Mr. John Ford Hartland, Secretary of the Christchurch Tramway Company, Limited, was born in Lyttelton in 1862, educated at Christ's College, and brought up to mercantile life in Christchurch. Mr. Hartland was subsequently for five years in Townsville, North Queensland, but returned to his native country in 1889. He joined the service of the Canterbury Tramway Company in 1891, as secretary, and on the inception of the Christchurch Tramway Company in 1893, was appointed to his present position.