DOCSLIB.ORG

Rolleston Statue and Setting – 5 Rolleston Avenue, 7, 8 Riccarton Avenue,Christchurch

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Rolleston Statue and Setting – 5 Rolleston Avenue, 7, 8 Riccarton Avenue,Christchurch DISTRICT PLAN –LISTED HERITAGE PLACE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT – STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE HERITAGE ITEM NUMBER 472 ROLLESTON STATUE AND SETTING – 5 ROLLESTON AVENUE, 7, 8 RICCARTON AVENUE,CHRISTCHURCH PHOTOGRAPH: CCC HERITAGE FILES 2005 PHOTOGRAPH: M.VAIR-PIOVA, 19/12/2014 HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE Historical and social values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular person, group, organisation, institution, event, phase or activity; the continuity and/or change of a phase or activity; social, historical, traditional, economic, political or other patterns. The Rolleston Statue has high historical significance as a memorial to William Rolleston (1831-1903), the last Superintendent of Canterbury Province (served 1869-76). Rolleston had a particular interest in education, and the public school system that developed in Canterbury during his tenure as Superintendent became the basis for the national system established by the Education Act of 1877. The statue’s position in close proximity to Canterbury Museum and the former Canterbury College (Arts Centre of Christchurch), acknowledges Rolleston's important contribution to these institutions. Rolleston also served Canterbury as a Member of the House of Representatives, holding office for most of period between 1868 and 1899 and acting as Minister for Lands, Immigration and Education in Sir John Hall’s government from 1879. He and his wife Mary (nee Brittan) had nine children. The Rolleston Memorial Committee, which tasked itself with raising funds by subscription, commissioning and erecting a statue in Rolleston’s honour, was formed soon after his death in February 1903. Public submissions quickly exceeded the initial cost estimate. English Page 1 sculptor Herbert Hampton was chosen by Sir John Hall, the Hon Richard Olliver and Hon WP Reeves to undertake the work. The statue was publicly unveiled on 26 May 1906 before a crowd of over 2000. At the ceremony Mayor Sir John Hall stated that for the present generation the memory of Rolleston was a household word and that for those in the next generations “…[t]he speaking likeness would tell of a great and useful and unselfish life spent in the service of the country….” (Weekly Press 30 May 1906). A memorial tablet dedicated to Rolleston had earlier been erected in Victoria Park (1903), to commemorate his opening of the park in 1897. At the time of the Rolleston Statue's unveiling it was reported in The Press that there were not many statues in the country that had been erected to the memory of public men. The statue also has historical significance as a reminder of the Provincial Council era in New Zealand’s political history. The naming of Rolleston Avenue, Mount Rolleston and the township of Rolleston also commemorates one of Canterbury's early politicians. The statue was damaged when came it fell from its plinth during the 22 February 2011 earthquake and has been in storage awaiting repair and restoration since that time. CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE Cultural and spiritual values that demonstrate or are associated with the distinctive characteristics of a way of life, philosophy, tradition, religion, or other belief, including: the symbolic or commemorative value of the place; significance to Tangata Whenua; and/or associations with an identifiable group and esteemed by this group for its cultural values. The statue has high cultural significance as a memorial to an early Canterbury politician who contributed to the development of the province. It is a tangible example of the cultural habit of the time of erecting commemorative statues of prominent figures. The statue also has cultural significance as an example of the civic fund-raising efforts that have endowed the city with a large numbers of buildings, monuments, and public artworks over many years. ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE Architectural and aesthetic values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular style, period or designer, design values, form, scale, colour, texture and material of the place. The Rolleston Statue has high aesthetic significance as an example of the work of English sculptor Herbert Hampton. The statue is in the 'coat and trousers' realist style that had its origins in 19th century Victorian England. Herbert Hampton (1862-1929) was educated at the Slade School in London and at the Julien and Colarossi academies in Paris. He was noted for his ability to produce a striking likeness and for his work in marble. It was reported that many of Rolleston's contemporaries found Hampton's representation an accurate portrayal of the politician (Lyttelton Times 28 May 1906). An iron fence was erected around the statue’s base at some stage, but this was removed in 1934. Herbert Hampton’s only other statue in New Zealand is the Queen Victoria