Christchurch Past & Present #16 - Motorbus on High Street

High Street, Christchurch, NZ. circa 1908. postcard.

More past than present, a view of High Street looking northwest towards "the bottleneck" in the distance, the intersection of Colombo, High, and Hereford streets, just south of the Square. Cashel street runs across the foot of this postcard circa 1908.

The correspondent helpfully names significant features of the view, including the motor bus. In most early twentieth century views of Christchurch, trams feature prominently.

Perhaps the bus was an early experiment that was found wanting when it came to mass transit so the electric tram prevailed until their departure in the 1950s. The tram, of course, made a re-appearance in the central city as a tourist gimmick in recent decades and part of the Cashel street mall is currently being ripped up to extend the overpriced ride round the few central city blocks it traverses.

For a present day view of the scene pop over to Canterbury Heritage where the two views are presented together. Thanks to Canty Heritage for putting up a current view; I've only a recent view 90 degrees to the left down Cashel St.

Christchurch Past & Present #7 Sumner by Tram

At the turn of the last century, residents of Christchurch would seek an escape from the city to the seaside suburb of Sumner to enjoy the surf and sea breezes, a dip in the ocean, a walk along the beach, with a cup of tea or an ice cream at the tearooms before catching the late afternoon tram back into the city. Click on pics for larger image.

Nine car steam tram excursion about to leave Cathedral Square in central Christchurch for Sumner, circa 1909.

Holiday Excursion by Steam Tram to Sumner. Shag Rock, Rapanui, far right background, 1908.

Donkey Rides on Sumner Beach, 1907. Today the donkeys might not meet environmental & hygiene standards

Home again on the late afternoon tram - this time by electric tram, circa 1910.

Most Southern in the World #2 - Streetcar & Moving Wagon?

click image to enlarge

The Most Southern Electric Car in the World, Invercargill, NZ, William Nees, circa 1910.

The view across the street from the Hansom cab & gas lamp from the previous "Most Southern" #1 post reveals an impressive electric tram or streetcar of the Invercargill Tramways company. Note that the young girl standing by the gas lamp now has a post box she can post letters in. But is it the most southern post box?

And just a few years earlier, before the electric tramway was laid down and the overhead poles & wires installed, a team of horses and a wagon pause to admire the gas lamp. Is that bicycle or that church the "most southern" of its kind?

Christchurch - Past & Present #4 South from Cathedral Square

Looking south from Cathedral Square, from a spot close to front doors of the Cathedral... a century or so between views... (click on pics for larger view).

1906

circa 1910 and 2007

The Bank of New Zealand retains its location on the left corner, replacing its original building with a multiple storey structure. The United Service Hotel on the right corner was built in 1884-85, a fifth storey added in 1929 and was demolished 1990 to be replaced by the ANZ Bank building currently on the site. The trams were long gone, the last one running in 1954, but a few were brought back in 1995 as a lure for tourists on a short downtown circuit.

Southern view from Square, 2007 showing BNZ and ANZ buildings in wider view (top);
Restored tram streetcars (bottom), The Square, 2007.