Day Of Coaches To West Coast Recalled

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30056, 14 February 1963, Page 17

Day Of Coaches To West Coast Recalled

The coach in the Canterbury museum was known to lads of his generation as. "the red coach” and many a time he had washed it for Is, said Mr F. A. Pudney, who is visiting Christchurch after a lapse of 60 years. He is an old boy of Christ's College. Mr Pudney said that when he was at Christ’s College he spent many of his holidays at Springfield, which was then the terminus for the coaches from the West Coast. Passengers and luggage were taken by train from Springfield to Christchurch, "The coaches were run by Jim Cassidy, a big Irishman, who lived near Springfield,” said Mr Pudney. “The driver of the red coach was Jim Clark and the driver of the green coach was Joe Searle. The driver of the feed waggon, on which I often rode to some of the staging places, was Harry Rundle.

“The coach would limber up with two horses from the hotel to the railway station, where it collected the luggage and mail while the passengers had a meal. Three leaders were put in for the trip to The Springs at Porters Pass. There were always three leading horses abreast on these coach trips,■ never two. The next change was at Craigieburn and then on to Bealey.” Mr Pudney was surprised to know there was a bridge over the Waimakariri river at Bealey. He hopes to make the trip to Springfield but finds it a bit difficult to move about because of a stiffness in a leg. Smart Horses “These coaches were really well turned out and they were smart horses. It was a

treat to see them on the road," said Mr Pudney. “I also used to ride on Milliken’s wool waggons at Springfield. Another name I recall from those days is that of Matthias but I don’t know if there are any of that family still in the district. “In the summer of 1903, I think it was, a friend, Stanley Richards, and I rode on bicycles from Springfield to Otixa. They were the old gridirons with front flap brakes. I put the brakes on in the Craigieburn cutting and went over the handlebars. Stanley's father had the first motor-car I ever saw. It was a Humberette. I wonder if Stanley is still alive. I would like to get in touch with him if he is but 60 years is a big gap to bridge,” Mr Pudney said. There were many interesting things in the Canterbury Museum but he thought it was too like a morgue and too crowded.

Christchurch had changed almost beyond recognition. It had vastly improved since he knew it in the days of the steam tram to Sumner and horse trams on other runs. After leaving Christ’s Col-

lege Mr Pudney went to England by way of Cape Horn. He served his time as an engineer with a branch of Westinghouse at Bury in Lancashire. “I was paid 3s 6d a week. The day began at 7 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m.,’’ he said. He. took out his first driver’s licence in 1909, it was for a motor-cycle, and he still has one he uses in London. In 1911 he went to Adelaide where he spent three years in the tramways drawing office. He returned to England and served in the First World War as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service. After the war he joined Wm. Beardmore and Company, Ltd., and went to Italy in 1931 to represent that firm on marine diesel engine construction. He stayed in Italy for 10 years. He was married in Italy. Mrs Pudney is an Italian and during the interview Mr Pudney spoke to his wife in Italian. He apologised for his lapse from English, but said he did it from habit. Mrs Pudney speaks English fluently. When he returned to England, Mr Pudney worked for the Air Ministry. His next job was with the Iraq Petroleum Company in London. Mr Pudney was for some years secretary of the Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association in London. He saw the membership increase from three to 35.