statue in Dunedin (1901-5). TECHNOLOGICAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP SIGNIFICANCE Technological and craftsmanship values that demonstrate or are associated with: the nature and use of materials, finishes and/or technological or constructional methods which were innovative, or of notable quality for the period. Page 2 The Rolleston Statue has high technological and craftsmanship significance for the technical skill and artistry embodied in the carving and modelling of its Italian marble figure and detail of its limestone base. The work is notable for its use of marble, in contrast to the use of bronze for the Moorhouse and Fitzgerald statues, to which it is related. CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE Contextual values that demonstrate or are associated with: a relationship to the environment (constructed and natural), a landscape, setting, group, precinct or streetscape; a degree of consistency in terms of type, scale, form, materials, texture, colour, style and/or detail; recognised landmarks and landscape which are recognised and contribute to the unique identity of the environment. The Rolleston Statue has high contextual significance as a landmark on Rolleston Avenue, terminating the western vista along Worcester Boulevard directly in front of Canterbury Museum and adjacent to the former Canterbury College now Arts Centre of Christchurch, which acknowledges Rolleston's important contribution to these institutions. It is located in close proximity to a large number of other significant heritage places including the Botanic Gardens, and Christ’s College. The statue also has contextual significance in relation to the statues which memorialise two other Superintendents of Canterbury Province, William Moorhouse and J E Fitzgerald, and also relates thematically and in terms of its location with the Godley Statue in Cathedral Square. The contextual significance of the Rolleston Statue is further enhanced by the fact that it is the only one of the three Superintendent statues to stand on the street named for its subject. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE Archaeological or scientific values that demonstrate or are associated with: the potential to provide information through physical or scientific evidence an understanding about social historical, cultural, spiritual, technological or other values of past events, activities, structures or people. The Rolleston Statue and its setting are of archaeological significance as they have some potential to hold evidence of human activity on the site before 1900. ASSESSMENT STATEMENT The Rolleston Statue has high overall significance to Christchurch, including Banks Peninsula and wider Canterbury as a memorial to William Rolleston the last Superintendent of Canterbury Province. It has high historical and social significance because it commemorates a former Provincial Superintendent who has a particular interest in education, and the public school system that developed in Canterbury during his tenure as Superintendent which became the basis for the national system established by the Education Act of 1877. It has high cultural significance within the community as a tangible example of the cultural habit of the time of erecting commemorative statues of prominent figures and for its erection by a memorial committee formed soon after Rolleston’s death. The Rolleston Statue has high aesthetic significance as an early 20th century realist work by English sculptor Herbert Hampton and technological and craftsmanship significance for its marble carving and acknowledged likeness of the subject. The Rolleston Statue has contextual Page 3 significance for its relationship to the Museum and former Canterbury College now Arts Centre of Christchurch which acknowledges Rolleston's important contribution to these institutions and as a city landmark and in relation to other public artworks relating to the period of Provincial Government. The Rolleston Statue and its setting are of archaeological significance as they have potential to hold evidence of human activity on the site before 1900. REFERENCES: ‘William Rolleston’ Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Entry Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1r17/rolleston-william Historic place # 1946 – Heritage New Zealand List http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details?id=1946 ‘Herbert Hampton’ – Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851-1951 http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1203104115 Emily Fryer ‘Rolleston Statue Conservation Report’ (2011) The Press 26 May 1906 REPORT DATED: 25 NOVEMBER 2014 PLEASE NOTE THIS ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF WRITING.DUE TO THE ONGOING NATURE OF HERITAGE RESEARCH, FUTURE REASSESSMENT OF THIS HERITAGE ITEM MAY BE NECESSARY TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF ITS HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE. PLEASE USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CCC HERITAGE FILES. Page 4.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Upper Riccarton Cemetery 2007 1
