1877 - Pratt, W. T. Colonial Experiences - CHAPTER XII: IN HARNESS AGAIN.

       
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  1877 - Pratt, W. T. Colonial Experiences - CHAPTER XII: IN HARNESS AGAIN.
 
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CHAPTER XII: IN HARNESS AGAIN.

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CHAPTER XII.

IN HARNESS AGAIN.

WITH the increase of my family, and the necessity that would soon arise for the two elder boys to leave home to learn some trade or profession, it became a subject for serious consideration between my wife and myself, whether it would not be the most judicious course to pursue to enter once more into, and establish a business, of which the boys could learn the routine, and eventually manage, and continue on their own account. Having decided upon this course and deeming it advisable to carry it into execution without delay, I naturally directed my attention to Canterbury as being the province where there appeared to be the best prospect of succeeding in this object.

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Accordingly in July, 1863, I visited Christchurch; Canterbury was in an ecstasy of excitement at the time, celebrating the news of the Prince of Wales' marriage; the main streets had not then been macadamised, and as there had been a great deal of wet weather, and road-scrapers unknown, or comparatively useless at that time, they were in a frightfully muddy condition.

I could not help pitying the state of the 600 school children taking part in the procession on the 10th July--all nicely dressed, having to trudge through liquid mud over their boots, throughout the entire route of the procession to the east belt, where the memorial oak was planted.

I succeeded in the object of my visit, as I had not been many days in Christchurch when arrangements were completed for the transfer of an old-established business that I understood, and considered myself competent to manage; I paid a deposit of £600, and was to take possession on the 1st January, 1864.

On my return to the Riwaka, active preparations were begun at once for the projected removal.

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The cutter Nautilus was just taking on board, from the Riwaka Jetty, the last load of black birch timber for the Waiau Bridge, having to deliver the same at Salt-water Creek. As she was a suitably sized craft for crossing the Sumner bar, I chartered her to convey my goods, etc., from the Riwaka Jetty to the Christchurch Quay, after her return from the South.

Having made this opportune arrangement, I decided to take down the house in such a manner that it could be re-erected at Christchurch without much trouble or expense. This was accordingly done, and the materials and other goods were ready for carting to the jetty, when news was received of the cutter having been wrecked in Palliser bay on her return from the South. I was, therefore, under the necessity of having everything conveyed to Nelson by boat; and as the house material was very bulky, and knowing the difficulties and expense of various removals that it was now impossible to avoid, I decided to sell it for what it would fetch on the Nelson Wharf. A purchaser was found for it for, £25.

At the appointed time the transfer of the

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business was effected, and I entered upon the duties and responsibilities of my new venture with no misgivings for its future, but with some feelings of regret in resigning the comparative freedom and enjoyment of a country life.

At the time here indicated, a period of great activity and prosperity was just coming to a close. I perceived a change was impending; and could I have foreseen the very bad times that ensued, I should have hesitated about choosing that particular time for making a fresh start.

The Australian gold-diggings at first injuriously affected the settlement, but when corn and wool began to be exported, Canterbury, in common with the older provinces, derived the full advantage of the good markets and enhanced prices that resulted. The Otago gold-fields were also of material advantage to its sister province. But now a reaction was about to set in, as experience has shown so frequently occurs after a period of prosperity in the colonies.

It proved of unusual severity and duration; there was a general stagnation and depression in all branches of business; it was not limited

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to New Zealand, but extended over all the Australian Colonies and England, as it was in 1866, when some of the largest London Houses collapsed, bringing ruin upon many smaller ones.

New Zealand had its full share of the bad times that ensued, with its Maori war, and waste of three millions in the endeavour to "Conquer a Peace."

