"HOPPY" AND OTHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 231, 29 September 1928, Page 11

"HOPPY" AND OTHERS.

THE OLD-TIME "CABBY."

TRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE. \ STORIES OF THE PAST. COUNCILLOR WHO WAS TRAPPED. "Keb sir!' Four wheeler or an. 'ansom It was once a familiar call in Auckland, but it has now been relegated almost to the limbo of forgotten things, and four-wheelers and hansoms, sleek horses, cab ranks and cab drivers are only a memory of another generation. The old-time "cabby," with his fancy Barnes, suoh as "Pretty Charlie," "Tommy the Clock," and "Hoppv," was quite a character in his way—a mine of information in regard to city geography, a friend, philosopher and guide to the erring citizen of uncertain gait, but sufficiently financial to pay his fare, and wanting nothing more than safe deposit inside his front gate. He was indeed a sturdy patriot in all things when Auckland was in its infancy, and a man who could wear either a deeply grieved look at a funeral, or one of becoming hilarity at a wedding. A man of many parts, at repartee he positively •none. But his occupation was gone with the advent of the motor, and 110 longer was he left to drowse sitting on a feed bag in radiant sunshine when fares were none too plentiful, or wait lonjr and patiently through the dark hours in the hope that some wayfarer might want a lift. home.

Good old days those, with the polished cabs and prancing whites and blacks adding lustre to ceremonial occasions. Time has taken its toll on Auckland's historic jehqs, but are some in their reclining years reaping the benefit of other modes of travel, who, should one chance to catch them in reminiscent mood, can tell an interesting story. Their eyes sparkle in remembrance as they recount how, in their more youthful days, they drove the present King and Queen through wildly enthusiastic crowds on the occasion of their visit in the 'nineties, or steered a straight course for other dignitaries—Lord Beecham and Lord Rant'urly, for instance. "I drove Lord Ranfurly 50 miles on the West Coast, and came back on the bit." Is one of the proud boasts made. It was indeed an achievement betokening horses of the sturdy type and skilful frandliag o£ them.

Thro«sii the Roof. A city councillor, long since passed to his resting place, had a rather unenviable experience in one of the "night owls," as hansoms used principally after dusk were popularly known. Of proportions above the average, he squeezed into one vehicle, only to be imprisoned when he arrived at his destination. A period of inflation had set in, and ho had to submit to tho indignity of clambering out of the conveyance as best he could when the roof was removed. Needless to say, the hansom was condemned as being unfit for further use. when the annual inspection of the "night owls" was made.

Tho "cabby" was at the beck and call of his customers at all hours, butt with little interference from unionism, he worked without restriction and earned excellent money. He had his lean periods, but,® during the mining boom in the Thames in the 'nineties, prospered as the result of the free circulation of currency. Tips, which, were liberally given when times were good, were a big factor in augmenting salaj-ies, which ranged from £2 2/ to £2 5/ to between £5 and £7. Harvest Days. Fares produced 4/ for hansoms and 5/ ; for cabs, while the minimum charge for weddings and funerals was. £1. Harvest time was at Christmas, New Year and Easter, and race day at Ellerslie was the "cabbies'" picnic. There was no rushing to and from the course—a trip out and back in one day sufficed. Other profitable times were during the Government House balls, and Morrin's stud sale at Wellington Park. But from JfllO. onwards, tho motor, with its speedier service, began to make serious inroad* into the horse-drawn transport, and many "cabbies" deserted their posts in order to engage in taxi work. And the public gradually followed them. One who still plies for hire relates how when he pioneered motor services in the city his takings averaged £130 a month. "There is nothing big in it to-day, however," he added, "and I turn over only between £40 and £60 a montn." In passing, he ventured the opinion that old horsemen make the best motorists. "They have the feel of the road, and are good judges of speed and distance," he said. "They calculate ahead and driving is in them." While he was in two minds as to whether he would like to revert to the old order of things, he wagged his head and agreed that the "cabbie-ing" days were good old days. "Everyone was well satisfied. The hours were long, but every man was his own boss," he added. "The 'cabbies' (were the business, and people patronised their favourites, and no one else."