    St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton, is the graveyard of owners and trainers of the great horses of the racing and trotting worlds. People buried here have been in charge of horses which have won the A. J. C. Derby, the V.R.C. Derby, the Oaks, Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Auckland Cup (both codes), New Zealand Cup (both codes) and Wellington Cup. Area 1 Row A Robert John Witty. Robert John Witty (‘Peter’ to his friends) was born in Nelson in 1913 and attended Christchurch Boys’ High School, College House and Canterbury College. Ordained priest in 1940, he was Vicar of New Brighton, St. Luke’s and Lyttelton. He reached the position of Archdeacon. Director of the British Sailors’ Society from 1945 till his death, he was, in 1976, awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for his work with seamen. Unofficial exorcist of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch, Witty did not look for customers; rather they found him. He said of one Catholic lady: “Her priest put her on to me; they have a habit of doing that”. Problems included poltergeists, shuffling sounds, knockings, tapping, steps tramping up and down stairways and corridors, pictures turning to face the wall, cold patches of air and draughts. Witty heard the ringing of Victorian bells - which no longer existed - in the hallway of St. Luke’s vicarage. He thought that the bells were rung by the shade of the Rev. Arthur Lingard who came home to die at the vicarage then occupied by his parents, Eleanor and Archdeacon Edward Atherton Lingard. In fact, Arthur was moved to Miss Stronach’s private hospital where he died on 23 December 1899.
    [Show full text]
  • A Diachronic Study of Unparliamentary Language in the New Zealand Parliament, 1890-1950
    WITHDRAW AND APOLOGISE: A DIACHRONIC STUDY OF UNPARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE IN THE NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT, 1890-1950 BY RUTH GRAHAM A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics Victoria University of Wellington 2016 ii “Parliament, after all, is not a Sunday school; it is a talking-shop; a place of debate”. (Barnard, 1943) iii Abstract This study presents a diachronic analysis of the language ruled to be unparliamentary in the New Zealand Parliament from 1890 to 1950. While unparliamentary language is sometimes referred to as ‘parliamentary insults’ (Ilie, 2001), this study has a wider definition: the language used in a legislative chamber is unparliamentary when it is ruled or signalled by the Speaker as out of order or likely to cause disorder. The user is required to articulate a statement of withdrawal and apology or risk further censure. The analysis uses the Communities of Practice theoretical framework, developed by Wenger (1998) and enhanced with linguistic impoliteness, as defined by Mills (2005) in order to contextualise the use of unparliamentary language within a highly regulated institutional setting. The study identifies and categorises the lexis of unparliamentary language, including a focus on examples that use New Zealand English or te reo Māori. Approximately 2600 examples of unparliamentary language, along with bibliographic, lexical, descriptive and contextual information, were entered into a custom designed relational database. The examples were categorised into three: ‘core concepts’, ‘personal reflections’ and the ‘political environment’, with a number of sub-categories. This revealed a previously unknown category of ‘situation dependent’ unparliamentary language and a creative use of ‘animal reflections’.
    [Show full text]
  • The Liberal Government's Purchase and Settlement of the Langdale Estate, Wairarapa (1900-1921)
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. The Liberal Government's Purchase and Settlement of the Langdale Estate, Wairarapa (1900-1921) A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University Donald Kinnell 2005 Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations and Conversion Table II List of Maps lll Introduction Chapter 1. Liberal Land Policy 8 Chapter 2. The Langdale Estate 23 Chapter 3. The Settlement of Langdale 40 Chapter 4. The Langdale Farmers 61 Chapter 5. Langdale·s Crown Tenants and Politics 83 Conclusion 100 Appendices l A Trip to the Hospital Ball, Austin Elder 108 II Application Form for Agricultural Land 110 III William Bennett's Lease 111 IV Election Booth Results, Castlepoint and Urity Districts: 1887-1914 113 V Castlepoint County Councillors and their Sheep, 1900-1917 115 Bibliography 117 Acknowledgements Many people have contributed to this thesis, some deliberately and others by accident. I would like to thank my wife, Jocelyn, for map dra\.\ing skills, many hours of editing. and patience. I have enjoyed the support of my supervisor. Basil Poff. especially his advice on secondary sources and reviews of my drafts. I have be~n ably assisted by Gareth Winter of the Wairarapa Archives; Gareth suggested the topic. and many of the primary sources. I am in debt to the Tinui District Historical Society for having had the foresight to preserve such a useful array of historical records.
