In Oct
1892 Three youths, Albert among them had to answer to charges of
housebreaking at Temuka - they pleaded guilty, and were
sentenced to two months hard labour. Both counsel urged that the
proceedings of the boys were due to a spirit of mischief rather than to
criminality, and Mr Hay called two late employers of Cone, who gave him a
Albert was a shepherd for John Lecky of Rangiora when he joined the "Rough Riders" as as a volunteer and went with the Third Contingent doing service in South Africa - money for the cause had been raised for equipment mainly by public subscription. The contingent sailed 17th February 1900 in the "Knight Templar" and arrived at London 26th March. They entrained for Aliwal North on the south eastern border of the Orange Free State. Here, despite being well supplied with food water and ammunition, the Boers proved elusive. They marched south for Kroonstadt where they were amalgamated with the 1st and 2nd Contingents. They were frequently called upon to hold difficult ground against strong enemy pressure. Conditions in South Africa were
so severe that issued uniforms deteriorated quickly - they rotted, ripped
and were often left behind in camps never returned to. They were worn for
weeks on end, slept in and long days in the saddle and lack of washing
took their toll on uniforms. Desperate New Zealanders resorted to looting
civilian clothes for especially for something warm.
Albert was invalided home on the 13th
December 1900 and was met at the Garrison Hall, Dunedin 24th
January suffering the effects of enteric fever. When discharged, 24th April 1901, Albert states his trade as "mechanical engineer" and the following month, on June
22, he and Elsie Marion Burt were
married at Rangiora.
 Wedding portrait: Albert
Charles Cone and Elsie Marion Burt, 21 June 1901. Front left: Mother of the groom, Sarah
Cone nee Barnard seated left; the brides parents, Elizabeth Sarah
nee Ivory seated right, with husband William Alfred Burt standing behind
her.
When WWII was over, Christchurch residents saw the tram tracks start disappearing from streets and were being replaced by buses - the last line to go was Papanui in 1954, . However, in Feb 1995, Christchurch opened a 2.5-kilometre central city loop, heritage tram system, and running all year round, as well as a 1.4-kilometre extension opened in Feb 2015 and a tram museum at the Ferrymead Heritage Park with operating trams (Photo below: Albert and his conductors photographed en route to Cathedral Square)  Albert and Elsie's made their
home at 5 Ngairo Street Christchuch where they brought up their
4 children - Doris, Ivy, Charles and Marjorie. Sadly, they lost two
sons - their first-born, Albert (Bertie) Alfred CONE (b: 8 Jan, 1902
in Timaru who d: July 11, 1908 - he was bur: Rangiora)
and Raymond Edwin CONE (b: Oct 1908 in Christchurch, d: June 28,
1917 in Christchurch Bur: Sydenham Cemetery with his
parents
               
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At Christchurch, from
about 1880, numerous private companies operated horse and steam powered
trams along Christchurch streets but progress demanded the
city review its transport to catch up with other cities. At
a meeting held in January 1903, the Christchurch Tramway Board was formed
to set up a public transport service which would be responsible for the construction, purchasing and
ownership of transport. It became the Christchurch Transport Board (CTB)
and electric trams ran from 1905. Albert gained a
position as a tram engine driver commencing work in 14 Mar 1909 - after 28 yrs service, he retired 23 Dec 1937.
