TRAMWAY PIONEER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 15

TRAMWAY PIONEER

ME. P. HANSEN'S DEATH EARLY DAYS IN AUCKLAND START OF ELECTRIC SYSTEM The death occurred in a private hospital in Auckland yesterday morning of Mr. Paul M. Hansen, the first manager of the Auckland Electric Tramways and a well-known figure in the city for the past 40 years. Mr. Hansen was born in Schleswig-Holstein 69 years ago, bis father being chaplain to one of the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He came to New Zealand in the late nineties as the representative of British interests in New Zealand goldmining ventures, and while in Auckland obtained a franchise for the running of a tramway system in Devonport. Mr. Hansen returned to England with the object of floating a company, but became associated with the British Electric Traction Company, which, in 1898, purchased the Auckland Tramway Company, then operating horse-drawn trams. Later there was an amalgamation with the New Zealand Electric Light and Traction Company, which had obtained a concession from the Auckland City Council to construct and run electric tramways.

Toward the middle of 1901 arrangements were made with the City Council and various suburban local bodies for the introduction of an electric tramway system and in November, 1902, the first section of the service—that from the city to the Three Lamps by way of Karangahape and Ponsonby l?oads —was opened. Mr. Hansen continued as manager of the system until 1908, when he was succeeded by the late Mr. J. J. Walklate. The system was acquired by the Auckland City Council in July, 1919, and was subsequently taken over by the Auckland Transport Board. Mr. Hansen afterwards engaged in the land agency business. After the outbreak of the Great War he was interned on Motuihi Island as an enemy subject. A fellow-prisoner during part of his internment was Count Felix von Luckner, who is now visiting Auckland in his yacht in the course of a world tour. Mrs. Hansen, who was Miss Helen Scherff. of Auckland, died nine vears ago and the only son, Mr. Robert sen, died seven weeks later. There is one grand-daughter.