Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/132

monotonous expanse of level grass land, the spectator sees before him a timbered country, with well-grown forest trees, smiling homesteads, well-cultivated fields, and cheerful hedgerows stretching far and wide in every direction; here and there a river glistening in the sun, and the city of Christchurch, only six miles distant, almost concealed amidst the trees.

The first settlers that arrived here under the Canterbury Association were Dr. Watkins, the late Mr. D’Oyley, Mr. Matson (manager for Captain Muter), the late Mr. Dicken, the late Mr. Funnell, and Mr. Hammond, of German Bay. The next arrival was that of the Rev. W. Aylmer and his family, who brought with him Mr. Moore, Mr. Morgan and his family, the late Mr. Augustus Porter (brother to Mr. John Porter), and Miss Catherine Edgeworth, now Mrs. Garvey. He was the first incumbent of Akaroa, but previous to his arrival two clergymen of the Church of England did temporary duty—the Rev. Mr. Thomas and the Rev. Mr. Fenton (cousin of Mr H. H. Fenton). On Mr. Aylmer’s first arrival, the only building available was Commodore Lavaud’s original house, containing four small rooms, and a round house built of clay, that used to stand at the back of the present Court House. This was close packing for ten people. Mr. Justin and Mr. H. Aylmer used to live in the round house. Mr. and Mrs. Aylmer and part of the family walked over from Pigeon Bay, but Mr. Justin Aylmer and ten others had the pleasure of coming in a cutter of 17 tons burden, named the Kaka, commanded by Captain Kane, now of Timaru. The trip took no less than a week, the last night off the Akaroa Heads being very stormy and disagreeable, as, owing to the crowded state of the little craft, the hatches could not be kept on. So long was the delay in the vessel’s arrival, that Mr. Bruce sent out a boat to