FIRST ELECTRIC TRAINS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20643, 15 February 1929, Page 10

FIRST ELECTRIC TRAINS.

THE OPENING CEREMONY. CHRISTCHURCH-LYTTELTON LINE. (Feb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. The first electric trains to carry passengers thrjugh the Ghristchurch-Lyttel-ton tunnel were run to-day, when the opening ceremony of the new electric service was held. The official act of opening was performed by Mrs Taverner, who severed the silken ribbon with a pair of golden scissors presented to her by the contractors, Messrs Cory, Wright, and Salmon. After a short speech by the Minister of Railways (Mr W. B. Taverner), the large official party of 900 and about 250 of the general public went by special trains to Lyttelton, where the Railways Department entertained the invited guests at afternoon tea. There were many speeches, including tTTosc of Mr Taverner and Sir Joseph Ward, all the speakers saying that the occasion was an important one, and that the improved service through the tunnel would assist in a further development of Canterbury. Sir Joseph Ward hinted at the possibility ot a considerable development in the electrification of railways, but made it clear that this would not come in the. near future. Even such works as the! electrification of the Wellington-Hutt lino • and the Auckland-Onehunga line might have to wait seven years. Mr J. G. Coates was among the speakers, and he was given a remarkable ovation when he rose to address the gathering. . Unfortunately, the electric locomotive failed on the return journey owing to a defect in the overhead gear in the tunnel, and the two trains had to be hauled back by a steam locomotive, and then brought to Christchurch by steam, so that the passengers once again had a taste of smoke and soot in the tunnel.