THE CITY TRAMWAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1812, 11 December 1879, Page 2

THE CITY TRAMWAY.

TURNING THE FIRST SOD. Tho ceremony of turning the first sod (in this case a barrow load of shingle) of the proposed tramways of the Canterbury Tramway Company, took place at noon to-day. Shortly after that hour, a goodly gathering of leading citizens, including City and Sydenham Councillors, &c., assembled by invitation of the contractor for the first section, Mr J. Barrett, en the belt, nearly opposite tho Railway station, where Mr J. Evans Brown, the chairman of the company, accompanied by a barrow and long-handled shovel of the most workman-like appearance was in waiting. In front of the barrow was a heap of shingle. Mr Brown, having doffed his coat, said he bad been requested by the contractor to perform the ceremony of turning . the first sod of the tramway undertaking It had been expected that the senior member of tho Assembly for the city would have been present to do the work, but he had been prevented from doing so, and so also had his Worship the Mayor, who had a prior engagement of considerable importance. He (Mr Brown) had now very great pleasure in inaugurating a work which ho believed and trusted would be of very great benefit to tho people of Canterbury. [Applause]. Mr Brown then proceeded to fill up the tho barrow with the shingle, evoking many enconiums from the navvies present by the able manner in which he handled the shovel. Having throe parts filled the barrow, he trundled it a few yards and turned it over, declaring the first sod duly turned. The company then, on the invitation of Mr Barrett, proceeded to the railway shed where some very excellent “sparkling” had been provided to drink success to the new undertaking. Mr Brown, the chairman of directors of the company, said be desired to propose a toast. Before doing so, however, he might state that the Hon. John Hall and the Hon. Mr RAleston had wired their regrets at being unable to be present on the occasion, but expressing the fullest sympathy with the object for which they had that" day met. His Worship the Mayor, the Commissioner of Railways, and tho Commissioner of Police were also unavoidably absent. He desired to briefly explain the reasons of the delay that had taken place in starting the tramway. Though the company had obtained the necessary concessions so far back as 24th September, 1878. They were prevented from getting to work so early as they otherwise would have done, from the fact that the engines for the tramway, which were expected to be shipped in March of the present year, were not shipped till September. The reason of this delay was explained by the contractors, one of the largest firms in Leeds, to be due to the fact that they had sent a representative to Paris and elsewhere to see if any improvements were being made on the continent in tramway engines, and if so to incorporate them in the ones being constructed for tho Canterbury Company. They now assured the directors that they would possess the best engines in any part of the world. They would be perfect'y noiseless, and fitted with automatic brakes, so that no engine-driver could exceed the speed given to him by the superintending engineer on leaving the shed at the Depot. This being so, the directors did not think it worth while to commence the work of laying the track until they were assured of the engines being shipped, so that when a start was made the line could be opened to the public at the earliest possible period. (Hear, hear.) The contractor for the first portion of the line now let, and which they met that day ta inaugurate, would have to complete it by the 15th January next or about four weeks from date. Mr Barrett intended to work not only by daylight but also by lime-light at night in order to get the work finished in time, and he (Mr Brown) confidently expected to have the tramway at at work from the railway station to the depot in Ca'hedral square about the first week in February. The carriages they already had, and the engines would be here in time so that no further delay need be expected. He hoped the public would give the directors credit for wishing to get the work finished as speedily as possible, and from what ho had seen of Mr Barrett, the contractor, ho feltcertain that he would carry out his contract to tho satisfaction of the company and the public. He now asked them to drink “Success to the Canterbury Tramways,” coupled with the name of Mr Barrett, the contractor for the first section. [Cheers.J The toast was drunk with enthusiam. Mr Barrett said he felt sure that desptie the hard times they had had to contend with, there was a great future in store for Canterbury. He thanked those present for the manner in which they had responded to the toast. He was better known to them as an hotel-keeper, but he had also had considerable experience in contracting, and he trusted he should carry out this work to the satisfaction of the company, Had it not been for the delay which had necessarily occurred in preparing for the ceremony of that day, he should have had several chains of the tramway already laid. He begged to thank them heartily for their kindness, and to wish them, in the language of the old country, “Oead millc failthe.” Mr Birch proposed—“ The Chairman and Board of Directors.” Mr Brown responded on behalf of tho Board of Directors- He might say that Mr Birch was tho originator of tramways in Christchurch, and when he (Mr Brown) wae asked to join the company, he at once consented, as he felt that Christchurch was the best place for tramways in the world. They had received very great kindness at the hands of the local authorities, and they had also to some extent relieved the city authorities of their responsibilities. In a few weeks they would have cars running from Addington, Ferry Road, and Papanui at 3d each passenger. When this was accomplished he believed the public would feel that the Tramway Company had supplied a very great want. Tho other toasts proposed were Messrs Conyers and Back,” responded to by the latter gentleman ; “ The Press,” responded to by Messrs Plunket and Hart; and “ The Engineer,” responded to by Mr Thornton, 0 E - ____________