    [Show full text]
  • The Petty Bourgeoisie in Colonial Canterbury; A
    THE PETTY BOURGEOISIE IN COLONIAL CANTERBURY; A STUDY OF THE CANTERBURY WORKING MAN'S POLITICAL PROTECTION AND MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (1865-66), AND THE CANTERBURY FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY (1866-70) A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History in the University of Canterbury by G. R. Wright University of Canterbury 1998 CONTENTS Abbreviations ............................................................................................ 1 Abstract ................................................................................................... 2 Preface .................................................................................................... 3 1. The Petty Bourgeoisie ............................................................................... 7 2. Occupations ......................................................................................... 35 3. Politics ............................................................................................... 71 4. Land ................................................................................................ 1 08 5. Voluntary Participation ........................................................................... 137 Conel u sions ........................................................................................... 161 Appendices ............................................................................................ 163 References ............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • William Colenso's Māori-English Lexicon
    William Colenso’s Māori-English Lexicon by Charlotte Frances Thompson Darling A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Victoria University of Wellington (2018) 1 Abstract William Colenso, one of Victorian New Zealand’s most accomplished polymaths, is remembered best as a printer, a defrocked missionary, botanist, and politician. Up till now, his role as a lexicographer has been largely neglected. His major biographies touch only briefly on his attempt to compile a Māori- English dictionary while Colenso himself spent 30 years on this project. His Lexicon, published the year before his death, is only the incomplete letter A of Māori to English and a handful of pages of English to Māori. The neglect by Colenso’s biographers is a surprising omission given the length of time Colenso spent on his Lexicon, the amount of extant material that relates to it, and the richness of the Lexicon itself as a resource. This thesis asks what William Colenso’s Maori-English Lexicon contribute to our understanding of Colenso’s life, and about the history of language in New Zealand? In chapter one, a brief outline of Colenso’s roles as a missionary, a botanist, a school inspector and a politician establish important biographical context for considering his attempt to compile a Lexicon. The main resource drawn upon is the 30 years’ worth of correspondence between Colenso and the New Zealand government relating to the Lexicon, which affords an overview of the project. The Lexicon itself is a rich resource.
    [Show full text]
  • The Speeches Which Sir John Hall
    Introduction 2015 A note from the publisher of this book into the digital form: Firstly the purposes. I have had the privilege of it as a reference book for five years as I wrote my own point of view on Parihaka in 1881 – The Lady’s Apostle, and Two Rangatira. If this is to be taken seriously it is practical for reviewers to have easy access to this volume. I certainly have had easy access online to one of my ancestor’s most stinging critics, George Rusden 1819- 1903. It is only right John Hall gets his opinion posted in the same digital media. SPEECHES has been copied with OCR software then proof read. Where sentences have been broken up by page numbers they have been put on either the page above or below, then in other places where the original book’s page number, which relates to the index, is too close to the bottom of the digital page whole sentences are moved to make reading more pleasing. The original spelling, paragraph length, and format is retained. The only other alteration made are the inclusion of my Tupuna’s photo on the cover and his personal coat of arms on the title page – which living Hall family members inherited a derivative coat of arms from. If there are mistakes in proof reading please accept my apology in advance. Peter John Hall 1959 - , September 2015. SPEECHES DELIVERED OUT OF PARLIAMENT BY THE HONOURABLE SIR JOHN HALL, K.C.M.G., PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND FROM OCTOBER 8TH 1879 TO APRIL 21ST, 1882.
