INTERESTING ANNIVERSARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 30 May 1930, Page 2

INTERESTING ANNIVERSARY

NELSON’S ONLY TRAM

Twenty-nine years ago to-day the then Mayor of Nelson, wity Councillors and Town Clerk, and a representative of the “Evening Mail,” gathered at the A.M.I*, corner to have the last ride on the old horse-drawn Nelson Tramway which ran from Nelson to the port and back. In order to remove the tramway rails from the roadway the Council had a loan carried enabling it to buy the rights from the proprietor, the late Mr Jonathan Ilarle.

In the first place the tram lines were put in by the Dun Mountain Company for the carriage of copper, chrome and firewood from the mountain to the port. However, on the Company going into liquidation the lines from the reservoir to the centre of the town were taken up and Jonathan Ilarle acquired the rights over the remaining portion from the A.M.P. building at the intersection of Hardy and Trafalgar streets. The lines ran down Hardy street on the right side, along Waimea street to Haven road, thence to the Port. Just as passengers to and from the port now pay 3d each way in the modern motor buses, so Nelsonians up to the" year 1901, paid 3d each way on Jonathan Harle’s tram which maintained an hourly service each way. At one time' when the Palace horsedrawn cars offered opposition to the tramway, fares dropped to Id a ride, but that “cut-throat” price did not last tor long. Older Nelsonians will to-day be able to recall the passing of the old low-set tramcar which provided Nelson with its first passenger service to the port.