PILGRIM DAYS.

PETER KERR'S RUN. THE OLD-TIME FERRIES. [AH Rights Reserved'.] (By "Pioneer.") It used to be an outing domi the river to Peter Kerr's run. Peter was a fine old-faahioned Scotiy, short and grizzled, who walked with turned-out toes, talked Scotch as broad as the Town Belt, and had a good pleasant face that made you welcome. He had a big herd of cows, and sent milk into town. H-o had taken up land down near tile beach, on the bank of the river, and had a snug homestead and out-buildings on one of the good land sections among the sandhills; and his cows and stock wandered at large over the run of ui> and down hillocks of sand, with patches of better soil in places. Mis nearest neighbours were a mile away, The Dudley lanuiy had a place nearer town and nearer again Mr Hitchens, a Cornish early man, had a nioe house. There were a few others. Mr Kerr had a Hat-bottomed boat that put one across the river, the Dudleys another. A DAY'S SHOOTING, in winter time a uay's tiucji shooting

'on Old reWjrs run, was unuattitoou. luey iook uie Uoor ana <j etier mua <lrinKs, such as whisky, an-a i'eteic. noutenola found tne mutton ana nam, tue jam and lruit and cream, so Uiai altogether tue sportsmen d.d not lare so badly. Uucks at times were plentiful on ilie river ami laK.es. Then some wouiu make a very early morning sally for frost hsli, which at times was worth the trip. Others would "bob" tor eels—big ones were in plenty 'down there —herrings also, and at times flounders. So that m one way ana another a day's excursion l>a pleasantly and profitably speut ' down the river.' Even in the late fifties people went for a day's duels shooting down the Lincoln road, and got thenbirds a mile or two away. How sadly things have altered! Away to the left along tho sea beach, extending to the seven-mile peg, or some such boundaries, was Matt. Joyce's run. He was one who, like many more, did not take root. The run passed to one Charlie Turner, and wholly, or in part, remained his for many years. It was used' mostly for cattle. Some very rough people had at times to do with that country. The Waimakariri front and Eelton's pub were very near, and some astonishing drinking was seen there, and gory scenes. On one occasion a gang, one of whom owned an "outlaw" bullock, that could not be brought in, had him sentenced. The gang, well mounted, were to ride him down amongst the hillocks until he fell. At last he fell down thoroughly exhausted and beaten. He was roped, for they feared him. Then the ruffians, who had come prepared, cut and hacked his tail off to the stump. A FAMOUS FIGHT. On this country also was the prize fight ground between a Hobart

''townie," pure blood .Uerwenter, Jones by name., and one iJray, or something, working in the tunnel, for £SO a side. All the talent attended. It ivas quite an event, as at tlie Sayers and Heenan historical battle, where Peers and Commoners, high officials, and churchmen, slightly disguised, are said' to have been present. The old early men rolled up—even the Crown Prosecutor ana his friends. There was a, scene with a hot-headed policeman, revolver, and threats, and such-like, ending in the fighting lot, "bottle holders," and the whole "caboodle," having to stand up before the Magistrate, and perhaps go to the Supreme Court.

Just a little down the river bank on HJiat was the run, the landing place fox* sheep and cattle of the Jvaiapoi Company's steamboats, quite near the Belfast factory and railway. That was the landing place in pilgrim days for boards and scantling, posts and rails, shingles and firewood, from the bushes. The stuff was punted down the pretty little stream that ran through the woodland, with its banks of tea tree, and with dear little teal swimming in and out amongst the overhanging greenery; a peaceful scene, for the bush men —and there were some rough specimens—seemed with one accord (whatever they might have done with ducks, meaning a solid dish), to be attracted and amused by the harmless little birds and their playful ways, sometimes with ' a brood of wee things like the smallest bantam chicks. And quite near, would be heard the melodious notes of the parson bird, curving in and out amongst the topmost growth of the tall white pine trees, gently swaying in the breeze and making gay with its sweet notes and playful gambols the surroundings. From a forest scene like this, the felled trees sent down to Stewart's gully their quota towards building the pilgrim township; its weather-board and shingled "lean-to," and 20 x 10 little makeshifts, so prized then, but which were doomed to destruction with the march of time by the ruthless Hand of progress. So they went out of sight, a mass of worm-bored white pine ruins, leaving here and there a weather defying structure of sods well put together by stalwart arms. A LIVELY FERRY.

Tlie Heatlicote ferry and its cap- | tain were quite surpassed in independence by Mr Felton, tihe keeper of the Walmakariri ferry, aiid his myrmidons On this, the Christcliurch side, say, in a sou'-wester, should there be delay, well, you might slielter in the "pub" ; but, on the Kaiapoi side you were a mile or mora away from cover, and, should things be gay in the establishment, you might coo-ee and roar until further orders, before the crew would deign to hear. You see, it was, between "pub" and punt, a moneymaking business, and the lessee was said to have macfe some thousands of pounds out of it-. But easy come, easy go —yes, often very easy, and not so simple to get again. THE STRONG MEN. Sir William AVhite, the bridgebuilder, altered all that state of things. Out ol : that quiet planning brain, as before in ivaiapoi Town, a scheme came by which the terrible "Waiinakariri could bo bridged, despite engineers' opinions and'doubling listeners. But lie had worked it out, knew almost by instinct the weight of water he would have at times to contend with in the Hoods, and carried "White's bridge through triumphantly. And there it stood solidly for years, a monument to liis genius. To such men and not to blatant wind-bags of politicians a new country is indebted for progress. Such men are needed, and tliey are found. As tlie British Government, in any extremity or tight corner, finds men ready, willing and able to face ally difficulty, or to unravel any knotty tangle, so men come out of the crowd . in a new land and solve difficult prob--1 l«m» of aettkment, and give » lead to

others. Such men as Messrs Rhodes, Robinsonj of Cheviot, Moore oi : Uionmark, Hall of Hororata, the McLeans-, Grigg of Longbeach, Grant of Timaru, Wilson of Cashmere the Ru theriords, .Wright,—oh and siiei Canterbury men who might- be named, men 01 great skill, energy and foresight. On that stamp of men a virgin land has to rely for development. And when the, had shown how a wilderness was to. be conquered. and brought into use, giving labour and food; and, of course, not fools enough to neglect their own. interests, then pump and "pub" orators step in, after all the rougli scrub has been cleared away for them, and a smiling la.nd been made for them to live in, and denounce such enterprising men, and point at them as next door to criminals. And, for what? Because they had the foresight and enterprise, the energy and perseverance, to tackle a very rough undertaiung, and succeeded.