SCRAPS OF OLD HISTORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 23 (Supplement)

SCRAPS OF OLD HISTORY.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWER COLUMN. A contributor to the old Colonist columns of tho “ Star ” has suggested I that a good many interesting points about, the early days could be cleared up through the agency of a question and answer column. The “Star” has adopted the suggestion, which will be given "effect to in Saturday’s issue. Correspondence should be addressed to the editor. T.T.," Marshland Road, writes: The Shearers' Arms Hotel was situated in Antigua Street, on the east side, about midway between St Asaph Street and South Belt. It was kept for a time by Tom Bearing. Later he kept a pork bucher's shop where Minson’s, Ltd., are now. A. M. Randle writes:—l venture to ask if you would inquire if any reader can oblige with the music and words • f the sings, “The Tardy Scholar” and I be \ cry Worst Girl in School,” or „ . could obtain the same. . C. Green writes:—l wish to I ccu.p ent “ J.H.M.” for what he has

one who has been and seen it shows no knows what he is writing about, or on the whole he has written correctly. Which leads me to think he could impart a lot more. Will he? 1 wish to thank him for the “message from a whole lot of people,” which he has vouchsafed to deliver through the old history columns, and to say T hope to do a little more before 7 give in my gun. J think it. very kind of “Miss Lucy” to inquire about my health, and am pleased to say I am qtiite well. I held off a little to let some of the young people like herself have an opportunity to relate some of their ex periences of the ups and downs of life in the 'fifties and early ’sixties. I know there must be some boys and girls of that period, though they may be past the meridian of life, who could tell quite an interesting story of how they had to gather dry flax and carry home in bundles, or drag behind them a clump ot Tutu. This they would have to chop up. and one would have to feed the fire while mother attended to the cooking: and how they had to make periodical trips to the swamp to carry home a back load of peat. This made a fairly good fire, especially for the top of the camp oven, in which a week's supply of bread was baked or perhaps to bake a Sunday’s dinner, when there happened to be one to bake. Or how they had to roll an empty barrel to the river and there fill it with beautifulh'clear water, and then roll it home again over the tussocks and through the flax. The distance might have been only a few chains, or it might have been nearly a mile: but that was nothing, because we could not do without it. There were no kitchen stoves at that time. The only coal known at that time was Newcastle. Now come along. early ones, and don’t be afraid to tell those who have lately come here and found a field of Paradise that you and others had to suffer extreme hardships to give this little island the impulse which has made it what it is to-day.

Mr T. G. \ ennall writes:—l note that 3'cur frequent and interesting correspondent Mr R. E. Green has again been giv.ng your numerous readers some more “ Scraps of Ancient Historv ” in the “ Star ” of last Saturday; and, this time he tells us of those brave fi: e-fighters Foreman West, Superintendent Harris and otners whose names, at that time, were familiar in our mouths as “ household words ; but there is one name that I missed from the list of “ the old brigade.” I refer to the late Joseph Bayley. He was chosen as the first superintendent when the brigade was first incorporated in, I think. 1861. Now, this is not hearsay on my part, because he and I were working together ii. building a new residence for the late Mr Daniel Inwood in Cashel Street West, at the time, and I think I can say that none was more surprised at his appointment than himself. Probably his tall, commanding figure was a factor in the. matter, but, being a Yorkshireman, and having plenty of ready wit and sound commonsense, he soon made himself popular with those under him. and, to my knowledge, did some very excellent work. The first fire of note that I can remember happened in Cashel Street, at what was then known as Kirby’s, the draper’s, on a part of the site now known as Beath's. There was a small tailor's shop adjoining, a Mr Mills being the proprietor, who lost all his stock, but so much sympathy was shown towards him that, a collection having been made, it turned out a good fire for himA large grocery store also suffered a serious loss, occupied by the Southerland brothers. Of course, the firemen were seriously hampered by the small supply of water obtainable. I remember several years ago we were startled one. afternoon by an awful shrieking and groaning, as if some unfortunate was suffering some severe tor cure . One joker said it was caused by a young lady having treatment at the dentist’s! But it turned out to be someone experimenting on a new fire alarm. I hope my friend Mr Green will not feel hurt by these remarks of mine; but I think I may say that these happenings were before he “ began to sit up and take notice.” J.H.M. writes .-—Sitting by the kitchen fire I remember long ago (as the old song says) reading the “Star.” And it was a fire- 1 four-foot log all of a glow. A chain with an S hook was suspended from an iron bar m

the chimney. An iron boiler was on the hook and puddings were being cooked for Christmas. And my word, they were puddings that our mothers used to make. Plum duff and plenty of it was all the go then. A large joint of meat used to be suspended by a chc/in with a pan underneath *0 catcli tho gravy. Potatoes and vegetables were cooked in saucepans on the bobs, and good large potatoes (both kidney and Derwents) were put under the fire in the ashes in their jackets. These were eaten with pepper and salt and they were a. treat, but picking them out of the ashes was 1 treat also, and many a time we got our fingers burnt while on that job. But ns .1 said before, I was reading the “Star,” in which paper there was an advertisement, “ Wanted, an errand boy.*’ Tt was on a Saturday night, and on Monday morning T went to the city for that job. There were about, twenty boys out-side the shop waiting and T. E. Taylor was one ot them. After a while tho owner of tho business called me in and I get tho job. Mr George Colliuson, manager of Morton’s Hotel,-spoke for me, hence my win. I. was in that job for twenty-one years. And the next week J. AI. Heyward end Co. advertised -for a hoy for the office. T. E. Taylor got that position and remained there for twenty-one years. Then, and once afterwards at a. political meeting at St Luke’s Schoolroom, addressed bv Mr Tnvior. were (be only

