Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/213

 Tying knots, splicing ropes, and other sea-faring accomplishments were quickly picked up by us.

Although we worshipped Tom White, we presumed, occasionally, to play pranks on him. On such occasions he would threaten to tell our father what we had done. I never knew him, however, to carry out this threat. He resorted, instead, to his skill with the bullock whip, and gave us cuts occasionally, which lifted the skin; but as we were conscious of having well merited the punishment we kept the matter to ourselves.

In common with all the pioneers we had to turn our hands to everything. As the bush was cleared fences were erected and gates put up. Trees were felled, sawpits made, and the timber cut by hand for building purposes. At the age of eighteen I and my brother Tom were capable carpenters. We made gates and hung them. We built all the houses, eleven in all (that were carried away eventually by the slip on 18th August, 1886), having one carpenter to construct the more difficult fittings, e.g., stairs, doors, and windows; and one bricklayer for the chimneys. We two did all the black-