Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 153

Transcript

The days of old – the first Hansom cab

For some two or three years, in a yard facing where now is the White Horse Hotel, then occupied by Jonah Wheeler and Edward Nurse, who in a spring cart brought the mails from the Foot of the Hills to Christchurch, and also carried them to Kaiapoi in the same manner – about the years 1858-9-60 – there stood, apparently neglected, but certainly unused, a hansom cab, the first of its race in Christchurch, now par excellence the home of the Hansom Cab in the Southern seas, where the cabs are neater, the horses of a better stamp, taken altogether, unequalled. There it stood, apparently in dock for ever, looking uncared for and not wanted. It was, like many other things, before the age. But its time came. For old Tom Goodger, the parent of all the Hansoms in Christchurch who was then a busy attendant in one of the stables, had his eye upon it, and awaited patiently for the time when circumstances fitted in.

To the astonishment of people, the odd thing was taken out of dock, painted, varnished and gilded, a neat, strong cob in the shafts, and behold, Tom, in gorgeous array, with white bell topper and blue veil, mounted on the box, and at the call of the patrons of the day. The opportunity comes to him who waits, as we have been told, and Tom found it so for his patrons were numerous and questions of one shilling fares were not so closely entertained in those days as they have since become. “Well”, old Tom would say, beaming upon his fare with his old English face and his full round voice, “Well, mum – let’s see – we was at Gould and Mileses, and we was at Miss Skillicorn’s, yes mum – then we called at the Post Office – oh yes, mum, - then we was at Gee’s – well, mum, seven and six, that won’t be too much, mum – Thank you, mum, much obliged” and Tom lifts his gorgeous tile and with a “Git up” starts the easy worked cob to the stand, then occupied by himself and two four wheelers opposite what is now the City Hotel. There might be seen the [continued next page]