Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 104

Transcript

Early days vehicles

As may be imagined the old Pilgrims and Shagaroons did not indulge in stylish carriages and match pairs, or doctor’s broughams, or professional buggies or hack carriages, hansoms and cabs. The modes of conveyance were like the times, primitive. Some old family relics found their way with their owners to the Province. Some antiquated vehicles were imported, and later on some were built.

The first vehicular passenger affairs, after the slow and solid dray, was the spring cart, shaft and outrigger, and for years the traffic to the foot of the Hills and to Kaiapoi, was carried on such. Such for some years was the mode of travel to Timaru, taking two days for the journey, with the saving clause, that the rivers were fordable. That was gradually changed into four wheeled expresses. About the year 1864, Cobb & Co, otherwise Messrs Cole and Anderson, having exploited Otago, brought a coaching plant to Canterbury and commenced operations in the well known gold diggings style, The opened out on the Timaru line running through in twelve hours; following that up with the Kaiapoi line and further north, and later to the West Coast. They had the advantage of all the splendid money making passenger times of the gold rushes to the Coast. This continued until the opening lines of railway in every direction put an end to the system, excepting the West Coast line, as now running.

Mr Abbott, of the North Road, brought with him an old “Shandytag”[?] of an Irish jaunting car.

I think Mr Delamain was about the first to drive a light high wheeled trotting machine.