grasping the mane and the other the crupper, while stirrups and reins
were flying in the wind. In his rear were Bob Stavelly, third mate, and
the boatswain, astride another animal, Bob steering, and the boatswain
holding on, seemingly by the tail. Lapworth, a quarter of a mile off,
was shouting "Stop her! Stop her!" but the mare needed no assistance;
she evidently understood where she was required to go, and decided to do
it in her own time and way. Galloping to the grass plot on which we were
standing she suddenly stopped short and deposited Lapworth ignominiously
at our feet. The other animal followed suit, but did not succeed in
clearing itself, and after some tacking Bob and the boatswain got under
weigh again and steered for the "White Hart," where they were bent on a
spree.

Christchurch at this time was about fourteen years in existence. It
consisted of only a few hundred houses, chiefly single-storeyed and
entirely constructed of timber. The streets were well laid out, broad,
and on the principle of the best modern towns, but few of them were as
yet made or metalled. There were not many buildings of architectural
pretensions, but all were characterised by an air of comfort, neatness,
and suitability, and it was apparent the rapid strides the young colony
was making would ere long place it high in the rank of its order. There
were two churches, a town hall, used on occasion as court house,
ball-room, or theatre; three hotels, some very presentable shops and
stores, and a few particularly neat and handsome residences standing in
luxuriant grounds, such as those occupied by the Superintendent, Bishop,
Judge, etc. The suburbs were extending on all sides with the fencing in
of farms, erection of homesteads, and conversion of the native soil into
land suitable for growing English corn and grass.

Through the rising city wound the little river Avon, only twenty to