    [Show full text]
  • Closer Settlement in the Early Liberal Era
    123 WOE UNTO THEM THAT LAY FIELD TO FIELD: CLOSER SETTLEMENT IN THE EARLY LIBERAL ERA Monique van Alphen Fyfe* This article undertakes a re-examination of the origins, construction and application of the Land for Settlements legislation in the early Liberal era. The Liberal's commitment to closer settlement reveals part of the story of highly contested land policy in colonial New Zealand. Land for Settlements legislation of the 1890s, aimed at "bursting up" the great estates, was predominantly the product of settlers' ideological aspirations and two determined politicians: John Ballance and John McKenzie. When measured against the rhetoric used to promote it, however, the policy was not necessarily effective: it was complicated by practical realities and a narrow vision of New Zealand as a vigorous Arcadian paradise. When contrasted with the treatment of Māori land, yet more of the complexity of the land issue and the frailties of the actors facing it are revealed. The article concludes by proposing that Liberal policy, while flawed in execution, may have nevertheless contributed something to the consolidation of the concept of New Zealand as an agrarian ideal, a concept that remains largely intact today. I INTRODUCING AN IDEOLOGY Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey; where wealth accumulates, and men decay.1 Liberal land policy has been an evocative and much examined topic for historians of decades past. The emergence of Waitangi Tribunal histories has since tended to homogenise Crown land policy such that very real shifts in government initiatives risk becoming overlooked. Land policy was, in fact, highly contested in colonial New Zealand.
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet from Talking Shop to Party Government
    From talking shop to party government: procedural change in the New Zealand Parliament, 1854-1894 John E. Martin This paper is reproduced with permission as published in the Australasian Parliamentary Review, vol 26, no 1, Autumn 2011 This article looks at parliamentary business in the nineteenth-century New Zealand Parliament, making comparisons with the British and Australian state Parliaments. Together with its companion article for the twentieth century, also to be published in this journal, it develops further the argument of a previous paper (see Related Documents) which examined the shifting balance between Parliament and the executive in New Zealand and the rise to dominance of the executive in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 1 The two articles document changes in procedure accompanying this shifting balance. The second article will look at the strengthening of control over business of the House in the twentieth century as governments sought to pass compact legislative programmes in their entirety, followed by more recent changes which were associated with a lessening of government control in some respects. Today and for the last century almost all legislation introduced into Parliament has originated from government and was virtually certain to pass into the statute book. In the middle decades of the nineteenth century the situation differed markedly. Private members’ bills comprised about 40 per cent of all bills and a substantial proportion of bills – between one-third and a half – did not become law. There were also private and local bills to consider. Governments had to find time for their business alongside these other demands and could not expect that their legislation would necessarily go through.
    [Show full text]
  • Christchurch Street Names: R
    Christchurch Street Names: R Current Former name Origin of name Suburb Additional information See Source Further information name Racecourse Named because Sockburn First appears in street Road of its proximity directories in 1903. to Riccarton Racecourse. Radcliffe Named after the Belfast, Rural Sections 277-295 Province of “Death of Mr John Road Radcliffe estate, Marshland in the area (1000 acres in Canterbury, New Bealey”, Wellington a property on all) were taken up by the Zealand: list of Independent, 25 June this site owned Bealey brothers. Their sections purchased to 1867, p 3 by brothers John farms were operated by April 30, 1863, p 7 “Obituary, Mr Bealey (1822?- managers. Settling near the Styx Samuel Bealey”, The 1867) and First mentioned in The River, pp 162-163 Press, 26 May 1909, p Samuel Bealey Press in 1882 when "Mr 7 “Advertisements”, The (1821-1909). James Johns waited on Lyttelton Times, 6 G R Macdonald the (Avon Road) Board, March 1861, p 6 dictionary of requesting that Radcliffe Canterbury "Avon", The Press, 18 Road be formed". biographies: B252 November 1882, p 1 Radiata Named after the Parklands The suburb was Ashwood Street, Avenue Radiata pine, a established near the Four Elms Place, species of pine Bottle Lake forest and Heathglen native to the the street names have a Avenue, Pinaster central coast of "tree" theme. Place, Sequoia Place and California. First appears in street Sophora Place. directories in 1984. Radley Normanby Formerly Woolston Lord Normanby was Ashmole Street, “Woolston Borough Governors-General of Normanby Governor of New Cumnor Terrace, Council”, Star, 6 © Christchurch City Libraries Page 1 of 110 February 2016 Christchurch Street Names: R Current Former name Origin of name Suburb Additional information See Source Further information name Street Street Street.
