Christchurch Tramway Company, Ltd. Head office and central depôt, Cathedral Square, Christchurch. Depôts and stables at Worcester Street, Sumner, Papanui, Riccarton, Halswell, and Tai Tapu. The Canterbury Tramway Company (from which the present company took over the tramways in 1893) commenced running cars in 1879. Since then the lines have been greatly extended, and now run from the centre of the city, Cathedral Square, to the Papanui railway station, to Sunnyside on the Lincoln Road, through Sydenham to the Port Hills at the end of Colombo street, Christchurch Railway Station, and to Sumner via the Ferry Road, Woolston, the estuaries of the Avon, and Heathcote and the sea-beach. The total length of lines is eighteen miles. The Sumner line is worked by steam motors, and the other lines with horses. The company employs a large staff of engine-drivers, horse-drivers, stablemen, guards, platelayers, and has a number of mechanics in the workshops, where cars are built and painted and engines and machinery kept in repair.