THE ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 12071, 17 December 1903, Page 8

THE ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS

Fine, weather, such as Dunedin is always bles-sed with on the occasion of public rejoicings, helped to make yesterday's celebrations a marked success. The rejoicings npou the open of the northern section were, by no means confined to the favored 250 guests of Noyes Bros. "The. public assembled in thousands along the route of the procession, and in the evening it seemed ae if almost half the population gathered in the Botanical Gardens.

The luncheon was one of the most successful ever given in the City. Noves Bros, entertained right royally. The menu was a model—its staple lines honest beef and lamb, eatable poultry, and other things that one could safely partake of: the wines were of the choicest brands; the serving satisfactory. The one mistake of the luncheon was the large amount of speechifying. It spun out to 3.55 p.m. But it "niurt be acknowledged that the talking was interest-

Apart from ihe speeches reported in yesterday's issue the most important was'that by Cr James Gore in proposing the toast of "Noyes Bros, and the Staff." He felt proud to be associated with the great work that had now been partially completed. When the City Council first, decided to construct electrical tramways they had to consider the bust way to carry them out economically and efficiently. Noves Bros, being represented in Dunedin at* the time, Mr Goodman was asked to report, and it was arranged that they should ako supply plans m order that tenders might be called "for thn work. When the plans were furnished thev proved to be such works of cngineerin" art that tbey quite established a confidence in the firm—a confidence that they were thoroughly competent and capable" of carrvin" out the work—and the result was that an arrangement was made and an ajrreement drawn up Ixetween them and the Corporation in connection with the matter. This bem<* a new departure altogether with the City Council, there was reasonably the Jorge difference of opinion that the"mavor kid alluded to. But whatever that difference of opinion may have been, he thought tlu-y were all apeed now—and he believed the public agreed too—that it was one of the w-eest tilings the Council bad ever done (Applause.) The people of Dunedin were mat day taking part in the opening of a tramway that, he believed, was as perfect as it was possible for engineering skill to make it—(Applause.) It had all tbe latest scientific, improvements, and credit was due to Messrs Noyes Bros, for having designed and carried to a successful finish "so important a work. When speaking of Messrs Noyes Bros, one could not dissociate from bis mind the name of Mr Goodman.—(Applause.) The Council had been exceedingly fortunate in obtaining so capable an engineer as Mr Goodman had proved himself to be. In addition to the names of Mr Noyes and Mr Goodman, he would couple with tbe toast the names of Messrs Brearlev (first as-sis-tantl, Shepherd (second assistant). Bowman (third aoistant), and Spear (accountant).

Mr :Noyes, in replying, said that the measure oi success they had met with so Jar was no more and no less, than they had promised the City Council at the time they were negotiating to be entrusted with "the work. Ihe tramway system of Dunedin now exemplified the best tramway construction known m the world. As a member of the firm of :\oyes Bros., h e wished to add his apprtca.ion of Mr Goodman's work and of the elf'.ris of the staff.—(Applause.) The luncheon being over, the gue*is mounted the six cars that were decorated for the occasion and had a run to the Junction terminus. At the George street bridge there wav v stoppage while tbe Mav or (Mr Scott) unveiled a marble tablet and "declared the bridge oj.e.i for traffic. A', tbe boundary of tbe Borough of North-east Vailev the Mayor (Mr John Evans) and his Council officially welcomed the citizen* on the cars to >'i>rt.h-eas:r Vailev. Cheers wt-iv given for the City Council"and for Mr Goo-1-m:n>.

In the evening the " Continental" held in the Garde:;-> -aas simply rushed. The rotunda, the i.ortheni entrance, and the hci-rt. of the. enc!o.-uiv were effectively illumbmt'd with electricity, and the various braos jdayid. The Kaikorui Band (Conductor i.a.d.aw) chose the 'Sword and Lance' inarch and die 'Copenhagen' march; the Naval Band (Conductor Stratton) irave the ' Kalgoorlie ' march and the " Syrin-ja' waltz; the Citizens' Band (Conductor Coo';) played a "fraviafa ' selection and the ' Armv Echoes' march; the Morningtou Band (Conductor Smith) contributed " the ' Fitrew.-11, my Comrades' march and a Scottish selection ; and tbe North-east Valley Band (Conductor Cook) played a ' Faust ''selection and the 'Belle of New York' march. The Dunedin Pipe Band were also present. The electric earn conveyed the guests from and to town, and the" multitude scrambled as best tbey could on to the old cars. v-luYh were almost burst open by the over-euuvd-

•>ir Joseph Ward's message to the mavor ran thus:—" I heartily congratulate theCitv of Dunedin upon the opening of its splendid tramway system, which. I'feel sure, wiil prove inestimable benefit to the people of Dunedin."

Mr C. Is. Reeves, one of the .ex-mavors included amongst the guests, was a parte to the Hiininir of the contract with Mr D~ Proudfnot. lor the old tramway service