    [Show full text]
  • A Shifting Balance: Parliament, the Executive and the Evolution of Politics in New Zealand *
    A Shifting Balance: Parliament, the executive * and the evolution of politics in New Zealand John E. Martin ** Abstract The reforms to the New Zealand Parliament of the 1980s and 1990s shifted the balance between executive and legislature away from the former. Through much of the twentieth century the executive had dominated. This article looks at an earlier period when the balance between the executive and legislature was strikingly different. It describes the shift towards greater executive dominance in three respects important to the functioning of Parliament — parliamentary expenditure, the impact of political parties and electoral politics, and increased government control over business in the House of Representatives. Introduction In a modern society in which government assumes a central place it is easy to take it for granted that Parliament provides the jousting ground for ‘continuous election campaigns’ that allow governments to demonstrate their prowess and Oppositions to put forward an alternative and to examine and criticise current policy. The recent adoption of mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) as New Zealand’s electoral system has broadened this combative atmosphere between contending groups so that a range of parties touts their wares, but it has not deflected the long- term trend towards the electorate and away from the arena of the chamber in which the country’s representatives are gathered. Instead, the continuous election campaign orientation has spread beyond the chamber and into select committees. MMP has undermined the sense of assurance of governments that an unproblematic majority would emerge out of elections and that this would be sustained through a full parliamentary term.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Art in Central Christchurch
    PUBLIC ART IN CENTRAL CHRISTCHURCH A STUDY BY THE ROBERT MCDOUGALL ART GALLERY 1997 Public Art In Central Christchurch A Study by the Robert McDougall Art Gallery 1997 Compiled by Simone Stephens Preface Christchurch has an acknowledged rich heritage of public art and historically, whilst it may not be able to claim the earliest public monument in New Zealand, it does have the earliest recognised commissioned commemorative sculpture in the form of the Godley statue by Thomas Woolner. This was unveiled in August 1867. Since that date the city has acquired a wide range of public art works that now includes fountains and murals as well as statues and sculpture. In 1983 the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, with the assistance of two researchers on a project employment scheme, undertook to survey and document 103 works of art in public places throughout Christchurch. Unfortunately even though this was completed, time did not permit in-depth research, or funding enable full publication of findings. Early in 1997, Councillor Anna Crighton, requested that the 1983 survey be reviewed and amended where necessary and a publication produced as a document describing public art in the city. From June until December 1997, Simone Stephens carried out new research updating records, as many public art works had either been removed or lost in the intervening fourteen years. As many of the more significant public art works of Christchurch are sited between the four Avenues of the inner city, this has been the focus of the 1997 survey the results of which are summarised within this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • The Story of Christchurch, New Zealand
    THE STORY OF CHRISTCHURCH, N.Z. JOHN ROBERT GODLEY, The Founder of Canterbury. THE STORY OF CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND. BY HENRY F. WIGRAM. CHRISTCHURCH: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE LYTTELTON TIMES Co., LTH I91B. 430 PREFACE. The story of the foundation and early growth of Canterbury was first told to me, bit by bit, more than thirty years ago, some of it by men and women who had actually taken part in the founding of the settlement, and shaping its destiny, and some by late-comers, who had followed closely on the heels of the pioneers. There were many people then living who delighted in talking of their strenuous life in the pioneering days, " when all the world was young," and in telling of events which are now passing into silent history. Many of the stories I heard then are still vivid in my memory, little episodes illustrating the daily life of a community which had to do everything for itself survey, settle, stock and till the land, build its own roads, bridges and railways, form its own religious, educa- tional, political and social institutions, and construct its own local government. It is no wonder that coming from the valley of the Thames, where the results of centuries of civilisation had come to be accepted as the natural condition of nineteenth century existence, I found the contrast interesting and inspiring. My wife and I were received with the kindly hospi- tality so typical of the time and country. Amongst our immediate neighbours at Upper Riccarton were many old settlers. Mr.
    [Show full text]