Canterbury, and all the provinces except Auckland (where a large war expenditure maintained a temporary fictitious prosperity), had to pass through a very trying ordeal, that lasted for five or six years; in fact, the tide had just turned when the "Public Works Policy," as it was termed, of 1870, was introduced. And although Canterbury derived as much benefit as any of the other provinces, in the large public expenditure, and revival of immigration that followed, the revival of trade and general prosperity that ensued was not entirely due to this cause. The great advance in value of her staple export, wool, would have alone ensured it, had no loan expenditure taken place, and with less chance of another reaction from a sudden exhaustion, or discontinuance of such expenditure.

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Notwithstanding the bad times referred to, from 1864 to 1870, I had the good fortune to experience a sure though gradual extension of my business, each year marking an improvement upon the preceding one, so that at the close of 1870 it was more than double the amount of the first year's trade, for which I had reason to be very pleased and thankful.

In October, 1870, occurred the great fire at Lyttelton, when nearly all the business part of the town was reduced to ashes and ruin, my old store being included in the general wreck. On Monday evening, October 24th, I, in company with several others, had our attention attracted by a strong glare of fire appearing over the hills in the direction of Lyttelton. We concluded that there was a large fire there, and knowing they had only one small hand engine in the place, we immediately proceeded to the telegraph office, but being after hours, and no one residing on the premises at that time, I at once made for the lodgings of the chief telegraphist, and induced him to get up (for he had retired for the night), and go to the office and try to communicate with Lyttelton.

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By this time a number of people had collected, including several firemen in uniform, in front of the office, impressed with the same belief as ourselves. After an interval of about ten minutes, during which the telegraphist had been trying to get communication with the Port without success, he announced from one of the upstair windows, to those below, his opinion that it was only a bush fire on the peninsula. Not sharing this opinion, I rushed to the nearest cab-stand, and was soon conveyed to the foot of the bridle path, where I dismissed the cab and walked to the top of the hill, when I found my forebodings only too truly verified.

The whole of the centre block had been consumed, and its outline was plainly marked by glowing posts standing here and there amid a mass of burning debris, and the fire was then raging chiefly about Canterbury Street, which it appeared to have only just reached. It did not take me long to descend the hill and work my way through back premises and over fences to the rear of my store, as the opposite and adjoining buildings being on fire, there was no

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access from the street. Part of the stock had been removed to the reclaimed land near the railway, the further removal being stopped by the rapid advance of the fire in the street. As I could do no good by remaining, and the only retreat was by ascending to the top of the bank at the back of the premises, which, being on a level with the ridge of the house, was exposed to the intense heat and dense smoke from the surrounding burning buildings, I considered it prudent to beat a hasty retreat to avoid being caught in a trap as it were. Casting a rapid glance round the shop for something valuable, that could be conveniently carried, I with my load rushed up the steps at the back, and in a stooping posture, across the top of the bank, and had not proceeded far when the whole building was in a mass of flame.

I had just reached the reclaimed land and deposited my waif, when the train arrived bringing the Ch. Ch. Fire Brigade and engine. It appeared that after I left, communication was had with Lyttelton, and in an incredibly short time a train was got ready, and the brigade and engines despatched to the scene

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of danger. The Lyttelton telegraphist had been vainly trying for Ch. Ch. for about an hour, and then finding it useless, left the office to save some of his effects from his doomed house. Shortly after he was summoned back to the office to save the instruments, as the office had caught fire, but before disconnecting the wire he made one last attempt, and the Ch. Ch. clerk was descending the stairs, when arrested by the Lyttelton signal. A supply of water was soon obtained and the further spread of the fire arrested at my premises, they being the last consumed.

As nearly all the stores, including the bakers' and butchers' shops, had disappeared, and a great many had lost everything they possessed, a relief committee was organised by the noble exertions of Andrew Duncan, Esq., then Mayor of Christchurch; and by the kind co-operation of his honour, Wm. Rolleston, superintendent, an early train was placed at the service of the committee, and by seven o'clock next morning an abundance of provisions of all kinds were distributed gratis to all requiring them.


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