THE GODLEY CROSS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6362, 17 December 1898, Page 7

THE GODLEY CROSS.

UNVEILING CEREMONY. .One of the objects of the New Zealand. Natives' Association is to perpetuate the memory of the old colonists, and in pursuance of this policy the Christchurch centre took in hand the restoration of the wayside cross which was erected in tne early days of the province to mark the site of a spring on the Heathcote Valley side of the Bridle Path. The Association had intended also to restore the drinking fountain, which was another of Mrs Godley's gifts, but this work has been deferred until it can be definitely ascertained whether a permanent supply of water can be obtained. Yesterday afternoon the cross was unveiled, and the ceremony attracted fully two hundred people. Among the number were many early settlers, and to them the occasion seemed one of special interest. Some of those present had seen the erection of the first cross, and one of them had quarried .the stone of which the fountain was made. .-Some of -the spectators had walked pver-'frtM Lyttelton, ; 'arid-''tifeilers' had come by the 1.25 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. train 3 from Christchurch, and on the arrival of the last contingent the ceremony began. Mr W. Recce, President of the Natives' Association, before referring to the purpose of the gathering, read a letter from Mr G. Willmer, who wrote that he would have been most happy to attend the ceremony, but that he had promised to take a team of " old boy " cricketers to Ambeiley.

Mr Keece then Staid that they were there to carry out one of the functions of the New Zealand Natives' Association, namely to conserve, as much as lay in their power, any landmarks of the early settlers, so that the history of the colony might be handed down to posterity with as many object lessons as possible. (Applause). It was most appropriate that so, many representing those who could remember all the incidents relating. to that spot, and whom he was very pleased to welcome there, should idin 'with' another generation in celebrating what was practically ii recognition of true worth. The day selected was most aprropriate, being that upon which the province was founded in the year 1850, when the Charlotte Jane, the first of the first four ships, arrived with the settlers induced to emigrate by the Canterbury Association, which had been practically founded by Mr Godley. He would leave Mr Bo wen to spea'c of Mr Godley, and would only pay his tribute of deep respectto a man who, with feeblo health, showed such I unflinching purpose .md high integrity, | aiid also to Mrs Godloy, who; accustomed Ito the refinements of English life, had j heartily assisted her husband and famed ! equal recognition. (Applause.) It was interesting to note in passing that the occasion always seemed to bring the man, and he had in his mind Mr Godley, Bishop Selwyn, Mr Fitzgerald, and others, who did so much in 1 the early days. The Messrs W. and John Deans, too, had earned the gratitude of all settlers by their hospitality and cordial treatment of all. It was in IS?2 that the first election of Superintendent and Piovincial Council took place. The road they were then on w-xs tho only road between Christeliurch and Lyttelton, and in 1854 a Mr Thompson succeeded in bringing over the' lit st conveyance, a four-wheeled buggy drawn by two horses. It was surprising with what indifference the question of road 3 had been treated, but they must remember that in ■1854 the gross populati.n of the province was" only 3b95. The Bridle Path was soon after doomed to have a rival, as in 1857 the Sumner Road was opened with great eclat, a.ud v'r J. E. Fitzgerald, with Messrs C. 0. Bo wen, K. Packer and Marshinan, who were tile Hirst to dvive. osqy, vj«,\m lvaaviftd down to posterity as heroes. It was never expected that they would reach Lyttelton alive, as it could well be imagined that a tandem was not the most suitable kind of team with which to negotiate the " Zigzag " ; but they did arrive safely, and were heartily received. (Applanso). Then a more formidable opponent to tho roads came in the railway, which was first mooted in 1858. by Mr Sefton Moorhouse, who turned the first sod in 1861. The first train ran as far as Perrymead in 1863, and the whole line through the tunnel was formally opened on Dec. 9, 1867. Although the Bridle Path then practically fell into disuse,- it was so connected with the early history of the province that every effort should tie made to keep it intact, and if cleared of boulders and repaired where needed, it would always be used by tourists and others. The fountain and cross had been erected upon that spot in about the year 1856, by instructions from Mrs Godley, who wished to mark her gratitude for the cooling and refreshing spring that then flowed from the hillside! The work of making the cross was entrusted to Mr Chancy, after whom Chaney's Corner was named, while : Mr Collins, father of Mr Collins, the aichitect, assisted'by bringing' the stone up the hill with his team of bullocks. A few years after its erection some vandals had destroyed the cross, and it had been reerected by order of the Provincial Council in 1864. He would not detain them longer but would call upon Mr Bowen to address them and unveil the cross. He thought no one more fitted could have been found to do so, as in addition to his assisting to open the Sumner Road, and to unveil the Godley Stafcue in 1867, ho was one of those old colonists whom they all. respected, and a worthy example of the founders of the province. These were men who took for their text those immortal words of Pope : — " Honour and shame from no condition rise. Act weljyour part, there all the honour lies." - .. TbeHon C C. Bowen, who w.as received ivith applause, said that lie considered it a very happy thought that had inspired the Natives ? , Association to celebrate the anni-, versary-of'the province -.by. restoring the fountain cross erected by Mrs Godley; The people who first camohore -had rhad many hopes and many disappointments. 1 He was glad to see. around him so many of the early settlers,' who 'would recollect the difficulties that had had to be faced, and how the settlement had come triumphantly through all. The first two years had been years of great difficulty. Mr, Recce had spoken of the bad state of the roads in the early days, but he could assure them that there had been very little money to spend, and Mr Godley, to whom the speaker had been private secretary, had often been at his wit's end to know what to do. Mr Godiey had, however, surmounted the difficulties, and his strong. lead had brought tho province to success. (Applause.) People talked about the liberties enjoyed now, but those who had come later perhap3 forgot that the broad <. base on which their liberties stood was due to the Fitzgeralds, the Godley s, the Foxes and the Featherstones. (Applause.) He thought the Association had" done - a very noble 'workj-and he would remind; them of the ; statesman of old, who had said that they should look on monuments, • not so much for the pleasure of. the present generation, but to help the memory of posterity. Mrs Godley did her utmost to help her husband in his work, and her gentle tact did a great- deal; to > smooth the path. (Applause.) It was in those days of plain living and high thinking- that men of Mr Godley's stamp made their mark. He was very glad to see the institution of the Natives' Association, and he hoped those who were now growing lip would preserve the mean between the bigotry of opposition to every reform, and the fatuous self-conceit of those who imagined that every chauge was a reform. Ho had heard people jeer at and deride the progress of education and the opportunity it afforded a man to improve his position. He attributed that to the bigotry which they were, perhaps, crowing into, but he had also heard those who derided the Wisdom handed down through tho ages. It was, perhaps, not [a,

