SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19203, 17 December 1925, Page 14

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS.

CANTERBURY'S ANNIVERSARY. CARNIVAL SPIRIT ABSENT. HISTORIC SERVICE RECALLED. CHRISTENING OF FIRST SHIP. [jlY TELEG JtArn. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CUEIBTCIITTJtC.II, Wedneaday. Canterbury's seventy-fifth birthday broke dull but warm over the city, with a light northerly blowing. The spirit of carnival was not very pronounced, and most of the shopkeepers were busy with the Christmas trade. The schools and Government offices wore, closed, but nearly all the retailers kept open. The holiday resorts were well patronised. The decision of the business people not to keep Anniversary Day as a close holiday resulted in some, of the being allowed to lapse. One citizen said the dual arrangement of having part of the celebrations on the Saturday preceding the anniversary and some, on the day itself might suit very well for the sake of convenience but it was not conducive | to a worthy celebration of the founding of the province. Many people did not. know whether it was Anniversary Day or Saturday or to-day. There was a noticeable. absence of bunting. dust, fifty-six years ago to-day the firstcycle raoii i'i New Zealand was ridden in Christchureh. It has been recalled by Mr. T. -Hyde, a visitor from Napier, who built one of the cycles used. It was the first high-wheeled cycle in Christchureh and its rivals in the race were a tricycle and some old style cycles with pedals on the front wheel hubs. Mr. Hyde's new model was ridden by his brother George, but the old order prevailed, for the Hyde machine collapsed near the winning post. The race was ridden on December 16, 1669. Mrs. Ellen Bruce, nee Gee, of Opawa, is believed to be the only person living who attended the historic farewell service in St. Paul's Cathedral before the Canterbury pilgrims sailed from London. She was then seventeen. Mr. John Knowles, secretary to the Canterbury Association in London, and a brother of the late Rev. Francis Knowles, of Christchureh, sent her and her father invitation tickets for the service. Mrs. Bruce has interesting recollections of the farewell function, and especially of a speech made by the father of one of the intending pilgrims about his son, a boy of 20. The father said with emotion: 'T am sending my boy out to New Zealand that he may earn his bread by the sweat of his brow." The youth was evidently not enamoured of the proposal for he burst into tears and created, something of a scene at the tabic. Lord Lyttelton presided at the breakfast, and Ladv Lyttelton was also present. At the close they adjourned to the ceremony of christening the new vessel, which was to be named Canterbury. Mrs. Bruce stood beside Lady Lyttelton and saw her pull tho cord which broke the bottle of champagne. At the. farewell service in St. Paul's Cathedral the preacher was Bishop Wilberforee. of Winchester. His text was " And the Lord said to Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house into a land that 1 will show thee." The solemnity and impressive beauty of the service have been among Mrs. Bruce's most hallowed memories during her long sojourn of more than 72 years in her adopted country. She will celebrate her 93rd birthday on New Year's Day. She lives with her son, Mr. A. Brown Bruce, of Opawa, and has 20 great-grandchildren. START OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE. ORIGIN AL PUPIL LIVING. [ I!Y TELEOR APII. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] GHRISTCIIURCH, Wednesday. In the anniversary celebrations of Christ's College the name of Mr. Charles Thornton Dudley, son of the late Rev. B. W. Dudley, first incumbent of Lyttelton, will be given special prominence, for Mr. Dudley is the oldest old boy of Christ's College. Ho was one of the original pupils who attended the classes when they were first established in the immigration barracks at Lyttelton immediately on arrival of the first four ships. Mr. Dudley was a passenger by the Cressy. Two years later Christ's College was transferred to the site of the vicarage at St. Michael's. Mr. Dudley was entered as a boarder and with his brother crossed the bridle path from the port, carrying his swag with him. They crossed the lloathcotc in a punt, but near where Ferry Road now is there was a big drain and here disaster overfell them. Charles fell in and with him went his swag. He scrambled out- and with difficulty retrieved his swag with a flax stick. His appearance when ho arrived at, school was notimpressive. Mr. Dudley is now resident at Motueka.