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Canterbury Roundabout No 156. [A magazine programme broadcast on station 3YA Christchurch.]
Part 1: Commentary and actuality recordings made on the last tram from Papanui, with crowds lining the roads and a band on the top deck of the tram. The other final tram is arriving simultaneously at Cathedral Square from Barrington. Mrs Pesketh of 39 Coles Place, St Albans, is interviewed and recalls the old horse trams. Mr McFarlane, the Mayor of Christchurch, speaks to the crowd and praises the conductors and conductresses.
Mr C.C. Holland, chairman of the Transport Board also speaks briefly as does Mr J.F. Fardell, general manager of the Transport Board, who quotes Rudyard Kipling: "Transportation is civilisation". Mr Holland rings one of the old tram bells which has been presented to him.
One of the conductresses who has worked on the trams for 12 years is interviewed. The announcer describes the sadness felt by two elderly former tram drivers at the end of the trams. Five conductresses call out "Goodbye" to the last tram backing into its shed for the last time.
Mr Joe Donahue who joined up in 1915, describes the last wheel of the last tram going over a penny for the final time. He says he is the oldest living former tram engine driver. Mr Wylie, another former steam tram driver talks about a fire on a tram. He was resident conductor at Riccarton and kept his tram at his house. He drove on the last trams to Sumner and Brighton. John Wilson and George Tomlinson, who started on the trams in 1909 and 1910, talk about driving trams up the Cashmere hills. Mr Tomlinson was Mr Wilson's conductor.
Mr Bill Cook, who started in 1913, recalls the Sumner-Woolston line and a troublesome inspector.
Part 2: Christchurch Workers' Educational Association (WEA) end of winter break-up concert.
Secretary Mr Lincoln Efford talks about the concert’s origins and introduces a speech from WEA President Mr. Alan Dingwall.
Interview with Mr Mason of the WEA recorder group. Henry Purcell’s ‘Here’s the Summer’ is played.
The Esperanto class sing ‘Oh My Darling Clementine’ in Esperanto.
Mr L.F. DeBerry, tutor of creative English class talks about his class.
Mrs Fisher from Dr Roger Duff’s Māori language class gives a short speech in Māori which is translated [probably by Dr Duff.] She says all the students of the class are Pākēha.
John Ritchie conducts the WEA choir in singing Lawrence Haywood Lee Jr’s 'Cavalier Song’.