1867, and the line was opened for passenger traffic on December 9, 1867.
Something should be said about the work of Mr. Edward Dobson. In a paper he contributed in 1870 to the Institution of Civil Engineers, describing the Public Works of Canterbury, Mr. Dobson supplied a complete set of drawings and documents relating to the Tunnel. The professional ability shown in these papers was recognised by the Council of the Institution by the award to Mr. Dobson of the Telford Medal and the Telford Premium. Mr. Dobson was Provincial Engineer of Canterbury from 1854 to 1862, and in addition to the work of the Lyttelton Tunnel he engineered the road to the West Coast goldfields, but after the abolition of the provinces, his work in Canterbury came to an end, and for some years he followed his profession in Australia. Returning to Christchurch, he afterwards held the position of lecturer on civil engineering at Canterbury College. He died in April, 1908, at the advanced age of 91.
After his successful conduct of the Lyttelton Tunnel campaign, there could be no other candidate for the Superintendency, and on August 30, 1861, Mr. Moorhouse was returned unopposed.
The new Provincial Council met on October 23. During the session, a Provincial Council Extension Ordinance was passed, increasing the number of members from twenty-six to thirty-five, thereby necessitating a new election for Superintendent and members of Provincial Council, and in the following year, March 31. 1862, Mr. Moorhouse was returned unopposed for his third term of office.
In December, 1860, the Provincial Council had passed the Municipal Council Ordinance, enabling any town which desired ta do so, to establish local government. Lyttelton was the first town to take advantage of the privilege, and the election there of a Municipal Council
