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, educational, 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 hospitality so typical of the time and country. Amongst our immediate neighbours at Upper Riccarton were many old settlers. Mr. C. C. (now Sir Charles) Bowen, his brother, the Rev. Croasdaile Bowen, Mr. Leonard Harper, Mr. T. W. Maude, Mr. H. P. Lance, and others. Amongst them, Sir Charles Bowen and his family were our nearest neighbours and kindest friends. Sir Charles had come to Canterbury in the “Charlotte Jane,” in 1850. He had been private secretary to Mr. Godley—
