The last day of the tramlines : taken at Papanui by Mrs Hodges.
The last day of the tramlines : taken at Papanui by Mrs Hodges.
[11 Sept. 1954]
To mark the last day that trams were used in the normal timetable service, there was a ceremonial running of the "Last Tram" on a return journey from Cathedral Square to Papanui. It was made by a modified Hills car, a Number 165 with a cage double-decker trailer 72. This was the only double-decker trailer owned by the Transport Board and is pictured here with a brass band shown on top. The tram was driven by Inspector G. W Gatehouse and the passengers were specially invited guests, some of whom had been the Board's first employees. Harry Smith, who had been a passenger on the first tram to Papanui, a horse-drawn vehicle, in 1881, was also on board. At Papanui C. C. Holland, chairman of the Transport Board, spoke at a brief ceremony arranged by the Papanui Rugby League Club who were also holding a gala that day. The tram then returned to the Square, driven by Mr Holland, to meet up with a tram making a similar return trip to Cashmere. Speeches were made by Mr Holland and Robert Mafeking Macfarlane (1901-1981), the Mayor, who had driven the Cashmere "Last Tram". A bus was then driven through a silver ribbon to signify the start of the complete bus service. See: The Press, 4 Sept. 1954, p. 40; The Press, 13 Sept. 1954, p. 13
File Reference CCL Photo Collection 22, Img02317
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