time for moralising, but the occasion called up many recollections. He had ridden over that road at all times of the day and n:ght, often with thousands of pounds in his saddle-bags after sales of Crown lands in what was now Christchurch, but the thought of there being any risk never entered his head. He wondered whether the same could be said now. (Laughter). Mr Godley's career had been cut short quite early, but Mrs Godley was still' alive. He said he had seen Mrs Godley when he was at Home last year, and she was as anxious as ever to hear all about Canterbury. He would have been glad to have been able to tell her of the work which the Natives' Association had now undertaken. He would, however, write Home and tell her of that day's ceremony. (Applause). Mr Bowen then unveiled the cross. The monument consists of a Greek cross of white stone, on a pedestal of gray marble, the whole standing on the gray stone base which supported the original erection. On the pedestal is the following inscription: — "Wayside cros3, erected by Mrs Godley, 185—. Restored by the N.Z.N.A., Christchurch branch, Anniversary Day, 1898." The date has had io be left incomplete, as very, careful inquiry on the part of the committee of the Association has so iar failed-to trace it. v -: ■-.-.. . '.-.,' Mr ' William Pratt " "also spoke briefly. He said he was, perhaps, the oldest settler present, as he arrived, in, Lyttelton twelve' months before the first four ships. .He remembered very well the. erection of the first cross. There was a spring there at the time, and the cool water was very refreshing after the climb up the hill. It was very thoughtful of Mrs Godley to erect the fountain for the benefit of others. Cheer 3 were given for Mr 3 Godley, Mr Bowen, Mr Recce and Mr Pratt, and the formal proceedings terminated. The party then adjourned to the Heathcote Domain, where tea was provided.