The company was involved in the construction of electric tramways in various parts of the world
1903 Jul 2. The Malta Tramways were set up by "Macartney, McElroy & Co. Ltd." following a contract between its representatives and The Malta Government. Construction of the lines began in 1904, with the main terminus being built in Porta Reale, Valletta, so that lines would run over Floriana and Hamrun, at which point they would diverge to different urban centres, including the Three Cities of the Cottonera and Zebbug, passing through Qormi. An extension to cover Birkirkara (B'Kara) was later added to the original schedule.
The Tram had two floors, the lower and the Upper Deck. On the first floor, were the operator [driver] used to be, it had had ten reversible wooden seats, where 20 passengers could be seated. The rest, mostly farmers carrying their fresh fruit and vegetables, including live chickens and rabbits to be sold at Valletta market, would stand up. The upper floor (Upper Deck) could accommodate up to 18 sitting passengers. Standing passengers weren’t allowed due to the overhead electric wires. The Tram had no doors or windows, and the Upper Deck had no roof.
The electric tramway service was inaugurated by Governor General Sir Mansfield Clarke on February 23rd, 1905. In July 1908 a new company, Malta Tramways Limited, was set up to take over the Malta operations, but, after being declared insolvent, the company closed down on December 15th, 1929.
The trams came to Malta at the same time as buses.The subsequent proliferation of motor transport left electric and steam traction squabbling over the traffic leftovers . The tramway had a more ignominious ending than the railway. While the ghost of the railway still haunts Hamrun, Birkirkara and Museum stations, the tramway has been wiped clean off the face of Malta. Parts of the route are nowadays unrecognisable.
1905 John Francis (senior) advertised for a lady to give him instruction in writing and spelling and do secretarial duties. Ms Wynstanley got the job.
The child was registered as Felicitie Rosamund Frances Wynstanley in London in Nov 1906. The father is given as Francis Maurice Wynstanley, "electrical engineer". But there is no UK marriage and no birth of the father on UK records, nor the death of him prior to 1911 census.
1908 Jul 21. Malta Tramways floated. The shares were being sold by Macartney, McElroy & Co, in which J F Maccartney owned 51.6% and J A McElroy 40.5 % of the shares.
1909 . Divorce Court File: 9810. Appellant: Winifred Coral Macartney. Respondent: John Francis Macartney. Type: Wife's petition for divorce
1913 Feb 15. J F Macartney died
1914 May 1 J F Macarney's will was proved but the estate could not be distributed because of legal problems. These problems centred round 3 illegitimate children that he made provision for. £64,984 was the value of his estate, and included £1000 for the poor of Malta. He was described as of Handrum (probably Hamrun, Malta), Malta and of Southampton. News reports do not go into any more detail.
1915 Dec/Jan One gets the best view of the affairs of Macartney & McElroy from the court case that the Company Secretary Brought against it when she was dismissed.