twice that we ever knew T. E. Taylor to have been beaten. A person m the crowd asked Air Taylor at question time the best way to skin whitebait. Mr Taylor just smiled and said, : “ Next question, please.” My education was blighted through staying away from school catching and sometimes selling whitebait. They came up the river Avon in those days in thousands, and lots of people fed the hens and ducks on them. But my fishing days were soon ended, as th; ministers of the different religions made it their business to catch those inclined to climb high trees and get on to dangerous branches when they . were youngsters. They used to come j round and visit our homes in that fine homely way to see how things were going on, and the youngsters in particular. Our old ministers used to say it was no use to let the young people go wild and then str.rt to round them up. That, they used to say, would .be too much like the ways of a careless shepherd iu charge of a flock of sheep. The sheep become what D termed woollies and are thou hard to deal with because they have not been mustered in. Of course the minister said negligence on the part of a careless shepherd causes more employment. but there’s nothing like catching and checking them when they are young. The youngsters would do anything for those clerical men in those days. 1 hey were lion tamers hut went about if in such a gentle way, and so convincing. If the poor wanted for coal or food or clothing it would corns to them in nearly the same wav as children are taught to believe Father Christmas brings liis gifts. I overheard one minister sty. “lectures and complaints are no good. Give the poor something to eat and take them or send them some firing. Then we will find the people attend church and look up to us. ’ And the people did go to church because the ministers di 1 something besides talk. The houses were far apart and the going was rough, but those good old men in their kind I v manner looked us all up at regular intervals. No “ how-do-you-do?” and afternoon tea, but they ju«i walked in and sat down dnd put the rule over us. as it were. This note of the old days is rather ecclesiastical but it is just to show the slight do* fereuc© then and now. It was 101 only the ministers who looked after us. but each one tried to do what tbe>j could for another, and it did not mat- : tor what religion a person was then. | They all seemed to be going the same way home, and as one man so.id ot a farewell meeting fifty odd years ago, j " A\ ith the help of God and u few policemen this city of Christchurch should he the best in Now Zealand.” But of course be never thought that, tram shelter would be in the Square. There More uot many shows at the theatre those days, but in an old barn round the river we had a show of our very own. AY« had n. banjo, a month organ, a tin whistle and the bones. AVo would open the concert with that good Slapbang here we are again. Here we are again, here we are again, AA’bat jolly boys are we, \A*e always arc so jolly. AYc are never melancholy. Tor grieving is a felly, 'so we drive dull care away. After that there would be jokes and more old songs and a stump speech. We used to black cur faces, but our mothers did not like the colour of the towels after being used by us. So sugar bags were used to dry ourselves, and good towels they make. Tt was a good night's fun and helped to light up a few dim corners. It Mas a case then, as it is now in the back-blocks, of having to make one's own amusements, and it was fun right enough, without whisky. There, were not many things in the shape cf food thrown away then. Everything was used up one way or another. Wages were small, but navigation was good. Yes, they were pleasant evenings sitting by that old fire. Father would be on one side, mother cn the other side mending our clothes, we children would be on the old large rag mat, which mother made. AA'e would be building houses with pieces of cardboard. That cottage was a thatched one, the walls were made of cob, and a great big pot of coffee was brewing on the hob. Prince, the dog, wasl in his kennel with a nice, warm bed o£

straw (thev cared for animals then), and the old black cat had just come in and was cleaning itself over the ears, which was a sure sign of rain. The old place was cool in summer and warm the winter. Living is different now, but I doubt if the people are as j happv as wc were then. One reason tor my thinking so is because there are too many bad matches made. In the old days it was pure love that caused the unions of our parents. I must not forget those days set apart for baking the bread in the old camp ovens. The wood was under tbc oven and on top of the oven blazing away at top, and those loaves of bread that were baked then were a treat to cat. j If there was any dough left over it j would be given to the children to make i fancy tarts with. And those children's birthday parties were also great. All J home-made scones and cakes, etc., and the smile on the children’s faces at the feast would bring a duck off its nest. And it takes a lot to do that. If people left their hoxise to go to town they would not mind about locking up, and often when they returned home some old chap would be sitting by the fire boiling the billv waiting for a varn. Locks and keys arc wanted in our days, and it's just as well to make an extra knot in the bootlaces. All because cf the loss of that home life that has gone. A lot of young people have the bump of love of home, but it is other people’s homes they care for most. However, I expect my ways are out of date, as they say; but, as the saying goes, " appetites vary* and opinions differ.” After all, the whole world is a stage and the people are the actors. It only remains for them to put the brake on just a little, and we shall all arrive at the time when all nations smile again.