obstacles in the way, a machine moving with such speed would, like the railway carriage, require a road to itself, for no plan has yet been suggested to prevent horses from shying in the presence of these swift machines, or to save pedestrians from being knocked over, though by ever such elastic buffers.” By August of 1869, a positive passion for bicycles had gripped Christchurch — “several persons have already acquired a fair amount of skill in their management.” Henry Wagstaff’s manufactory flourished with “demand so good that he has now

several others in hand and next week will see many of them in use.”

Local enterprise faced stiff competition from imported models, one of which was to be used by “a gentleman resident at Woodend, and recently arrived from England, who intends performing the greater portion of the journey overland to Timaru on one.”

By this time, a certain manic element had surfaced. “We learn,” said the “Times” in August, that two gentlemen of strong aquatic propensities have determined upon trying the water adaptation of the machine, and intend racing on the River Avon for a silver cup next Saturday.” One can imagine the disappointment of the populace when this novel event had to be postponed because the machines were not ready. In the interim, on August 17, “Mr Morgan exhibited in Dampier’s Bay (Lyttelton) his water velocipede. The machine... is fixed in the centre of two canoes, 12 feet long, canvas-covered, and water tight. A paddlewheel propels the canoes, the handles in front acting as the rudders.” Finally, on September 11, at the opening of the “Aquatic Season,” the promised event took place, with two water velocipedes made to the orders of Mr Morgan, of Lyttelton, and Mr R. P. Crosbie, of Christchurch. The race, unfortunately, was a nonevent as both contraptions were “out of repair,” the reporter adding that “they appear most unwieldly, and but a very slow rate of speed can be attained.”

Undaunted, Mr Morgan continued with his experiments and, in October, was reported as having converted his “late water velocipede... into a peculiar looking pontoon, which he considers to be very safe... to attain any speed with the machine, it is said to be necessary to lengthen it 12 feet.” Such experiments were not confined to Canterbury. The "Lyttelton Times” reported such novelties as a velocipede from Geneva constructed by a musicbox maker — “a velocipede a musique,” and another adapted by a Frenchman, M. Bluin, who fitted a pair of sails “and in a fair wind skims along like a terrestial nautilus.”

The serious velocipedians, meanwhile, were involved in such considerations as the formation of an athletic association which could “procure a paddock in which... velocipede

races, gymnastics, cricket, archery, or football might be indulged in according to the means or success of the society.” Mr Wagstaff was on the committee of the proposed association and, on the suggestion of a competition being held, was not slow to offer “a new bicycle (as a prize)... for racing on that description of machine.” Oh October 7, 1869, the Christchurch Athletic Association was formally established and took over the rental of a five-acre paddock on the north boundary of Latimer Square. The ceremonial opening was set for Anniversary Day (December 16), 1869.

The “Times” recorded that “an assemblage larger than at any previous sports was collected” and that “the velocipede race was looked upon as the great event of the day.” “Considerable betting” took place before the race. There were six entries and “a greater diversity of steeds could not have occurred in the most distant up-country hack race.” The most likely starter was a recently imported model, ridden by Mr Harston. Three similar locally-made bicycles then lined up, followed by one of Parisian origins, and lastly (shades of Dennis Connor), a tricycle. The course was along the north-south road on the west side of Latimer Square, down Madras Street to the Railway Station and back.

Two competitors collided early on, and another bicycle “with extraordinarily disproportionate wheels (looked) several times very like a capsize.” On the final leg, and pursued by a wildly

enthusiastic crowd, “the steed with the small hind quarters was leading, with the tricycle second and Mr Pratt third, the much dreaded ... importation being hopelessly in the rear.” At the last moment the leader came down “with an ugly burst” and the tricycle (“the heavyweight”) shot home, with Mr Pratt on his two-wheeler close behind. The distance of a mile and a quarter

was achieved in just under nine minutes. Henry Wagstaffs offer of a new bicycle as a prize appears not to have been taken up. The winner, Mr Hindman, received £4, the runner-up, Mr Pratt, £2, while the successful punters doubtless went home with even more in their pockets. Christchurch’s cycling history was off to a flying start.

By

JENNIFER