OLD COACHING DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1928, Page 8

OLD COACHING DAYS.

DEATH OF A PIONEER.

VIVID STORIES OF THE PAST.

TARAWERA ERUPTION RECALLED

The late Mr. Henry Kerr, whose death occurred at Howick last week, was one of the last links with the very old coaching days in New Zealand. His reminiscences, as told to a Matamata journalist a couple of years ago. would serve to give the rising generation some glimpse of the life of the pioneers, and remind the older settlers of some of their "good old times."

"Harry" Kerr was one of Carter's men, starting with that well-known firm on Easter Monday, 1879. His first job was to take up the run with a Royal Mail coach between Franjvton and Cambridge. The Main Trunk railway at that time stopped at Te Awamutu, and the Thames line was under construction as far as Morrinsville. The running of the first train from Frankton to Hamilton was witnessed by "Harry." It was a goods train only, and was drawn by a horse. About this time the road from Oxford (since re-christened Tirau by the postal authorities), through the Mainaku Rush, was opened up, and a weekly coach service was inaugurated by Carter. "Harry" was put on this run, and saw his first bicycle one day when driving to Rotorua. The horses took fright, and had they not been in the hand 3 of an expert disaster would have overtaken the mail coach that day. Incidentally those motorists who now think of driving froni Auckland to Rotorua in comfort in sis hours will be interested to learn thai with the coach it was good going to makt the return trip from Cambridge-Rotorut in two days with changes of horses.

Tarawera Eruption. One of the old " coachies'most vivid stories is in connection with the Tarawera eruption of 1886. Mr. Kerr, on this occasion, was staying the night at Tirau, his passengers: being located at the Oxford Royal Hotel, and he himself occupying a room at the back of the stables (now used by \a motor body ' builder). "Harry" Kerr was awakened on this eventful day by a noise which suggested that the building was being ■ attacked - with a battering ram. He jumped out of bed to "let go" at the 1 Mayes, whom he thought t7t Qli u ckin 8 a coach into the » He w as amazed to see the refl^ce east Even a t°tw gration to tbe south- • fiftv miW t g great. reat distance—nearly fifty miles—he considered lie could easily - ?nfoTetr gr Th e hOUld , erS **5 *£ time-table for and t0 * t8 e on the road. The felWs hair wasTte? rally standing on end-" pushin J^ s ll^f up" as the coach driver termed it TT» way properly scared, though unawkro of

iu»miHHttnmmiin«iunmnnmnmmminniuninmnnuiimniiiiimiiimnnnmmninnnnnunmmui >muiiiiuiiimtimmiiitnuiiiiiMtiiimuiiiiiiiiiiniimniiiMiimmiiiiiimminiitttiniU!iNiiiiutmitiuiimiii the true cause of the strange conditions. The reason for this was that dense bush| surrounded the changing post of which he| was in charge. Passing on, the coach met the first "escapee." He was a wellknown Rotorua character, named Black, and was cutting it out,in great style— would hardly stop to pass the time of ' day. An American passenger on the coach wanted Kerr to turn back. By this time they were meeting many natives and Europeans, fleeing from they knew not what for certainty. Kerr, however, said : his job was to get through to Rotorua, and if this was humanly possible he was : going to get there. Though ashes were now falling, the coachdriver was ably "backed-up" by two English girl pas--1 sengers. An Amusing Side. , On the crest of a hill at Ngongotaha j the driver was greeted by a native who . knew him well. "Where are you going. Henere?" was the greeting. "To Rotorua, of course," replied Kerr. "Py korry, Jhe gone," said the Maori, "only a big' . lisle there now. I tink a million mile j deep, eh." The town was a wee bit elevated when | they reached Rotorua. A certain hotel- ' keeper, fearing that the end had come. had thrown his bar open, and all hands £ had been imbibing. The Yankee had , agaiu beseeched the driver to turn back * before this, bjit Kerr said he was going s to Rotorua even if it had gone to the ' bottom of hell. The coach continued to . time-table, and made the return journey next day. It would with Harry Kerr in ■' charge. This was typical of the man. f He was brave, sturdy and strong, and in ; his way served his country as a good v and faithful servant. The "old hands" ® say we don't breed his sort now. Well, .conditions change people. I