Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/70

 pioneers. There was a chivalry, mutual trust, and breezy warm-heartedness that gave to them a simpler but a broader and more joyous life, despite their hardships, than that of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren of to-day. Deeds and legal documents were rare in those good old times. The pioneer’s word was his bond, and many important bargains were made and fulfilled without the use of a pen. There were no road taxes, income taxes, or graduated land taxes. The only tax was a voluntary hospitality tax which was always cheerfully and bountifully met. No craze for speed on land or in the air harassed our hardy forefathers. They were content to walk, and to ride was a luxury. Their recreations were primitive, their wants were few, and their luxuries non-existent; but their lives were happy, and permeated with a charm which cannot touch us in our advanced civilisation with all its allurements and contrivances for ease, speed, and pleasure.

Travelling across the rugged bush-covered country of the “thirties” and “forties” was dangerous. I can remember six fatalities at different times. The first was a whaler going from one of the whaling stations on the